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Column: National Pastime

Admittedly, it had been way too long since I was able to take in my last Major League Baseball game. However, this past Sunday I managed to make the trek to PNC Park in Pittsburgh to watch the Pirates receive a gift-wrapped 3-2 victory thanks to an error by Baltimore shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who I initially thought was going to pull off a crazy game-ending double play with the bases loaded only to fire the ball errantly to first. On what was a perfect afternoon for baseball, Orioles starter Dean Kremer deserved a better fate after working seven solid frames and coming away without ...

LEE: Steelers quarterback options: anything is better than Pickett

The Steelers yet again ended a mediocre season in quality fashion, sneaking into the playoffs before their traditional first round exit. With the quarterback question still unsettled, Pittsburgh now has to decide whether they want to ride with Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph or seek an outside candidate at QB. Steelers GM Omar Khan has been very active in his first year and a half in terms of trades and signings, implying that perhaps the Steelers will make a move in the best offseason to find a QB in either free agency or the draft in at least a decade. Regardless of what the ...

COLUMN: Chiefs or 49ers? Here’s a swift way to decide

It’s that time of year again, when casual and even non-football fans turn their attention to the last gridiron game of the season. A lot of it has to do with the social aspects, the food and camaraderie, maybe even the commercials. Some might be drawn by a major musical performer being right, smack dab in the middle of the game. Or some people might want to watch Usher at halftime. Yes, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend and his teammates are facing the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of Super Bowl LIV, back when Travis Kelce’s team was known as the Kansas City Chiefs. I kid, but many ...

LEE: Tepper’s fine is a laughing stock

After dumping a drink on fans during a 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper was fined a mere $300,000. The disgusting display of immaturity on the part of Tepper is only made worse by the slap on the wrist provided by the NFL. This incident coinciding with a massive increase in the fines that players have been forced to pay makes it clear where the NFL’s priorities are. There is clear evidence of a double standard in the way the league treats its owners — who add little to the game, and the players — those who generate the billions ...

PATRICK: Teamwork the key for Parkersburg High School girls

Trinity Balog feels blessed to have the assortment of teammates as she plays her final season as a member of the Parkersburg High School girls basketball. Blessed being the key word. The same word tattooed on her right forearm. “I could not have asked for a better team for my last year,” said Balog, who made the game-winning shot during Thursday’s 83-81 win over Parkersburg South and finished with a team-high 23 points. “They are an amazing group. We have so many threats. We are a hard team to stop. So many threats. We have shooters, we have bigs. This wasn’t my game at all. ...

PATRICK: The moment time stood still for Crusaderettes

As if frozen in time, Parkersburg Catholic senior Mary Tokodi-Ruth watched the sequence play out. Almost as if she became a spectator rather than a player on the court, she witnessed the ball leave Jocelynn Thorn’s hands, the shot bank off the front iron and her younger sister, Annie, turn into Johnny-on-the-spot and pull down the offensive rebound. After Annie made the 2-foot putback just before time expired, the time warp disappeared and Mary looked for her sister and hugged her with tears in her eyes. The final 10.3 seconds of regulation during Tuesday’s high school girls ...