Sports category, Page 2505
Pitt’s Paris Ford growing up, finding comfort level at safety
At another time, in another venue, perhaps when the weather’s warmer, Pat Narduzzi will worry about Paris Ford’s interception total, pass breakups and sacks off a safety blitz. But on the first day of spring drills Wednesday on the South Side, Pitt’s coach was more interested in the two extra...
Michigan’s Bush, LSU’s Williams the latest mock picks for Steelers
With the NFL Combine in the rearview mirror, some national draft analysts have revamped their mock drafts for the Pittsburgh Steelers. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has the Steelers losing out on the top two inside linebackers available in the draft, and he predicts they will take LSU cornerback Greedy Williams...
Bryce Harper makes recruiting pitch to Mike Trout, and the Angels are not happy
At his introductory news conference Saturday in Clearwater, Florida, after he signed a 13-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, Bryce Harper said that his relatively low annual salary of approximately $25.4 million would allow his new team “to bring some other guys in.” He mentioned at the time “another guy...
Heading into critical home-and-home series, Penguins have Blue Jackets’ number
There’s a big home-and-home series that could have a massive impact on the Eastern Conference playoff race coming up in the next few days. On Thursday, the hammer hosts the nail. On Saturday, the windshield visits the bug. OK, that’s not what it says on the official NHL schedule. It...
Rickie Fowler paying tribute to Arnold Palmer at Bay Hill
PGA Tour player Rickie Fowler once again will personally honor the late, great Arnold Palmer this week at The King’s signature event, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla. Fowler will team with his sponsor, Puma, and the Arnold Palmer Foundation to pay homage...
Pirates prospect Cole Tucker adds charisma to the competition at shortstop
Cole Tucker compared his first foray at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ major league camp to being not just the new kid in class but the youngest. Last year, the shortstop prospect sat wide-eyed in the corner of the clubhouse, eavesdropping on the conversations of veterans David Freese, Jordy Mercer, Josh Harrison...
Report: Steelers could have deal to trade Antonio Brown by Friday
The Pittsburgh Steelers could have a deal in place to trade All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown by Friday, according to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Teams that have spoken to the Steelers about a potential Antonio Brown trade have been told that a deal is expected to be in...
Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley previews Atlantic Hockey tournament
Our Sided.co “Hockey Week” podcasts continue with Derek Schooley. The Robert Morris men’s hockey coach previews his team’s first-round playoff series against Holy Cross (10-19-5, 10-14-4 AHA) this weekend at the RMU Island Sports Center. The ninth-seeded Crusaders come to Neville Island for the second time this season. They split...
First call: Ravens cut Mike Tomlin-favorite Eric Weddle; Bruins help Penguins
A Mike Tomlin favorite from Baltimore is hitting free agency. The Bruins helped the Penguins…a little bit. And Bryce Harper is so rich he may think that he can buy the definition of “tampering” out of the Oxford dictionary. We want Weddle? The Ravens released Eric Weddle. The Steelers could...
Analysis: Replacing Jason Witten with Pat McAfee on ‘Monday Night Football’ is right move
Let’s hope the “Monday Night Football” decision makers learned a lesson from the Jason Witten fiasco. Last week it was announced that Witten was going to leave the broadcast booth to go back to the Dallas Cowboys. I have to admit, as much as Witten struggled with the job, I...
Tim Benz: Gushing over Jake Guentzel’s OT goal and what it means for Penguins
When it comes to praising the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin-era Penguins, as a fanbase — and media corps — we can get a little … What’s the word I’m looking for? Gushy? Effusive? Flowery? Fawning? Yeah. Any of those fit. Big picture, given the franchise’s accomplishments over those years, that applause...
Penguins fans show support for slumping Phil Kessel with ovation
Phil Kessel has been a popular player in Pittsburgh since joining the Penguins in a 2015 trade. On Tuesday night, fans at PPG Paints Arena showed just how much they adore the affable goal-scoring right wing with a remarkable second-period ovation. Kessel is mired in a career-long 16-game goal drought....
Frigid temperatures chase Pitt inside for start of spring drillsVideo
Temperatures were in the teens and the last game of 2018 was only about two months ago, but football season began Wednesday morning on the South Side with the first day of Pitt’s spring drills. The 88-man team moved inside, of course, where players went through basic drills, many without...
