Tim Benz: Hiring Mike McCarthy a tone-deaf, uninspired move by Steelers
The Steelers’ decision to hire Mike McCarthy as the franchise’s new head coach is every bit as uninspired as it is tone-deaf. Those are two of the nicest phrases I can use to describe it. Owner Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan couldn’t have waited until after Sunday’s...
At 21, Coco Gauff has enjoyed hanging out with emerging teens at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia — Coco Gauff wants those people posing questions to her about the teenagers breaking through at the Australian Open to remember one thing: She’s 21. The 18-year-old Iva Jovic will be playing No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park. That’s after Sabalenka, a two-time champion...
2-sport star at Baldwin, Duquesne to join 2 halls of fame in a week
Robert Healy III, like every young athlete, aspired to be recognized as one of the best in his sport. At the end of January, that dream will become a reality — twice. The former standout football and track and field athlete will be joining Duquesne University and Baldwin High School’s...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Mike McCarthy has some interesting pieces — is Will Howard one?
I’ll say this: Mike McCarthy as de facto offensive coordinator is an upgrade on Arthur Smith. Artie’s off to Ohio State. Maybe Jonnu Smith has eligibility and could help invigorate the Buckeyes’ tight-end run game. Mike Tomlin never got the offense right in his later years. He went from his...
With choice of Mike McCarthy, 62, Steelers eschew longtime approach of young coaches
The new Pittsburgh Steelers coach isn’t all that young. His background isn’t in defense. And he already had been a head coach — for a long time, for two other franchises — before. That, on face value, goes against everything we know about the Steelers’ tendencies when it comes to...
‘Rip the jersey off of me’: Free agent franchise icon Andrew McCutchen lashes out at Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates icon Andrew McCutchen publicly lashed out at his treatment from the franchise Saturday in a late-night social media post in response to comments by general manager Ben Cherington at PiratesFest regarding the free-agent designated hitter’s future. “There’s more work to do and I’m not done, no matter what...
Minor league report: Penguins fall to CheckersVideo
Goaltender Joel Blomqvist made 35 saves on 39 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 5-2 loss to the Charlotte Checkers at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. The result dropped Blomqvist’s record to 6-4-3. Forwards Gabe Klassen and Aidan McDonough scored goals for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (27-12-2-2). Highlights: The Penguins’ next...
Teenager Blades Brown 1 shot behind at PGA Tour event entering final round
LA QUINTA, Calif. — Blades Brown looked well beyond his 18 years under increasing attention Saturday. He finished with three straight birdies that left him tied with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, both of them one shot behind Si Woo Kim going into the final round of The American Express....
‘Beside ourselves with joy’: Longtime friends thrilled Mike McCarthy is coming home to Steelers
Tim Butler was disappointed he had missed the brief window to meet up with his childhood friend while he was back in town. Turns out, their families will have plenty more opportunities to break bread. Mike McCarthy is coming back to the ’Burgh — and the Greenfield native is doing...
Arthur Smith reportedly heading to Ohio State as offensive coordinator
Arthur Smith is going back to school. The former Steelers offensive coordinator is finalizing a deal to take the same position at Ohio State, according to ESPN and NFL Network. Smith, 43, spent the past two seasons overseeing the Steelers’ offense under coach Mike Tomlin. His unit was ranked 16th...
Mark Madden: By hiring Mike McCarthy, the Steelers have lowered organizational goals
Boy, is Art Rooney II desperate to win a playoff game. He should be. By the standard of the family business, Rooney’s tenure as its steward has been disappointing in every way beyond profit. (The Steelers are too big to really fail. Lucky for Rooney.) Now, in an effort to...
Tarence Guinyard scores 23 as Duquesne earns A-10 road win vs. Loyola Chicago
It took Tarence Guinyard time to heat up, but when he did, Duquesne’s leading scorer really got hot. Despite battling illness for much of the week, Guinyard notched 19 of his 23 points in the second half Saturday to lead Duquesne to a 71-59 victory over Loyola Chicago at Gentile...
Seahawks, Rams meet for 3rd time this season, this time with Super Bowl berth on line
RENTON, Wash. — To some extent, Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams was anticipating the NFC championship game would shake out this way, with Seattle facing the division rival Los Angeles Rams for a third time this season. Williams, a key contributor on the league’s top-ranked scoring defense, has seen firsthand...
