Author: Bob Young

The ‘trip of a lifetime’ to China awaits Arizona State’s hockey program

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sports-ASU Hockey China,670
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Brady Vernon
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Arizona State’s hockey team is trading one wonder of the world this summer for another.

Before the Sun Devils begin their fourth NCAA Division I season, they’ll depart the Grand Canyon State on a journey that will take them to the very foot of the Great Wall of China.

Coach Greg Powers and the Sun Devils depart July 29 on the program’s first international trip. The Sun Devils are headed to Beijing, China where the team will take part in the Renaissance Cup, a five-team tournament that includes Beijing’s Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League and three teams from Russia’s Supreme Hockey League.

Continue reading “The ‘trip of a lifetime’ to China awaits Arizona State’s hockey program”

Arizona State baseball players learn to embrace ‘tough love’ to perform at their best

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sports-ASU baseball health, 770 words.
  • Photo available. Thumbnail attached below.

By STEPHEN PEREZ
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — The often leisurely pace of a baseball game might make the game appear to be less demanding than some other team sports.

Football requires quick bursts and violent contact. Soccer and basketball players are in near constant motion.

But Jesse Lowman, Arizona State’s athletic trainer for baseball, said a long, busy season places its own physical and mental demands on ballplayers.

“Baseball is not easy on the body,” he said.

Continue reading “Arizona State baseball players learn to embrace ‘tough love’ to perform at their best”

Former Arizona State coach, player reunited in White Sox organization

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sports-Burr and Esmay reunited, 875 words
  • No photo available.

By ALEC HENDEN
Cronkite News

GLENDALE — Not long after Ryan Burr got the call, so did Tim Esmay.

Or at least Esmay got the text message.

When Burr, a right-handed relief pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization, was called up to the major league club last season, one of the first people he shared the news with was the man who recruited him to Arizona State and coached him for two seasons there.

It was Esmay, who now is manager of the White Sox Advanced Rookie affiliate in Great Falls, Montana.

“He texted me at 2:30 in the morning when he got called up, and I was on the road sitting in a hotel in Ogden, (Utah),” Esmay said. “It gave me chills.”

Continue reading “Former Arizona State coach, player reunited in White Sox organization”

Baseball introduces more rule changes in effort to speed up play

by Bob Young
  • Slug: SPORTS-Baseball rule changes, 683 words
  • Photo included (thumbnail attached below).

By ANDRE SIMMS
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – With only about two weeks to go in spring training, managers are whittling down rosters and getting a much clearer picture of what lies ahead in the regular season.

What isn’t as clear is how a batch of rule changes that Major League Baseball unveiled Thursday will impact the game. Some of the rules will be in effect on Opening Day. Even more are coming in 2020.

As with other recent changes, most of the focus is on pace of play. However, MLB also eliminated the August non-waiver trade deadline beginning this season. Instead of two deadlines, there will be a single non-waiver trade deadline July 31. Players can still be claimed off of waivers after July 31, but cannot be traded.

Continue reading “Baseball introduces more rule changes in effort to speed up play”

Pinnacle basketball standout Nico Mannion sticking to commitment to Arizona amid turmoil

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sports-Nico Mannion. 996 words.
  • Photos and captions below.

By KELLY DOYLE
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — Pinnacle High School has produced its fair share of talent through the years, including Los Angeles Sparks guard Sydney Wiese and Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke.

But perhaps no Pioneers athlete has created a buzz quite like Nico Mannion, Pinnacle’s dynamic 6-foot-3 point guard.

He is the state’s top-rated high school basketball recruit and the 10th-ranked recruit in the nation this year, according to 247Sports.com. Continue reading “Pinnacle basketball standout Nico Mannion sticking to commitment to Arizona amid turmoil”

Players in NBA’s minor league pursue big-time dreams in small-town settings

by Bob Young

Slug: Sports-NAZ Suns, 1,200 words.
photos available.

By ALEC HENDEN
Cronkite News

PRESCOTT VALLEY — Life in the G League can feel as if it is the furthest thing from professional basketball. Teams play in small gyms in front of sparse crowds in cities without international airports.

The NBA’s official minor league has a middle-America, small-town feel far away from the NBA and its glistening stadiums.

But for players clinging to an NBA dream, the G League is a place they can keep it alive.

For a former four-year collegiate player like George King, playing in a small town like Prescott Valley can be ideal.

Continue reading “Players in NBA’s minor league pursue big-time dreams in small-town settings”

Coyotes hope trade for Chicago’s Nick Schmaltz will help in playoff push

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sports-Coyotes trade.
  • No photo available.

