NBA’s celebration of Duquesne’s Chuck Cooper, league’s other pioneers reaches peak during Black History Month
When the legacy of the Boston Celtics is discussed, most often the conversation turns to championships. Behind stars such as Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce and Jayson Tatum, the Celtics have won 18 titles, more than any other NBA franchise. That fact is not lost on Dave...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates ace Paul Skenes has something up sleeve with ‘sleeper’
When MLB Network ranked its “Top 10 Starting Pitchers Right Now” on Wednesday night, the biggest revelation involved Paul Skenes, but it wasn’t that the Pittsburgh Pirates ace didn’t rank at the top of the list. Skenes has something up his sleeve in the form of a new pitch. That...
First Call: Andy Weidl passed over for Falcons job; an Aaron Rodgers favorite reportedly en route to Pittsburgh
Aaron Rodgers is a big fan of someone who is in line to join the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new coaching staff. Andy Weidl won’t be moving on to Atlanta. Mike Sullivan makes a return to PPG Paints Arena, as Archie Miller makes a return to Pittsburgh. And it’s a huge weekend...
With goals in last 2 games, Penguins rookie Ben Kindel leaves monthlong drought in dustVideo
For more than a month, the puck simply refused to go in the net for Ben Kindel. Over a 19-game span from Dec. 16 to Jan. 22, the 18-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins rookie forward navigated a goalless streak. Ultimately, it seems far from fair to nitpick the goal-scoring output of a...
Football Footnotes: Mike McCarthy on calling plays, the 3-4 defense, WRs and more
Tuesday’s press conference to introduce Mike McCarthy as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new head coach generated two main topics for discussion. 1. His statement that he’d be interested in Aaron Rodgers returning as the team’s quarterback. 2. How much he loves Pittsburgh. I’m pretty sure you can guess which one of...
Martinelli scores 34, Singleton has double-double as Northwestern downs Penn State
EVANSTON, Ill. — Nick Martinelli scored 34 points, and Tre Singleton notched a massive double-double as Northwestern beat Penn State, 94-73, on Thursday night. It’s the fourth time this season Martinelli has scored at least 32 points. He entered Thursday as the fourth-leading scorer in Division I at 23.4 points...
Penguins spread the wealth, rout Blackhawks to extend winning streak to 5
Sidney Crosby is well educated on winning. He has a trio of Stanley Cup rings stowed away in a sock drawer or a fireproof safe with a biometric lock to verify that postulate. So, he understands why the Pittsburgh Penguins are winning as of late. “You need everybody contributing,” Crosby...
Patrick Kane passes Mike Modano for most NHL points by American
DETROIT — Patrick Kane smiled. The wait was over. Kane became the highest-scoring United States-born player in NHL history, passing Mike Modano with an assist for his 1,375th point Thursday night for the Detroit Red Wings against the Washington Capitals. “It’s nice to have it over with in some ways...
Joe Brady embraces high expectations as he succeeds Sean McDermott as Bills coach
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Joe Brady did not dismiss the past while looking ahead to leading the Buffalo Bills into the future as their head coach. Before outlining his vision to bring the same attacking element to defense as he introduced to Buffalo’s Josh Allen-led offense as its coordinator for...
Justin Rose sets Torrey Pines pace with 62. Koepka makes his PGA Tour return with 73
SAN DIEGO — Justin Rose had birdie chances on all but one hole Thursday and turned that into a 10-under 62 on the easier North course at Torrey Pines, giving him a one-shot lead in the Farmers Insurance Open on a day that marked the return of Brooks Koepka from...
Drake Maye says he had a normal practice, even while listed as limited with a shoulder issue
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Drake Maye wasn’t shocked by the attention paid to the shoulder issue that landed him on the Patriots’ injury report less than two weeks before the Super Bowl. “No, I wouldn’t say I was surprised,” Maye said Thursday. “It’s the right shoulder of a starting quarterback on...
Sabalenka into 4th straight Australian Open final and facing Rybakina again
MELBOURNE, Australia — Not even a point penalty for hindrance slowed Aryna Sabalenka’s run to a fourth consecutive Australian Open final. The top-ranked Sabalenka overpowered Elina Svitolina, 6-2, 6-3, on Thursday night to move within one victory of a third Australian Open title in four years. A rematch of the...
