Sports category, Page 799
Penguins forward prospect Valtteri Puustinen keeps shooting for an NHL job
Valtteri Puustinen has a hiccup-quick one-timer. And one-liners. During an interview after a morning skate Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena, a Pittsburgh reporter complimented the Pittsburgh Penguins forward prospect, a native of Finland, on his improved command of English. It was relayed to Puustinen that his English was much better...
Minor league report: Goaltender Taylor Gauthier, Penguins shut out BearsVideo
Goaltender Taylor Gauthier made 20 saves and directed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 3-0 shutout of the rival Hershey Bears in a preseason contest at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Wednesday. It marked the second shutout in as many days for the Penguins who blanked the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in...
NCAA approves smaller transfer portal windows for football, basketball from 60 to 45 days
The NCAA Division I Council on Wednesday approved a smaller window during which football and basketball players can enter their names into the transfer portal and retain immediate eligibility for the following season from 60 to 45 days. The council was finishing up two days of meetings in Indianapolis, during...
After short stint with Flames, Maple Leafs, ‘everything is perfect’ for Penguins forward Radim Zohorna
Even if it was hard to hear, it wasn’t hard to understand. When Pittsburgh Penguins forward Radim Zohorna scored a goal in his first career NHL game, a 4-0 home victory against the Buffalo Sabres on March 25, 2021, his verbiage in explaining the moment was limited. Not just because...
ACC quarterbacks, sometimes under the radar, are driving success across the league
The ACC is off to a promising start this season with several notable nonconference victories and five teams ranked in the Top 25. A common thread is easy to find: Check behind center. The Atlantic Coast Conference, not always known for its strong cadre of quarterbacks, has 10 of the...
Mark Madden: The Mike Tomlin error is in full swing, but who will recognize it?
The Mike Tomlin era is long since over. We’re in the middle of the Mike Tomlin error. Tomlin’s reputation is propped up by his overrated streak of no losing seasons. Friendly media, mostly national, use that to obscure Tomlin having no playoff wins in six years and just three in...
First Call: Aaron Rodgers thinks Ben Roethlisberger could be an offensive coordinator; Steelers beef up O-line
Wednesday’s “First Call” has a Pittsburgh Steelers roster move, thoughts on Ben Roethlisberger as an offensive coordinator, and an injury update from the Ravens in Baltimore. Plus, we include the latest in the ongoing Chase Claypool situation in Chicago. Adding depth The Steelers signed a big man to help address...
Memories of former Pirates pitcher Tim Wakefield shared by GM Ben Cherington and others
When Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Kent Tekulve was inducted into the franchise’s Hall of Fame this summer, we posted a story at “Breakfast With Benz” about how every young Pirates fan in the late 1970s and early ’80s tried to mimic his trademark submarine delivery. I’m old enough to admit...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin was asked the necessary questions. You decide if he gave appropriate answers
Before we dive into some of the things that Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had to say during his weekly press conference, I feel the need to channel Mick Jagger’s lyrics from the Rolling Stones’ new single, “Angry.” “My mouth’s getting sore, I can’t take anymore Why you angry with...
Minor league report: Joel Blomqvist earns shutout as Penguins open preseason
Goaltender Joel Blomqvist made 11 saves for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins who opened their preseason with a 4-0 shutout of the rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the PPL Center in Allentown Tuesday. Forwards Matt Filipe and Lukas Svejkovsky each collected a goal and an assist for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while forwards Justin Addamo...
Aaron Rodgers says he also has an ankle injury, won’t rule out return this season
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers said Tuesday he has an ankle injury in addition to the torn left Achilles tendon that he is rehabbing after surgery. During his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the New York Jets quarterback said he is dealing with a deltoid issue. The...
Twins stop record 18-game postseason skid on strength of Royce Lewis home runsVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — Royce Lewis smashed Minnesota’s 18-game postseason losing streak into the seats, homering in each of his first two at-bats to carry the Twins to a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of their AL wild-card series on Tuesday. Lewis hit a two-run shot off...
MLB committee on Athletics’ move to meet this week
MILWAUKEE — Mark Attanasio, who chairs the Major League Baseball committee regarding the Oakland Athletics’ move to Las Vegas, said Tuesday the group met a couple of days ago and will meet again this week. Attanasio, the Milwaukee Brewers’ controlling owner, declined additional comment on the committee’s progress while speaking...
