Sports category, Page 853
Lionel Messi earns $20.4 million under contract with Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami
NEW YORK — Lionel Messi’s annualized compensation from his Major League Soccer contract with Inter Miami is just over $20.4 million, the MLS Players Association said Wednesday. Messi earns more than the entire payroll of all but three other MLS teams and twice as much as every player combined on...
Atlantic 10 conference coaches, media not alone when it comes to this year’s high expectations for Duquesne
Atlantic 10 coaches and media members aren’t the only people anticipating a breakout season from the Duquesne men’s basketball team. ESPN college basketball bracket expert Joe Lunardi can see that happening as well. This week at the A-10’s media day, the conference preseason poll was announced, and Duquesne was rated...
Mark Madden: Steelers’ slow-playing talented rookies makes little sense
The Pittsburgh Steelers face a similar team Sunday. The Los Angeles Rams are meh but have a fistful of dangerous players, just like the Steelers. But who’s going to cover Rams receiver Cooper Kupp? Who’s going to block Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald? The Rams have a better coach and...
Kyle Schwarber homers twice, Trea Turner goes deep, Phillies power past Arizona in Game 2 of NLCS
PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber is pounding postseason homers at such a rate that he fits right in with Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson. The tattooed slugger is doing it all while powering the Philadelphia Phillies toward a chance for the franchise’s first World Series championship since 2008. “If you want...
Penn State QB, Ohio native Drew Allar staying focused ahead of homecoming at Ohio State
Drew Allar doesn’t know how many friends and family will be in attendance Saturday at Ohio State. He wisely delegated the responsibility of handling ticket requests to his parents. “I’ve got to be focused on the game,” Allar said. “I can’t be focused on anything extra.” You can bet there...
First Call: Steelers reportedly move on from Desmond King; Evgeni Malkin snubbed from another Top 100 list
Wednesday’s “First Call” starts with a surprising move by the Pittsburgh Steelers and a surprising omission for the Penguins from an ESPN list. Plus, it was a memorable night for a former Penguin, and an ex-Pirates executive may land a big-time job back in Major League Baseball. Well, that was...
Tim Benz: The time is right, the need is present for Steelers to start Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr.
I want to avoid committing the sports media sin of criticizing someone — in this case, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin — for something they haven’t done yet. But the fact that this is even a conversation at all is worthy of some critical words. Tomlin should end the slow...
Bulked-up Diaz Graham twins ready to attack sophomore season at Pitt
Although they might bicker over who is supposed to do the dishes and if Messi or Ronaldo is the world’s best soccer player, Jorge and Guillermo Diaz Graham carry with them the love of family, team and their homeland while preparing for their sophomore basketball season at Pitt. When the...
Newcomers BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF floundering early in Big 12Video
The new kids in the Big 12 couldn’t bring past success with them. Cincinnati went to the College Football Playoff in 2021. BYU won 10 games twice in the past three years. Houston is two years removed from a 12-win season. UCF had at least nine victories in five of...
Justin Herbert must be better late if Chargers want to rebound
During his first three seasons, Justin Herbert came up big when the Los Angeles Chargers needed a winning drive late in the fourth quarter or overtime. Herbert will need to rediscover that clutch gene if the Chargers hope to get back to the playoffs for a second straight season. With...
New Castle native Geno Stone evolves into valuable component on Ravens defense
It was late in the third quarter, and the Ravens were clinging to a five-point lead in what was an all-too-familiar scenario. Four minutes earlier, safety Kyle Hamilton had been ejected for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Titans receiver Chris Moore. The personal foul moved Tennessee to the Ravens’ 15-yard line,...
Rams sign RB Darrell Henderson to practice squad, add Royce Freeman ahead of Steelers gameVideo
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams re-signed Super Bowl-winning running back Darrell Henderson to their practice squad and promoted Royce Freeman to the active roster. The Rams made the moves Tuesday after top running backs Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers left Sunday’s 26-9 victory over Arizona with injuries....
