January 14, 2022 3:08 am
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -The Australian government minister who decided to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa to enter the country says he did so in the name of public interest. The office of Alex Hawke, Australia’s Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, has issued a statement saying the government wants to protect its borders “particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.” Hawke’s decision on Friday overrules a judge’s decision in favor of Djokovic that reinstated his visa after it was canceled when he arrived at a Melbourne airport earlier this month.
January 12, 2022 10:46 pm
WPIAL dual meet wrestling is set for the final matches of the regular season. And there are a few unclaimed Section Dual Meet tournament berths still hanging around.
Class 3A, Section 4A–Defending WPIAL/PIAA champion Waynesburg is 3-0 along with Canon-McMillan. Both have clinched spots in the Section Duals and the WPIAL Team Tournament. The Big Macs host the Raiders next Wednesday. The winner is first, loser second. Trinity (2-2) has completed its section schedule and will finish third. The Hillers will take on Ringgold for 5th place in Section 4 and a berth in the WPIAL Team Tournament.
Jan. 19: Waynesburg at Canon-McMillan, Chartiers Valley at South Fayette.
Class 3A, Section 4B–Peters Township and Bethel Park are both 4-0 and both have clinched spots in the Section Duals plus the WPIAL Team Tournament. The two will face each other next Wednesday at Peters Township. The winner is first, loser second. Ringgold (2-2) has a match left with Central Catholic but has already clinched third place and will face Trinity for 5th place in Section 4 and a berth in the WPIAL Team Tournament.
Jan. 19: Bethel Park at Peters Township, Central Catholic at Ringgold, Upper St. Clair at Mt. Lebanon.
Class 2A, Section 1A–Burgettstown (4-0), Chartiers-Houston (3-1) and Fort Cherry (3-1) are all in the running for the top spot in the sub-section with one match left. The Blue Devils host the Bucs next Wednesday with Fort Cherry entertaining Wash High (2-2). The Little Prexies can reach the 5th place match with a win.
Jan. 19: Chartiers-Houston at Burgettstown, Wash High at Fort Cherry, Keystone Oaks at South Park.
Class 2A, Section 1A–Beth-Center clinched the top spot in the sub-section with a win over Frazier and will host the Section Duals on Jan. 26. The Bulldogs also clinched a WPIAL Team Tournament berth. Jeff-Morgan (3-1) visits Frazier (2-2) next week with the winner taking second place and a spot in the Section Duals. If J-M wins, McGuffey (2-2) and West Greene (1-3) could force a three-way tie for the spot in the 5th place match.
Jan. 19: Beth-Center at McGuffey, Bentworth at West Greene, Jeff-Morgan at Frazier.
January 13, 2022 3:46 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are rallying around quarterback Ben Roethlisberger heading into the playoffs. The 39-year-old Roethlisberger is likely to retire at the end of the season. The team made the playoffs as a wild card and is hoping to follow the route the 2005 team did when it won four games to claim the franchise’s fifth Super Bowl. That team made it a mission to send out veteran running back Jerome Bettis in style. Right guard Trai Turner says the Steelers know what’s at stake for Roethlisberger and the team is trying to win it for him.
January 13, 2022 3:49 am
UNDATED (AP) – Former Cubs and Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester has announced his retirement. The durable left-hander who won three World Series titles during 16 years in the majors told ESPN, “It’s kind of run its course.” Lester finishes with a 200-117 record and a 3.66 ERA in 452 career games, including 451 starts. He also was a reliable postseason performer, compiling a 2.51 ERA in 26 appearances. Lester helped Boston win the championship in 2007 and 2013 and did the same for the 2016 Cubs.
January 12, 2022 3:53 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Major League Baseball and the players’ association are scheduled to meet Thursday in the first negotiations between the parties since labor talks broke off Dec. 1. MLB has been preparing a new proposal for the union. Management locked out the union on Dec. 2 following the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement. The dispute threatens spring training, which is scheduled to start Feb. 16 in Florida and Arizona.
January 12, 2022 3:52 am
UNDATED (AP) – Georgia is No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll after earning its second national championship – and first in 41 years – by beating rival Alabama Monday night, 33-18.
The Bulldogs received all 61 first-place votes to be a unanimous No. 1 for the ninth time this season. The Tide finished No. 2, giving the Southeastern Conference the top two teams in the final rankings for the third time since 2011. Michigan was No. 3, Cincinnati No. 4, with Baylor at No. 5. Ohio State was No. 6 and Oklahoma State finished seventh. Notre Dame was eighth, Michigan State was ninth and Oklahoma was 10th, giving the Big 12 three top 10 teams. Pitt finished at No. 13.
