Sports category, Page 1832
Veteran announcer Wes Durham lumps Pitt among cluster of ACC contenders
Wes Durham counts the first seven years of his life as the only time he wasn’t surrounded by ACC football, basketball or baseball. His father, legendary play-by-play announcer Woody Durham, called North Carolina games on radio for 40 years (1971-2011) after replacing Bill Currie, who left for a job at...
Ben Roethlisberger to become the all-time Steeler on Sunday
Ben Roethlisberger’s trot onto the field for the first offensive snap of Sunday’s game at Heinz Field will be a historic one. At that point, he officially will become the all-time Pittsburgh Steeler. The game against the Houston Texans will be the 221st of Roethlisberger’s career, breaking a tie with...
Reports: Joseph Laurinaitis, pro wrestling legend known as Road Warrior Animal, has died
Professional wrestling has lost another legend. Joseph Laurinaitis, who wrestled as Road Warrior Animal, has passed away, according to multiple reports as well as a post to his Twitter account. He was 60. The post to his Twitter account said the family is planning on releasing a statement later Wednesday....
Reports: Chargers’ team doctor accidentally punctured Tyrod Taylor’s lungVideo
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor missed last Sunday’s game because a team doctor accidentally punctured his lung, according to a person familiar with the case. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because of medical restriction issues. Rookie Justin Herbert...
David DeCastro practices with Steelers for 1st time this month
David DeCastro returned to a Pittsburgh Steelers practice Wednesday for the first time in almost four weeks, signaling the five-time Pro Bowl guard could be ready to make his season debut Sunday against the Houston Texans. DeCastro was listed as a full participant on the practice report released by the...
Diontae Johnson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyson Alualu miss Steelers practice with minor injuries
Three Pittsburgh Steelers starters did not practice Wednesday because of injury, but defensive lineman Tyson Alualu and receivers Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster all are expected to return to practice Thursday. During his weekly news conference the day prior, coach Mike Tomlin had grouped Johnson and Alualu together with linebacker...
Ben Roethlisberger casts critical eye on first 2 starts of Steelers’ season
Ben Roethlisberger didn’t don a helmet and practice with his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates, but that doesn’t mean he totally took it easy Wednesday on his customary day off. Still unhappy with his performance three days after the Steelers beat the Denver Broncos, 26-16, Roethlisberger spent much of the practice session...
Gov. Wolf’s veto of House Bill 2787 stands as state House override falls short
To the dismay of many high school sports fans, Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of House Bill 2787 will stand. The state House on Wednesday fell short of the two-thirds majority vote needed to override Wolf’s veto with only 130 in favor of the override and 71 opposed. The House had...
Pirates introduce reward-based benefits program for season-ticket holders in 2021
The Pittsburgh Pirates introduced Wednesday an enhanced, reward-based benefits program called Pirates Points for season-ticket holders for the 2021 season. Pirates season-ticket holders can earn points “based on longevity and commitment level” that can be redeemed for discounts at the clubhouse store, ticket discounts, free subscriptions to MLB.TV, a flexible...
Trade talk surrounding Penguins’ Patric Hornqvist intensifies
Trade winds are swirling around popular Pittsburgh Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist. Kevin Weekes of the NHL Network reported Wednesday afternoon that the Penguins were trading Hornqvist to the Florida Panthers for defenseman Mike Matheson. Later in the day, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the deal was “falling apart” thanks to potential...
Rivers Casino, Penguins extend partnership to place sportsbook in PPG Paints Arena
When PPG Paints Arena re-opens its doors — post-covid — for Pittsburgh Penguins games, fans will be able to watch while simultaneously placing bets on the outcome. Rivers Casino and BetRivers.com have finalized an exclusive multi-year agreement to become the Official Casino and Sportsbook of the Penguins. The deal includes...
Gale Sayers, Bears Hall of Fame running back, dies at 77
CHICAGO — Hall of Famer Gale Sayers, who made his mark as one of the NFL’s best all-purpose running backs and was later celebrated for his enduring friendship with a Chicago Bears teammate with cancer, has died. He was 77. Nicknamed “The Kansas Comet” and considered among the best open-field...
