Category: Saturday Sports Slam

Antonio Brown says he’s not quite ready for retirement

Antonio Brown says he’s not quite ready for retirement
By The Associated Press undefined
Antonio Brown has indicated he’s not retiring from the NFL, only a few days after announcing he was done with the league in a Twitter rant.
The four-time All-Pro wide receiver wrote on Twitter on Thursday: “I’m still the best why stop now.” He followed with the suggestion that the game needs him.
Brown has been accused of sexual misconduct by two women. He was released by the New England Patriots last week after playing only one game. He’s been dumped by three teams in the last six months.
Brown, who lost Nike as a sponsor last week, says he’ll practice at high schools one day a week, starting in Miami.
The 31-year-old Brown also engaged in a Twitter spat with Los Angeles Rams safety Eric Weddle, who faced him often with the Baltimore Ravens.
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Judge 3-peats as top MLB jersey seller; Harper second

Judge 3-peats as top MLB jersey seller; Harper second
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge had the top-selling jersey in Major League Baseball for the third consecutive season.
The New York Yankees slugger beat out Bryce Harper, according to results released Friday by MLB.
Judge maintained the top spot despite missing more than a third of the season. The 2017 AL Rookie of the Year entered Friday batting .272 with 26 home runs for the AL East champions.
Harper set a uniform sales record for any athlete in a 24-hour window after signing a $330 million, 13-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies in February. Since opening day, he’s ranked second in sales behind Judge, followed by NL MVP contender Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers had the fifth-most popular jersey. He didn’t crack the top 20 last season.
Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels ranked ninth, a two-spot improvement from 2018.
Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Báez finished fourth and was joined in the top 20 by teammates Anthony Rizzo (10) and Kris Bryant (16). The Houston Astros also placed three players that high: Jose Altuve (8), Alex Bregman (13) and George Springer (20).
NL Rookie of the Year front-runner Pete Alonso of the New York Mets ranked 14th, and teammate Jacob deGrom was 19th.
Manny Machado, who signed a $300 million, 10-year deal with the San Diego Padres in February, did not crack the top 20.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Week 5 High School Football Schedule: September 27, 2019

All games listed below are 7:00 kickoffs, with those listed with an asterisk (*) kicking off at 7:30.

1A
Cornell at Rochester (WMBA)*
OLSH at Laurel
2A
Neshannock at New Brighton (WBVP/99.3)
Western Beaver at Ellwood City
Brentwood at South Side Beaver
3A
Aliquippa at Hopewell
Central Valley at Waynesburg
Keystone Oaks at Quaker Valley
4A
South Fayette at Blackhawk
Ambridge at Highlands
5A
Moon at Bethel Park*
West Allegheny at Woodland Hills
Non-Conference
Beaver at Ringgold
Uniontown at Beaver Falls
Freedom at Valley
Carlynton at Riverside

Pregame on WBVP/99.3 will be at 6:30. Pregame for the WMBA game is set for 7:00.

J. Lo, Shakira to perform at Super Bowl halftime show

J. Lo, Shakira to perform at Super Bowl halftime show
By MESFIN FEKADU AP Music Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Jennifer Lopez and Shakira are going to bring the heat to the 2020 Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show.
NFL, Pepsi and Roc Nation announced Thursday that the superstar performers, who have released music in Spanish and English since the 1990s, will perform on Feb. 2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Lopez and Shakira both posted a photo of them standing side by side on social media to announce the news. “Going to see the world on fire,” Lopez wrote.
“It doesn’t get any bigger than this! So excited about getting on that #SuperBowlLIV #PepsiHalftime stage!” Shakira wrote.
Both Lopez and Shakira have had major success the pop and Latin charts over the years with multiple hit songs and albums. Lopez released her multi-hit debut in 1999 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart with songs like “If You Had My Love,” ”All I Have” and the remixes of “I’m Real” and “Ain’t It Funny.” Lopez recently wrapped up a tour to celebrate her 50th birthday, and her latest movie, “Hustlers,” has been a box-office hit and has even earned her Oscar buzz.
Shakira released her first album in 1991 and crossed over with 2001’s “Laundry Service,” which featured the hits “Whenever, Wherever” and “Underneath Your Clothes.” The singer topped the Hot 100 chart with the Wyclef Jean-assisted anthem “Hips Don’t Lie.” Shakira has won 11 Latin Grammys and three Grammys.
“These two remarkable artists are setting a new precedent for what this show can become, and we’re confident that this will be an incredible performance for the ages,” Todd Kaplan, Pepsi’s vice president of marketing, said in a statement.
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company is co-producing the halftime show. The big game and halftime show will air live on Fox and broadcast in 180 countries.

