Tim Benz: Sidney Crosby’s arrival was Pittsburgh’s most consequential sports event of the past 20 years
Wednesday marked the 20th anniversary of the Pittsburgh Penguins drafting Sidney Crosby. You could argue (in fact, I think I will right now) that Crosby’s arrival was the single most consequential event in Pittsburgh sports over the past two decades. If the Penguins don’t win the lottery to draft Crosby,...
U mad, bro?: Readers revolt against George Pickens post, Pirates fans grumble over Jack Suwinski and Ben Cherington
I kicked a hornet’s nest with my recent column about former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens. Pirates fans have their usual discontent about team ownership, and there’s already a little concern about Aaron Rodgers. This heat makes everyone agitated. Why don’t we all vent a little steam in “U mad,...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Time for Pirates to be ‘ruthless’ by making moves at trade deadline
Since the trade of Adam Frazier at the All-Star break, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been abundantly aware of MLB’s trade deadline and the possibility that any player not named Paul Skenes could be dealt. One veteran noted that if you don’t want to see people get traded, you need to...
Raiders sign Kolton Miller to 3-year, $66 million extension, AP source says
HENDERSON, Nev. — Kolton Miller, one of the NFL’s top left tackles, signed a three-year, $66 million extension with the Las Vegas Raiders, with $42.5 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the contract said Wednesday. That person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the terms...
Durán to Phillies and twin pitchers dealt on same day. Big names remain as MLB trade deadline looms
The Philadelphia Phillies acquired hard-throwing reliever Jhoan Durán, and identical twin relievers Tyler and Taylor Rogers got dealt on the same day, signaling that teams are willing to pay a hefty price for bullpen help as the Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches Thursday. The 27-year-old Durán is arguably the...
Pirates farm report for July 30, 2025: 3 hits from Esmerlyn Valdez, Jase Bowen lift Curve to win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 62-41) dropped a 5-2 decision to Iowa (Cubs). CF Billy Cook (.245) knocked in a run. DH Ronny Simon (.300) was 1 for 4 with a run scored. LF Matt Fraizer (.286) was 1 for 3 with a walk and run scored. RF Nick Solak (.369) was 1...
Shohei Ohtani leaves mound with trainer after throwing 6 straight balls, including 2 wild pitches
CINCINNATI — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani left the mound accompanied by a trainer during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night. Ohtani threw six straight balls — including two consecutive wild pitches — and, after a conference on the mound, departed with a 2-0...
Steelers move up Thursday camp practice time to 10 a.m.
As this rain-affected Pittsburgh Steelers training camp enters its second week, the team is doing everything it can to avoid another washout. The Steelers moved up their Thursday practice to start at 10 a.m. The originally scheduled start time of 1:55 p.m. put the session in the window of a...
Pitt picked to finish 9th in ACC preseason poll
Pitt’s football team was picked to be in the middle of the ACC pack this season, according to media members that cover the league. The Panthers were slotted ninth in the ACC football preseason media poll released Wednesday. Defending ACC champion Clemson was tabbed the preseason favorite in a vote...
Steelers inside the ropes: Mike Tomlin relishes annual initial backs-on-‘backers drill
It’s the most anticipated drill during what is arguably the most anticipated practice of each year’s Pittsburgh Steelers training camp: backs-on-‘backers. As is custom, coach Mike Tomlin on Wednesday took a central position to both view and orchestrate the matchups in the drill that pits running backs one-on-one in passblocking...
Joey Porter Jr. displayed improved tackling during 1st padded practice for Steelers
A true fight didn’t break out on the first day the Pittsburgh Steelers wore pads in training camp. Cooler heads prevailed on a day when the heat registered 91 degrees and little cloud relief was provided. The heat index measured 101 degrees. Some pushing and shoving commenced in an early...
Isaac Mattson finishes off Giants as Pirates take advantage of extra-inning mishap for sweep
The Pittsburgh Pirates took advantage of an extra-inning mishap, then placed Isaac Mattson in a predicament. The right-handed reliever rose to the occasion to clinch the team’s first road sweep in more than a year. With runners on second and third in the bottom of the 10th inning, Mattson struck...
