~~ December 2005 ~~

Unfulfilled Legacy Upper Echelon Eludes Cowher Despite more than 130 regular season victories as head coach of the Steelers, true greatness as a coach continues to elude Bill Cowher. The teams’ well-documented postseason struggles have kept him from reaching Hall of Fame status. By Jerry DiPaola It can be argued with undisputable logic that Cowher’s failures in the postseason leave him just shy of greatness and, therefore, unworthy for ultimate induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That’s true… Cowher is not yet a great coach; maybe he never will be. He must win a Super Bowl – or reach another -- for him to ascend that peak. Year In Review Jason Bay, PSR 2005 Sportsman of the Year Bay is every bit as important to this city as either Big Ben or Sid the Kid. In Bay, Pittsburgh has its first legitimate baseball star since Barry Bonds. It's only fitting, then, that Bay is poised to become the player who unseats Bonds as the National League's best left-fielder... if he hasn't already done so. – Rob Rossi, Pittsburgh Tribune Review Penn State Football, PSR Sports Story of the Year Joe Paterno changed the offense. He changed his way of thinking. Not many 78 year olds can be as introspective. Joe knew he had to turn over more of the offense to Galen Hall. He knew he had to let those freshmen play. At an age when most U.S. males are dead, Joe Paterno re-invented himself. – Dennis Dodd, CBS Sportsline Personalities of 2005: Sidney Crosby, Tim Schuldt, Heath Miller, Willie Parker, Ike Taylor PSR Showdown: Scott Robertson and Rob Cochran provide a glimpse into 2006… Up Close with Jim Tracy: Jim Tracy will try end the string of losing seasons and right the Pirates’ ship. He talked about that challenge with PSR editor Tony DeFazio. I don’t like to think about 13 consecutive losing seasons, but they are there. We’re trying to create a mindset with this group of players that those are in the past and we’re going to get beyond that. Fall Semester Jim Lachimia writes about the Arizona Fall League and why it’s putting young players on the fast track to success in the majors. Media Savvy – Andrew Stockey: Andrew’s excited about Pittsburgh’s Big Three. Guy Junker: Another pro basketball league takes another shot in Pittsburgh. Cannon Firing Line: The Pens’ act is getting old. Sports History: Anne Madarasz, director of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, reminds us that Sidney Crosby isn’t the only rookie sensation to wear a Penguins’ jersey. Making Our Choice: PSR's editor Tony DeFazio explains how the Sportsman Of The Year was chosen.    Copyright © 1997-2005 Pittsburgh Sports Report [PSR]