Brighton Twp.’s Rick Holman appears in commercial with Terry Bradshaw

Loyal Steelers fan appears in commercial with Terry Bradshaw
By JOANNE KLIMOVICH HARROP Tribune Review
PITTSBURGH (AP) — There was a knock at the front door.
“I opened it, and there stood Terry Bradshaw . THE Terry Bradshaw . and I just lost it,” said Rick Holman of Brighton Township in Beaver County. “As a child he was my favorite player.”
Steelers Hall of Fame quarterback and television analyst Bradshaw came inside. They chatted. Then they went to the driveway to toss around a football.
“Catching passes from him was my childhood dream,” Holman said. “I was crying, because I couldn’t believe it. Good thing there are photos, because I am still in disbelief.”
The Bradshaw visit came as Holman was chosen as a “Super Steelers Fan” by Ford Motor Co. The two appeared in a television commercial that debuted recently on the Fox NFL pregame show and is scheduled to run the rest of the season.
Ford is honoring the most passionate fans in the NFL and inducted its inaugural “Hall of Fans” class, a new exhibit at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Holman, a Beaver Falls native, was one of three fans enshrined in August.
The commercial, filmed in August, also features former NFL stars Brian Urlacher, Ed Reed and Jason Taylor. Taylor played football at Woodland Hills High School.
“I loved making the commercial,” Holman said. “I think it looks great. I received so many calls and text messages from people who saw it.”
Holman, 40, is a father of three, husband to Melissa and a teacher. He’s also a diehard Steelers fan. His loyalty earned him not only the chance to meet his hero, but also a trip to the Super Bowl last February and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in August.
Holman found out he was chosen for the Hall of Fans when Pro Football Hall of Fame President and CEO David Baker knocked on his hotel room door at the February Super Bowl.
When he visited the Hall of Fame, he dined with NFL Hall of Famers.
Holman has a bronze plaque on the wall in Canton and a blue jacket with a design on the chest. He said the Hall of Fame is the most inspiring place on Earth. He and fans from Miami and Chicago were honored.
Bradshaw told Holman it was the first time he saw his bust inside the hall of fame. He had seen it outside for the actual induction.
“He walked around and was just reading the names in amazement and actually teared-up a little,” said Holman, whose first car was a 1986 Ford Ranger. “It was unreal for me to share that with him.”
Ford is looking for future “Hall of Fans” for the program, which recognizes those most loyal to their NFL teams. Ford honors them with exclusive rewards and access to sports events. The number of finalists is narrowed to the six to eight range, said Jim Peters, manager of Ford brand content and partnership alliances. He said they wanted fans who are everyday people doing good things in their community.
Peters said the inaugural class set a high bar.
“It is amazing the loyalty to their teams,” Peters said. “They show true spirit. Rick sold everything he had to be able to buy tickets. There is an incredible passionate community among these people. They are truly diehard fans, and they earned this.”
According to its website, Ford created the “Ford Hall of Fans” inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame to honor those fans who’ve demonstrated extraordinary loyalty, exceptional passion and outstanding character. Think you have what it takes to be in the Ford Hall of Fans? Enter here.
Holman didn’t enter. Ford found him through a Google search, he said.
“It’s been a wild journey for me,” said Holman, who teaches American History at the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School.
The whirlwind experience included leading the Terrible Towel wave on the field before the Steelers/Seattle Seahawks game Sept. 15. Former Steelers running backs Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker were there, too.
“Being on the field, to me, it’s so crazy,” Holman said. “People are yelling from the stands, and I saw old friends I hadn’t seen in years. And the players know who I am. Willie Parker said, ‘I heard you haven’t missed any game.’ ”
As a college kid, Holman got the opportunity to buy Steelers home game tickets from a woman on eBay. He pretty much sold all his possessions, including his car that first season — 2001.
He purchased her season ticket seat license the following year.
“I got a seat and I said, ‘I am never going to miss a game.’ ”
And, he hasn’t, thanks to the support of his family, he said.
Holman has attended every game played at Heinz Field, including the preseason, as well as the past three Steelers Super Bowls.
He is expected to reach 200 games Nov. 3 when the Steelers host the Indianapolis Colts.
He said an executive from Ford Googled “Steelers Fan” and found a video about Holman and contacted him.
“I am a low-key guy,” Holman said. “I don’t wear wild outfits. But I am loyal. They said they liked me because I represent the Steelers fan base.”
They sent a film crew to his house Nov. 29, and the next day Bradshaw was at the door.
“It was like a Hollywood scene,” Holman said. “That is one of the best days of my life. Ford Motor Company and the Hall of Fame were unbelievable. They took such good care of us. They changed my life. I can’t thank them enough. This whole experience has been surreal.”
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Online:
https://bit.ly/2ndufZF
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Information from: Tribune-Review, http://triblive.com

