Sports category, Page 2227
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson returns to practice after sustaining concussion vs. Browns
The sight of Diontae Johnson on the practice field Wednesday, less than a week after he suffered a concussion on a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Cleveland Browns, was a welcome one for Pittsburgh Steelers teammate James Washington. “It was good to see that,” Washington said. “He’s an asset to us....
No place like home for Steelers’ Tuzar Skipper as he embraces return
Tuzar Skipper never wanted to leave the Pittsburgh Steelers, so you can imagine his elation when they brought him back to the organization this week. For the first time in two-and-a-half months, Skipper had a locker at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, and he made his feelings evident as he talked...
7-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson to retire after 2020
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jimmie Johnson sat down next to Jeff Gordon at a 2001 driver meeting and asked the champion if he had time to offer any career advice. Gordon was so impressed with the fellow California native that he encouraged Rick Hendrick to start a team built specifically for...
Jets’ Le’Veon Bell rips NFL for ‘random’ 5th HGH test
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Former Pittsburgh Steeler Le’Veon Bell is throwing a flag on the NFL’s drug testing policy. The New York Jets running back said Wednesday he has been unfairly targeted by the league after taking a fifth test this season for performance enhancers and criticizes the NFL’s policy....
Mark Madden: Penguins can’t get out of their own way
The Pittsburgh Penguins have played terrific. Structurally and fundamentally, they’ve been at their best since the 2016 and ’17 Stanley Cup seasons. Their defense and penalty-kill are top-notch. Their speed and energy are high. They are 11-7-3 and hold the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot despite a crippling slew of...
Patric Hornqvist prepared to return to Penguins lineup Thursday at IslandersVideo
Patric Hornqvist warned reporters after practice Wednesday that he was going to limit questioning to less than 2 minutes. True to his word, the Pittsburgh Penguins veteran forward politely but firmly ended his media session after less than 100 seconds. Fitting for a player who often only needs a few...
Steelers’ Mason Rudolph regrets not ‘keeping my cool’ in incident with Myles GarrettVideo
Quarterback Mason Rudolph accepted responsibility for his role in the melee last Thursday with Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Myles Garrett that marred the end of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 21-7 loss at FirstEnergy Stadium. Rudolph held an impromptu media session in a team video studio before the team walkthrough Wednesday morning....
Andy Murray wins in his return to the Davis CupVideo
MADRID — Andy Murray had been in a similar position before, struggling and needing a big comeback to pull off an important victory. And like he’s done so many times in his career, he again came through with a big rally, this time to give Britain a point in his...
Kevin Gorman’s Who runs the North?: Steelers, Browns battle for 2nd place, playoff spotVideo
As Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens run away with the AFC North, the interesting development is the battle for second place and whether that’s worthy of a wild-card berth. The Cleveland Browns closed the gap on the Pittsburgh Steelers with their victory Thursday night, but it came at a...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin’s comments on Myles Garrett triggers rage from Browns fans
During his weekly press conference Tuesday, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made the following comments about Myles Garrett swinging his helmet at Mason Rudolph in last Thursday’s game. He was asked if it was at all a “teachable moment” for his players. “I don’t know that we did anything to...
Red Sox writer shares what Pirates fans should know about Ben Cherington
If you are a Pirates fan looking for a guy to give you great background on the Boston Red Sox during Ben Cherington’s time there, check out Alex Speier. He has covered the Red Sox for 17 years. Speier currently works for the Boston Globe and NESN. He also wrote...
First Call: Antonio Brown’s ‘sincere’ apologies shouldn’t stop with Robert KraftVideo
Antonio Brown is clearly trying to worm his way back into the National Football League. Specifically, by trying to get back into the good graces of the New England Patriots and team owner Robert Kraft. Brown posted this… uh… “heartfelt” apology to Robert Kraft for the early season chaos he...
Tim Benz: Penalty ruins Bryan Rust’s night in Penguins loss against IslandersVideo
What a way to ruin a night. Bryan Rust scored a goal again Tuesday night against the New York Islanders. That’s his seventh in 10 games this season. The Penguins winger nearly assisted on another one before it was waved off for offsides. He was a genuine offensive presence all...
