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History Unkind To Rookie QBs 
There is nothing pretty about ligaments and tendons literally tearing
off the bone.
The pain is almost unbearable, and brings
tears to the eyes of grown football players.
When it happened to Steelers quarterback
Tommy Maddox in Baltimore last month, it hurt in more places than
his throwing elbow . . . more.....
Up Close with Bill Fralic
Bill Fralic, arguably college football's greatest offensive lineman,
joined the University of Pittsburgh football broadcast team this
season as the Panther's new color commentator. . .
The 1981 Penn Hills High School graduate
became a three- time All-American for the Panthers, twice finishing
among the top 10 in Heisman Trophy balloting. Taken second overall
by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1985 NFL draft, Fralic went on to
play in four Pro Bowls before retiring after the 1993 season.
In 1999, Fralic was inducted into the
. . . more.....
Priorities This column does
not usually reflect on issues appearing in the rear view mirror.
We like to look ahead. But what happened in Miami last month gives
us a chance to reflect and look forward – only not with our eyes
wide shut.
Here we were, less than 24 hours from
Ben Roethlisberger's debut, and the dominant issue to my talk show
. . . more.....
R.O.Y. Candidate Finally Finds A Home
Chances were that Jason Bay would never become a major league baseball
player.
Twenty-second round picks are long shots
at best.
But baseball's first-year player draft
is not an exact science. First round picks often never make it to
the big leagues. Players virtually ignored by scouts can turn out
to be major league contributors - even stars. . . . more.....
Team Play Foreign Concept For U.S.
I was simultaneously taking in dual debacles. The many monitors
in the KDKA-TV sports office allowed me to watch both the Steelers
implode in Baltimore and the U.S. get it handed to them outside
of Detroit.
The loss that troubled me more, however
was the United States suffering an absolutely humiliating defeat
at the hands of the Europeans. Once again, the U.S. went into the
Ryder Cup as the favorite, despite the fact that . . . more.....
Skates Still Grace Igloo Ice
Contrary to previous reports, there will be plenty of dazzling skating
at Mellon Arena this October, with ice chips flying and thousands
cheering. There just won't be any pucks or sticks involved. But
the Smart Ones Skate America figure skating competition was scheduled
to play the Arena even if the Pens weren't locked out. That may
not appease the puck-deprived among you, but it certainly has the
interest of figure skating fans from all around the world . . .
more.....
Glimpse Of The Future? On
the night of Saturday, Oct. 16, Mellon Arena will be empty except
for the ever-present security man inside the doors of Gate Two.
There will be no ice clinking around glasses in the Igloo Club,
no pizza being delivered to the super boxes, no business discussions
between periods in the club seats.
No 11-year-olds eyeing Marc-Andre Fleury
jerseys in PenStation and searching their mom's face for a sign
. . . more.....
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Pittsburgh Penguins Can
two older players turn around the fortunes of the worst team in
the NHL?
Penguins' general manager Craig Patrick
and coach Eddie Olczyk both say yes - when the players are Mario
Lemieux and Mark Recchi.
Lemieux played only 10 games before hip
problems knocked him out for the season last November and the Penguins
went on to finish 23-47-8-4. But the 39-year-old captain . . .
more.....
Faces On The Farm It appears
the young players the Penguins most wanted to see in the American
Hockey League during a lockout will be playing there after all.
The NHL made no special provisions easing the movement of developing
players to the AHL during a labor impasse, meaning Pittsburgh players
beyond their initial professional contract had to clear waivers
before reporting to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the start of training
camp . . . more.....
10 NHL Questions The biggest
question of all: when will the lockout end?
In a literal sense, both sides can afford
to lose the entire season. The owners have a $300 million lockout
fund for teams to draw upon as the season fades, which should cover
their debt, lease and tax obligations and those management salaries
still being paid. The players have been instructed for years . .
. more.....
Museum Highlights Region's Love Affair With Sports
If you're in doubt as to whether the City
of Champions is stuck in a major-league championship drought, consider
this sobering scenario:
Today's 35 year-old Pittsburgh sports
fan was trading college cap and gown for workplace parking pass
when the Penguins last claimed the NHL's Stanley Cup (1992). That
same fan was convinced girls had 'cooties' during the Pirates' and
Steelers' most recent championship drives . . . more.....
Wilkes-Barre Scranton Some
of the veteran players who helped the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
to the Calder Cup Finals last spring have left the organization,
including Tom Kostopoulos, Eric Meloche and Toby Petersen. But assistant
coach Mike Yeo says that's hardly cause for concern.
'That's what the AHL is - there's always
a rollover. A lot of people think success in the AHL is dependent
on . . . more.....
PSR Showdown: Is The NHL Even Worth Watching Anymore?
Yes, It's Still The Best
Dumb question, especially given that
there won't be any NHL games played today. Or tomorrow. Or next
month.
Despite NHL hockey's flaws Ð bad refereeing,
trapping, dilution of talent, clutching and grabbing, Neanderthal
acceptance of fighting Ð it's still better than anything else. It's
one of the few sports that still have spontaneous creativity. No
playbook. No endless series of stops and starts . . . more.....
No, As Previously Confirmed
I could, if pressed, conduct some actual
research to support my contention that the NHL is unwatchable -
at least in the regular season - but I'd rather let my opponent
do the work for me.
Mark Madden wrote a terrific column in
the Feb. 15, 2003 edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The headline:
'NHL Won't Admit Its Game Stinks.'
Madden pointed out the following . .
. more.....
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