Immaculate: Franco Harris’ TD catch voted greatest NFL play

Immaculate: Franco Harris’ TD catch voted greatest NFL play
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer
Immaculate indeed.
Pittsburgh running back Franco Harris’ scoop of a deflected pass and subsequent run for the winning touchdown in a 1972 playoff victory against Oakland — forever known as the “Immaculate Reception” — has been voted the greatest play in NFL history.
A nationwide panel of 68 media members chose the Immaculate Reception as the top play with 3,270 points and 39 first-place votes. Second in the balloting was Dwight Clark’s TD catch from Joe Montana that lifted San Francisco past Dallas to win the 1981 NFC championship.
Harris’ spectacular play not only lifted the Steelers to their first-ever playoff victory, it was the catalyst for the Steel Curtain dynasty that would win four Super Bowls from the 1974 through the 1979 seasons.
“That play really represents our teams of the ’70s,” Harris said.
With 22 seconds remaining in the first-round matchup, and the ball at the Steelers 40-yard line, quarterback Terry Bradshaw scrambled under heavy pressure on fourth down. He heaved the ball downfield toward running back Frenchy Fuqua, and Raiders safety Jack “The Assassin” Tatum arrived at the same time. The ball ricocheted wildly toward Harris near the left sideline. Before it hit the turf, he bent deeply and grabbed it before heading to the end zone.
Game officials weren’t sure who deflected the pass; had it gone off Fuqua, rules of the day would make it an incompletion. Referee Fred Swearingen, after consulting with NFL supervisor of officials Art McNally, ruled a touchdown. Pittsburgh kicked the extra point for a 13-7 lead with 5 seconds remaining and won a playoff game for the first time in franchise history.
“There are moments in life where you know what you’re doing,” Harris said. “Me and Frenchy, we had no idea what we were doing.”
Neither did Steelers owner Art Rooney. Known as “Chief,” Rooney had abandoned his seat and took the elevator to the locker room to be with his team after another postseason defeat. Chief didn’t see the greatest play in franchise (and league) history pulled off.
His son, Dan, who would take over administration of the team — and created the Rooney Rule for diversity in NFL job interviews — stayed upstairs and witnessed the drama as Swearingen and McNally spoke on the phone. After Swearingen raised both arms to signal touchdown, and the Raiders could do nothing with the ensuing kickoff, Rooney at last felt relief.
“After that, I loafed around the press box. After a while, I went out and down to the dressing room. Everybody was on Cloud 9, cheering each other, all excited,” he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2012. “It may have been the most exciting game I had seen up until that time.”
Clearly, the voting panel found the Immaculate Reception as a runaway for best play as part of the NFL’s celebration of its 100th season. Montana to Clark, known as “The Catch,” received 3,099 points but only four first-place selections. The runner-up in first-place votes was David Tyree’s “Helmet Catch” for the Giants as they rallied to beat the Patriots in the 2008 Super Bowl.
Harris’ catch eventually led to a rules change, too, with offensive players consecutively touching a pass being permitted. That eased officiating decisions on deflected balls, of course.
But it didn’t ease the angst felt by Tatum or his coach, John Madden — like Harris and Bradshaw, a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
“Here was my point,” Madden told the CBS affiliate in San Francisco in 2012. “They didn’t call it a touchdown. And they were standing in the end zone, the officials, and discussing the play. … They talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, and still haven’t said it’s a touchdown. … This goes on 15 minutes.
“If you knew it was a touchdown, you should have called it. If you didn’t call it, you didn’t know it was a touchdown. If you didn’t know it was a touchdown, how did you decide that it was? That’s all.”
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Allen’s 1-yd TD lifts Duquesne to a 35-31 win over Dayton

