Tim Benz stories, Page 131

There’s one continuing narrative about the Penguins preliminary round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens. “The Canadiens have a chance to steal the series if Carey Price stands on his head in goal!” Sure. That could be true. But our TribLive hockey beat writer, Seth Rorabaugh, has a different theory...

During the Pirates’ rebooted training camp at PNC Park, starting pitcher Mitch Keller identified two specific goals to hone his arsenal. • Develop a changeup. • Get the spin and movement on his fastball to equal its often-electric velocity. So far, so good to start Year 2 of his big-league...

If you are a Pirates fan who has ever been to PNC Park, you know who Joe Klimchak is. You may not know his last name off the top of your head. But you know his face. And his voice. Klimchak is the longtime Pirates in-game host at the stadium....

Wednesday’s “First Call” checks on Antonio Brown’s latest plea to get back into the NFL. Is he appealing to a former team once again? We also talk about future plans for a Steelers draft choice and a former coach. Plus, a look at how the Montreal Canadiens did in their...

Steelers and Pirates fans shouldn’t be mad about anything. Because this week’s “U mad, bro?” is coming a day early. I was looking at the rest of the week’s schedule and realized it was best if we just got our rage out a little earlier than normal. Because, apparently, a...

Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese didn’t lack for honesty Monday in Toronto. The winger was asked about the potential of his line matching up against the top-scoring unit of the Montreal Canadiens in the preliminary-round series between the clubs. That unit likely will be Phillip Danault (47 points) flanked by Tomas...

Curiosity. That’s what drew me so deeply into 2020’s coronavirus-delayed first weekend of Major League Baseball. Well, that, and desperation for any sort of live sports whatsoever. Just having the games back is what mattered most. Fans in the stands or not. I wasn’t eagerly looking forward to what “Pandemic...

For the second day in a row, “First Call” takes a look at another sports figure with Pittsburgh ties sounding off about kneeling during the anthem. On Monday, it was Aliquippa and Pitt legend Mike Ditka. The former Chicago Bears coach told TMZ, “If you can’t respect our national anthem,...

For “First Call” on Monday, former Steelers star Antonio Brown is a father again. A pro sports coaching peer is challenging Mike Ditka on his anthem-kneeling stance. Major League Baseball’s ghost runner rule has already ripped a hole in the space-time continuum. ‘Iron Mike’ is mad Pro Football Hall of...

The first weekend of Major League Baseball in the coronavirus era was exactly as advertised — not just for the local team but league-wide. From an MLB perspective, viewers across the country quickly got used to cardboard cutout fans, manufactured crowd noise and runners beginning extra innings at second base....

As the Penguins head to the Toronto hub for the NHL playoffs, two major questions hang over the franchise. How healthy, really, is Sidney Crosby? And who will be the starting goaltender? Well, who will be the starting goaltender by the end of the postseason, at least? Mark Madden and...

I’m not sure how good of an arm former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell has, but I bet he could spin a decent halfback-option pass or two for the New York Jets if needed. After Saturday, though, I am sure he can throw stones from a glass house. Over the...

Baseball is back! So that means fantasy sports players have their hobby back as well. What better day to have Jeff Erickson join us from RotoWire to look at the start of the Major League Baseball season. We talk about how crucial it is for fantasy owners to watch teams...

Friday’s “First Call” tackles three big topics before we hit the weekend. College sports gambling. Why the Toronto Blue Jays were snubbed in Pittsburgh. And Antonio Brown — for perhaps the first time in his life — may have a point. When Himmothy is right, Himmothy is right Here’s something...

All week at “Breakfast with Benz,” we’ve been tackling the biggest issues surrounding Pittsburgh’s three pro sports teams as our region’s franchises return to play after a four-month absence thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. The Steelers will be the last team back. That’s if the NFL can get off the...

Pro sports and college football coaches are dealing with the pitfalls of trying to launch a season during the coronavirus outbreak. So are college basketball coaches. But they are also doing so while still coping with the premature ending to their previous seasons as a result of the same pandemic....

The Penguins are taking part in the rebooted NHL playoff format. And it’s not with the goal of soaking in Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition and the scenery of Edmonton. No. The goal is to win a sixth Stanley Cup. The Penguins have a good chance of doing so in 2020...

“Return to play” must be a real emotional lightning bolt. Because we’ve got people fired up about all three of Pittsburgh’s pro sports teams. Readers are ready to pounce on Antonio Brown’s “retirement,” the state stopping the Toronto Blue Jays from playing at PNC Park, Matt Murray’s glove hand, and...

Wednesday’s “First Call” looks at an interesting question posed about the Pittsburgh Steelers by NFL.com: Who will be this year’s most improved player on the team? Their answer is a good one. In this case, however, let’s not overlook the obvious. NFL Network analytics expert Cynthia Frelund posted a column...

Two of Pittsburgh’s pro sports teams are on their way back to competition after the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The Pirates open their season on Friday in St. Louis. The Penguins are supposed to face the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference hub city of Toronto on July 28. That’s also when...

Wait. What’s the proposed trade? The Pittsburgh Penguins straight up for the Toronto Blue Jays? Sorry, Toronto. You are going to have to do better than that. Perhaps if you still had Kawhi Leonard on the Raptors, we could talk. But for now, don’t you think you should at least...

So, you’re concerned about Penguins goalie Matt Murray. You’ve heard he’s been sluggish in training camp. You haven’t been wild about his regular-season performance the last few years. You think he may not be back in Pittsburgh next season anyway because of his contract situation. And you are starting to...

Our long wait for the return of Pittsburgh’s professional sports scene is hopefully coming to an end. The Pirates are playing warmup games. Their regular-season debut is slated for Friday in St. Louis. The Penguins’ first exhibition game is July 28 against the Philadelphia Flyers. That’s also the day the...

Antonio Brown is making it sound like he’s done playing football. The former Steelers All-Pro hinted at retirement on Twitter Monday. For Tuesday’s “First Call,” we analyze where Brown may be going with this approach and some of the online reaction to his “announcement.” Mr. Big Chest made some big...

Monday’s “First Call” features a Twitter blast against the Cleveland Browns from Steelers offensive lineman Zach Banner. There’s a strange loophole in the NFL’s coronavirus opt-out plan. A golf legend beat covid-19. And a familiar baseball name with local ties is now a free agent. Zach’s zinger Steelers offensive tackle...