Broncos backup Jarrett Stidham steps in to face ex-team, Patriots, in AFC Championship
DENVER — If any opponent is familiar with Denver Broncos fill-in quarterback Jarrett Stidham, it’s the New England Patriots, who drafted him in 2019 to serve as Tom Brady’s backup. When Josh McDaniels took the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coaching job, he traded for Stidham, who backed up Derek Carr...
‘A different level of energy’: Pirates fans express excitement amid aggressive offseason
As Travis Williams walked around the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the Pittsburgh Pirates president found fans to be just as passionate about the baseball club as ever. Just not as angry. A year after PiratesFest was met with protests from fans frustrated with team chairman Bob Nutting’s lack of...
West Virginia can’t keep up with top-ranked, undefeated Arizona in blowout loss
TUCSON, Ariz. — Brayden Burries scored 22 points, Koa Peat added 17 and top-ranked Arizona remained undefeated with an 88-53 dismantling of West Virginia on Saturday. The Wildcats (20-0, 7-0 Big 12) were unanimous No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time in program history to start...
Joe Starkey: With Mike McCarthy, the Steelers are basically rehiring Mike Tomlin. Thanks, Art
STARK RAVING Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II said he was willing to run it back another year with Mike Tomlin, and so he shall. Mike McCarthy is Tomlin. Tomlin is McCarthy. Finkle is Einhorn. Einhorn is Finkle. I can see it now: The Steelers go 9-8 next season with...
Robert Morris falls to Green Bay in another close loss
The winning record aside, Andy Toole’s 16th season as Robert Morris’ basketball coach arguably has been his most confounding. Just ask him. “This is the latest in the year that I don’t really know what my rotation is on a game-to-game basis,” said Toole, who at 29 when he took...
N.C. State pulls away late as Pitt suffers 6th ACC loss in 7 games
As Pitt’s inability to finish close to the rim or convert free throws have remained recurring issues this season, coach Jeff Capel has fluctuated between frustration and exasperation. On Saturday at Petersen Events Center, when those woes contributed mightily to a 81-72 defeat to N.C. State, Capel’s vexation may have...
Steelers hire Greenfield native Mike McCarthy as head coach
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback quandary is now a problem for new coach Mike McCarthy to solve. The Steelers announced Saturday that they’d verbally agreed to hire McCarthy as head coach, choosing a one-time Super Bowl champion with a reputation for developing young quarterbacks. The 62-year-old Greenfield native was the most...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Same as it ever was for Pirates, Steelers
It’s the time of the season for horse manure, to paraphrase The Zombies. Pirates players who braved the threat of severe winter weather to get to Saturday’s PiratesFest talked about having a different attitude. (Ex-Buc Dale Berra canceled his return when he found out it wasn’t that kind of blizzard.)...
Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker arrested on gun possession charge at LaGuardia Airport
NEW YORK — Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker has been arrested after police say he presented a firearm for inspection without proper credentials at LaGuardia Airport. Port Authority police said Walker was arrested Friday morning after they responded to a request for a firearms check at LaGuardia’s Terminal...
Penguins forward Justin Brazeau keeps finding offense by ‘playing the right way’Video
Justin Brazeau was a little hazy on the details of his first professional hat trick. For instance, he wasn’t quite sure of how many goals he even scored. “Did I score four that game?” Brazeau said. “I don’t remember a lot about it. I just remember doing it.” What Brazeau...
Joe Starkey: Evgeni Malkin wants 1 more year with Penguins? He’s earned it
STARK RAVING The Penguins have a player who is plus-15, averages more points per game than Jake Guentzel, Mitch Marner, Sebastian Aho, Tage Thompson and Jack Hughes and wants to play next season on a discounted deal. That might sound ridiculous, and in one way it is: Evgeni Malkin will...
Minor league report: Ville Koivunen leads Penguins past Bears in shootoutVideo
Forward Ville Koivunen scored the lone goal in a shootout and gave the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 4-3 win against the rival Hershey Bears at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday. Koivunen also had a regulation goal and an assist for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (27-11-2-2) while linemate Rutger McGroarty recorded three assists....
