Sports category, Page 1696
J.J. Watt, Texans ‘mutually’ agree to split in more team upheaval
HOUSTON — J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans split Friday, ending the tenure of the face of the franchise and adding further turmoil to an offseason of upheaval. “I have sat down with the McNair family and I have asked them for my release and we have mutually agreed to...
Expected top pick Trevor Lawrence throws for Urban Meyer, NFL teams
CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence worked out for several NFL personnel including his expected future pro coach, Urban Meyer of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The national championship winner is projected as the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft, the spot held by the Jaguars. Lawrence had planned...
Baseball Hall of Fame cancels traditional ceremony, moves indoors
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Baseball’s Hall of Fame has canceled its traditional outdoor induction ceremony for the second straight summer because of the pandemic and plans an indoor, televised event for Derek Jeter and others being honored. Jeter, Larry Walker, Ted Simmons and late players’ association executive director Marvin Miller were...
Mark Madden: Penguins should stick with goalie Casey DeSmith
The Penguins don’t have a goaltending controversy. Well, not unless new GM Ron Hextall thinks he can still play. That might not be a bad idea. Casey DeSmith has to keep playing. That’s beyond debate, at least for now. Tristan Jarry played in last season’s NHL All-Star event. He finished...
J.J. Watt released by Texans; brother T.J. appears to campaign to bring him to Steelers
The first domino fell in the sequence of events that could unite all three of the NFL’s famed Watt brothers on one NFL team. Plenty of hurdles remain, but T.J. Watt appeared to openly campaign for older brother J.J. to join him with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Three-time NFL defensive player...
9-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey retiring from Steelers
Citing the “sacrifice” playing pro football carries on his life, nine-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey announced his retirement from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday. Pouncey and his twin brother, Mike, made their joint announcement via Maurkice Pouncey’s longtime teammate and friend, Ramon Foster, on Foster’s verified Twitter page. Foster,...
Tim Benz: Fun subplot to trade rumor of Marc-Andre Fleury coming back to the Penguins
When I heard the report that the Pittsburgh Penguins tried to reacquire former goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (twice) from the Vegas Golden Knights in recent months, a lot ran through my head. Via Vegas Hockey Now, TSN’s Bob McKenzie said on NBCSN Wednesday that “the Penguins have tried ‘very hard’ since...
Empty Thoughts: Penguins 4, Islanders 3 (SO)Video
Observations from the Penguins’ 4-3 shootout win against the Islanders. The 2019-20 season was pretty meaningful for the professional existence of Zach Aston-Reese. After a few years of scuttling along without much of a direction, Aston-Reese found his role last season on the team’s fourth (but really third) line along...
First Call: Penguins may extend Evgeni Malkin; potential destinations for Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown
Friday’s “First Call” will quell concerns of those who were worried that Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin might get traded. Or, on the other hand, it might anger those who wanted to see him moved. Also, Tom Brady is scheduled for surgery. One outlet predicts that Antonio Brown is staying...
Previewing the Pirates: Despite departures, focus of starting rotation is on build up
While the Pittsburgh Pirates spent the offseason in teardown mode, parting ways with three starters from their 2019 rotation, their focus has been on building their pitching staff back up. After parting ways with their past two Opening Day starters in Joe Musgrove and Jameson Taillon and their leader in...
This date in sports history: Feb. 12
1937 — Cleveland is granted an NFL franchise. The Rams play in Cleveland for nine years before moving to Los Angeles. After the 1994 season, the Rams move to St. Louis. 1947 — Boston’s Bill Cowley becomes the NHL all-time scoring leader when he scores a goal and an assist...
Friday Football Footnotes: Who was the ‘Most improved’ Steeler in 2020? Is Al Villanueva a ‘must keep’?
Pittsburgh Steelers fans, we haven’t done “Friday Football Footnotes” at “Breakfast With Benz” for a while, have we? Well, now is as good a time as any. There are lots of little Steelers nuggets to digest. Plus, I’ve spent way too much time shoveling the snow off my sidewalk and...