Mark Madden: NHL’s target restart date is unrealistic; March is more likely
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ offseason got frisky quick with the acquisition of winger Kasperi Kapanen from Toronto, the re-signing of forward Jared McCann (who would have been a restricted free agent) and the reported (but as yet unconfirmed) trade of Patric Hornqvist to Florida. Goaltender Matt Murray is on the trade...
Stanley Cup Faceoff: Stars, Lightning showing value of draws
EDMONTON, Alberta — When Ron Francis knew something was working on faceoffs, he would experiment and not use his best moves right away. That was usually during the regular season. In the playoffs and in the Stanley Cup Final, the Hall of Fame center knows players can’t afford not to...
First Call: Pirates may ‘earn’ MLB top draft choice; NFL mask fines; former Penguins are NHL buyout targets
Wednesday’s “First Call” shows us that the Pirates may be in line for Kumar Rocker atop the MLB draft after all. We try to figure out when the NBA and NHL may restart for next season. And the NFL keeps handing out mask fines for coaches. Ready to Rock? ESPN’s...
This date in sports history: Sept. 23
1926 — Gene Tunney beats Jack Dempsey with a 10-round decision to retain the world heavyweight title. 1952 — Rocky Marciano knocks out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th round to retain the world heavyweight title. 1979 — St. Louis’ Lou Brock steals his 938th base to break Billy Hamilton’s...
Texans coping with DeAndre Hopkins’ absence same way Steelers are moving on from Antonio Brown
This team had a generational talent at wide receiver who was suddenly traded during the offseason. Now that franchise is trying to figure out if any of the other receivers on the roster are capable of being a legit No.1 target. No, I’m not flashing back to the 2019 Pittsburgh...
Kordell Stewart on Steelers days: ‘Nothing to put my head down about … I’d do it exactly the same way’
Few athletes had as volatile of an existence in Pittsburgh as former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart. Wild popularity and praise upon his arrival. To scorn, criticism and failure. Then a renaissance. Then he was discarded for Tommy Maddox. Now he’s perhaps better understood nearly two decades after his departure at...
Jacob Stallings hits walk-off home run to help Pirates beat Cubs, snap 5-game losing streak
Steven Brault finished the season on a high note, and Jacob Stallings provided the big finish. After Brault pitched seven scoreless innings, only to see the Pittsburgh Pirates blow a two-run lead, Stallings smacked an Andrew Chafin fastball into the left-field seats for a walk-off home run to lift the...
After Big Ten announcement, Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman wants to opt back inVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman decided to opt back in for the 2020 football season in light of the Big Ten’s resumption of fall competition, contingent on the star junior gaining the necessary eligibility clearance. Coach P.J. Fleck confirmed Tuesday that Bateman, who won the conference’s receiver of...
Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons opts out in final week of seasonVideo
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shortstop Andrelton Simmons has opted out of the remainder of the Los Angeles Angels’ season. The Angels announced the four-time Gold Glove-winning shortstop’s decision Tuesday before they faced the San Diego Padres. Los Angeles (24-31) still is technically in the playoff race with five games left in...
Which WPIAL football team will reach a milestone next?
History was made in Week 2 of the WPIAL football season as two district teams picked up milestone victories. Greensburg Salem notched program win No. 700 in a 13-12 victory over Knoch. “The feeling at the end of the Knoch game was a mixed emotion,” Greensburg Salem coach Dave Keefer...
Belmont winner Tiz the Law won’t run in Preakness
Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law won’t run in next month’s Preakness, spoiling what would have been a highly anticipated rematch with Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. The Preakness on Oct. 3 at Pimlico concludes this year’s reconfigured Triple Crown series, which was run out of order because of the coronavirus...
Chicago Bulls hire Billy Donovan as coach, replacing Jim Boylen
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls hired Billy Donovan as their new coach Tuesday. The 55-year-old Donovan spent the last five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He replaces Jim Boylen, who was fired after the Bulls finished 22-43 and were one of the eight teams that didn’t qualify for the...
Tim Dahlberg: Big night for Las Vegas Raiders, their new hometownVideo
LAS VEGAS — As the light outside faded, the glittering casinos on the Las Vegas Strip came to life Monday evening through the giant lanai doors in the new home of the Raiders. If the backdrop was spectacular, so was the scene on the field. There were the Raiders playing...
