Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter Fired After Allegations Of ‘Massive Theft’

March 21, 2024 4:28 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter and close friend has been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers following allegations of illegal gambling and theft from the Japanese baseball star. Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was let go from the team Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker. Law firm Berk Brettler LLP says they discovered Ohtani had been the victim of a “massive theft” following media inquiries. Mizuhara has worked with Ohtani for years and been a constant presence with him in major league clubhouses. The team did not have an immediate comment Wednesday.

Former Steeler Wanted On Domestic Violence Warrant

March 21, 2024 4:30 am

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Detroit Lions defensive back Cameron Sutton is wanted on a Florida domestic violence warrant. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday asked for tips to help find him. Authorities said on the X social media platform that the warrant is for domestic battery by strangulation, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. The sheriff’s office said Sutton may be driving a Jeep Grand Wagoneer with a Florida license plate. No other information was immediately provided. It wasn’t clear if Sutton has a lawyer to speak for him and the team declined to comment. An email message sent to Sutton’s agent was not immediately returned.

Ohtani, Dodgers Rally To Take MLB Opener In Seoul

March 20, 2024 10:48 am

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s RBI single capped a four-run eighth-inning rally in his Dodgers debut, and Los Angeles beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 in the season opener. The game turned when a routine grounder went through the webbing of first baseman Jake Cronenworth. Ohtani went 2 for 5 in his first game since leaving the Los Angeles Angels for a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers. A crowd of 15,952 was on hand to watch at the Gocheok Sky Dome for Major League Baseball’s first game in South Korea.

Rangers Fall in State Semis

March 20, 2024 2:54 am

Fort Cherry’s best season in more than 60 years ended Tuesday night, losing to Aliquippa, 65-53, in a game much closer than the final score.  The Rangers built an 8-point lead early in the second quarter, only to see the Quips put up 6-0, 7-0 and 8-0 runs before the end of the half.  Late in the third, Fort Cherry pulled to within three but was never able to pull even. Derek Errett scored 20 points for the Rangers with Shane Cornali adding 16. Aliquippa was led by Cam Lindsey’s 19 points as the Quips earned a third straight championship game berth. Fort Cherry’s season ends with a 23-7 record and their first semifinal appearance since their 1961 state championship run.  Click PIAA Brackets

PIAA Semifinals
Tuesday, March 19
2A Boys Aliquippa 65, Fort Cherry 53   Listen/Watch Here

Colorado State & Wagner Claim ‘First Four’ Wins

March 20, 2024 4:44 am

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Joel Scott had 23 points and 11 rebounds as Colorado State won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in 11 years, blowing out Virginia 67-42 in the First Four. Nique Clifford scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Rams. Colorado advances as a No. 10 seed to play seventh-seeded Texas in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday. Reece Beekman had 15 points on 4-of-16 shooting for Virginia, which hasn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since it won the national title in 2019. That stretch includes two first-round losses as a No. 4 seed. Earlier,  Wagner kicked off March Madness with the first NCAA Tournament win in program history, getting 21 points from Melvin Council Jr. and holding off a late rally by Howard to win 71-68 in the First Four. The Northeast Conference champion Seahawks advanced as the No. 16 seed in the West Region and will play top seed North Carolina on Thursday in Charlotte, North Carolina. Howard trailed by 17 points early in the second half but went on a late 14-2 run, closing within 69-68 on Bryce Harris’ layup with 18 seconds left. Howard attempted three 3-pointers in the last 6 seconds but missed them all.

Penguins Fall In New Jersey

March 20, 2024 4:38 am

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jake Allen made 36 saves, and Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer each scored twice to lead the New Jersey Devils to a 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night. Alexander Holtz also scored, and Jesper Bratt, Tomas Nosek, Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes each had two assists as New Jersey won for the third time in eight games under interim coach Travis Green. Marcus Pettersson and Bryan Rust scored for Pittsburgh. Goaltender Tristan Jarry made 33 saves as the Penguins lost for the ninth time in 12 games and for the 11th time in 13 road games.

Analysis; Justin Fields Still Has Potential To Be A Special Player

March 20, 2024 4:40 am

Justin Fields went from being considered a franchise quarterback to disregarded by the Chicago Bears in just three seasons. It’s quite a fall for a former first-round pick who showed promise. After more than a dozen QBs switched teams last week in the opening days of the NFL’s free-agent frenzy, the Bears traded Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025. The pick becomes a fourth-rounder if Fields ends up playing more than expected. It’s not surprising that Fields was traded, but it was a shocker that the Bears basically gave him away.

March Madness Returns to WJPA-AM

March 19, 2024 9:52 am

Conference championship week is over. Selection Sunday has come and gone. Tonight, the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament tips off with the First Four in Dayton. WJPA-AM (1450) is your home for all the exciting moments of March Madness. We’ll bring you live coverage from every site, every game through opening weekend, Sweet 16, Regional Finals, the Final Four and the National Championship games. We’ll have extensive coverage of the Women’s Tournament starting with the Sweet 16 next weekend.

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Last year, a team from New Jersey called Fairleigh Dickinson played its way out of the First Four and then became one of the most improbable bracket-busters in NCAA Tournament history. Two days after winning in Dayton, the Knights upset Purdue, only the second time in history a No. 16 seed beat a No 1 seed. Eight teams begin their NCAA Tournament journey on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, hoping to be the next team to start in Dayton and do some bracket busting. Wagner faces Howard on Tuesday night, followed by Colorado State against Virginia. On Wednesday, Grambling plays Montana State, and Colorado draws Boise State.

Pickett Mum On Moving On From Steelers

March 19, 2024 4:55 am

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kenny Pickett is ready for a fresh start in Philadelphia. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded the quarterback to the Eagles last week. Pickett will serve as the backup QB to Jalen Hurts. The move came hours after the Steelers signed nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson to a one-year deal. Pickett said Monday that he “just thought it was time” for him to leave Pittsburgh and called the move to Philadelphia a “good reset.” The New Jersey native grew up an Eagles fan.

Duquesne Coach Keith Dambrot To Retire

March 19, 2024 2:26 am

(WPXI) – One day after possibly the biggest win in his career at Duquesne, head basketball coach Keith Dambrot announced he’s retiring at the end of the year.  Duquesne won the Athletic 10 Conference Sunday as a 6th seed with a 57-51 win over VCU. That earned the Dukes an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. They’ll face BYU Thursday at 12:40pm in Omaha, Nebraska.  It’s Duquesne’s first NCAA bidi since 1977.  Dambrot took the head coaching job at Duquesne in 2017. In his second year, he led the Dukes to its first winning season in nearly a decade.  Dambrot’s relationship with Duquesne runs deep. His late father played there from 1952 to 1954, when the Dukes were number one in the country.