11 Aug
Steigerwald vs. Fedko
published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Monday, August 11th, 2014 – 1:43 pm
Posted in Sports Talk Radio
Tree of Life
11 Aug
Penn State Tight End Adam Breneman Sidelined
published in category: College Sports on Monday, August 11th, 2014 – 12:27 pm
Penn State football coach James Franklin announced today that tight end Adam Breneman (Mechanicsburg) will be out indefinitely with an injury. Coach Franklin asked that the public support and respect Adam and his family’s privacy.
Breneman made 15 receptions for 186 yards and three touchdowns during his true freshman season, hauling in a scoring strike in each of the last three games. His 68-yard touchdown catch and run in Penn State’s big 31-24 win at No. 14 Wisconsin was the Nittany Lions’ longest play from scrimmage last season.
The former Cedar Cliff High School All-American started five games as a true freshman in 2013. He is secretary of Penn State’s Uplifting Athletes chapter, which raised a record $140,000 for the Kidney Cancer Association in 2013-14 and nearly $1 million since the first Penn State Lift For Life event in 2003.
Franklin’s Nittany Lions are in the midst of their second week of training camp in preparation for the Aug. 30 season opener vs. UCF in the Croke Park Classic in Dublin, Ireland. The game will kick at 8:30 a.m. ET and air on ESPN2, the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com.
Posted in College Sports
08 Aug
NFL Awards Predictions by Robert Norton
published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, August 8th, 2014 – 8:55 am
The 2014 NFL season is almost upon us and that could only mean one thing, it’s time for some predictions. Everywhere you look, from now until the first kickoff, you will see everyone giving their expert predictions on who will take home the top awards for the season. Fans and media from around the globe are making their guesses on who will be the AFC and NFC Defensive Player of the Year, AFC and NFC Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the year, NFL Comeback Player of the year and NFL MVP for 2014. The only problem is that’s all they are, guesses. I am not going to give you my “guess” on who will take home the awards but I am going to tell you who will take home the most coveted NFL hardware when the season concludes. By looking into the magic eight ball I have seen the future. If you want guesses, go somewhere else. The magic eight ball never lies. So without anymore hesitation, the awards go to:
AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year
Ryan Shazier, Pittsburgh Steeler Inside Linebacker. Shazier’s blazing speed and incredible instincts will make him the runaway winner of this award. I wasn’t enthused when Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert took him over some standout cornerbacks in May, but he proves me wrong the best way he can, on the field. Starting as the first rookie ever in a Dick LeBeau defense is an amazing accomplishment in its own right and he couldn’t have been put in a better situation to succeed. He will make mistakes just as all rookies do, but his tremendous speed and quickness will allow for him to make up for a lot of those missteps. He will finish the year with 104 tackles, 7 sacks, 3 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 touchdown.
NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year
Kyle Fuller, Chicago Bears Cornerback. Fuller couldn’t have landed in a better situation than Chicago. Their offense can be explosive which will make other teams playing catch up a lot this season. Early in the year quarterbacks will test Fuller seeing if the Bears made the right move in selecting him. The only advice I have for them is don’t. By mid-season opposing offenses will have learned a very important lesson, don’t throw the ball anywhere near “Fuller Island”. He will finish with 62 tackles, 6 interception, 22 pass breakups and 1 touchdown.
AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year
Bishop Sankey, Running Back Tennessee Titans. With Chris Johnson’s exit to the J.E.T.S, Sankey almost wins the job by default. After a very productive college career he will step right into an improved offense with a healthy Jake Locker and another year of experience for Kendall Wright. He won’t set the world on fire but he will be the best offensive rookie in the AFC. He will finish with 1,137 rushing yards, 466 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns.
NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year
Mike Evans, Wide Reciever Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Evans has the size. He has the Speed. He has the hands. The Buccaneers are said to be modeling their offense after the Chicago Bears who have Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. They even went out in free agency and picked up Bears backup quarterback from a year ago Josh McCown. His talent paired with the Bucs offensive scheme, the only thing that could stop Evans would be an injury. He will finish with 78 receptions, 1, 108 yards and 8 touchdowns.
