January 17, 2025 1:53 am
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Bob Uecker, the voice of his hometown Milwaukee Brewers who after a short playing career earned the moniker “Mr. Baseball” and honors from the Hall of Fame, has died. He was 90. In a statement released by the Brewers, Uecker’s family said he had battled small cell lung cancer since early 2023. Uecker, who was born and raised in Milwaukee, signed his first pro contract with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956 and reached the majors in 1962. He lasted six seasons in the big leagues, finishing with a .200 average and 14 homers. “Even in the face of this challenge, his enthusiasm for life was always present, never allowing his spirit to falter,” the family said. Uecker was best known as a colorful comedian and broadcaster who earned his nickname during one of his numerous appearances on Johnny Carson’s late night show.
January 17, 2025 4:35 am
The PGA Tour is moving the Genesis Invitational out of Riviera Country Club next month because of the deadly wildfires that have decimated part of Los Angeles. Riviera is in part of the evacuation zone although the 99-year-old course was not damaged. The tour expects to announce a new location in the coming days. It is relocating after consulting with the title sponsor, the club and the Tiger Woods foundation that hosts the tournament. It will be the first time since 1998 that the PGA Tour’s tournament in Los Angeles is not played at Riviera.
January 15, 2025 2:00 am
Just one week remains in the WPIAL wrestling dual meet section season. The top two teams in each section qualify along with two wild cards chosen by the Wrestling Committee. Wednesday night, Jeff-Morgan jumped in front early and cruised by Beth-Center to move into control of a berth out of 2A Section 3. Chartiers-Houston and McGuffey clinched berths with easy 2A Section 1 wins and meet next week for the title. In 3A Section 2, Trinity throttled Waynesburg, clinching their own tournament spot along with one for Canon-McMillan. The Hillers visit the Big Macs next week to decide the section title. Ringgold’s win sends the Rams to Belle Vernon next Wednesday with the winner clinching the second spot out of Section 7. Peters Township was idle but is set to host Mt. Lebanon next week for Section 3’s second spot behind Bethel Park.
Wednesday, Jan. 15
2A-1 Chartiers-Houston 60, Wash High 17
2A-1 McGuffey 65, West Greene 6
2A-3 Jeff-Morgan 55, Beth-Center 15
2A-3 Bentworth 48, Brownsville 21
3A-2 Trinity 65, Waynesburg 3
3A-7 Ringgold 35, West Mifflin 32
January 16, 2025 1:45 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins ran out of patience waiting for two-time All-Star goaltender Tristan Jarry to emerge from a slump, placing him on waivers Wednesday ahead of a pivotal seven-game road trip that could determine the course of the rest of their season. The 29-year-old Jarry is 8-7-4 with a 3.32 goals against average and a .886 save percentage this season for Pittsburgh, which is on the fringe of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference due in large part to subpar play in net. The Penguins have allowed an NHL-high 173 goals, with neither Jarry nor Alex Nedeljkovic establishing themselves behind a defense prone to lapses. The Penguins will call up promising rookie Joel Blomqvist to join Nedeljkovic on the road trip, which starts on Friday in Buffalo. Blomqvist went 3-5 with a 3.60 goals against average and a .904 save percentage during a stint in Pittsburgh earlier in the season. (Photo: AP)
January 16, 2025 4:29 am
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Jamir Watkins scored 26 points, Malique Ewin had 10 of his 18 points in the first four minutes of the second half, including eight in a 10-0 run that propelled Florida State to an 82-70 win over Pittsburgh. After a dismal shooting first half for both teams with Florida State taking a 28-23 lead, the Seminoles made 10 of 14 shots to open the second half and led 49-35 on a dunk by Justin Thomas at 13:20. Thomas and Daquan Davis hit consecutive 3-pointers for the big lead at 16, 55-39 at the midway point. Pitt scored the next eight with Jorge Diaz Graham knocking back-to-back 3s. But in the last six minutes Florida State made 17 of 20 free throws and the Panthers never got closer than five. Ewin also had 13 rebounds. Jaland Lowe scored 22 points for the Panthers.
January 16, 2025 4:34 am
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Women’s basketball teams finally will be paid for playing games in the NCAA Tournament each March just like the men have for years under a plan approved Wednesday at the NCAA convention. The vote by NCAA membership was the final step toward a pay structure for women playing in March Madness after the Division I Board of Governors voted unanimously for the proposal in August. Now, so-called performance units that represent revenue will be given to women’s teams playing in the tournament. A team that reaches the Final Four could bring its conference roughly $1.26 million over the next three years. The lack of a performance units program for the women’s tournament has been a point of sharp criticism.
