Sports category, Page 947
Penguins extend qualifying offers to 5 restricted free agents
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Pittsburgh Penguins extended qualifying offers to five of their nine pending restricted free agents Thursday. Forwards Jonathan Gruden, Filip Hallander and Drew O’Connor, defenseman Ty Smith and goalie Filip Lindberg were extended offers. Forward Ryan Poehling and defensemen Peter DiLiberatore, Colin Swoyer and Josh Maniscalco did...
ESPN lays off Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber, Jalen Rose, Steve Young
Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber, Jalen Rose and Steve Young are among roughly 20 ESPN commentators and reporters who were laid off Friday as part of job cuts by the network. ESPN had planned this additional round involving on-air talent to prevent further reductions to off-air staff after two rounds...
Pirates reinstate reliever Colin Holderman from injured list
The Pittsburgh Pirates regained the services of one of their key bullpen pitchers, as Friday afternoon, right-hander Colin Holderman was reinstated from the 15-day injured list. In a corresponding move, the Pirates optioned right-handed reliever Cody Bolton to Triple-A Indianapolis. “I’m really excited to be back, especially after a nice...
Trades, not signings, might be the better moves for Penguins
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When Bill Guerin speaks, it’s one part informative and one part stand-up routine. On Thursday, after the second day of the NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena, Guerin, the former Pittsburgh Penguins forward-turned executive-turned Minnesota Wild general manager, held court with reporters and was asked about the NHL’s...
Penguins bring on Kori Cheverie as guest coach
The Pittsburgh Penguins brought on Kori Cheverie as a guest coach for the 2023-24 season. Her appointment was announced by the team Friday. Cheverie will work with the team’s coaching staff during the upcoming development camp, which begins Saturday, and will assist during training camp and periodically throughout the 2023-24...
2023 USFL Championship at a glance: Pittsburgh Maulers vs. Birmingham Stallions
The Pittsburgh Maulers will try to complete their quest to go from worst to first when they meet the the Birmingham Stallions at 8 p.m. Saturday in the 2023 USFL Championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The game will be broadcast on NBC. Here’s...
Mark Madden: MLB’s greed was on display Thursday — Pirates’ players should have refused to play
Feel my heat, takin’ you higher, burn with me, these refreshing sports notes are on fire! So is Canada. That’s why we can’t breathe. • The Pittsburgh Pirates should be canceling games because of unsafe air quality. The players stated their concerns but were forced to play Thursday. It’s MLB’s...
Spain keeps Putellas and 3 of the rebel players for Women’s World Cup
MADRID — Spain will head to the Women’s World Cup with two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and three of the 15 players who had renounced the national soccer team after a spat with coach Jorge Vilda. Vilda on Friday announced the 23 players who will play in the July...
New pro women’s hockey league set to launch with 6 teams, with Pittsburgh a possibility
Organizers announced plans Friday to launch a new women’s professional hockey league in January that they hope will provide a stable, economically sustainable home for the sport’s top players for years to come. The North American league is expected to start with six teams — three in the U.S. and...
Caroline Wozniacki is returning to tennis 3 years after retiring
Caroline Wozniacki, a former No. 1-ranked tennis player and the 2018 Australian Open champion, announced Thursday that she is returning to competition three years after she retired to start a family. The U.S. Tennis Association said it will grant Wozniacki a wild-card invitation to participate in the U.S. Open, which...
MLB Draft expert sticking with Dylan Crews as Pirates’ No. 1 pick despite concerns about cost
Suggesting that the Pittsburgh Pirates will draft LSU pitcher Paul Skenes with Major League Baseball’s top draft pick next month has become an increasingly popular opinion. That’s largely because there’s a growing belief that longtime perceived No. 1 pick — LSU outfielder Dylan Crews — will ask for more money...
Venus Williams will begin her 24th Wimbledon appearance against Elina Svitolina
WIMBLEDON, England — Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams will begin her 24th appearance at the tournament against 2019 semifinalist Elina Svitolina, while Friday’s draw put two-time titlist Andy Murray up against wild-card entry Ryan Peniston in an all-British first-round matchup. Williams, who is 43 and has played just five matches...