AFC Defensive Player of the Year
JJ Watt, Houston Texans Defensive End. Watt is the best defensive lineman in the game but in the past offenses often doubled and triple teamed him trying to take him out of the game. If they try that this year they will face a big problem on the other side of the defense which goes by the name of Jadeveon Clowney. With Clowney and Watt coming at opposing quarterbacks from all angles, quarterbacks around the league should and will be terrified. He will finish with 18 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 11 balls batted down at the line of scrimmage.
NFC Defensive Player of the Year
Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers Inside Linebacker. Ever since being drafted, Kuechly has been a tackling machine. He makes so many plays it’s almost to the point where you have to check jersey numbers to make sure the Panthers have not cloned him. The reigning DPOY is as dominant of a force as there is in the NFL. Pretty soon he is going to have as many trophies as he does tackles. He will finish with 173 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumble and 4 interceptions.
NFL Comeback Player of the Year
Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver. Last season Jones was on pace for 130 catches and over 1,800 yards, until a foot injury derailed both his and the Falcons seasons. This year his foot is healed and he is ready to pick up where he left off before the injury. Although he will miss Tony Gonzalez by his side, a healthy Roddy White will be back giving the Atlanta one of the best receiving duos in football. When it’s all said and done Jones will finish the year with 1,649 yards on 117 catches and 13 touchdowns.
NFL MVP
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints Quarterback. Only eight times in NFL history has a quarterback thrown for 5,000 yards. Drew Brees has down it four of those times. Only five times in NFL history has a quarterback completed 70% of his passes in a season. Brees has accounted for two of those. No quarterback has thrown for more touchdown passes over the past 3 season as Brees’s 128. I think you get the message. This guy is good. In an era where Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have taken turns rewriting the record books, Brees has quietly been the most-steady passer in the game. This year will be no different as he will finish with 5,367 yards and 46 touchdowns with only 9 interceptions.
Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers
06 Aug
PITT TO FACE CHAMINADE IN EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL OPENING GAME
published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Wednesday, August 6th, 2014 – 12:33 pm
The University of Pittsburgh basketball team will open the Championship Bracket of the 2014 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational against Chaminade, ESPN and tournament officials announced on Wednesday morning. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET/4 p.m. Hawaii Time on Monday, Nov. 24 at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui. The contest will be televised nationally on ESPNU. All three Maui Invitational games will be televised live on the ESPN family of networks.
In its second Maui Invitational game, Pitt will play either the winner or loser of the BYU-San Diego State contest on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at either 10 p.m. ET (if win) or 4:30 p.m. ET (if lose). Game three for Pitt is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 26. Opponent and tipoff time is TBA. Click here for the full EA SPORTS Maui Invitational bracket.
Pitt has never faced NCAA Division II Chaminade University. The Panthers have the luxury of playing an NCAA Division II program because Pitt will gain an extra game by playing a road contest at Hawaii. Due to NCAA rules, programs that schedule a road contest against a team in Hawaii are granted an additional game. The Panthers have never faced San Diego State. Pitt played BYU only one time, on Dec. 23, 1986. Other potential opponents in the Maui Invitational include Arizona, Kansas State, Missouri and Purdue.
Pitt will play a combined four games in Maui as it has also scheduled a Friday, Nov. 21 road game against the University of Hawaii at the Wailuku War Memorial Gym. Tipoff time for that contest will be released at a later date.
Travel packages and tickets are still available. For more information on tickets and travel packages, visit http://www.pittpantherssportstravel.com/ or call 877-211-9471.
Pitt will compete in its first-ever Maui Invitational. Pitt has traveled to the state of Hawaii three times in past years, making appearances in the Honolulu-based Rainbow Classic in 1986, 1990 and 1996. Rainbow Classic Most Valuable Player Curtis Aiken led the Panthers to consecutive wins over Kansas, Arkansas and Wisconsin in claiming the 1986 title. MVP Jason Matthews guided Pitt to wins over Alaska-Anchorage and Stetson in winning the 1990 title. In 1996, Pitt registered impressive wins over Maryland and Northwestern before dropping the title game to Michigan. Pitt is a successful 7-2 in nine all-time games played in the state of Hawaii.
