Sports category, Page 1096
Quite the catch: WR Cooper has been everything Browns hopedVideo
CLEVELAND — Amari Cooper has been everything the Cleveland Browns hoped, providing leadership and high-quality play from the moment he arrived via trade from Dallas. He has been a standard of unquestioned excellence. Except for about eight seconds. At least Cooper was able to laugh late Monday night after his...
Louisville escapes major sanctions in hoops bribery case
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After five agonizing years, Louisville finally gets to look forward. An independent panel placed the Cardinals’ basketball program on two years of probation and fined it $5,000, but spared the school major penalties from NCAA allegations leveled in the aftermath of a federal investigation into corruption in...
Chastain’s video game-inspired ride puts more eyes on NASCARVideo
PHOENIX — Ross Chastain’s video game-inspired ride along the wall at Martinsville carried him across the finish line, into the NASCAR championship finale and around the world. Like it or not — there’s plenty on both sides — the hands-free, foot-to-the-floor Chevy slingshot ride catapulted Chastain and NASCAR into the...
Pitt defensive backs will seek redemption when Syracuse comes to town
There is no questioning the athleticism of Pitt’s defensive backs. The five who sweat and stress the most when the opposing quarterback puts the football in the air have enough experience, dating to the 2018 and ‘19 seasons, that nothing should surprise them. But speed, smarts and seasoning don’t always...
Ravens receiver Rashod Bateman opts for surgery, out for the season
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore receiver Rashod Bateman is out for the season after deciding to have surgery on his injured foot. Coach John Harbaugh announced Thursday that Bateman opted for Lisfranc surgery after consulting with his family and agent. “We support him on that. We understand what he’s doing,”...
Jaromir Jagr gives thumbs up to Penguins winger Jason Zucker’s salute
When they took on the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins debuted their new “Reverse Retro” jerseys featuring the logo the team wore from 1992-2002. When Jason Zucker scored on a two-on-one with Evgeni Malkin in the first period, he broke out a celebration from the logo’s heyday....
Penn State’s run game leans on talented freshmen with Keyvone Lee ailing
Keyvone Lee led Penn State in rushing last season with 530 yards. Yes, it wasn’t a banner year for the Nittany Lions’ ground game, which averaged 3.2 per attempt. Lee, a third-year back, has been limited this year due to an undisclosed injury. His status for No. 16 Penn State’s...
Ray Guy, first Pro Football Hall of Fame punter, dies at 72
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Ray Guy, the first punter to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died Thursday. He was 72. Southern Mississippi, where Guy starred before becoming the first punter ever taken in the first round of the NFL draft, said he died following a lengthy illness. He had...
Penguins forward Jason Zucker finding more success with healthVideo
Jason Zucker didn’t have a problem setting screens last season. Even when a core muscle injury — an all-encompassing-term that involves but isn’t limited to a groin — hindered him for the bulk of the campaign, the Pittsburgh Penguins forward never was hesitant to go to the blue paint and...
Tim Benz: Sharper goaltending would help, but Penguins’ pattern of blown leads goes well beyond that
After the Pittsburgh Penguins’ latest loss, a 6-3 defeat in Buffalo on Wednesday night, head coach Mike Sullivan tamped down any suggestion that second-string goalie Casey DeSmith was to blame. As he should have. “I thought Casey competed hard for us tonight,” Sullivan insisted. “I thought the goals they got...
Steven Sims, others jockey to replace Chase Claypool for 2022 Steelers
As the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday went through the final practice before a four-day break, there was a void on offense. A void that measures about 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds worth. For the first day, at least, the void was filled by someone who measures 6 inches shorter and 62...
3 takeaways: Penguins penalty kill continues to struggle
Three takeaways from a 6-3 Penguins loss at Buffalo on Wednesday night: PK problems The Pittsburgh Penguins’ penalty kill continued to struggle during a 6-3 road loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. The Sabres’ second goal of the contest was a power-play score by forward Tage Thompson at 3:21...
