Sports category, Page 832
Big Ten players discovering challenges of playing for interim coaches
MADISON, Wis. — Michigan State linebacker Jordan Hall talks about rolling with the punches to maintain focus amid adversity, but he never could have expected the haymaker his team absorbed last month. It was the same type of blow that players at Northwestern, Nebraska and Wisconsin have encountered over the...
Carolina Panthers’ rising star play-caller never wanted to coach
At various points throughout his playing career, Thomas Brown had to resort to a similar refrain when talking to his insistent and loving father. “Dad,” Brown would say, “there’s no way in the world I’m ever going to become a coach.” “When I’m done playing,” he’d continue, “I’m going to...
A’s pitcher Trevor May rips Oakland owner John Fisher in retirement video: ‘Sell the team, dude’
OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland Athletics reliever Trevor May ripped owner John Fisher and implored him to sell the franchise while announcing his retirement Monday in an impassioned video message. “Sell the team, dude. … Sell it, man,″ May said in a video posted on his Twitch stream. “Let someone who...
Column: There’s a place for women to play golf with men, not against them
Lexi Thompson missed the cut by three shots on the PGA Tour in Las Vegas, and expectations are only going to get bigger the next time she plays. Not against the men, but on the LPGA Tour. While she played remarkably well in the Shriners Children’s Open — especially her...
Old but more than old-school, Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy are shining
HOUSTON — When Texas rookie Evan Carter was born in 2002, Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker had been managing in the big leagues for a decade and Rangers skipper Bruce Bochy was in his eighth season. The ages of MLB managers have been declining in the last few years, with...
Report: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey’s injury not considered long-term
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Running back Christian McCaffrey’s oblique injury is not expected to be a long-term issue, ESPN reported Tuesday. McCaffrey scored in his 15th consecutive game Sunday before pain in his oblique and ribs forced him out before the fourth quarter of a 19-17 loss at Cleveland, the...
NFL considers eliminating hip-drop tackles, will review ‘tush push’ again after seasonVideo
NEW YORK — The NFL is looking to eliminate the hip-drop tackle and will again discuss the “tush push” in the offseason. League executive Jeff Miller said Tuesday the hip-drop tackle increases risk of injury by 25 times the rate of a standard tackle. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith briefly left...
Penguins’ Bryan Rust off to fast start heading into matchup with Red Wings
Playing in Detroit always has an appeal to Bryan Rust. A native of Pontiac, Mich., the Pittsburgh Penguins forward grew up going to Red Wings games at the hallowed Joe Louis Arena rooting for his favorite players, forwards Martin Lapointe and Steve Yzerman. (The attraction to Yzerman, a Hockey Hall...
Mike Tomlin anticipating return of ‘expert route running’ from Steelers WR Diontae Johnson
The play on which Diontae Johnson injured his hamstring in the season opener is one the Pittsburgh Steelers have been missing in his absence. Johnson caught a pass from Kenny Pickett 5 yards downfield, then he turned it into a 26-yard gain by juking his way down the field before...
Inside Pitt’s roster decisions, and not just at quarterback
Pat Narduzzi rocked Pitt’s status quo recently when quarterback Phil Jurkovec was sent to the bench. Quarterbacks get the most attention, but the coach said those decisions are made every day throughout the roster. And, believe it or not, what happens in games and practice are only part of the...
Anthony Richardson ‘probably going to be gone for the year,’ Colts owner says as QB mulls surgery
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay believes rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson may need season-ending surgery on his injured throwing shoulder. Irsay told ESPN that Richardson and the team’s medical staff were still mulling treatment options for Richardson’s sprained AC joint, but a final decision had not been made —...
Penguins’ trade lands defenseman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek from CanucksVideo
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Ty Glover on Tuesday. Rathbone, 24, was a fourth-round selection (No. 95 overall) of the Canucks in 2017 and has spent the past four seasons with that...
