Sports category, Page 407
Prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki says he intends to sign with Los Angeles Dodgers
OS ANGELES — Prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki says in an Instagram post he intends to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. A 23-year-old right-hander whose fastball tops 100 mph, Sasaki will join fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a move that many baseball...
Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers doubtful against Bills because of a knee injury
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is listed as doubtful for Sunday night’s playoff game at Buffalo because of a knee injury. Flowers was hurt in the regular-season finale against Cleveland, and the second-year receiver missed last weekend’s 28-14 victory over Pittsburgh to open the postseason....
Miami Dolphins to play in NFL’s 1st game in Spain at home of Real Madrid
The Miami Dolphins will play in the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Spain when Madrid hosts a matchup next season at iconic Bernabeu Stadium, the league announced Friday. The Dolphins will be the designated “home” team at Real Madrid’s venue, which features a soccer pitch that retracts to make way...
Jets interview Vikings’ Brian Flores, Josh McCown
The New York Jets interviewed Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on Friday for their head coach vacancy. The trio increased the list to 15 coaching candidates to meet with the Jets. The 43-year-old Flores has been...
Mets and lefty reliever A.J. Minter agree to 2-year contract
NEW YORK — Turning their attention to the bullpen, the New York Mets have agreed with free agent left-hander A.J. Minter on a two-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement...
Falcons interview Steelers assistant Grady Brown for defensive coordinator jobVideo
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons on Friday announced they interviewed Pittsburgh Steelers secondary coach Grady Brown as the team continued its search for a defensive coordinator. Brown has coached the Steelers secondary for four years. Brown became the fifth candidate the Falcons have announced interviewing. Green Bay passing...
Shohei Ohtani is giving $500,000 for fire relief. Here’s how other LA sports figures are helping.
LOS ANGELES — The local sports community has reached out to help those impacted by the massive wildfires that have devastated parts of Los Angeles County for more than a week. The area’s 12 major professional sports teams — Dodgers, Angels, Lakers, Clippers, Sparks, Rams, Chargers, Kings, Ducks, Galaxy, LAFC...
Penn State’s veteran offensive line appears to be team strength heading into 2025
Penn State’s offensive line may be its strongest unit heading into 2025. The running back room, with returns from Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, certainly has an argument, but the big boys up front were a strength in 2024 and are only losing one player from the regular rotation. Starting...
NCAA adds women’s wrestling as its 91st and latest championship sport
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The NCAA added women’s wrestling as a sport Friday, bringing its total number of championships to 91. The sanctioning body approved the addition at the annual convention in Nashville, Tenn. Women’s wrestling had been under the “emerging sports for women” banner. Now, female athletes from Division I,...
Pirates acquire righty reliever Chase Shugart from Red Sox
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired right-handed relief pitcher Chase Shugart from the Red Sox on Friday. In exchange, the Pirates sent fellow righty Matt McShane to Boston. Shugart, 28, was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Jan. 15. Last year, he made his MLB debut with Boston, appearing in...
Steelers rookie class showed collective promise, but much of it was diminished by injuries
If a grade were to be handed out for the collective rookie season of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 draft class, perhaps the most appropriate letter grade would be an “I.” And not necessarily for “incomplete,” though that could probably apply as well. Try “I” for “injury-affected.” The first-round pick was...
Pitt Take 5: Panthers aim to end current 3-game skid as well as 12-game streak vs. Clemson
Pitt’s current three-game slump could be seen as a harbinger of a season on the verge of running off the rails, with margin for error having decreased significantly. After all, the Panthers have not lost this many ACC games in a row since 2021-22, en route to an 11-21 overall...
Mark Madden: How the right decision on goalies led to years of Penguins’ misfortune
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ goaltending crisis started when the general manager made the right decision. No, not when current GM Kyle Dubas gave Tristan Jarry a five-year, $26.875 million contract in 2023. That was the wrong decision, as Dubas acknowledged when the Penguins waived Jarry on Wednesday. Credit Dubas for admitting...