Pitt’s entire 2014-15 men’s basketball schedule, tipoff times and television appearances will be announced in late August. Pitt’s entire non-conference schedule was released on July 8 and its 2014-15 and 2015-16 ACC regular season opponents were announced on April 22.
The annual City Game, presented by GNC, will take place on Friday, Dec. 5 at the Consol Energy Center. For the first time, Pitt season ticketholders will receive City Game tickets as part of their season ticket package. For non-season ticketholders, City Game tickets will be sold through Ticketmaster on a predetermined date.
Since the Petersen Events Center opened in 2002-03, all 216 regular season games have been sold out. To join Pitt’s season ticket waiting list, click this link: http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/mbb-tix-waiting-list-form.html.
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 @hailtopitthoops.
2014 MAUI INVITATIONAL MATCHUPS
Monday, Nov. 24, 2014
Game One: Purdue vs. Kansas State, 2:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. HT
Game Two: Missouri vs. Arizona, 5 p.m. ET/Noon HT
Game Three: PITT vs. Chaminade, 9 p.m. ET/4 p.m. HT
Game Four: BYU vs. San Diego State, 11:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. HT
Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014
Game Five: Loser Game One vs. Loser Game Two, 2 p.m. ET/9 a.m. HT
Game Six: Loser Game Three vs. Loser Game Four, 4:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. HT
Game Seven: Winner Game One vs. Winner Game Two, 7:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. HT
Game Eight: Winner Game Three vs. Winner Game Four, 10 p.m. ET/5 p.m. HT
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014
Game Nine: Loser Game Five vs. Loser Game Six, 2:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. HT
Game 10: Winner Game Five vs. Winner Game Six, 5 p.m. ET/Noon HT
Game 11/Consolation: Loser Game Seven vs. Loser Game Eight, 7:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. HT
Game 12/Championship: Winner Game Seven vs. Winner Game Eight, 10 p.m. ET/5 p.m. HT
Note: All games played at Lahaina Civic Center, Maui, Hawaii; ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will combine to televise all 12 games.
PITT BASKETBALL ENTIRE GAME SCHEDULE IN HAWAII
Date Opponent (TV) Location Time
Friday, Nov. 21 at Hawaii Wailuku, Hawaii/War/Memorial Gym TBA
Monday, Nov. 24 *Pitt vs. Chaminade (ESPNU) Maui, Hawaii/Lahaina Civic Center 9 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Nov. 25 BYU or San Diego State (TBA) Maui, Hawaii/Lahaina Civic Center TBA
Wed., Nov. 26 *Game Three: TBA Maui, Hawaii/Lahaina Civic Center TBA
Posted in Sports Talk Radio
06 Aug
JAMES SHAW SIGNED BY STEELERS Power Rookie WR Joins Steelers for Training Camp
published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Wednesday, August 6th, 2014 – 11:02 am
Pittsburgh Power rookie wide receiver James Shaw has been signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason roster.
“I am very excited for James to get the opportunity to be added to an NFL roster,” Power Head Coach Ron James said. “It is a testament to his athletic skill and hard work that he was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
Shaw saw action in eight games for the Power in 2014 finishing the regular season with 21 receptions for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Shaw also saw time as a kick returner averaging 19.7 yards per return. In the Power’s first playoff game in franchise history, Shaw hauled in three receptions for 42 yards and a score.
Before joining the Power, Shaw played in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers after graduating from Jacksonville State. While in college, Shaw caught 69 passes for 815 yards and eight touchdowns.
“It has been my privilege over the course of my coaching career to place many players on NFL rosters,” James said. “We will continue with the Pittsburgh Power to showcase outstanding talent for our fans to appreciate and scouts to recognize every season we play in the Arena Football League.”
Posted in Sports Talk Radio
06 Aug
Andrew McCutchen and the Bean ball by Brian Wudkwych
published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, August 6th, 2014 – 10:59 am
The bean ball heard ‘round the world, or around Pittsburgh at least, has left Pirates’ fans wondering how things could get worse.