By SAM FICARRO
Cronkite News

GLENDALE – The Arizona Coyotes, after a disappointing a 1-3-1 home stand, turned to a familiar trade partner to shake things up.

Arizona made its fourth trade with the Chicago Blackhawks within the last two years Sunday night, acquiring center Nick Schmaltz in exchange for center Dylan Strome and forward Brendan Perlini.

Schmaltz, selected 20th overall by the Blackhawks in the 2014 NHL Draft, has posted 11 points in 23 games while playing the wing this season after posting 52 points in 78 games last season.

Continue reading “Coyotes hope trade for Chicago’s Nick Schmaltz will help in playoff push”

ASU’s N’Keal Harry declares he will enter NFL draft, doesn’t rule out playing in bowl game

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sports-N’Keal Harry decision.
  • Photo available, thumbnail attached below.

By HARLEY YEAROUT
Cronkite News

TEMPE – After a stellar 3-year career at Arizona State, junior wideout N’Keal Harry announced Monday he will forgo his senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-4, 213-pound receiver is projected as a potential first-round pick.

“First of all, I would like to say thank you to everybody in Sun Devil nation, the coaches, my teammates, all the media, all the fans,” Harry said at a news conference. “This has been a great ride. This has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, something that I will take with me for the rest of my life.

“With that being said, I would like to forgo my senior season and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft.”

Continue reading “ASU’s N’Keal Harry declares he will enter NFL draft, doesn’t rule out playing in bowl game”

Heat increases on Cardinals coach Steve Wilks after a blown opportunity against the Raiders

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sports-Heat on Cardinals coach.
  • Photo attached below.

By SAM FICARRO
Cronkite News

TEMPE – The Arizona Cardinals were a rare favorite Sunday as they hosted the one-win Oakland Raiders.

Leading 21-20 in the waning minutes, all the Cardinals had to do was avoid disaster and run out the clock. Instead, a series of mistakes that included a dropped interception, two costly penalties and a blown coverage in the secondary led to another loss and only increased the pressure on first-year coach Steve Wilks. Continue reading “Heat increases on Cardinals coach Steve Wilks after a blown opportunity against the Raiders”

Territorial Cup coaches will experience their first Territorial Cup matchup together

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sport-Territorial Cup matchup.
  • Photo thumbnail attached below.

By HARLEY YEAROUT
Cronkite News

TEMPE – With the Pac-12 South title race now dead and gone for the Arizona State Sun Devils, the team turns its focus to the University of Arizona and the battle for the Territorial Cup.

The matchup this season might feature more stories outside the lines than on the field. The Territorial Cup dates to 1899, but this season it features two coaches in their first year at their respective universities.

ASU coach Herm Edwards and his Sun Devils already have secured their spot in a bowl game with six victories this season. Coach Kevin Sumlin’s Wildcats will be seeking their sixth win and the bowl berth that would come with it by beating ASU in Tucson Saturday.

Continue reading “Territorial Cup coaches will experience their first Territorial Cup matchup together”

ASU women learn love of hoops runs deep on Navajo Reservation

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sports-ASU Rez Ball, 1,681 words
  • Photos available

By SAM FICARRO
Cronkite News

FORT DEFIANCE – For many on the Navajo Reservation, basketball means everything.

The houses in this small northeast Arizona community on the New Mexico border feature a diversity of basketball hoops. White. Black. Gray. Some have rims with no net, others have rims with only part of a net hanging from them. Many are attached above garages, like anywhere else in the country. Some simply protrude from the top of a black metal bar.

All are well-worn. They are symbols of hope for the Navajo people.

“I was told if there’s a basketball hoop, you can just basically play anywhere, and that’s how it is on the Rez,” said Payton Charley, a junior on the girls team at Window Rock High School. “There’s dirt, they still play. If it’s like really muddy, and it’s uneven, they still play. We just have so much love for the game here.”

Continue reading “ASU women learn love of hoops runs deep on Navajo Reservation”

Fall League’s Griffin Jax wears two uniforms

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sports-Jax Wears Two Uniforms, 1500
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By JAKE TRYBULSKI
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE –  Griffin Jax wears two uniforms.

One for the Minnesota Twins organization and another for the U.S. Air Force.

“I am still a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, but my job is to train for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo,” Jax said. “While I am doing that, I am promoting the Air Force as much as possible.”