Aaron Rodgers providing Jets with some inspiration as he continues to recoverVideo
It was all like something out of some sort of feel-good sports movie. Aaron Rodgers ditched the crutches and walking boot, strolled onto the field during pregame warmups Sunday and the New York Jets quarterback started throwing passes again. Less than five weeks after tearing his left Achilles tendon. His...
Big Ten players discovering challenges of playing for interim coaches
MADISON, Wis. — Michigan State linebacker Jordan Hall talks about rolling with the punches to maintain focus amid adversity, but he never could have expected the haymaker his team absorbed last month. It was the same type of blow that players at Northwestern, Nebraska and Wisconsin have encountered over the...
Carolina Panthers’ rising star play-caller never wanted to coach
At various points throughout his playing career, Thomas Brown had to resort to a similar refrain when talking to his insistent and loving father. “Dad,” Brown would say, “there’s no way in the world I’m ever going to become a coach.” “When I’m done playing,” he’d continue, “I’m going to...
A’s pitcher Trevor May rips Oakland owner John Fisher in retirement video: ‘Sell the team, dude’
OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland Athletics reliever Trevor May ripped owner John Fisher and implored him to sell the franchise while announcing his retirement Monday in an impassioned video message. “Sell the team, dude. … Sell it, man,″ May said in a video posted on his Twitch stream. “Let someone who...
Column: There’s a place for women to play golf with men, not against them
Lexi Thompson missed the cut by three shots on the PGA Tour in Las Vegas, and expectations are only going to get bigger the next time she plays. Not against the men, but on the LPGA Tour. While she played remarkably well in the Shriners Children’s Open — especially her...
Old but more than old-school, Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy are shining
HOUSTON — When Texas rookie Evan Carter was born in 2002, Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker had been managing in the big leagues for a decade and Rangers skipper Bruce Bochy was in his eighth season. The ages of MLB managers have been declining in the last few years, with...
Report: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey’s injury not considered long-term
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Running back Christian McCaffrey’s oblique injury is not expected to be a long-term issue, ESPN reported Tuesday. McCaffrey scored in his 15th consecutive game Sunday before pain in his oblique and ribs forced him out before the fourth quarter of a 19-17 loss at Cleveland, the...
NFL considers eliminating hip-drop tackles, will review ‘tush push’ again after seasonVideo
NEW YORK — The NFL is looking to eliminate the hip-drop tackle and will again discuss the “tush push” in the offseason. League executive Jeff Miller said Tuesday the hip-drop tackle increases risk of injury by 25 times the rate of a standard tackle. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith briefly left...
Penguins’ Bryan Rust off to fast start heading into matchup with Red Wings
Playing in Detroit always has an appeal to Bryan Rust. A native of Pontiac, Mich., the Pittsburgh Penguins forward grew up going to Red Wings games at the hallowed Joe Louis Arena rooting for his favorite players, forwards Martin Lapointe and Steve Yzerman. (The attraction to Yzerman, a Hockey Hall...
Mike Tomlin anticipating return of ‘expert route running’ from Steelers WR Diontae Johnson
The play on which Diontae Johnson injured his hamstring in the season opener is one the Pittsburgh Steelers have been missing in his absence. Johnson caught a pass from Kenny Pickett 5 yards downfield, then he turned it into a 26-yard gain by juking his way down the field before...
Inside Pitt’s roster decisions, and not just at quarterback
Pat Narduzzi rocked Pitt’s status quo recently when quarterback Phil Jurkovec was sent to the bench. Quarterbacks get the most attention, but the coach said those decisions are made every day throughout the roster. And, believe it or not, what happens in games and practice are only part of the...
Anthony Richardson ‘probably going to be gone for the year,’ Colts owner says as QB mulls surgery
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay believes rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson may need season-ending surgery on his injured throwing shoulder. Irsay told ESPN that Richardson and the team’s medical staff were still mulling treatment options for Richardson’s sprained AC joint, but a final decision had not been made —...
Penguins’ trade lands defenseman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek from CanucksVideo
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Ty Glover on Tuesday. Rathbone, 24, was a fourth-round selection (No. 95 overall) of the Canucks in 2017 and has spent the past four seasons with that...