Steelers 2-a-days: CB Madre Harper has all the tools; OLB Alex Highsmith due for a contractVideo
Editor’s note: From the end of minicamp through the day the team reports to training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2023 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly alphabetical order,...
Former Clemson kicker B.T. Potter looks to prove he’s NFL-worthy while at Steelers campVideo
It wasn’t exactly drilling a 52-yard field goal to give his team the lead in the College Football Playoff national championship game. But to B.T. Potter, a recent organized team activities session in which he was asked to kick field goals in a “mayday,” late-game simulation drill gave him a...
First Call: Steelers still linked to ILB; ex-Steelers CB has a new team; outlet unimpressed by Penguins’ draft
Friday’s “First Call” takes yet another look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ inside linebacker position. One blossoming Steeler makes a list of young NFL superstars. And an ex-Steelers defensive back has a new team. Plus the Penguins draft got at least one mediocre review, and we check in on the next...
‘He’s an All-Star’: Pirates push for pitcher Mitch Keller to make NL team for Midsummer Classic
After Mitch Keller outdueled former Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell on Wednesday night, there was a buzz around the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse that Keller had proved a point to the baseball world. If there were any questions of whether he was deserving of being selected to his first All-Star...
Tim Benz: Mike Sullivan doesn’t want Penguins to be a copycat, but is he hoping for a time machine?
You could tell it was a question Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan had been mulling over himself before it was asked of him during a media session Wednesday. In advance of Day 1 of the NHL Draft in Nashville, Sullivan was asked about the NHL being a “copycat league,” and,...
Pirates farm report for June 29, 2023: Vinny Capra’s 4 RBIs helps Indy top Louisville
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 34-42) edged Louisville (Reds), 9-8. 3B Vinny Capra (.237) was 3 for 4 with four RBIs, including a three-run home run. LF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.242) hit a two-run homer, his ninth of the season. SS Alika Williams (.250) was 2 for 4 with a solo homer and two...
Already hectic NBA offseason now poised for free agents to make movesVideo
Chris Paul already has been traded twice this offseason, ending up with Golden State. Bradley Beal is now with Phoenix, John Collins was sent to Utah, and Kristaps Porzingis is about to start anew with Boston in a deal that sent Marcus Smart to Memphis. They have new places to...
Taylor Moore, Peter Kuest lead Rocket Mortgage Classic; Dylan Wu 1 back after albatross
DETROIT — Taylor Moore and Monday qualifier Peter Kuest shot 8-under-par 64s to share the first-round lead in the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Thursday, with a slew of players chasing in what’s expected to be a shootout. Dylan Wu had the third albatross on the PGA Tour this season and...
Angels’ Mike Trout elected to 11th All-Star Game; 4 Texas players chosen to startVideo
NEW YORK — Mike Trout will see a bunch of new faces surrounding him at this year’s All-Star Game. The Los Angeles Angels center fielder was selected for his 11th appearance on Thursday, and four Texas Rangers were chosen by fans for the American League’s lineup for the July 11...
Penguins select 4 Europeans on 2nd day of NHL Draft
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After plucking forward Brayden Yager from the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League in the first round (No. 14 overall) of the NHL Draft on Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins turned to the east for most of their remaining selections in the final six rounds Thursday...
Flat salary cap, lack of high-profile stars dull start of NHL free agency
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bill Guerin didn’t need to be reminded of how thin the upcoming crop of NHL free agents is regarded, or how numerous teams already have maxed out their payroll because of a salary cap that’s remained relatively flat since the covid-19 pandemic hit. What the Minnesota Wild...
NHL draft wraps up with 11 picks for Chicago, dearth of trades ahead of free agency
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Chicago Blackhawks acquired their latest generational talent along with a big dose of speed in one of the NHL’s largest draft hauls. They also made another big move for their future Thursday by adding veteran Corey Perry to help teach No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard...
Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki returning to tennis 3 years after retiringVideo
Caroline Wozniacki, a former No. 1-ranked tennis player and the 2018 Australian Open champion, announced Thursday that she is returning to competition three years after she retired to start a family. The U.S. Tennis Association said it will grant Wozniacki a wild-card invitation to participate in the U.S. Open, which...