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta on new coach Jesse Minter: ‘He just blew us away’
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — As much as Jesse Minter seemed like an obvious fit for the Baltimore Ravens, he still had to show he was ready for their coveted coaching vacancy. Then he showed up for an in-person visit. “He just blew us away,” general manager Eric DeCosta said. “As...
Mike McCarthy begins filling out staff, which is expected to include ex-Steelers DB Jason Simmons
Forget the ink drying — Mike McCarthy hadn’t even signed the official contract before he already began assembling the staff under him as new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach. “The last 72 hours have been about the staff,” McCarthy said Tuesday, not long after the official announcement of his hire was...
Unbeaten Penn State wrestlers stick to their process during 82-match winning streak
When it comes to Penn State wrestling during Cael Sanderson’s time in State College, the numbers associated with the Nittany Lions’ program are dizzying. Penn State left Philadelphia last March with its 12th NCAA team title, 10 All-Americans in 10 weight classes and a pair of champions — five-timer Carter...
Justin Brazeau promoted to Penguins’ top line with Bryan Rust suspendedVideo
Justin Brazeau wore black Thursday. But he wasn’t in mourning. Or even on a Johnny Cash kick with Spotify. He was promoted. During the Pittsburgh Penguins morning skate in Cranberry, the burly power forward donned a black practice jersey, signaling he was operating in a top-six capacity. In contrast, he...
Defenseman Ilya Solovyov expected to make Penguins debut against Blackhawks
Rookie defenseman Ilya Solovyov is expected to make his debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins in Thursday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena. During a morning skate in Cranberry, Solovyov skated on the left side of the third pairing with Ryan Shea as his partner. The Penguins acquired...
Penn State coaches, players ready for outdoor hockey games at Beaver Stadium
When Guy Gadowsky was hired as the Penn State men’s hockey coach, one of the first things he asked was when a hockey game would be played in Beaver Stadium. Fifteen years later, his Nittany Lions are preparing for Hockey Valley’s Winter Classic weekend and a game against a Big...
A pre-Olympic treat for the U.S. women’s bobsled and skeleton teams, including Hempfield grad Jasmine Jones
The U.S. Olympic women’s bobsled and skeleton racers spent this week going through their final preparations in advance of arrivals this weekend at the Milan Cortina Games. They were running, lifting weights, strategizing, whatever they could to get ready. They also worked on their hair. Well, technically, they didn’t do...
How are the inductees selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Bill Belichick’s reported snub from the Pro Football Hall of Fame after winning a record six Super Bowl titles as a head coach has placed new scrutiny on the process of picking pro football Hall of Famers. While the specific reasons that Belichick didn’t get into the Hall in his...
Penn State’s Nick Singleton looking to rebuild NFL draft stock at Senior Bowl
MOBILE, Ala. — The pre-draft process feels like a clean slate for Penn State’s Nick Singleton. Singleton had a record-setting career with the Nittany Lions, finishing his fourth and final season as Penn State’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns and all-purpose yards. But the 2025 season didn’t go to plan,...
Penguins recall Rutger McGroarty from AHL, place Jack St. Ivany on injured reserve
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forward Rutger McGroarty from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, the team announced Thursday. In a corresponding move, Jack St. Ivany was placed on injured reserve. McGroarty, 21, suffered a concussion in practice with the Penguins in early January, landing him on injured reserve. On Jan....
First Call: Competition for potential Steelers OC; LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier’s interest in playing for Mike McCarthy
“First Call” for Thursday has an update on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator search. A quarterback draft candidate has an interest in Pittsburgh’s new head coach. The Penguins return home. And we compare Pitt’s recent attendance restrictions at Acrisure Stadium with other moves by ACC schools. Shopping in the same...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are angry over the hiring of Mike McCarthy, media coverage of the hire — or both
Everybody in Pittsburgh has been in a snit over one big topic all week. Snow removal. That’s right. I’m right there with you. I live on the North Side, and I haven’t seen a single snowplow since at leas…. … OH! Oh, that other thing. The Steelers’ new head coach....
Big 33 Football Classic’s Super Bowl streak reaches 60 years — but only barely
By the slimmest of margins, the Big 33 Football Classic’s Super Bowl streak survives for another year. Imhotep Charter’s Yasir Durant is on injured reserve for the New England Patriots, but the offensive lineman’s presence on the roster has Big 33 organizers celebrating a 60-year streak. Every Super Bowl has...