January 12, 2022 3:48 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers could be close to fully healthy when they travel to Kansas City to take on the AFC West champion Chiefs in the opening round of the playoffs. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday running back Najee Harris, cornerback Arthur Maulet, left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and linebacker Robert Spillane could be available as the seventh-seeded Steelers try to upset second-seeded Kansas City. Pittsburgh will head to Arrowhead Stadium looking to avenge a 36-10 loss to the Chiefs the day after Christmas.
January 12, 2022 3:47 am
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Evgeni Malkin scored twice and had an assist in his season debut, Jeff Carter added two goals and the surging Pittsburgh Penguins rolled to a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Malkin had not played since undergoing right knee surgery in June. The four-time All-Star and 2012 Hart Trophy winner had been skating with teammates for several weeks and was a full participant in Monday’s practice. He centered the second line between Carter and Kasperi Kapanen, which was responsible for all four Pittsburgh goals. Kapanen added two assists and Tristan Jarry stopped 25 shots for the Penguins, who bounced right back from Saturday’s loss at Dallas that snapped a 10-game winning streak. Jakob Silfverberg scored Anaheim’s goal and Anthony Stolarz made 30 saves.
January 11, 2022 11:27 pm
The are just two wrestling dates left in the team portion of the wrestling season. Berths in the upcoming Section Dual Meet Championships are up for grabs. Following is a breakdown of the current standings and crucial remaining dual meets.
Class 3A, Section 4A–Defending WPIAL/PIAA champion Waynesburg is 2-0 along with Canon-McMillan. Trinity is 2-1 in section matches. Those three teams are the likely Dual Meet participants. South Fayette is still alive for a berth.
Tonight: Canon-McMilan at Trinity on WJPA-AM (1450) or Listen Here. South Fayette at Waynesburg.
Jan. 19: Waynesburg at Canon-McMillan, Chartiers Valley at South Fayette.
Class 3A, Section 4B–Peters Township and Bethel Park are both 3-0 with two matches remaining including against each other next Wednesday at Peters Township. Ringgold and Mt. Lebanon, both 1-2, are still alive for a berth in the Section Duals.
Tonight: Peters Township at Central Catholic, Ringgold at Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon at Bethel Park.
Jan. 19: Bethel Park at Peters Township, Central Catholic at Ringgold, Upper St. Clair at Mt. Lebanon.
Class 2A, Section 1A–Burgettstown and Chartiers-Houston are both 3-0 with two matches remaining including against each other next Wednesday at C-H. Fort Cherry (2-1) and Wash High (1-2) are still alive for a berth in the Section Duals and meet next week, likely with the final berth on the line.
Tonight: Burgettstown at Keystone Oaks, Fort Cherry at Chartiers-Houston, South Park at Wash High.
Jan. 19: Chartiers-Houston at Burgettstown, Wash High at Fort Cherry, Keystone Oaks at South Park.
Class 2A, Section 1A–Beth-Center leads the sub-section with a perfect 3-0 mark and can clinch a berth with a win tonight against Frazier. We’ll have that match for you on WJPA-FM (95.3) or Listen Here. Frazier and Jeff-Morgan are both 2-1 and in control of their own post-season destinies. The Commodores, after visiting B-C tonight, host J-M next week. McGuffey (1-2) is still alive but needs to win out and get some help, having lost to both 2-1 teams already.
Tonight: Frazier at Beth-Center, McGuffey at Bentworth, West Greene at Jeff-Morgan.
Jan. 19: Beth-Center at McGuffey, Bentworth at West Greene, Jeff-Morgan at Frazier.
January 11, 2022 3:51 am
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Stetson Bennett delivered the biggest throws of his storybook career and Georgia’s defense sealed the sweetest victory in program history, vanquishing rival Alabama 33-18 to win the College Football Playoff title game. The Bulldogs won their first national title in 41 years. Bennett connected with Adonai Mitchell on a 40-yard touchdown to give Georgia a 19-18 lead with 8:09 left. He then hooked up with Brock Bowers for a 15-yard TD on a screen to put the Bulldogs up with with 3:33 left. The final blow came from the defense. Kelee Ringo intercepted an underthrown deep ball down the sideline by Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and returned 79 yards for a touchdown.