Defending champion LSU is No. 1 in women’s preseason AP Top 25 for 1st time
Defending champion LSU is ranked No. 1 in the women’s preseason AP Top 25 college basketball poll for the first time in school history. LSU, which won its first NCAA title last April behind star player Angel Reese and Co., received 35 first-place votes from a 36-member national media panel...
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin waiting before giving starting LT job back to Dan Moore Jr.
Just because Dan Moore Jr. took first-team reps in practice Monday doesn’t necessarily mean he will regain his starting left tackle job when the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Coach Mike Tomlin isn’t ready to proclaim Moore as the starter, a position he held for two-plus...
College athlete shoe deals in NIL era get stepped on by lucrative school contracts with big brands
LINCOLN, Neb. — Harper Murray puts on her Adidas volleyball shoes when she practices or plays in a match for Nebraska, one of the top teams in the country. It’s not necessarily the brand she would choose; it’s because the German company is her school’s official supplier and athletes, coaches...
Defenseman Libor Hajek signs with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signed defenseman Libor Hajek to an American Hockey League contract for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. That transaction was announced via a release Tuesday. Hajek, 25, attended the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp in September and October on a professional tryout contract but did not receive a...
Former Penguins defenseman Scott Harrington signs in Switzerland
Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Scott Harrington has joined the ZSC Lions of the National League in Switzerland. That team announced it signed Harrington to a contract for the remainder of the 2023-24 season on Tuesday via a release. Harrington, 30, was a second-round pick (No. 54 overall) of the Penguins...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Pitt-Greensburg wins 3rd straight conference title in girls tennis
Pitt-Greensburg celebrated a three-peat in women’s tennis. The Bobcats (11-2) swept past Penn State Behrend for a 5-0 victory in the final of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Tournament and their third straight title. UPG advances to the NCAA Tournament in May. Senior Abigail Rosman picked up an 8-4 win...
Duquesne men picked to finish 4th in Atlantic 10, highest preseason ranking in 25 years
The hopes of Duquesne basketball fans were given a boost Tuesday when the Dukes were picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10, according to a preseason poll of conference head coaches and media members. The preseason vote of confidence is the highest for the Dukes in the past 25...
No. 7 Penn State looking for 1st win in Columbus since 2011 as game with No. 3 Ohio State looms
STATE COLLEGE — The first half of the season went about as well as it could for Penn State. It’s about to get much tougher. If the seventh-ranked Nittany Lions (6-0) want to maximize their chances of playing for a Big Ten championship, they will need to do something they...
Former Steelers blossoming in L.A. after joining Rams
When the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Rams on Sunday, they’ll see a pair of former teammates who are thriving in Los Angeles. Ex-Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon has started all six games for the Rams and played 94% of the defensive snaps for the Rams so far this year. He has...
First Call: Rams off-field issues and injury news; Steelers linebacker wants to make a comeback
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ next opponent is dealing with issues on and off the field. A former Steelers linebacker wants to make a comeback after some recent trouble in his personal life. The first college basketball poll of the season is out. And a Duquesne football star is getting some recognition....
Tim Benz: History says this is when the Steelers heat up. History better repeat itself
Over the course of the past six seasons, there have been a pair of obvious constants for the Pittsburgh Steelers. • They haven’t won a playoff game. • They haven’t had a losing season. You’re probably aware of that rather annoying push-pull dynamic by now, aren’t you? There have also...
Dak Prescott, Cowboys rally in 4th quarter for a 20-17 victory over the Chargers
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Dak Prescott threw for 272 yards and a touchdown, and the Dallas Cowboys rebounded from a rout a week ago, beating the Los Angeles Chargers 20-17 Monday night. Prescott completed 21 of 30 passes and also had a rushing TD. He became the 30th quarterback in NFL...
Harper, Schwarber, Castellanos power Phillies past Diamondbacks in Game 1 of NLCS
PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper smashed the first pitch he saw on his 31st birthday into the seats, Kyle Schwarber hit his first homer of the postseason and Nick Castellanos also went deep again to power the Philadelphia Phillies past the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 in Game 1 of the NL Championship...
