January 30, 2021 4:40 am
(AP)-The NFL expanded the Rooney Rule to give more minority candidates opportunities to become a head coach and reward teams who develop them. More interviews didn’t equal more hirings this offseason. According to an analysis of candidates known to have interviewed for seven head coach openings this month, 11 were minorities and 16 were white. Only two of the seven jobs went to minorities. Some consider it progress but most agree there’s a long way to go.
January 30, 2021 4:37 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – John Chaney, one of the nation’s leading coaches during a Hall of Fame career at Temple, has died. He was 89. The university said he died Friday after a short, unspecified illness. Chaney was a commanding figure on the court and admired as much for his mentoring of players as for the team’s success. He became a de facto father to dozens of his players, many coming from broken homes. Chaney led Temple to 17 NCAA Tournament appearances over 24 seasons, including five NCAA regional finals. He had 741 wins and was twice named national coach of the year.
January 30, 2021 2:03 am
Wrestling teams have one week to complete their section matches. This year’s team tournaments will only include the top two teams in each sub-section, then only the top two advance to the WPIAL Team Tournament. Several weeks ago, PIAA announced that only District champions would qualify for their team tournament which has been moved to after the individual championships.
For some area teams like McGuffey, the pending district deadline means a flurry of mat activity is about to begin. The Highlanders were shutdown for nearly two weeks due to COVID-19 issues but now face four matches in six days to complete their Section 3 schedule. Defending WPIAL AA team champion Burrell just suspended wrestling activities due to COVID, pulling out of this weekend’s PowerADE tournament and postponing other action until at least Feb. 4. Triple-A Connellsville also pulled out of PowerADE and is on hold until Feb. 5. Connellsville has qualified for every WPIAL Team Tournament since its inception in 1979.
McGuffey edged Bentworth Friday (35-30), travels to West Greene Saturday, to Beth-Center Tuesday and hosts Frazier Wednesday. The match vs. Beth-Center will likely be for first place in Sub-Section 1B. In Sub-Section 1A, Burgettstown and Fort Cherry have clinched spots in the Section Team Championships set for Feb. 8. Burgettstown will host the Rangers and the top two from Sub-Section 1B.
In Triple-A, Waynesburg all but locked up the top spot in Sub-Section 4A with a convincing win over Canon-McMillan Wednesday night. Both are expected to qualify for the Section Team Championships when Waynesburg will host the Big Macs, Peters Township and likely Mt. Lebanon, the top two teams from Sub-Section 4B.
Team Tournaments
Monday, Feb. 8 Section Championships (only top two teams in each section advance)
Wednesday, Feb. 10 WPIAL AA & AAA Tournament Quarterfinals, Semifinals
Saturday, Feb. 13 WPIAL Tournament Championships (only winners advance to PIAA Team Tournaments)
Individual Tournaments
Feb. 16 WPIAL AA Sub-Section (top two advance)
Feb. 17 WPIAL AAA Sub-Section (Sections 1, 4) (top two advance)
Feb. 18 WPIAL AAA Sub-Section (Sections 2, 3) (top two advance)
Feb. 19 WPIAL AA Section Championships (top two advance)
Feb. 20 WPIAL AAA Section Championships (top two advance)
Feb. 20 WPIAL AA Championships (top three advance)
Feb. 27 WPIAL AAA Championships (top three advance)
Feb. 27 PIAA SW AA Regional (top five advance)
Mar. 6 PIAA AA Western Regional (top four advance)
Mar. 6 PIAA AAA Western Regional (top four advance)
Mar. 12 PIAA AA Championships
Mar. 13 PIAA AAA Championships
January 29, 2021 3:54 am
BOSTON (AP) – Patrice Bergeron scored twice and Chris Wagner and Sean Kuraly had one goal apiece to help Boston beat Pittsburgh 4-1. It was the Bruins’ fourth straight victory and second over the Penguins in three days. Jaroslav Halak stopped 16 shots for Boston. It was Bergeron’s fourth and fifth goals of the season and the first for Kuraly and Wagner. Cody Ceci scored and Tristan Jarry had 16 saves for the Penguins.
January 29, 2021 3:55 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are open to having quarterback Ben Roethlisberger return next season if the math works out. Roethlisberger carries a $41 million salary cap hit for 2021, a number team president Art Rooney II says is too high. Rooney says the team has already approached Roethlisberger about finding a workaround that gives the team some financial flexibility in the offseason. Rooney praised Roethlisberger’s performance this season, saying he was “almost unstoppable” at times as Pittsburgh finished 12-4.
January 29, 2021 3:57 am
UNDATED (AP) – Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has requested a trade, according to a person familiar with the move. Watson has a no-trade clause in his four-year, $156 million contract, so he could have some control over where he might be dealt. The same source who told The AP about the trade request said Watson made the ask before David Culley was hired as head coach on Wednesday. The Texans don’t want to part with the talented 25-year-old who led the NFL in yards passing this season. Watson has been unhappy with the direction of the team for some time.
January 29, 2021 3:59 am
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Anyone visiting Tampa’s popular outdoor destinations for the Super Bowl will be required to wear a mask to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor signed an executive order Wednesday saying masks must be worn outside while downtown, in neighborhoods around Raymond James Stadium and in other tourist hotspots. The order says those who are not wearing a mask can be cited with a “nominal civil infraction” that carries a penalty up to a $500 fine. It will remain in place until Feb. 13 – nearly a week after the Super Bowl ends.
January 28, 2021 3:57 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford has resigned, citing personal reasons behind the decision. Patrick Allvin will serve as the interim general manager while the club searches for a permanent replacement. The 71-year-old Rutherford arrived in Pittsburgh in the summer of 2014 and oversaw a roster rebuild that helped the Penguins win consecutive Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. His resignation comes with Pittsburgh off to a solid 4-2-1 start.
January 28, 2021 3:54 am
HOUSTON (AP) – A person familiar with the hiring tells The Associated Press that David Culley has become the new head coach of the Houston Texans. It will be the first head coaching job for the 65-year-old Culley, who has worked as an assistant for the Baltimore Ravens since 2019. He becomes the fourth coach in Texans history. Culley replaces Bill O’Brien, who was fired after the team opened the season 0-4.
January 28, 2021 3:55 am
UNDATED (AP) – The New York Yankees have finalized their multiyear package with the reigning AL batting champ while adding to their pitching staff. The Yanks put the final touches on a six-year, $90 million contract with second baseman DJ LeMahieu , who became a free agent after hitting a league-best .364 last year. LeMahieu is the only player to win batting titles in both leagues, including an NL-leading .348 mark with the 2016 Rockies. New York also has a pending $11 million, one-year contract with right-handed starter Corey Kluber and a $2.5 million, one-year deal with submarining right-handed reliever Darren O’Day.
