Sports category, Page 797
Dartmouth tells NLRB basketball players are students — for real — not employees
BOSTON — Dartmouth College lawyers argued Thursday that the Ivy League school’s basketball players should not be considered employees because they are unpaid members of a money-losing program whose need-based scholarships don’t depend on their participation or talent. In a National Labor Relations Board hearing to determine whether the team...
Dick Butkus, fearsome Hall of Fame Chicago Bears linebacker, dies at 80Video
CHICAGO — A photo of Dick Butkus sneering behind his facemask filled the cover of Sports Illustrated’s 1970 NFL preview, topped by the headline, “The Most Feared Man in the Game.” Opponents who wound up on the business end of his bone-rattling hits could testify that wasn’t an exaggeration. Butkus,...
A forgotten man during camp, Montravius Adams filling significant role on Steelers D-line
Throughout Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, much was made about the depth on the defensive line. Eight NFL-caliber players were on the roster for what were only six or seven available spots. Among that group were well-compensated proven starters (Cameron Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi). There were the recently drafted young guns (Keeanu...
Highlands grad Gabe Norris adds scoring touch to resume at Robert Morris
With a new coaching staff this year, Gabe Norris knew he would have to prove himself all over again. He wound up playing the same defensive midfield position he had the previous two years at Robert Morris, but a tactical change has helped unlock the goal-scoring ability he had when...
Steelers’ Desmond King gets increased role in practice to match his move up depth chart
The NFL requires the release of one. Fans and media sometimes hyperfixate on it. But when the official published depth chart was broached to him Thursday, Desmond King gave a quizzical look. “I don’t know what that even is,” King said at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Told that the pdf...
Penguins announce lineup for preseason finale against Sabres
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced their lineup for their preseason finale, a road contest against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. Forwards — Noel Acciari, Jeff Carter, Sidney Crosby, Lars Eller, Jansen Harkins, Evgeni Malkin, Matt Nieto, Drew O’Connor, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, Reilly Smith, Colin White, Radim Zohorna Defensemen — Ryan...
Mets GM Billy Eppler quits 3 days after David Stearns hired above him
NEW YORK — Billy Eppler quit as New York Mets general manager Thursday, three days after David Stearns was hired above him as the team’s first president of baseball operations. “I wanted David to have a clean slate, and that meant me stepping down,” Eppler said in a statement released...
Steelers’ Kenny Pickett practices fully, but Alex Highsmith does not as addition to injury report
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett on Wednesday firmly declared that he would be “good to go” for Sunday’s game. On Thursday, he backed that up during practice. Pickett was a full participant, according to the league-mandated injury report. Pickett had suffered a bone bruise during this past Sunday’s loss at...
NCAA trashes UNC, deems WR Tez Walker eligible to play
The NCAA accepted Tez Walker’s transfer waiver Thursday, making the wide receiver eligible to play for the 14th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels after the university fought for months to get him on the field. The NCAA released a terse statement saying its staff received new information that had not been...
As he recovers from groin surgery, Cameron Heyward working to rejoin Steelers
Cameron Heyward doesn’t know when he will return to the Pittsburgh Steelers lineup because of his groin injury that required surgery. He just knows it will happen at some point this season. “I’m working my tail off to try to get back,” Heyward said Thursday. “We’ll see when we get...
Penguins assign 6 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins assigned forwards Avery Hayes, Rem Pitlick, Sam Poulin and Valtteri Puustinen as well as defensemen Xavier Ouellet and Ty Smith to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Thursday. The 22-year-old Poulin was the Penguins’ first-round pick (No. 21 overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft and missed...
Penguins waive forwards Andreas Johnsson, Joona Koppanen, Alex Nylander
The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forwards Andreas Johnsson, Joona Koppanen and Alex Nylander on waivers Thursday. Should all three go unclaimed by 2 p.m. Friday, they will be eligible to be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL). Nylander is the most prominent member of the trio. A first-round...
P.O Joseph rejoins practice, re-entering competition for Penguins’ 3rd defensive pairing
In a stroke of good fortune, a lower-body ailment suffered by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph on Monday against Ottawa ended up sidelining him for only two days. After missing practice Tuesday, Joseph skated with the Penguins players who did not partake in Wednesday’s preseason game against Detroit before rejoining...