Things go south for Hendrick at Daytona Duels; Ligonier’s Smithley fails to qualify
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — What should have been a tune-up for the Daytona 500 might have cost Hendrick Motorsports the front row for NASCAR’s version of the Super Bowl. Alex Bowman and William Byron were slated to lead the Daytona 500 field to green but that’s in danger following Thursday...
No crowds, but Australian Open will continue during lockdown
MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian Open will be allowed to continue but without crowds for at least five days after the Victoria state government imposed a lockdown starting Saturday in response to a covid-19 outbreak at a quarantine hotel. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday announced a five-day, state-wide lockdown...
Penguins come back to beat Islanders in shootout
As they take their first steps in running the Penguins, new general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke will find plenty of deficiencies when they begin to evaluate the team they have inherited. They will find a struggling power play, an inconsistent top goaltender, a lack...
Minor league report: Penguins fall to BearsVideo
Goaltender Emil Larmi made 33 saves on 36 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 3-2 home loss to the rival Hershey Bears at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday. Forwards Josh Currie and Tim Schaller scored goals for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (0-1-1-0). Highlights: The Penguins’ next game is a road...
Cantlay ties course record with 62 and leads at Pebble BeachVideo
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Patrick Cantlay looked just as good Thursday at Pebble Beach as the last round he played 18 days ago. Jordan Spieth looked as good as his last tournament, too. Coming off a 61 in the California desert followed by at two-week break, Cantlay opened with seven...
Franklin Regional grads Lee, Kemerer No. 1 in NCAA wrestling rankings
Two Franklin Regional grads – Spencer Lee and Michael Kemerer – are ranked No. 1 according to the latest NCAA coaches rankings. Both wrestle for No. 1 Iowa. Lee, a two-time NCAA champion, is ranked No. 1 at 125 pounds. Kemerer, a two-time NCAA placewinner and three-time All-American, is ranked...
Basketball conference tournaments still on schedule despite concernsVideo
Gonzaga’s Mark Few isn’t being asked the usual question of where his team should be seeded for next month’s NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs remain unbeaten and have been the top-ranked team all season, making them a virtual shoo-in for a top seed. Instead, he is being asked if it makes...
AP source: NHL adding game-day rapid covid-19 testing
The NHL is adding game-day rapid tests for players, team personnel and on-ice officials as part of a series of expanded safety protocols unveiled Thursday in its latest bid to stem potential covid-19 outbreaks. Rapid tests initially will be made available to the league’s 24 U.S.-based teams and provide results...
Tensions rising: NHL multigame series ratchet up animosity
It turns out Saturday night was all right for fighting between Arizona and St. Louis. Monday night, too. Coyotes and Blues players dropped the gloves in both games, which were the third and fourth consecutive against each other. They will play three more times in four days — that’s right,...
Lasting legacy: Dale Earnhardt’s death saved lives, forced change
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Ryan Newman was lying in bed one morning, his two daughters still tucked in down the hall, when a YouTube video of his death-defying crash popped up as a recommended watch. He hit play, absorbing every angle of the terrifying wreck that nearly killed him on...
Penguins recall forward Frederick Gaudreau from taxi squadVideo
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forward Frederick Gaudreau from their taxi squad and placed forward Jared McCann on injured reserve. Gaudreau, 27, could make his Penguins debut Thursday in a road contest against the New York Islanders. A free agent signing this past offseason, Gaudreau has spent the past six seasons...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel unafraid to prepare Justin Champagnie for NBA Draft possibilities
In a season when no one is sure whether the next game will be played, postponed or canceled, Pitt’s Jeff Capel is ready for anything. With the Louisville game postponed Wednesday, he scheduled two days off for his players this week, knowing Pitt (9-6, 5-5 ACC) is supposed to play...
WVU athletics, Big 12 Conference announce Mountaineers’ 2021 football schedule
The West Virginia football team will open its 2021 season with a road trip to Maryland on Sept. 4. Six home dates — four Big 12 matchups and games against Virginia Tech and Long Island — plus five conference road dates also make up the Mountaineers upcoming schedule, WVU director...