Pain-free, Pitt’s William Jeffress puts foot injury behind him on the brink of a new basketball season
William Jeffress won’t lie about how difficult it was watching his Pitt teammates reach the NCAA Tournament last season. “It was tough to not be on the court,” he said. Foot surgery forced him to sit out the entire season and robbed him of the chance to be part of...
Montgomery sparkles, Rangers beat sloppy Rays 4-0 in AL Wild Card Series openerVideo
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jordan Montgomery scattered six hits over seven innings, helping the Texas Rangers beat the sloppy Tampa Bay Rays, 4-0, on Tuesday in their AL wild-card series opener. Corey Seager and Josh Jung drove in runs, and the Rangers benefitted from four errors by the Rays, who...
Giants coach Brian Daboll claims tablet toss wasn’t showing up QB Daniel Jones
NEW YORK — Brian Daboll said he wasn’t showing up Daniel Jones when he frustratedly tossed a tablet after reviewing Jones’ interception on the bench. “Yeah, I’m not doing that,” Daboll said on a Tuesday conference call. The head coach pointed something out on the play to his QB and...
Penguins recall defenseman Xavier Ouellet from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Penguins recalled defenseman Xavier Ouellet from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League Monday afternoon. Ouellet, 30, is entering the second year of a two-year contract that carries a salary cap hit of $762,500. In one game this preseason, Ouellet has no points and one shot. Last season, injuries limited...
Seahawks’ Pete Carroll: Geno Smith ‘lucky’ to escape serious injury after ‘dangerous’ tackle
SEATTLE — Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith should be OK after suffering a knee injury in Monday night’s win over the New York Giants, coach Pete Carroll said during his weekly radio show on Seattle Sports 710. “I think so,” Carroll said. “He went back in the game and was able...
Steelers add former 2nd-round pick Denzel Mims to practice squad
Former second-round draft pick Denzel Mims was one of two players the Pittsburgh Steelers signed to their practice squad Tuesday. Mims, a 6-foot-3, 207-pound wide receiver, and tackle Obinna Eze were added to the practice squad, while the Steelers released running back Greg Bell and wide receivers Jalen Camp and...
Terry Francona steps away as Cleveland’s winningest manager
CLEVELAND — Terry Francona stepped away from baseball, at least temporarily, on Tuesday, ending a 23-year managerial career that began in Philadelphia, peaked with two World Series titles in Boston and concluded with an 11-season stay in Cleveland. Guardians president Chris Antonetti said the 64-year-old Francona will have a role...
Column: Team USA always comes home with some drama. Just never the Ryder CupVideo
GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy — The Americans always seem to come home from the Ryder Cup with plenty of drama. Just never the trophy. Maybe they need another task force to figure out a way to tip their caps — whoever is wearing one, anyway — and congratulate Team Europe for...
New Penguins forward Jansen Harkins is in the mix for a bottom-six role
Jansen Harkins is new to the Pittsburgh Penguins. So new, in fact, that there wasn’t even a nameplate above his locker stall in the team’s dressing room after practice Tuesday in Cranberry. But a mere 22 hours into his existence with the team, he was effusive to simply be a...
Patriots edge rusher Matt Judon to have surgery on torn biceps
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Patriots edge rusher Matt Judon has elected to have surgery to repair a torn biceps, according to a person with knowledge of the decision. Judon is scheduled to have the procedure Wednesday and be out indefinitely, said the person, who spoke to the Associated Press on Tuesday...
Practice habits are biggest change Mike Tomlin will make on heels of Steelers’ 24-point loss
Mike Tomlin promised changes. And they’re coming … in the way the Pittsburgh Steelers practice. Two days after saying he wasn’t going to maintain the status quo after a 30-6 loss at Houston, Tomlin said his players will don pads for the first time in three weeks Wednesday when the...
Injured Penguins forward Jake Guentzel rejoins teammates in practice
If Jake Guentzel is still dealing with any lingering effects from his injured right ankle, they aren’t obvious. At least through the limited scope of drills during a practice session at the Pittsburgh Penguins’ facility in Cranberry on Tuesday. As defenseman Ryan Shea skated into the offensive zone on a...