Penguins forward Sam Poulin’s pursuit is ‘just to be happy’
Sam Poulin looks a bit different these days. He has grown his hair out, and it’s a bit blonder. Plus, he’s smiling. That might be the most profound change in his appearance. Approximately 10 months ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins forward prospect took a leave of absence from the organization and...
SportsNet Pittsburgh hires Bryan Trottier, Matt Bartkowski as analysts
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Trottier and former NHL defenseman Matt Bartkowski have been hired as analysts for SportsNet Pittsburgh. The network announced their appointments via a release Thursday. Trottier is one of the most prolific players in NHL history. An enshrinee into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Trottier is...
Matt Canada denies telling CBS that Steelers offense isn’t built to come from behind
His play calling and the lack of production by the Pittsburgh Steelers offense already has put Matt Canada in the crosshairs with an unhappy fan base. On Thursday, Canada found himself addressing another issue that has sparked outrage among Steeler Nation: his alleged comments to CBS that the Steelers’ offense...
Fired Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald suing school for $130M for wrongful termination
CHICAGO — Former Northwestern University football coach Pat Fitzgerald is suing the school for $130 million, saying his alma mater wrongfully fired him in the wake of a hazing and abuse scandal that has engulfed the athletic department. The announcement by Chicago-based attorneys Dan K. Webb and Matthew R. Carter...
Tim Benz: Pirates know next step will be harder than this one
It takes a special talent to lose 100 games in Major League Baseball. Or, in the case of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a special lack of talent. The only thing that prevented the Pirates from losing 100 games three years in a row from 2020-22 was the small matter of a...
Mark Madden: Mike Tomlin would be exposed in New York City
Perhaps the weakest argument against Mike Tomlin’s removal as Pittsburgh Steelers coach is the often preached, “He’d have another job within five minutes!” This is best said at a frenetic pace and via rapidly rising octaves. The squeakier, the better. It’s probably true. So what? Tomlin’s employability beyond Pittsburgh doesn’t...
Next on the Tee: Learn how the U.S. can win the next Ryder Cup
We fix the Ryder Cup this week on Next on the Tee. Host Chris Mascaro is joined by four top golf instructors to recap what took place last week in Italy and also discuss ways the U.S. team can win next time around in 2025 at Bethpage Black on Long...
Too much Taylor? Travis Kelce says NFL TV coverage is ‘overdoing it’ with Swift during games
Maybe there’s too much Taylor, not enough Travis. Travis Kelce agreed Wednesday with the idea that NFL TV coverage has been “overdoing it” with the amount of times Taylor Swift has been on screen while attending his Kansas City Chiefs’ games the last two weeks. Swift was in a suite...
Penn State OC Mike Yurcich breaks down Drew Allar, lack of explosiveness and the offense so far
Mike Yurcich has known Drew Allar for a while now. He was integral in Penn State’s recruitment of Allar. He’s worked with the sophomore quarterback for almost two years, going back to when Allar enrolled as a true freshman in January 2022. So none of what Allar has shown through...
First Call: Ravens LB has a grudge against Mike Tomlin; Cooper Kupp should be ready to face Steelers in L.A.
Thursday’s “First Call” features a Baltimore Raven with an axe to grind against Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. A potential threat to the Steelers in a few weeks is returning to practice. So is former Penn State star Saquon Barkley. And we now have a diagnosis on that knee injury suffered...
U mad, bro?: After a 30-6 loss in Houston, angry Steelers fans swarm on Mike Tomlin, Kenny Pickett, Matt Canada
After a 30-6 loss in Houston Sunday, the sharks are circling for Steelers coaches and players. And even the media that covers them. If they lose again at home to Baltimore this weekend, well…. Enjoy the apricot brandy. Here’s this week’s edition of “U mad, bro?” We start with Calvin....
‘It’s extremely humbling’: Pirates bench coach Don Kelly could be candidate for manager jobs
Now that their season is over, the Pittsburgh Pirates intend to determine whether to make any changes to the coaching staff. They already know that one move might be out of their hands, as bench coach Don Kelly could be a candidate for one of a handful of manager openings....
