Sports category, Page 2161
Steelers’ Maurkice Pouncey: ‘This team’s going to be special’Video
Emboldened by wins in their past two games and with a chance to pull to within a game of a playoff spot with a victory, the Pittsburgh Steelers are beginning to embrace the potential of a season that teetered on the edge of irrelevancy earlier this month. Once 1-4, the...
Gerrit Cole moves swiftly to distance himself from Astros
Gerrit Cole might have enjoyed his two seasons as a member of the Houston Astros, getting to the World Series and all. But now the former Pittsburgh Pirates first-round draft choice and free-agent-to-be looks like he’s ready to try a third team. Gerrit Cole, an impending free agent, was resistant...
Steelers LB Anthony Chickillo removed from NFL commissioner’s exempt list
Steelers linebacker Anthony Chickillo was removed from the NFL commissioner’s exempt list Thursday, allowing him to return to practice. Chickillo, 26, was arrested Oct. 20 by state police on accusations he assaulted his girlfriend at Nemacolin Woodlands in Wharton Township. The NFL placed Chickillo on the reserve/commissioner exempt list three...
Pennsylvania’s Sunday hunting bill clears last big hurdle
There was a moment of doubt, for sure. But it looks as if expanded Sunday hunting is coming to Pennsylvania in 2020. On Wednesday, members of the House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 147 by a vote of 144-54. That was one day later than expected. Supporters expected things to...
First Call: Oilers’ James Neal is hot, Colts hurting, plenty of Bryce Harper mockery
Thursday’s “First Call” features another goal for James Neal, news from Indianapolis’ training room, Baker Mayfield avoids a fine, and Bryce Harper mockery. New Look Neal James Neal is heating up again. And just in time for his return to Pittsburgh. The high-scoring winger will join the rest of his...
Steelers RB Benny Snell reportedly out 2-3 weeks after knee surgery
It has been known Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Benny Snell suffered a knee injury during Monday’s 27-14 win against the Miami Dolphins. Now details are coming out. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Snell had surgery to repair a meniscus. That could keep him sidelined two to three weeks. #Steelers...
Tim Benz, Seth Rorabaugh preview Penguins vs. Oilers, potential Evgeni Malkin return
The Penguins don’t play a lot this week. But what a fun week it is anyway. They have two home games at PPG Paints Arena. They slaughtered the hated Philadelphia Flyers, 7-1, on Tuesday. Now they get Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers at 1 p.m. Saturday for a rare...
U mad, bro? Readers want Evgeni Malkin traded, Joe Haden gone, Bob Nutting exposed
We’re all over the map in this week’s “U mad, bro?” Readers want Bob Nutting exposed, Joe Haden gone and Evgeni Malkin traded. Aside from that, no one has a strong opinion on much of anything, I guess. This week I posted a column featuring my questions and answers with...
Tim Benz: 2 juicy matchups will dictate Steelers-Colts outcomeVideo
Good on good. Strength on strength. Ones on ones. Any phrase the players used Wednesday afternoon to describe the matchups, they were right. Sunday’s Steelers-Colts game at Heinz Field will come down to who wins two specific battles where opposing sides of the ball excel. And one bleeds into the...
Nationals top Astros in Game 7 to win 1st World Series titleVideo
HOUSTON — Almost out of contention in May, champs in October. Howie Kendrick, Anthony Rendon and the Washington Nationals completed their amazing comeback journey — fittingly with one last late rally on the road. In Game 7 of the World Series, no less. Kendrick and Rendon homered in the seventh...
Road warrior Nationals beat Astros in Game 7 for 1st World Series titleVideo
HOUSTON — Almost out of contention in May. Champs in October. Howie Kendrick, Anthony Rendon and the Washington Nationals completed their amazing comeback journey — fittingly with one final, late rally on the road. In Game 7 of the World Series, no less. Kendrick and Rendon homered in the seventh...
‘Frustrated’ Browns QB Baker Mayfield storms away from interviewVideo
BEREA, Ohio — Baker Mayfield’s frustration finally boiled over. The losing is beating him. Annoyed with a reporter’s line of questioning about a drive at the end of the first half in last week’s loss at New England, the Browns fiery quarterback abruptly ended his weekly interview session Wednesday and...