Former Pitt player Xavier Johnson could be X-factor for No. 13 IndianaVideo
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Pitt transfer Xavier Johnson faced the stark reality his basketball days could be over when an April police chase ended in his arrest in a Bloomington parking lot. Indiana coach Mike Woodson was willing to forgive his starting point guard if he agreed to some conditions. Johnson’s...
College basketball preview: NCAA portal chaos puts pressure on hoops coaches in lower levelsVideo
There is growing fear among college basketball coaches at the lower levels of the sport, the vast majority of whom do not make seven-figure salaries, fly around the country in private jets or hang out with rich and famous boosters and fans. It’s a fear that comes with success. It...
College basketball preview: Loaded No. 8 UCLA tops resurgent Pac-12 ConferenceVideo
UCLA’s bid to reach consecutive Final Fours fell short last season in a rash of injuries and a tough Sweet 16 matchup. With two of the Pac-12’s best players back and a sterling freshman class, the No. 8 Bruins have their sights set on a second Final Four in three...
NCAA transfer portal causing ripple effect across college hoops recruitingVideo
Eric Musselman has been one of the nation’s best at dipping into the transfer portal at Arkansas and at his previous stop in Nevada. Musselman is still adept at landing elite high school recruits — his 2022 class was second nationally — but adding quality transfers was a big part...
SEC’s 6 new men’s basketball coaches prepare for a grindVideo
Mike White has an advantage over about a third of the other men’s basketball coaches in the SEC this season. He may be in a new place, but the Georgia coach is at least in the same conference. That should give White, who moved on from Florida after last season,...
College basketball preview: Indiana picked as team to beat in Big Ten season of changeVideo
It’s a season of change in the Big Ten. Indiana is the preseason choice to win the championship after finishing ninth last season. Wisconsin is picked ninth after sharing the title with Illinois. Purdue will enter the season outside the Associated Press Top 25 after appearing in six of the...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans have their say on Chase Claypool trade, Najee Harris, criticism of Mike Tomlin
The Pittsburgh Steelers got blown out again. They made a trade. Despite being 2-6, head coach Mike Tomlin isn’t making changes to his staff, and the former No. 1 pick running back is struggling and carping about the blocking. So, yeah, I had plenty of material at my disposal for...
First Call: Chase Claypool ‘didn’t have the full opportunity to show what I could do this year’; Ron Rivera on William Jackson III
Thursday’s “First Call” has Chase Claypool’s reaction to being traded away from the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also hear from Aaron Rodgers on the Packers losing out on Claypool. Plus, Ron Rivera discusses what happened to William Jackson in Washington. And Paul Posluszny wonders about what could have been if NIL...
Cristian Javier, 3 Astros relievers pitch 2nd no-hitter in World Series history
PHILADELPHIA — Knocked around the night before, Cristian Javier and the Houston Astros desperately needed to figure how to keep Bryce Harper and the Phillies in the ballpark. How about a no-hitter? Would that do? Javier and Houston’s bullpen combined on just the second no-hitter in World Series history, silencing...
Penguins surrender late lead again as losing streak reaches 6
Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato knew what kind of disposition the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins carried along with their luggage as they rolled into the Nickel City on Wednesday. “Angry, absolutely,” Granato said to media in Buffalo after a morning skate at KeyBank Arena. “There’s never an easy game when you...
Pitt basketball rolls over Edinboro in final exhibition game
Pitt’s two exhibition games never were intended to offer a true look into the 2022-23 version of the Panthers basketball team. Pitt defeated Edinboro, 92-53, on Wednesday night at Petersen Events Center after its 103-51 victory Oct. 22 against Clarion. The Division II teams were picked to finish the season...
New cornerback William Jackson III looking for change of scenery with Steelers
One of the fastest players in the 2016 NFL Draft class, William Jackson III isn’t showing any signs of slowing down seven years into his pro career. At least not off the field. After being traded Tuesday by the Washington Commanders to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jackson hopped in a car...
Pitt stars take up cause to save the season
From front to back on every level of the Pitt defense and splashing over to offense, five players have separated themselves from the pack. Middle linebacker SirVocea Dennis, defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and free safety Erick Hallett are semifinalists for the Butkus, Bednarik and Thorpe awards for the best players...