Allen’s 1-yd TD lifts Duquesne to a 35-31 win over Dayton
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Mark Allen capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard dive to lift Duquesne past Dayton, 35-31 in a nonconference contest Saturday afternoon.
The Dukes (2-1) won their fourth straight over the Flyers and split back-to-back games in Ohio, falling to Youngstown State, 34-14 last week. They continue their three-game road trip next week at New Hampshire.
The game was the home opener for Dayton (2-1).
The teams were tied, 21-21 at intermission and Dayton took the lead on a 97-yard kick-off return by Jake Chisholm to open the second half. Less than three minutes later Daniel Parr got Duquesne even once more with a 3-yard run for a touchdown.
Sam Webster put the Flyers back in front with a 32-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. The Dukes regained the lead on Allen’s TD plunge and Dayton’s 11-play answering drive stalled at the Duquesne 31 with 1:49 left and the Flyers turned the ball over on downs.
Parr completed 18 of 22 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a third. Allen finished with 30 carries for 168 yards and two 1-yard touchdowns.
Jack Cook was 19 of 27 for Dayton and threw three touchdown passes and one interception.

Robert Morris earns its first win, holds off VMI 31-21

Robert Morris earns its first win, holds off VMI 31-21
LEXINGTON, Va. (AP) — Caleb Lewis threw for 214 yards and a touchdown and Terence Stephens Jr. ran for two touchdowns as Robert Morris snapped its three-game losing streak to start the season by easing past VMI, 31-21 on Saturday afternoon.
The win snapped the Keydets two-game win streak.
Stephens scored from the 6 with 1:26 left in the first half to give the Colonials a 21-8 lead at the half and his 2-yard burst made it 28-14 going into the fourth quarter.
Alex Ramsey scored on a 2-yard run to pull VMI within a touchdown, 28-21 seconds into the fourth quarter, but the Keydets turned the ball over on downs at the Robert Morris 33 and fumbled away their final possession at their own 9.
The Colonials (1-3) had 368 yards of total offense in the game. Alijah Jackson ran for 125 yards and a touchdown for his second straight 100-yard rushing day and the fifth of his career.
Ramsey finished with 24 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown to lead VMI (2-1).