Continue reading “Fall League’s Griffin Jax wears two uniforms”

Former Suns veteran Jared Dudley reviving career in Brooklyn

by Bob Young

Jake Goodrick

Nov. 6, 2018

PHOENIX – Jared Dudley is returning to Phoenix as a different player and in a much different role than when he left after he was traded away from the desert during the offseason.

After spending the past two seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Dudley is back for the first time since his departure as a member of the Brooklyn Nets, who are making their only visit of the season to Talking Stick Resort Arena.

Dudley spent a combined seven seasons with the Suns, most recently as a bench player and veteran presence on a young Suns team lacking veteran experience. Now, in the 12th season of his career, Dudley is starting games for the Nets and playing impactful minutes, a far different scenario than the one he left behind in Phoenix. Continue reading “Former Suns veteran Jared Dudley reviving career in Brooklyn”

Phoenix Rising FC prepares for USL Cup final with an eye on San Diego stadium vote

by Bob Young

By RICARDO AVILA
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE — Phoenix Rising is on the verge of winning the United Soccer League Cup and giving Didier Drogba a fairytale farewell as a professional.

After an intense and hard-fought, 2-1, win over Orange County Soccer Club in the Western Conference final, the only team between the Rising and the USL Cup championship in only the club’s second year of existence is Louisville City FC.

However, amid the excitement of the Rising’s championship chase, the team and its followers will have an eye on an election in San Diego, California that threatens to dampen the mood around the Rising’s playoff run.

Continue reading “Phoenix Rising FC prepares for USL Cup final with an eye on San Diego stadium vote”

Sun Devils seek third straight win, bowl eligibility against UCLA

by Bob Young

By HARLEY YEAROUT
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Two weeks can change everything for a college football team.

Just ask the Arizona State Sun Devils, who came off a second consecutive 7-point loss October 18 against Stanford. The hope of ASU even attaining six victories to become eligible for a postseason bowl game was in question. After the loss to the Cardinal, ASU quarterback Manny Wilkins entered the post-game press conference visibly emotional, tears in his eyes after completing a checkdown pass inbounds that allowed time to expire to end the game.

Fast-forward to today. After a successful trip to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where ASU beat Southern California, and an upset win over then-15th ranked Utah at Sun Devil Stadium, ASU now is just one-win shy of bowl eligibility.

Continue reading “Sun Devils seek third straight win, bowl eligibility against UCLA”

ASU’s Romello White providing quiet leadership for coach Bobby Hurley

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sports ASU Romello White. 643 words.

By ZACHARY PEKALE
Cronkite News

TEMPE — When the doors to the Weatherup Center open, media flood the Arizona State basketball practice court and more often than not bombard the duo of Remy Martin and Zylan Cheatham with interview requests.

Understandable, considering both are expected to be key contributors for the Sun Devils this season. A sophomore, Martin is an unquestioned leader while Cheatham, a redshirt senior, maintains a boisterous personality complemented by veteran expertise.

Off to the side, Romello White works on free-throw shooting, a category that saw him make just 55 percent of his shots in his first season of play. The redshirt sophomore bends his knees and squares his shoulders to the basket before converting one, then another, eventually getting into a rhythm. Continue reading “ASU’s Romello White providing quiet leadership for coach Bobby Hurley”

Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen is learning quickly on the job

by Bob Young

By HARLEY YEAROUT
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Rookie quarterback Josh Rosen found himself in familiar territory Sunday as he and the Arizona Cardinals faced a 15-10 deficit with 2:16 remaining in the game against the San Francisco 49ers.

It was a mirror image of his first NFL action, when Rosen entered a game against the Chicago Bears in the third week of the season trailing 16-14 with 4:31 to play.

In that game, Rosen was intercepted on his first drive and failed to get the Cardinals into the end zone on their following possession as Arizona fell short against the Bears.

One week after that disappointment, the Cardinals trailed Seattle 17-10 in the fourth quarter when Rosen rallied them to a 17-17 tie. He then drove the Cardinals’ offense 49 yards into position to take the lead, only to have kicker Phil Dawson miss a potential game-winning 45-yard field goal. The Seahawks ended up winning when Sebastian Janikowski converted a 52-yard field goal on the final play of the game.

On Sunday, Rosen finished the job.

With the first-year quarterback taking command of the huddle, Arizona drove 73 yards to score as Rosen delivered a touchdown strike to fellow rookie Christian Kirk that put the Cardinals ahead with 34 seconds to play.

Continue reading “Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen is learning quickly on the job”