Plum native Pat McAfee draws large crowd for his show at Steelers training camp
T.J. Watt, Aaron Rodgers, Cam Heyward and Co. weren’t the only people drawing swarms of fans to Saint Vincent on Wednesday. Three-and-a-half months after appearing in Pittsburgh for his “Big Night Aht” at PPG Paints Arena, Plum native Pat McAfee returned to the region to host his talk show at...
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, 5 others charged with running illegal poker games at his LA mansion
LOS ANGELES — Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was arrested Wednesday along with five other people, including a suspected member of an Israeli organized crime group, on suspicion of hosting illegal high-stakes poker games at a Los Angeles mansion owned by Arenas, federal prosecutors said. All six defendants are charged...
Pitt’s players, coaches believe special things are attainable in 2025
Any college football coach, bitter (somewhat understandably) at the freedom athletes enjoy with the transfer portal, could easily assert that his program is better off minus those who departed after a given season. It wouldn’t be fair to label coach Pat Narduzzi as bitter, but Pitt’s 11th-year head coach undoubtedly...
Riveters’ Abi Hugh named Great Forest Player of the Year
Abi Hugh helped guide Pittsburgh Riveters SC to the USL W League playoffs in the team’s inaugural season and was recognized for her efforts Wednesday. Hugh, a defender/midfielder, was named the Great Forest Division Player of the Year. The Huntington, W.Va. native who played at Marshall and N.C. State, started...
ESPN cuts ties Shannon Sharpe after settlement of sexual assault lawsuit, AP source says
Hall of Fame tight end-turned-broadcaster Shannon Sharpe will not return to ESPN, a person with knowledge of the decision told the Associated Press on Wednesday. The decision comes less than two weeks after Sharpe resolved a lawsuit that accused him of sexually assaulting a woman during their relationship. The person...
NFL’s new kickoff rule here to stay, with slight tweak
The NFL’s one-year experiment with the new kickoff rule becomes permanent this season with a tweak that the league hopes will lead to a bigger increase in the rate of returns. The league also approved changes to the overtime rule, expanded replay assist and made a few other technical changes...
Pirates trade 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes to Reds, LHP Caleb Ferguson to Mariners ahead of deadline
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a major move Wednesday before MLB’s trade deadline, parting ways with a player once considered a franchise cornerstone by dealing Gold Glove third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and cash considerations to the Cincinnati Reds. In return, the Pirates will receive left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers and minor league...
James Franklin ‘excited’ about Penn State’s newcomers via transfer portal
Penn State is replacing three of its top options in the pass game. The Nittany Lions have also added three productive receivers. All-American tight end Tyler Warren is in the NFL. Wideouts Harrison Wallace (Ole Miss) and Omari Evans (Washington) have new college homes. James Franklin has added three veteran...
As 1st padded practice begins, Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers expects big things from center Zach Frazier
Like any good quarterback, Aaron Rodgers is relying on his center to provide a steadying influence in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage. That might sound odd considering that Rodgers is 41 years old and entering his 21st NFL season, while the player snapping the ball is 18...
Steelers step into spotlight as ‘Pat McAfee Show’ goes live at Saint Vincent
Pat McAfee and his crew of co-hosts have taken center stage atop the hill at Saint Vincent College on Wednesday as they broadcast “The Pat McAfee Show” live from Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. Simulcast on ESPN and YouTube, the Plum native’s show is featuring interviews with members of the Steelers’...
Former Robert Morris cornerback Rob Carter turning heads in CFL with more than his acrobatic interceptions
The highlight raised eyebrows and dropped jaws. Late in the second quarter of Robert Morris’ 2024 season opener at Utah State, the host Aggies had the ball at midfield and were trying to get into position to trim the Colonials’ 14-10 lead before halftime. Quarterback Bryson Barnes threw a long...
Exotic animals, Super Bowl team members will greet fans at Latrobe’s Steelers Fest
Visitors to Friday’s annual Steelers Fest in Latrobe will have the opportunity for close encounters with members of past Super Bowl teams and with a few members of some exotic species. A new feature at the free event, set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Legion Keener Park, will...
Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen joins elite company with 10th home run of the season
Andrew McCutchen isn’t one to spend much, if any, time basking in his own glory when approached about achieving various career accolades. McCutchen has dealt with his fair share of those borderline unwelcome conversations during his three-year reunion with the Pittsburgh Pirates, as he’s eclipsed 2,000 hits, 300 home runs...
