Sports category, Page 856
Former NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott running out of time to make playoffsVideo
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Chase Elliott is running out of time. The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion, whose year was stunted by a snowboarding accident and hindered by a suspension, needs to win one of the next three races to earn a spot in the playoffs. “It’s the only option,” he...
QB Kenny Pickett on ‘go’ as Steelers work toward preseason opener against Tampa Bay
Kenny Pickett doesn’t know how long he will be on the field Friday night when the Pittsburgh Steelers open the preseason at Tampa Bay. The only thing for certain is he won’t be throwing passes in the final seconds of the game, which happened last year when he zipped a...
Rays All-Star pitcher Shane McClanahan likely to miss the rest of the season
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays All-Star left-hander Shane McClanahan’s may not pitch again this season. Rays manager Kevin Cash said before Tuesday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals that McClanahan will have his arm evaluated soon but it is “highy unlikely” that he will pitch again this...
Column: New PGA Tour model caters to big performances, not just big namesVideo
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The poster in Memphis International Airport declares “the playoffs start here,” except that it includes a picture of Justin Thomas. He only wishes he were here. That speaks to the meritocracy in golf, and that’s not going away. Neither is privilege, which is why Thomas should only...
Ross Township’s Nathan Smith to captain 2025 U.S. Walker Cup team
An exemplary amateur golfer in the Pittsburgh area for decades, Nathan Smith can cross another accomplishment off his career bucket list. And this is a big one. Smith, a Brookville native who lives in Ross Township, was selected by the United States Golf Association to captain the 2025 U.S. Walker...
Spring injury still leads to improvement for Penn State’s Tyler ElsdonVideo
STATE COLLEGE — The closer Penn State gets to playing a football game, the nearer to being himself Tyler Elsdon feels. Often, it’s that way for linebackers who grow up on the football field. The routine becomes part of them. The contact wakes them up. A third-down stop short of...
West Mifflin’s Nahki Johnson finds right fit on Pitt’s defensive line
In the locker room and weight room (perhaps even to his face), some of Charlie Partridge’s players refer to him as Hulk. “Coach P is hard on you,” sophomore defensive end Nahki Johnson said. “He’s cool. He’s chill. Then, when you get up here, he just transforms … I wouldn’t...
Alliance 412 set to expand NIL opportunities beyond pay for play
If you need proof that name, image and likeness dollars already have been distributed to some Pitt athletes, Jeff Goldberg suggests looking back a few months. “You see it on the rosters already,” said Goldberg, chief operating officer of Alliance 412, the collective created to help Pitt compete in the...
Previewing the preseason AP Top 25: Tide outside top 3? Anybody but Georgia at No. 1? Where’s TCU?
The last time Alabama was ranked lower than No. 3 in the preseason AP Top 25, Nick Saban had not yet won a national championship with the Crimson Tide. There is a very real possibility that when the new preseason AP Top 25 is unveiled at noon Monday, ‘Bama could...
Panthers observations: 1st day in pads increases intensity level at Pitt practice
Pitt practice looked like what actually happens in games Tuesday morning when players put on their big-boy pads in the first live session of the summer. Turning it up a level today!! First day in full pads! ????????#WorkAndEffort #BAM #WeNotMe #H2P pic.twitter.com/136Xlt9Qeu— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) August 8, 2023 During the...
Heinz Field makes comeback at ‘The Pit’ as Kraft Heinz donates $1.3M to Aliquippa School District
Members of the Aliquippa football team played more games at Heinz Field than just about anyone not wearing a Pitt or Steelers uniform over past decade-plus. Now, that tradition will continue closer to home. Kraft Heinz donated $1.3 million to Aliquippa School District and will have naming rights for Aliquippa’s...
Steelers find comfort, stability in keeping QB room together
Heading into the 2022 offseason, of all the permutations that could’ve aligned for the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback room in 2023, the least likely appeared to be that it would come back in full. One thing was clear. Kenny Pickett was going to be locked in as the starter after the...
Tim Benz: Like him or not, Rick Pitino is right about the state of college sports’ conference meltdowns
Here’s a classic case of “listen to the message, even if you don’t like the messenger.” Rick Pitino has certainly done a lot to make many college basketball fans dislike him during his highly successful yet highly checkered coaching career. But on the topic of nonstop conference realignment chaos, Pitino...
