Steelers place LB Shazier on reserve/retired list
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed the inside linebacker Ryan Shazier on the reserved/retired list. But the team says the move doesn’t rule out the possibility of Shazier playing again. Shazier spent the last two seasons on the Physically Unable to Perform list while recovering from a spinal injury suffered in December 2017. Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert called the move “a matter of protocol” that would ensure Shazier remains involved with the team. Shazier has made remarkable progress since the injury and has continued working out in hopes of one day being cleared to play again.

NASCAR suspends season until May but will reschedule events
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR has suspended its season until early May. The sanctioning body said Monday night it will not resume racing until Martinsville Speedway on May 9. NASCAR will postpone seven races as it obeys government guidelines to avoid large public gatherings. NASCAR says it still intends to run a full 36-race season. There have been four events so far.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are holding onto outside linebacker Bud Dupree. The team placed the franchise tag on Dupree just ahead of the NFL-mandated deadline for clubs to use the designation. The move means Dupree, who collected a career-high 11 1/2 sacks in 2019, could make around $16 million in 2020 if he signs the tag. That number would likely change if Dupree reaches an agreement with the Steelers on a long-term deal by July 15.

The 2019-20 season has had its highs and lows for the Robert Morris Colonials mens’ basketball team, and longtime announcer Chris Shovlin was there for them–along with his own highs and lows.

The Beaver County Radio alum and BC Sports Hall Of Famer joined Matt Drzik and Greg Benedetti on the March 14 edition of the Saturday Sports Slam to talk about the high of Robert Morris’ victory over St. Francis (PA) in the NEC tournament on March 10, only to compound it with the low of the shutdown of the NCAA tournament–for which they had qualified–two days later due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Shovlin, who has been calling games for Robert Morris since 1987, also touched upon calling his 1,000th NCAA Division 1 basketball game earlier this season, and how he nearly achieved 1,000 with the Colonials alone–if not for early season back surgery and the aforementioned coronavirus. Shovlin was honored with a spot in the Robert Morris Athletic Hall Of Fame in 2012.

To listen to the full conversation between Chris, Greg, and Matt, click on the player below!

(AP)- The NHL is following the NBA’s lead and suspending its season amid the coronavirus outbreak. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the league is “pausing” its season. The move comes a day after the NBA suspended play following a player’s positive COVID-19 test. The NHL has not said any player has tested positive for the virus. The NHL is halting play with 189 games left in the regular season and sparking uncertainty about how many more if any could be go on before the playoffs. A handful of European hockey leagues have already called off the remainder of their seasons.

The PIAA released the following in regards to the current status of its winter sports and the ongoing coronavirus outbreak:

PIAA Board of Directors decided this morning by a unanimous vote to suspend the PIAA basketball and AA boys’ and girls’ swimming and diving championships for minimally a two week period. The AAA swimming and diving championships at Bucknell University have been truncated with limited spectators and will conclude at the end of today’s mid-afternoon diving session. The Board of Directors, in consultation with various health departments, believes this action is in the best interest of our member schools, their student-athletes, sports officials and the general public.

PIAA, by enforcing a two–week hiatus from our basketball and AA swimming championships, believes this action will allow schools time to perform self-assessments and make decisions to promote optimal health conditions in their communities.

PIAA Executive Director, Dr. Robert A. Lombardi, stated; “The Board of Directors’ are
committed to promoting an environment of healthy athletic competition that is consistent with current health department and the Center for the Disease Control guidelines.” The PIAA Sports Medicine Committee will be meeting this weekend for further discussion.

Modifications to the tournaments will include limiting team and spectator parties, health recertification by authorized medical professionals and changes to game day procedures. Additional direction to competing schools will be provided over the coming days in consultation with school administrators, local, state health and governmental authorities.