U.S./World Sports category, Page 348
Penn State, other Big Ten East powers face offensive uncertainty
CHICAGO — The two most important spots on a football team are the coach and the quarterback. Ohio State has questions at both. The Buckeyes aren’t the only powerhouse program with uncertainty in the Big Ten’s East Division. Michigan and Michigan State each have a new offensive coordinator, and Penn...
Shane Lowry, J.B. Holmes share British Open lead after 2nd round
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Everyone in the massive grandstand rose to cheer and celebrate a bold performance by Rory McIlroy, who longed for such support and affection on his walk toward his final hole at Royal Portrush in the British Open. Except this was Friday. And now McIlroy can only...
Column: Tiger Woods shows age by missing cut at British Open
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — So now we know. Tiger Woods isn’t done, no matter what it looked like on his slog through the only two rounds he’ll play in this British Open. He’s also not in danger of being put in traction anytime soon, no matter how many times he...
Stage 10 winner Van Aert hits barrier, crashes out of Tour
PAU, France — Belgian rider Wout van Aert, a Tour de France rookie who won Stage 10, has been forced out of the race with a leg wound after he plowed into a roadside barrier and crashed in a right-hand curve close to the finish of the time trial in...
Big Ten’s Jim Delany says old mistakes to blame for college woes
CHICAGO — Outgoing Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany kicked off his final Big Ten football media days Thursday by saying he thinks some serious mistakes were made in the 1970s that still create problems today in college athletics. Delany, in his 31st and final year as commissioner, said the loss...
New coaches in ACC Coastal adds to division’s unpredictabilityVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi had a good idea what to expect over the past two seasons from every opponent in the ACC’s Coastal Division. Not this year. After two years with the same seven head coaches, nearly half of that group is gone with Georgia Tech, Miami...
Royal Portrush real star at Day 1 of British OpenVideo
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — An emotional opening shot by Darren Clarke. A shocking one by Rory McIlroy. Tiger Woods had his worst score to start a British Open. Brooks Koepka quickly got into contention again. Emiliano Grillo made a hole-in-one. David Duval made a 14. The Open returned to Royal...
David Duval’s dreary day at British Open ends with 91 ‘on the board’
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — David Duval lost a few golf balls on his own Thursday in the British Open. It’s one that was found that brought him the wrong kind of attention with a score of 14 on one hole and a 91 when he walked off Royal Portrush. “Just...
Tiger Woods not moving well in rough first round at British Open
Tiger Woods completed his worst-ever first round of the British Open on Thursday. This year’s Masters winner made six bogeys and a double bogey in carding 7-over 78, 12 shots behind leader fellow American J.B. Holmes at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. ? Not. His. Day.Tiger Woods makes bogey on...
Shane Lowry sets early target as Rory McIlroy hits 79 at British Open
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Shane Lowry of Ireland didn’t have the level of expectations or the connection to Royal Portrush like Rory McIlroy. All he had was the lead Thursday at the British Open. Lowry found a renewed confidence on the eve of the final major of the year and...
Local boy Graeme McDowell hopes to fulfill dream of winning Open at Portrush
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Inside the entrance to Rathmore Golf Club, just past a sign offering umbrellas for sale on a rainy day, sits a replica of the U.S. Open trophy the club’s favorite son won at Pebble Beach in 2010. A large painting of Graeme McDowell hangs next to...
Rory McIlroy center of attention at British Open
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — On the final day of practice for the final major of the year, Rory McIlroy ripped a shot out of the light rough and began walking toward the green when he stopped in the middle of the fairway for a quick interview with Sky Sports. That’s...
Former Auburn assistant basketball coach Chuck Person avoids prison
NEW YORK — Former Auburn University assistant basketball coach and NBA star Chuck Person’s lifelong generosity may have driven him to the poorhouse, but it saved him from the jailhouse Wednesday when a judge sentenced him in a bribery scandal that touched some of the biggest college basketball programs. U.S....
British Open preview: Possible challenge for Koepka; McIlroy’s homeland pressure; Tiger lays low
As is always the case when we get ready for a major golf championship, Brian Taylor of Real Golf Radio joins us on the Breakfast With Benz podcast. Brian comes on to speak with us about the British Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. Among the topics we outline:...
Georgia leads growing SEC pack chasing powerhouse Alabama
HOOVER, Ala. — Kirby Smart talks about the Georgia taking “that next step.” Quarterback Jake Fromm wants the Bulldogs “to get over the hump.” In the SEC, that step — or hump — is beating Alabama. Georgia has pushed the Crimson Tide to the brink in a SEC championship game...
Tiger Woods tries to get up to speed for year’s final major at British Open
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Tiger Woods was on the practice range when the gates at the British Open opened Tuesday, and before long, he was on the tee and ready to go. He just didn’t go for very long. Woods played a full round at Royal Portrush when he arrived...
First-year WVU coach, surging Texas big parts of new-look Big 12
ARLINGTON, Texas — Tom Herman knows Texas is probably a bit ahead of schedule after 10 wins in his second season that included making the Big 12 championship game and a Sugar Bowl victory. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Longhorns are back just yet. “We weren’t here to just have...
Tim Benz, Stan Savran discuss Wimbledon and possibly ‘greatest tennis match of all time’
Tennis doesn’t get a lot of run in the United States anymore. After what we saw at Wimbledon, you can see why fans of the sport say it deserves more attention. And I’m glad to see that there was a little pop to the coverage given how much of a...
Greg Cote: Wimbledon, Tiger, U.S. women … and cricket? Why 2019 is greatest sports year ever.
You know it when you are watching it, not just watching but feeling it. Sports has that power. Suddenly, what might have been an ordinary, forgettable competition blooms into something epic, something that will leave its mark on the history of that sport, and on your memory. Novak Djokovic outslugging...
Francesco Molinari faces long odds of repeat at British Open
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Golf’s oldest championship is all about tradition, and this is one Francesco Molinari could have done without. Fifty-one weeks after he won the British Open and gazed at his name etched on the silver claret jug, he had to return it. Getting it back won’t be...
Jenna Fryer: Kurt Busch still wheelman 20 years into rocky career
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kurt Busch has been called many things during his tumultuous 20 seasons at NASCAR’s top level. He is ornery, easily unhinged and has lost control of his temper enough times that it nearly derailed his career. But the most important descriptor for Busch often is overlooked. He...
Old Nets think Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving can succeed where they didn’tVideo
NEW YORK — Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving gave the Brooklyn Nets two big victories in one night. “They hit the Mega Millions and the Powerball,” former NBA star Charles Oakley said. In the first hours of free agency, the Nets added two of the best players available to a...
Paul Spadafora recalls training with world champion boxer Pernell Whitaker
Paul Spadafora couldn’t stop crying when he heard the news that Pernell Whitaker had died, a loss of not only one of his boxing idols but his former trainer. The Hall of Fame fighter known as Sweet Pea won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games and who was...
Pernell Whitaker, boxing champ and ex-trainer of McKees Rocks’ Paul Spadafora, fatally struck by car
Pernell Whitaker, an Olympic gold medalist and four division champion who was regarded as one of the greatest defensive fighters ever, has died after being hit by a car in Virginia. He was 55. Police in Virginia Beach said the former fighter was hit by a car Sunday night. The...
First Call: Antonio Brown mad at Madden video game; competitive-eating scandal
In Monday’s “First Call,” Antonio Brown doing what Antonio Brown does. Perhaps the most impressive point Wimbledon has ever seen. Ranking the Steelers offensive trio. And a competitive-eating scandal. A.B. on brand This is right from the Mr. Big Chest playbook. Antonio Brown is mad that he didn’t get a...