First Call: Opposing QB news for Steelers’ preseason, regular season openers; ex-Steeler may have averted a high school tragedy
Tuesday’s “First Call” has updates on which quarterbacks the Pittsburgh Steelers will face in both their preseason and regular season openers. A Steelers legend is going to be the subject of an upcoming documentary. The Steelers are taking a look at a former Baltimore Ravens offensive line prospect. And an...
‘Just incredible’: Rookie Jared Triolo makes big play for Pirates with over-the-shoulder catch
Following a 78-minute rain delay, the Atlanta Braves were staging a rally. With one out, they had runners on first and third in the sixth inning when Michael Harris II hit a pop fly that floated past third base. Jared Triolo chased the ball into shallow right field, knowing a...
As football season begins with heat week, Central Catholic starts to lay foundation
Central Catholic’s new football coach, Ryan Lehmeier, and his predecessor, Terry Totten, were both on the practice field Monday when the Vikings started heat acclimation. But there was no coaching controversy brewing. “I have a really good relationship with Terry,” Lehmeier said. “He’s probably the best resource I possibly could...
Pirates stun Spencer Strider with 6-run 3rd inning, hold on to beat Braves
The Pittsburgh Pirates had what appeared to be a monumental mismatch in facing Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider, the major-league strikeouts leader and one of seven All-Stars in the starting lineup for the team with the best record in baseball. And a mismatch it was, just not as expected. Well,...
Norwin’s Max McDowell promoted to Triple-A with Phillies
For the third straight season, Max McDowell will be on the doorstep of a major league call-up. A Norwin alum and eighth-year minor leaguer, McDowell received a promotion Monday when he was elevated to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The 29-year-old catcher played...
Chiefs’ Chris Jones continues holdout as preseason opener approachesVideo
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Chiefs coach Andy Reid had very little to say about missing All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones on Monday. What he did say carried some weight. Jones, who is entering the final year of his four-year, $80 million contract, skipped the entirety of the Chiefs’ offseason program...
Pac-12’s downfall comes after it could not adjust to changing media landscapeVideo
Larry Scott boasted five years ago that the Pac-12 Conference would be able “to adapt, react and take advantage of this new world media order that’s coming in a way others can’t.” As it turns out, Scott’s statement instead ended up reflecting what rival conferences and commissioners did. Scott didn’t...
Baltimore Orioles play-by-play man reportedly removed from broadcasts for mundane pre-game clipVideo
Kevin Brown has been MASN’s play-by-play broadcaster for the Baltimore Orioles for just two years, and is clearly a respected voice in the business. But that apparently didn’t stop Baltimore’s flagship sports network MASN from removing the broadcaster from games since July 23, calling the O’s series against the Philadelphia...
Browns DEs Alex Wright, Isaiah Thomas could miss significant time with knee injuriesVideo
BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland’s rebuilt defensive line depth suddenly has some weak spots. Second-year ends Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas are sidelined with knee injuries and could miss the start of the regular season. Before Monday’s practice, which was held outdoors despite a steady rain, coach Kevin Stefanski revealed that...
Soaring Orioles hovering atop the American League, and their future could be even brighterVideo
BALTIMORE — A weekend in the life of the Baltimore Orioles: — On Friday night, they welcomed their former manager back to town, pounding Buck Showalter’s New York Mets, 10-3. Rookie infielder Jordan Westburg hit a 424-foot home run, and middle reliever Mike Baumann improved to 9-0 on the season....
Former WPIAL golf standouts from Fox Chapel, Plum set to play U.S. Amateur
A pair of former WPIAL golf standouts will play in a USGA event for the first time. Fox Chapel graduate Gregor Meyer and Plum alum Andrew Reynolds finished 1-2 to advance out of a recent qualifier for the 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship set for Aug. 14-20 in Colorado. Meyer, who...
Healthy Calvin Austin taking steps to becoming more well-rounded WR for Steelers
Barring the same type of unexpected — and unfortunate — injury that ruined his rookie season, wide receiver Calvin Austin will make his professional debut Friday night for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After suffering a foot injury on the eve of the 2022 preseason opener, Austin eventually needed surgery and spent...