Empty Thoughts: Islanders 5, Penguins 4 (OT)
Observations from the Penguins’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Islanders: When the NHL instituted three-on-three overtime prior to the 2015-16 season in the name of avoiding those unappetizing shootouts, it was automatically assumed the skilled and fleet Penguins would benefit. And sure enough, they did. In the first three seasons...
MLB commissioner says penalties could be severe if Astros guilty of sign stealing
ARLINGTON, Texas — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred hopes the investigation into sign stealing by the Houston Astros will be complete by next season and said he has authority to impose discipline beyond the loss of amateur draft picks. Oakland pitcher Mike Fiers said when he was with Houston in 2017,...
Penn State could provide test for ‘Blowout Buckeyes’
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State coach Ryan Day has been saying all season how he wants to see how his team plays when a game is tight, nasty and intense in the fourth quarter. That hasn’t happened yet. Through 10 games, Day has had the luxury of the Buckeyes running...
Penguins blow late lead, fall to Islanders in overtimeVideo
The crown jewel of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ modest accomplishments through all of 21 games of the 2019-20 season has been their penalty kill. Entering Tuesday, it was the second-best penalty-killing unit in the NHL. Much of that success could be attributed to how infrequently that squad had been utilized. Prior...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Saint Vincent freshman double dips
Some athletes play two sports in separate seasons. Saint Vincent freshman Sara Basala not only plays two sports in the same season, but she also found time to play two in one day. At the conclusion of the Bearcats’ final women’s soccer game of the season Nov. 1, she went...
Big 2nd half from Lamar Stevens gets unbeaten Penn State past Bucknell
STATE COLLEGE — Lamar Stevens didn’t like the pace Penn State was playing at early Tuesday, so the Nittany Lions forward took it upon himself to speed things up. Stevens scored 21 of 27 points in the second half, and Penn State pulled away from Bucknell, 98-70, after leading by...
Pitt-Greensburg women’s basketball ‘locked-in’ this season
Whatever the outcome, the Pitt-Greensburg women’s basketball team will do it together. Win, lose or draw in regulation, UPG’s team-oriented approach won’t be compromised, said coach Hayley Schaetzle, a fiercely loyal and young mentor to the Bobcats players, many of whom were recruited by former coach Erin Eaton. “We’re incredibly...
QB Jarret Doege gives WVU hopes for bowl berthVideo
West Virginia’s chances for an elusive bowl berth rest with a quarterback who wasn’t a significant part of the offense a few games ago. Bowling Green transfer Jarret Doege delivered last week in his first start when West Virginia needed a spark at Kansas State to end a five-game losing...
No changes atop College Football Playoff rankings; Penn State 8thVideo
The College Football Playoff rankings were unchanged at the top this week, with LSU first followed by Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia. The selection committee’s third weekly rankings had little movement in the top 10, with Alabama fifth followed by Oregon, Utah, Penn State, Oklahoma and Minnesota. The committee could...
Jeff Capel adds three prospects to Pitt basketball program
Pitt basketball coach Jeff Capel received signed letters of intent Tuesday from three high school prospects who are due to enroll next year. The common thread among Max Amadasun, Noah Collier and John Hugley is no one is shorter than 6-foot-8. “We are adding three high-level talents with a great...
Members of Congress write to MLB commissioner over ‘radical’ plan to eliminate minor league teams
Saving minor league baseball might be one of the few things that Democrats and Republicans can agree upon these days. On Tuesday, over 100 members of the House of Representatives signed a letter expressing their “firm opposition” to MLB’s “radical” restructuring of the minor leagues. The proposal includes the elimination...
Injuries to seniors give pair of Pitt receivers bigger rolesVideo
Jason Pinnock’s eyes lit up when the conversation turned to Jared Wayne, the freshman wide receiver from Canada by way of Clearwater, Fla. Actually, it was a remarkable reaction from Pitt’s junior cornerback when you consider Wayne has a mere five receptions for 47 yards and has played in only...