Former Pitt Panther Tray Woodall promoted to Fordham head basketball coach — for now
Pitt basketball alum Tray Woodall is going to be a head coach at Fordham. At least for a short time. The former Pitt Panther is going to serve as the interim bench boss for the Rams over the next four games. On Wednesday, the university announced a self-imposed four-game suspension...
First Call: Update on Arthur Smith’s interviews; NFL playoff TV ratings dip; lengthy Pens road trip starts
Friday’s “First Call” provides an update on Arthur Smith’s status as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator as he travels for head coaching interviews. NFL TV ratings aren’t off to a great start in the playoffs. The Penguins are trying to salvage their sinking ship of a season with a long...
Football Footnotes: Let’s pick apart some bogus Steelers myths
There are a number of myths about the Pittsburgh Steelers. We often speak them into reality whether they are true or not. For this Friday’s “Football Footnotes,” let’s deconstruct a few of them. One in particular got my attention late this season. • The Steelers are all about running the...
Title IX memo throws wrench in plans for schools to pay NIL money directly to athletes
NASHVILLE — Plans for colleges to pay athletes directly for their name, image and likeness deals would run afoul of Title IX, the Department of Education said in guidance issued Thursday that adds more confusion to the shifting landscape in college sports. The nine-page memo from the department’s Office for...
Defending Australian Open champ Aryna Sabalenka advances
MELBOURNE, Australia — It wasn’t often pretty, but two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka extended a few impressive streaks Friday while becoming one of the first players to advance to the fourth round of the year’s opening Grand Slam tournament. In a tougher-than-expected match, Sabalenka beat Clara Tauson, 7-6...
Texans bring DeMeco Ryans’ swarm defense into Kansas City
HOUSTON — When DeMeco Ryans became coach of the Houston Texans before last season, the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker brought his swarm defense with him. It’s an identity the Texans have embraced as they prepare for their second straight trip to the divisional round of the playoffs Saturday where they’ll...
Alex Ovechkin breaks the record for most goalies scored on, beating Leevi Merilainen to reach 179Video
OTTAWA, Ontario — Alex Ovechkin broke the NHL record for the most goaltenders scored on, beating Leevi Merilainen in overtime to give the Washington Capitals a 1-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night. Merilainen became the 179th goalie Ovechkin has scored against, breaking a tie with Jaromir Jagr...
Eagles’ Saquon Barkley faces Rams again after big 1st game
PHILADELPHIA — Sean McVay dissected the ways the Rams could stop Saquon Barkley — only the ninth 2,000-yard rusher in NFL history — when he considered the consequences if they did not. “If they get a bead on what you’re doing,” McVay, the Super Bowl champion Rams coach said, “they...
J.T. Poston goes 10 under for a 1-shot lead among the usual low scores at The American ExpressVideo
LA QUINTA, Calif. — J.T. Poston shot a 10-under-par 62 to take a one-stroke lead over Justin Lower in the opening round of The American Express on Thursday. Poston carded nine birdies and an eagle on the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West in the Palm Springs-area desert. Lower was...
Stage set for Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, Bills’ Josh Allen to square off in divisional roundVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Baltimore coach John Harbaugh has enjoyed the fortune of competing on the NFL’s biggest stages to appreciate the setting and magnitude of what’s on the line for the Ravens and Bills in Buffalo on Sunday. There’s the quarterback matchup pitting arguably the NFL’s two leading MVP...
Vikings face more QB questions with Sam Darnold, J.J. McCarthyVideo
EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have entered yet another offseason with significant questions around their quarterback depth chart, an unsettledness that was supposed to be calmed last year when they drafted J.J. McCarthy. Sam Darnold played so well over 16 games after McCarthy’s rookie-year-robbing injury that the Vikings were...
Gus Williams, who led Sonics to NBA championship, dies at 71
SEATTLE — Gus Williams, the point guard “Wizard” who helped lead the SuperSonics to their only NBA championship in 1979, died Wednesday nearly five years after suffering a stroke. He was 71. Nicknamed “the Wizard” for his combo of speed, athleticism and scoring, Williams spent six seasons of his NBA...