Trick play helps Pitt upset No. 15 UCF 35-34

Trick play helps Pitt upset No. 15 UCF 35-34
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Mark Whipple installed the play he dubbed “Pitt Special” during the second week of training camp.
Whipple had his first-stringers run it once against the starting defense and it worked. So he made sure the Panthers practiced it during Thursday walkthroughs and tucked it in his back pocket just in case.
Just in case arrived late Saturday afternoon with Pitt trailing 15th-ranked UCF by six and a minute to go. Facing fourth-and-2 at the UCF 3, an official came over and told Whipple the Panthers could still get a first down if they got to the 1.
“Nah, we’re going to score,” Whipple said.
In way that could prove to be the turning point in Pitt’s season. UCF’s, too.
Running back A.J. Davis took a direct snap from center, ran to his left and flipped the ball to Aaron Mathews, who was heading right. Matthews, a former high school quarterback, thought he might have to make a run at the pylon. When two UCF defenders closed in, Mathews pulled up and found quarterback Kenny Pickett in the end zone, giving the Panthers a euphoric 35-34 victory.
“Kenny claims he has the best hands on the team,” Mathews said with a smile. “He’s one for one.”
One very big one.
On a day Pickett threw for 224 yards and a score and added 61 on the ground despite exiting for a couple of series late in the third quarter after bruising his right (throwing) shoulder, his heady decision to find a spot in the UCF zone defense and wait for the ball ended UCF’s 25-game regular-season winning streak.
UCF had won 27 of its last 28 overall, including the Knights’ American Athletic Conference championship game victories the last two years along with their Fiesta Bowl loss to LSU last year.
The play borrowed heavily from the “Philly Special” run by the Philadelphia Eagles in their Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots two seasons ago. The Panthers put their own spin on it. While Eagles quarterback Nick Foles was wide open in the end zone, Pickett’s job was more complicated. He faked a block and then turned into a tight end while waiting for Mathews to find him.
“We were all pumped up about (the call),” Pickett said. “I know Aaron was. I have a touchdown catch before him. He was a little (ticked) off about that. We switched roles for a play.”
KNIGHTS STOPPED
UCF (3-1), which hadn’t lost since a non-bowl game or conference championship game since falling to South Florida in November 2016, had one last-gasp drive but went nowhere. The Panthers sacked true freshman quarterback Gabriel Dillon twice to deal the Knights’ shot of earning a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl as the nation’s top Group of Five team a serious blow.
“I just think that we did some things – coaches and players – that you can’t do on the road if you want to beat a good football team,” UCF coach Josh Heupel said. “This one is going to hurt for a while, but we’ll get back on Monday and get back after it.”
Dillon passed for 338 yards and two touchdowns but also threw his first two interceptions of the season. Gabriel Davis hauled in 10 passe for 151 yards and two scores, but the Knights’ high-tempo offense didn’t run as efficiently as it had during three blowouts to start the year.
UCF finished with 423 yards, 180 under its season average. Dillon was sacked six times in all and the Knights were unable to finish off Pitt despite a 31-point outburst spanning the second and third quarters that turned a 21-point deficit into a 10-point lead.
“Give credit to Pitt,” Heupel said. “They played a good game and found a way to be plus-one on the scoreboard. I’m proud of the way our kids competed and played.”
Trailing by three touchdowns for the first time since a blowout loss to Michigan in 2016, UCF responded emphatically, with a little help from the Panthers.
Davis fumbled deep in Panther territory with 5:41 left in the first half. Adrian Killins scored four plays later and UCF was off and running. Gabriel found Gabe Davis for two third-quarter touchdowns sandwiched around an 87-yard punt return for a score by Otis Anderson, who broke several tackles while racing down the left sideline to the end zone.
Yet Pitt rallied. The Panthers were coming off an emotional seven-point loss to rival Penn State last week, a defeat in which head coach Pat Narduzzi took significant heat for opting to kick a field goal deep in Penn State territory in the final minutes instead of trying to go for a game-tying score.
Backup quarterback Nick Patti threw his first touchdown while Pickett tested out his injured shoulder and when the defense forced UCF to settle for a field goal with 4:36 left to keep the game within reach, Pickett guided Pitt 79 yards in 12 plays, the last three coming on a reception that UCF didn’t see coming.
“You guys always want me to go for it on fourth down,” Narduzzi said. “We may never punt again … That’s a big-time victory.”
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Expect UCF to fall behind No. 20 Boise State in the polls and lose the inside track on being the Group of Five representative in a New Year’s Six bowl.
THE TAKEAWAY
UCF: Gabriel should have a stranglehold on the starting job even with Darriel Mack Jr. on the way back from an ankle injury suffered in July. Notre Dame transfer Brandon Wimbush figures to be out of the picture completely. He played just one snap, getting tackled for a loss in the first quarter.
Pitt: The Panthers face an uphill climb in the ACC’s Coastal Division after opening the season with a loss to No. 21 Virginia, but Pitt could be a handful once conference play starts in earnest next month. The secondary plays with swagger and Pickett is becoming more comfortable by the week in Whipple’s system.
UP NEXT
UCF: Hosts UConn in its American Athletic Conference opener next Saturday night.
Pitt: Finishes up nonconference play by hosting Football Championship Subdivision opponent Delaware next Saturday.
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AUDIO: Coach Mike Warfield Still Sees Room To Improve For 5-0 Quips

Defending PIAA champions and undefeated halfway through the season. Couldn’t get any better, right?

Not so fast, says Mike Warfield.

The Aliquippa head coach joined Greg Benedetti and Matt Drzik on the September 20 edition of the Saturday Sports Slam, mere hours after his Quips improved to 5-0 with a 40-0 rout of the Beaver Falls Tigers at Carl A. Aschman Stadium in a game heard on WMBA.

Cpach Warfield talked about his team’s philosophy of treating every opponent as if they are undefeated, and he lauded his players and coaches for their resilience and defensive prowess. But he also said that certain aspects of the team need improving, such as with controlling emotions and finishing certain plays the right way.

To listen to Coach Warfield’s full comments, click on the player below: