Tree of Life

18 Nov

Steelers Release LeGarrette Blount

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, November 18th, 2014 – 1:28 pm

The Steelers released running back LeGarrette Blount, the team announced today.

“We believe the decision to release LeGarrette is in the best interest of the organization and wish him the best of luck,” Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin said.

Blount joined the Steelers as a free agent on March 28. He played in each of the team’s 11 games in 2014, rushing for 266 yards on 65 carries with two touchdowns and added six catches for 36 yards.

Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

18 Nov

Pittsburgh Power Cease Operations

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Tuesday, November 18th, 2014 – 10:35 am

Despite showing franchise highs in season ticket and sponsorship sales throughout the off-season, the Pittsburgh Power will cease operations. “We would like to thank the city of Pittsburgh and the Power fan base for their support. Pittsburgh is a great sports town, and a phenomenal city to play for. We enjoyed each of the four seasons we played at the CONSOL Energy Center,” said Matt Shaner, Power CEO and Chairman. “We would also like to thank our corporate partners for the unwavering support they have given us throughout the years”.
The Power was founded in 2010 by entrepreneur Matt Shaner and NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann. Trib Total Media purchased a stake in the ownership group in the 2014 season. The Power’s first game was in March 2011. That game broke the Arena Football League’s record for highest attendance for a franchise’s inaugural game. The Power played 4 seasons in the AFL, all of which culminated during the 2014 season in which the Power went 15-3 and clinched their first playoff berth.
All ticket sales from the 2015 season will be refunded in full.

Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

17 Nov

RMU MEN’S HOCKEY: Colonials Ranked In USCHO Top 20 For Third Straight Week At 7-1-2, Robert Morris off to best 10-game start in program history

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Monday, November 17th, 2014 – 2:19 pm

After working overtime twice during the weekend, the Robert Morris University men’s hockey team remained in the United States College Hockey Online (USCHO) top 20 for the third consecutive week.

The 7-1-2 Colonials clock in at No. 20 in this week’s USCHO Division I men’s hockey poll, released Monday afternoon. RMU was ranked 17th heading into last weekend’s home series against Air Force and No. 18 the week before that. Prior to this season, the Colonials had never been ranked in back-to-back polls by USCHO voters.

Robert Morris rallied back for a 3-3 tie Friday night at 84 Lumber Arena, but Air Force served the Colonials their first loss of the season Saturday night, 2-1 in overtime. Prior to that defeat, RMU had played 27 consecutive OT games without a loss, an 8-0-19 streak that started nearly four years ago.

Although they fell from the undefeated ranks Saturday, Friday’s tie meant the Colonials matched a program record for most consecutive games (nine) without a loss. This is just the second time in 11 Division I seasons that RMU has won seven of its first 10 games; the 2010-11 team started 7-2-1 on its way to an 18-12-5 finish.

With a 5-1-2 record in conference play, RMU remains in first place in Atlantic Hockey. The Colonials return to the road this Friday and Saturday when they face league foe American International in West Springfield, Mass.

In other relevant college hockey rankings, Robert Morris is 24th in both the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) and the PairWise Rankings. RPI is one statistical tool used by the NCAA to set its postseason tournament field, while PairWise attempts to mimic the NCAA’s annual selection process. RMU made its first NCAA tournament appearance last season by winning the Atlantic Hockey postseason championship.

The weekly USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll mentions the Colonials for the eighth consecutive time. Although they were not listed in the top 15, the Colonials received enough votes for an unofficial 22nd-place standing.

Stay connected with Pittsburgh’s College Hockey Team on Twitter and Facebook.

(Photo: RMU junior forward Zac Lynch battles with an Army player in a game last month in West Point, N.Y. Credit: Paul Bereswill)

Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

17 Nov

PITT BASKETBALL SIGNS DAMON WILSON AND ROZELLE NIX TO A NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT

published in category: College Sports on Monday, November 17th, 2014 – 8:35 am

The University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball program signed two student-athletes—center Rozelle Nix (Cincinnati, Ohio/Pensacola State J.C./Withrow H.S.) and guard Damon Wilson, Jr. (Powder Springs, Ga./Our Savior New American H.S.)—to a National Letter of Intent, head coach Jamie Dixon announced on Saturday. The NCAA Division I fall men’s basketball signing period runs from Nov. 12-19, 2014.

“We are extremely excited about Rozelle and Damon,” Dixon said. “Both are good players from winning backgrounds and both have outstanding work ethic.”

A 7-foot, 318-pound center, Nix will enter his sophomore season at Pensacola State Junior College, where helped guide the Pirates to a 21-11 record, state semifinal finish and Panhandle Conference Tournament title last year. Pensacola entered the year ranked No. 3 in the FSCAA coaches’ poll. An extremely strong and physical center, Nix uses size to his advantage and is comfortable playing with his back to the basket. He has shown improvement in the low post, where he has developed a consistent drop move and hook shot. An All-Panhandle Conference selection last year, Nix will be coached this year by Pensacola assistant and former Pitt player Ontario Lett (2001-03). He will enroll at Pitt as a junior with two years of eligibility remaining.

A 6-foot-5-inch, 200-pound combination guard, Wilson is a consensus top-100 national recruit. Wilson enters his senior season at Our Savior New American (Centerreach, N.Y.), where he averaged 10.9 points and eight assists per game while leading the Pioneers to the 2014 USA National Prep Championship title, a 28-3 overall record and No. 9 final national ranking in the USA Today poll. OSNA enters the 2014-15 season ranked No. 13 nationally in the USA Today preseason poll. An athletic, versatile and pass-first guard with a nice scoring touch and ideal size, the lefthanded Wilson is an all-around player who can drive to the basket and displays a high basketball IQ. His toughness has been compared to Pitt point guards of the past: Brandin Knight, Carl Krauser and Levance Fields.

Pitt plays its second regular season game against Samford on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. ET. The contest will be televised on the ACC’s Regional Sports Network and on Root Sports locally in Pittsburgh.

Pitt returns three starters and 11 letterwinners from a team that finished 26-10 overall and advanced to its 12th NCAA Tournament in the last 13 seasons. For more information and updated news on Pitt Basketball, follow twitter.com/hailtopitthoops. For more information on the Pitt basketball team check out the 2014-15 Basketball Media Guide, 2014-15 Schedule and 2014-15 Pitt Basketball Prospectus.

PITT’S 2014 FALL MEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNEES
(early signing period for men’s basketball ran from November 12-19)
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Rozelle Nix Center 7-0 318 Cincinnati, Ohio/Pensacola State J.C./Withrow
Damon Wilson Guard 6-5 200 Powder Springs, Ga./Our Savior New American H.S.

Posted in College Sports

 

14 Nov

PIRATES AND A.J. BURNETT AGREE ON ONE-YEAR DEAL

published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, November 14th, 2014 – 3:34 pm

The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with right-handed pitcher A.J. Burnett for the 2015 season. The announcement was made by Pirates Executive Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.

The 37-year-old Burnett posted a 26-21 record and a 3.41 ERA while making 61 starts with the Pirates during his two seasons with the club (2012-2013) before pitching with Philadelphia in 2014.

Burnett, who made a National League high 34 starts while pitching 213.2 innings last season, ranks fourth among all Major League pitchers in starts since 2008 (227). He has also won 10 or more games in nine of the last 10 seasons, including 16 in his first season with the Pirates.

In his 16 big league seasons, Burnett has won 155 games in 409 appearances (404 starts). He will enter the 2015 season ranked fifth in career wins, fourth in career starts and fourth in career innings pitched (2567.1) among active pitchers.

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Posted in Pittsburgh Pirates

 

14 Nov

PITT BASKETBALL TO TRAVEL TO JAPAN TO FACE GONZAGA IN 2015 ARMED FORCES CLASSIC

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Friday, November 14th, 2014 – 9:47 am

The University of Pittsburgh Basketball team will open its 2015-16 season in the Armed Forces Classic against Gonzaga in Okinawa, Japan, ESPN announced Friday morning. The game will be played on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 at Camp Smedley D. Butler Marine Corps Base in Okinawa, Japan.

The contest will be televised nationally on ESPN as part of the network’s America’s Heroes: A Salute to Our Veterans. The initiative honors the men and women who are serving and who have served in the United States military, both at home and abroad.

“It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to play in such a great event,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. “Our goal is always to play in college basketball’s top events and the Armed Forces Classic certainly ranks among the best. The trip will also provide an opportunity for our players, coaches, administration and support staff to experience day-to-day life on an overseas military base.”

In its third year since its creation in 2012, the Armed Forces Classic is a series of NCAA Division I college basketball games that are played on United States military bases worldwide over a five-year rotation. Past Armed Forces Classic games have taken place at Ramstein Air Base in Germany (2012: Connecticut vs. Michigan State) and Camp Humphreys in Korea (2013: Georgetown vs. Oregon). This year’s event will be played at CGAS Borinquen in Puerto Rico (Louisville vs. Minnesota today at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN).

Pitt and Gonzaga will meet for the first time in men’s basketball.

Pitt opens its 2014-15 season tonight against Niagara at the Petersen Events Center. Tipoff for the ESPN3 contest is at 7 p.m. ET. Pitt also hosts Samford on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. ET.

Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

13 Nov

Pirates make trade

published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, November 13th, 2014 – 8:36 am

The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired catcher Francisco Cervelli from the New York Yankees in exchange for left-handed pitcher Justin Wilson. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President, General Manager, Neal Huntington.

The 28-year-old Cervelli hit .301 (44-for-146) with two home runs and 13 RBI in 49 games with the Yankees last season.

Originally signed by the Yankees on March 1, 2003, the Venezuelan native has spent his entire professional career with New York.

During his seven big league seasons (2008-2014), Cervelli has produced a .278 batting average in 250 games – 236 behind the plate.

Posted in Pittsburgh Pirates

 

12 Nov

William Gay Named Steelers 2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, November 12th, 2014 – 9:28 am

Steelers cornerback William Gay has been named the Steelers 2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year, the team announced today.

Gay represents the Steelers as one of 32 NFL team’s Man of the Year award winners and qualifies for the league’s national 2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year. The award recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence. The overall winner will be announced during Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Ariz.

In late October, Gay teamed up with the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh to introduce a new national danger assessment app, RUSafe. The app helps individuals to identify if they are a victim of domestic violence and connects them to a local hotline. Gay is the national spokesman for RUSafe, and the app was made available nationwide via smartphone app stores on November 1.

In 2010, Gay provided a holiday dinner for the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. It was on that night that Gay, for the first time, shared his story about the impact domestic violence had on his life, and he began a partnership with the shelter that has continued since. Gay was presented with the Ted Craig Humanitarian Award by the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh in 2012 for his efforts to end intimate partner violence.

Gay was one of 23 current and former NFL players to be featured in the recent “No More” public service announcements to help end domestic violence.

A former fifth-round selection in 2007 by the Steelers, Gay has never missed a single game in his NFL career, and his current 121 consecutive games played streak is the longest active streak in the NFL for a defensive back. His career numbers include seven interceptions, two of which have been returned for touchdowns, five sacks, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Gay also had a huge play in the 2010 AFC Championship, when he recovered a fumble and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown.

Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 



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