The presumed ace of the rotation, Gerrit Cole, is taking a longer time than people assumed after having tightness in his right lat, Gregory Polanco has fallen off significantly since tearing up major league pitching during his first few weeks up, Starling Marte is still rehabbing after being drilled in the head with a pitch and Pedro Alvarez is, well, he’s having struggles to say the very least.
Now team catalyst Andrew McCutchen is out for an extended amount of time after being hit in the back by Diamondbacks’ pitcher Randall Delgado in what was clear retaliation for the Ernesto Frieri’s (seemingly) accidental pitch that struck Arizona star Paul Goldschmidt in the hand and sent him to the DL.
It’s easy to blame Diamondback manager Kirk Gibson for the bean ball but a more appropriate villain would be the game’s “unwritten rules”.
I understand retaliation. I understand wanting to show your star player that you have his back and won’t condone opposing teams coming after him. But that wasn’t the case when Goldschmidt got hit. The Pirates weren’t trying to send a message when they hit the Arizona star. It was 9-4 in the bottom of the ninth against a team that is having a train wreck of a season. There is no budding rivalry between the two teams. The Diamondbacks could even possibly be the farthest team from the Pirates, geographically speaking.
So why would Gibson take exception to his star player being hit by a pitch?
The “unwritten rules”.
The rules are outdated and reckless. This is how players get hurt. This isn’t the Red Sox versus the Yankees, this isn’t a critical series between the Dodgers and the Giants.
There is no room in baseball for retaliation, at least not in the form of hitting an opposing player with a 95 mile-per-hour pitch. The Pirates, the Diamondbacks, and the league are lucky that it wasn’t worse.
What happens when the pitcher misses his spot and hits a player in the head? How far does the bean ball game have to go before teams and managers learn that the “unwritten rules” are nothing but a reminder for how the game was played and not an accurate depiction of how it should currently be played.
Personally, I think the league is taking steps towards discouraging the plunking of opposing players. You saw it when Delgado was immediately ejected from the game and you saw it when Justin Wilson was thrown out for hitting a Dodger player but how does Bud Selig or the future commissioner prevent bean balls from happening in the first place?
I’m glad I’m not the one charged with finding a solution to one of baseball’s biggest issues.
But back to the Pirates and how McCutchen’s injury will affect them moving forward.
It’s easy to overreact in a situation like this. McCutchen leads the team in just about every single offensive category – he is, after all, the reigning MVP.
But since July 12th, when McCutchen was hitting .325, his batting average has dropped .14 points. That’s a big drop off for one of baseball’s more consistent players. And one would logically think that with their star player struggling, the team would struggle. The Pirates finished 11-7 over that stretch. That’s not bad.
It’s far too easy to expect the Pirates to play dead after losing McCutchen. It’s also far too early to make that assumption.
It will take a lot of pieces for the Pirates to stay in contention, especially considering they have three other contenders in the NL central alone.
Pedro will have to figure out why he can’t make a decent throw to first. Josh Harrison will need to continue to play above and beyond what people expected of him. Marte and Polanco will have to live up to the incredibly high expectations and the rotation will have to be lights out.
That’s a tall task for a team like the Pirates.
Neal Huntington could make some more waiver magic happen to help bolster the team but all the team has to do is keep its head above water until Cutch returns.
It’s too early to panic. I’m cautiously optimistic that Clint Hurdle can somehow keep the team in contention. More than one player will have to step and make his presence known.
Here’s to hoping that an intentional bean ball doesn’t change the landscape of the NL central and wild card race.
Posted in Pittsburgh Pirates
06 Aug
Cutch Injury Issue by Robert Norton
published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, August 6th, 2014 – 10:09 am
It is the most important point in the 2014 MLB season. August and September are the months contenders make a push for the playoffs and the pretenders begin deciding which golf course they’re going to visit first. The Pittsburgh Pirates are 59-53, good enough to put them 2.5 games out of the lead in the NL Central and 1 game out of a wild card position. They are most certainly contenders at this pivotal point in the season, but there is one major problem. Their heart and soul, one of the best players in all of baseball and reigning National League MVP was injured over the weekend against the Diamondbacks. After hearing the news, the only thing I can think about the rest of the season is the Pirates are in big trouble.