January 16, 2025 4:35 am
Viewer audiences for the first weekend of the NFL playoffs were down 9.3% from last year, a bigger decline than what the league experienced during the regular season. According to the league and Nielsen, the six wild-card round games averaged 28.3 million viewers on television and digital platforms, compared to 31.2 million last year. The two Saturday games held steady while the Sunday and Monday matchups saw declines.
January 14, 2025 3:00 pm
Most teams first trip through section play will end Monday/Tuesday, though a handful of weather-forced cancellations will take place later in the season. Tuesday night, we’ll get our first look at the top-ranked Peters Township girls team as they host Bethel Park in the opening game of a girls/boys doubleheader. Airtime is 5:50 pm on WJPA-AM (1450) and online. Here’s the two-day schedule with notes of interest.
Tuesday, Jan. 14
Girls
6A Canon-McMillan 59, Connellsville 22, Big Macs alone in 3rd place
5A Peters Township 55, Bethel Park 35, #1 Indians now 13-1
1A Serra Catholic 68, West Greene 50, Pioneers fall into tie for 4th place with Bishop Canevin
Boys
6ACanon-McMillan 65, Connellsville 54, first section win for Big Macs
5A Peters Township 61, Bethel Park 60 OT, Indians share 1st place with South Fayette & Baldwin
5A Trinity 67, Ringgold 63, Trinity moves into tie for final playoff spot
3A Wash High 57, McGuffey 55, Highlanders tied for 2nd place, WHS tied for 4th
3A Ligonier Valley 56, Charleroi 52, Cougars fall into tie for 3rd place with Brownsville
3A Waynesburg 87, Mt. Pleasant 67, Raiders in 2nd, a game back of Southmoreland
2A Bentworth 56, Frazier 37, Bearcats sit two games out of playoffs
2A Riverview 50, California 47, Trojans are winless in the section
2A Chartiers-Houston 55, Jeff-Morgan 38
2A Fort Cherry 60, Carmichaels 41
2A West Greene 59, Beth-Center 55
Bucs alone in 1st place. Rangers, Rockets & Pioneers tied for 2nd. Beth-Center sits in 5th, followed by Carmichaels
2A Burgettstown 77, Mapletown 50, Blue Devils first victory, Maples remain winless in section play
1A Beaver County Christian 60, Avella 46, Eagles now in 4th place
Monday, Jan. 13
Girls
5A Trinity 73, Uniontown 18
4A Mt. Pleasant 51, Ringgold 32, Rams remain winless in section
3A Waynesburg 55, Charleroi 33
3A Seton-La Salle 54, McGuffey 38, Rebels take two game lead on Highlanders
3A Keystone Oaks 65, Wash High 32, Little Prexies fall two games back of final playoff spot
2A Burgettstown 43, Carlynton 22, Blue Devils move into tie for final playoff spot
2A Fort Cherry 50, South Side Beaver 45, Rangers rally from 12 points down with six minutes to play to take sole possession of first place
2A Chartiers-Houston 48, Bentworth 21, Bucs alone atop standings, Bearcats drop two games back
2A Beth-Center 45, California 28, Bulldogs stay within one game of CHHS
2A Carmichaels 38, Jeff-Morgan 32, First section win for Mikes
1A West Greene 72, Avella 41, Eagles fall two games back of Pioneers for 4th place
1A Bishop Canevin 53, Mapletown 26, Maples remain winless in section
January 15, 2025 4:37 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jamie Oleksiak and Eeli Tolvanen scored 49 seconds apart in the third period to erase a one-goal deficit and rally the Seattle Kraken past the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2. Joey Daccord stopped 31 shots and assisted on Chandler Stephenson’s short-handed goal and Kaapo Kakko added an empty-netter as Seattle won for just the second time in seven games. Bryan Rust scored his 17th goal of the season for Pittsburgh. Philip Tomasino also scored but the Penguins lost in regulation for the first time this season when leading after two periods thanks to a couple of defensive breakdowns that let the Kraken surge ahead.
January 15, 2025 4:32 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin believes he’s still capable of leading the team back to prominence. Tomlin says he’s disappointed in how Pittsburgh’s season ended after they were drubbed in the opening round by the Baltimore Ravens, their third first-round exit in four years. While there will likely be changes on the coaching staff, Tomlin doesn’t not think the franchise is “stuck.” The Steelers will have plenty of questions to answer during the offseason, most notably at quarterback. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields will be free agents in March. While Tomlin said the team is open to bringing them back, he added the Steelers will explore all options before moving forward.