Pirates say it’s ‘likely’ Gregory Polanco could take at-bats in spring game
The chances of Pittsburgh Pirates rightfielder Gregory Polanco making an appearance in a game this spring is looking “more and more likely,” team director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday. Polanco is recovering from surgery after injuring his left (throwing) shoulder in an awkward slide last September. Adam Berry...
Penn State’s Rivers, Holmberg pick up track & field hardware
Penn State pulled a sweep in the women’s regional track & field awards. Nittany Lions Danae Rivers (track) and Maddie Holmberg (field) were named U.S Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association athletes of the year in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Both women will compete in the NCAA Division I...
Restricted free agents Finney, Grimble reportedly receive contract tenders
The Pittsburgh Steelers took steps toward retaining restricted free agents B.J. Finney and Xavier Grimble when they reportedly made tenders to each player Wednesday. According to separate NFL Network reports, the Steelers offered Finney, a 27-year-old guard/center, a $3.095 million second-round tender. Any team can try to sign Finney but...
Penn State surge continues with win at Rutgers
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Lamar Stevens scored 18 points to lead Penn State to a 66-65 win over Rutgers on Wednesday before 8,000 at Rutgers Athletic Center. A second-chance layup from Myles Johnson with 1 minute, 35 seconds to play brought Rutgers to within 66-65. Rutgers had several chances down the...
Previewing critical back-to-back Penguins-Blue Jackets games
Somerset native Bob McElligott is the play-by-play man for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He joins me for the Thursday Sided.co “Hockey Week” podcast. The Penguins and Columbus have enormous back-to-back games coming up. These contests Thursday and Saturday are huge in the Metropolitan Division standings and may go a long...
Official: Santa Anita cancels racing after 21 horse deaths
ARCADIA, Calif. — Santa Anita has canceled racing indefinitely to re-examine its dirt surface after the deaths of 21 horses in the last two months. Tim Ritvo, chief operating officer of The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that racing won’t be held this...
Jessica Mendoza hired as Mets adviser but keeps ESPN job
NEW YORK — Jessica Mendoza was hired as a baseball operations adviser for the New York Mets on Tuesday while remaining a broadcaster for ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball,” part of an increasing number of TV commentators who also work for teams. She will be involved in player evaluation, roster construction,...
Penguins’ Matt Cullen taken aback by 1,500th game celebration
Pittsburgh Penguins center Matt Cullen knew the team was planning a pregame celebration to commemorate his 1,500th career NHL game Tuesday night. The scope of it surprised even him. Every Penguins player wore a No. 7 jersey for warm-ups in a tribute to their popular veteran teammate. His wife and...
5 defensive players and kicker get franchise tags
NEW YORK — Five defensive players, all premier pass rushers, and 49ers kicker Robbie Gould, were given franchise tags by their teams before Tuesday’s NFL deadline. Ends DeMarcus Lawrence of Dallas and Frank Clark of Seattle, linebackers Dee Ford of Kansas City and Jadeveon Clowney of Houston, and DT Grady...
Pitt loses 13th straight, assured of being alone in last place in ACC
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — After the best game of his career, Miami Hurricanes senior Anthony Lawrence said the moment he will remember most occurred during pregame introductions. “Walking out with my parents, I’m not that emotional, and I wasn’t about to cry but I felt it,” he said. Instead of...
Duquesne’s Conor Richardson enjoying her final days as a basketball player
With four women poised to sign professional contracts and another entering the real world after the season, Duquesne coach Dan Burt came up with a nickname for his five most experienced players: #4prosandanMBA. Burt said Chassidy Omogrosso (Blackhawk), Kadri-Ann Lass, Julijana Vojinovic and Eniko Kuttor will continue their careers professionally...
Jake Guentzel’s breakaway goal in overtime leads Penguins past PanthersVideo
Locked in a tight battle with a game Florida Panthers club Tuesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins needed a certain “it factor” to secure the two points in the standings they so desperately craved. Jake Guentzel provided it. Guentzel skated under a long, lob pass from Sidney Crosby and scored his...