Andrew McCutchen has been diagnosed with an “avulsion fracture involving the costochondral cartilage of the left 11th rib.” That is doctor talk and may not mean much to the average person, so I’ll put that into as simple terms as I can for everyone. What the doctor said is the Pirates are in big trouble. After seemingly letting their fans down at the July 31st trade deadline by doing absolutely nothing when all of the rumors out there promised so much, Cutch’s injury is an even bigger punch in the stomach to the Bucco Brigade. It’s hard to believe anyone took the news well from the players, to coaches and fans. In fact, reports are you could collectively hear the air being sucked out of the city as the news broke. He is their Sidney Crosby. He is their Ben Roethlisberger. He is irreplaceable.
Believe it or not, there is good news to be found in all of this. He wasn’t placed on the Disabled List as it was previously reported would happen. This means he could hopefully return in the very near future. Instead of being an oblique strain as was originally reported, it is supposedly a more minor injury. You know that little “avulsion fracture involving the costochondral cartilage of the left 11th rib” thing. The only problem is, no matter how many times I read McCutchen’s diagnosis, I can’t help but read the fine print. The Pirates are in big trouble if he doesn’t come back soon.
Right now Pedro Alvarez in not with the team after being placed on the bereavement list. He hasn’t been the same player as he was last year at the plate or in the field but with Cutch out of the lineup the team needs him more than ever. The bright spot with Pedro being inactive is the fans in the first 30 rows behind first base can attend games without fear now. Marte is back in the lineup manning center field. He’s no Cutch, but who is? Walker also came back for the first game against the Marlins but left with back tightness. Cole is working his way back into the rotation but it may not even matter by that point if he has the likes of Jayson Nix, Michael Martinez and Travis Snider starting behind him. Without Walker, Cutch and Cole the outlook doesn’t appear good.
Maybe I’m being too hard on this club. Maybe they will surprise me, come together as one and make it through this time without their star as we all hope they will. They may even win a wild card spot or even the division. It could happen. Anything is possible in this great world we live in. However, I wouldn’t put my money on it. Not with their heart and soul on the bench rehabbing an injury. If Cutch comes back soon and plays like himself, go ahead and place your bets on the Bucs. If not, you’d be better off putting your money on something else like the Browns winning the Super Bowl or even quitting your job and buying a power ball ticket. Everyone has to have a dream but the Pirates are now living a nightmare. One from which they won’t wake up from until the MVP is back.
Posted in Pittsburgh Pirates
06 Aug
Pitt Fall Camp: Day Two Thoughts
published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Wednesday, August 6th, 2014 – 9:54 am
The Pitt football team is two practices into it’s fall camp. Which in my opinion is the most important camp of the Chryst-era. The schedule sets up for Pitt to have success and the starting QB, Chad Voytik has been in the system for three years. Translation: Pressure is on. Here are some of my observations from Pitt camp day two:
- No pads on, very hard to tell much about at this point.
- Freshman Runing Back, Chris James looks the part. He runs fast, moves quick and sharp, and even called himself the “homerun hitter.” Hyped to see how he looks like when the hitting starts this weekend.
- Tyler Boyd is the leader of the Receivers, not just talent wise, but vocally as well. He was showing is teammates younger and older what to do on the field. Didn’t expect to see that.
- According to DB Tarrish Webb, backup QB Trey Anderson is the best paintball player on the team. Has his own gun and mask.
- RB James Conner has been playing both ways so far in camp, just like he did in the bowl game against Bowling Green. According to Pitt coaches, he could be a third down specialist at defensive end.
- Chad Voytik, doesn’t have the arm of Tom Savage, so look for a “dink-and-dunk” offense. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, just that the offense will look a lot different than it did last year.
- Rap, country, and pop music played throughout most of practice, which makes Pitt camp more entertaining than Steelers training camp. The argument between two assistants when DJ Khaled was replaced by Florida Georgia Line was better than anything I’ve seen at a camp in 5 years.
Check back here for more of my thoughts on Pitt’s Fall camp and listen to the Pittsburgh Sports Depot Show on TribLIVE Radio from 3-5pm, Monday-Friday.
Posted in Sports Talk Radio