Eagles’ Avonte Maddox ready for return after scary injury
Avonte Maddox said he made a one-handed interception for a touchdown in practice Wednesday. It was kind of a big deal for a player who couldn’t move after teammate Andrew Sendejo accidentally blasted him on Sept. 26 at Green Bay. “That felt good,” Maddox said after practice, as he and...
Rory McIlroy looking to end great year on big noteVideo
SHANGHAI — Already the FedEx Cup champion and PGA Tour Player of the Year, Rory McIlroy has found plenty of motivation toward the back end of the year. Most of it is geared toward reaping rewards next season. McIlroy is coming off a tie for third last week in Japan,...
Horse racing’s tragic, wild ride culminates at Breeders’ Cup
ARCADIA, Calif. — Thirty horse deaths over the winter at Santa Anita. The first disqualification for interference in Kentucky Derby history. A horse tossing his jockey at the start of the Preakness and running around the track rider-less. Six more deaths at Santa Anita this fall. A tragic, wild and...
Pitt shows off new-look team in exhibition rout of Slippery Rock
Eric Hamilton had only one word to describe the first half of his first game as a Pitt basketball player: “Ridiculous,” he said, a look of disgust on his face. It didn’t matter Pitt was on its way Wednesday night to a 98-47 exhibition game victory against Slippery Rock at...
Determining athletes’ worth front and center after NCAA rulingVideo
How much are a college athlete’s name, image and likeness worth? And who would want to pay for them? The questions are front and center now that the NCAA, pressured by individual states that started acting on their own, has taken a major step toward allowing athletes to make money...
West Virginia faces another tough test at No. 12 Baylor
WACO, Texas — With No. 12 Baylor undefeated and alone atop the Big 12 less than two years after a 1-11 season, West Virginia’s return to Waco provides a reminder to when the Bears started turning the corner. Just flashback to quarterback Charlie Brewer’s first significant action, in a game...
Astros manager AJ Hinch: Players should have fun, but respect gameVideo
HOUSTON — Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch is all for letting the young kids play — and play loud. He also wants them to respect the game. Alex Bregman, the Astros third baseman who is one of the young stars MLB has highlighted in its ad campaigns trying to reach...
Penguins forward Sam Lafferty knows he belongs in NHL
Sam Lafferty is an NHL player. That notion has been verified through a 10-game apprenticeship in which he has scored six points. But will he remain in the NHL? That is up for debate. With Evgeni Malkin on the verge of returning from injury, the Penguins will have to decide...
Mark Madden: Pirates owner Bob Nutting’s babble is worthless without action
The rebranding of the Pittsburgh Pirates sailed through calm waters when owner Bob Nutting met with the media Monday. The lure was cast. The media bit. Fished in, just like “Wayne’s World.” The changes made will prove cosmetic. Mere rebranding. Business will be conducted like always: Profit über alles. I’m...
Lofty rankings for UPJ wrestlers Chris Eddins, Devin Austin
Two area wrestlers who were All-Americans at Pitt-Johnstown last year will open the season ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II Super Region I. Senior Chris Eddins, a Greensburg Salem graduate and two-time national champion, is No. 1 at 149 pounds, while redshirt senior Devin Austin (Penn-Trafford) has the top...
Evgeni Malkin hopes to boost Penguins’ sputtering power play
At one time, seven goals meant quite a lot in Pittsburgh. Particularly if you enjoyed chili. A generation or two ago, anytime the Penguins scored seven or more goals at home, which was a regular occurrence during the prime of Mario Lemieux’s career, local participating Wendy’s restaurants distributed free bowls...
Since Minkah Fitzpatrick acquisition, Steelers have been much better vs. tight endsVideo
When discussing the Pittsburgh Steelers’ upcoming matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged his team’s perceived shortcomings. “We have had our issues with tight ends,” Tomlin said Tuesday. The Steelers have — in the past. But have they turned the corner when it comes to facing tight ends?...
Steelers’ Jaylen Samuels ready to take over starting RB role if needed
The Pittsburgh Steelers have gotten creative with how they have used running back Jaylen Samuels this season. He has lined up wide, in the slot, inline as a tight end and even behind center in the wildcat formation. He has caught and thrown passes. And, yes, he has carried the...
