29 Jul
published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, July 29th, 2013 – 2:28 pm
Guy Junker and Ken Laird preview the Pirates-Cardinals series at PNC Park for First place in the NL Central and count down the top 5 sports stories of the weekend.
29 Jul
published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, July 29th, 2013 – 1:35 pm
29 Jul
published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, July 29th, 2013 – 10:33 am
26 Jul
published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, July 26th, 2013 – 9:01 pm
PITTSBURGH ─ The Steelers have placed tight end David Johnson, tight end Heath Miller, linebacker Sean Spence and nose tackle Alameda Ta’amu on the PUP (Physically Unable To Perform) List, the team announced today.
The Steelers first practice of their 2013 training camp is tomorrow, Saturday, July 27 at 2:55 p.m.
Ike Taylor Show live from Geo’s in Latrobe on Tuesday July 30th at 9pm.
26 Jul
published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, July 26th, 2013 – 8:58 pm
Jason Grilli was seen by the Pirates’ team doctors as well as Dr. James Andrews. Jason was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right arm. It was determined that Jason is not a surgical candidate but that he will need a period of rest before beginning a throwing program. Jason will be re-evaluated in the next 10-14 days. Until that time, Jason will remain rest, treatment and rehabilitation only. Jason’s estimated return date will be better clarified after his reevaluation exam but pitchers with this type of injury typically miss between four and eight weeks.
26 Jul
published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Friday, July 26th, 2013 – 8:55 pm
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds Professional Team, coming off a tremendous week that included a draw with USL Pro leaders, Orlando City, an international friendly against Wigan Athletic FC, and a win over their next door neighbors in the USL Pro standings, the Wilmington Hammerheads, departed for the Canadian border this morning, with clear marching orders: return with three points and in playoff position.
Through an excellent display of possession and attacking flair, the Hounds showed their class against Orlando City last Wednesday night at Highmark Stadium. Controlling long stretches of the match, the Riverhounds and Lions would never break the goalless deadlock, ending in a hard-fought 0-0 draw which only inched the Hounds up the table, on the heels of both VSI Tampa Bay FC and the Dayton Dutch Lions for the final playoff positions.
Despite feeling disappointed in only taking a single point from a game where the Hounds deserved three, Head Coach Justin Evans led the team into an international friendly matchup with FA Cup Winners, Wigan Athletic FC, on Friday night in downtown Pittsburgh’s new soccer cathedral along the banks of the Monongahela River. The exhibition match proved to be invigorating for players and fans alike, as a capacity crowd took on views of world-class finishes, breathtaking views of the Pittsburgh city skyline, and a tremendous post-game fireworks display from Pyrotecnico.
Carrying motivation but also tired legs into their Sunday matchup with Wilmington, their third game in just five days, the Riverhounds would lean on second half substitutes to deliver the energy and the knockout punch.
In a beautiful showing of composure within the offensive box, Riverhounds star striker, Jose Angulo, would lift a deft touch over the Hammerheads backline, landing on the foot of Seth C’deBaca. C’deBaca, taking advantage of the angle, would slide a low cross to a sliding Mike Seth for their initial lead. After losing the lead in the 72nd minute off a broken play in their own box, the Hounds would respond with a goal from the individual who has setup the most goals in the entire league this season. Matt Dallman, picking up a deflection within the Hammerheads box in the 78th minute, would acrobatically turn and volley cleanly into the back of the net for the game-winning goal. The win would push the Hounds a full three points clear of Wilmington.
Travelling to Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, the Riverhounds will look to enter a match that is certain to be filled with physical challenges. If their previous meeting on Friday, June 7th in Pittsburgh is any indication for what is in store for the Saturday 4:30pm clash, the Clubs will carry some bad blood into BMO Field for a heated and crucial fight.
In their initial matchup, just over 3,100 fans watched the Riverhounds play to a 1-1 tie in their first-ever USL Pro / MLS Reserve interleague dealing. The boys from the ‘burgh would jump on the board early, in just the 9th minute, on a Jose Angulo finish from Jhonny Arteaga. The ex-NY Red Bulls duo seemed to have done enough to secure the three points against the MLS Reserve side, owning possession and outshooting the Canadian opponents 10-5. In the 72nd minute, however, Toronto would unexpectedly bring the game level off the foot of Andrew Wiedman.
After a game-ending tackle along Toronto’s endline at Highmark Stadium, tempers would flare, and players and coaches from both sides would go face-to-face in the center of the field. Following several minutes of pushing and shoving, the teams would finally be separated, setting the stage for their final leg matchup in Toronto this weekend.
The Riverhounds continue life on the road next weekend, travelling to Florida for two key games against VSI Tampa Bay FC and Orlando City. With Tampa Bay currently just ahead of the Riverhounds in the USL Pro Standings, the Friday night contest at Plant City Stadium is poised to be a thrilling fixture.
25 Jul
published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, July 25th, 2013 – 8:35 am
Last week, the NHL released their schedule for the upcoming regular season. With division realignment, reverting to an 82 game season, and the 2014 Olympics in Sochi coming up in February, it’s safe to say the schedule will look different from years’ past.
Realignment was discussed after the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg to resurrect the Jets, and enacted around the end of the lockout in January of 2013. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings joined the Eastern Conference while the Jets moved to the Western Conference. As a result, the divisions consolidated from six to four and the Eastern Conference ended up with two more teams than the West.
The NHL released the schedule for all 30 teams along with a formula as to how the schedules correlate:
Western Conference (7-Team Divisions)
Within Conference (Division): 29 games
* 5 games vs. five teams (3 Home/2 Away vs. two teams, 2 Home/3 Away vs. three teams) AND 4 games vs. one team (2 Home/2 Away). Teams rotated on a yearly basis.
* 5 X 5 =25 games
* 1 X 4 = 4 games
Within Conference (Non-Division): 21 games
* 3 games vs. each team (2 Home/1 Away vs. four teams, 1 Home/2 Away vs. three teams). Teams rotated on a yearly basis.
* 3 X 7 = 21 games
Non-Conference: 32 games
* 2 games vs. each team (1 Home/1 Away)
* 2 X 16 = 32 games
(Exception: one team from each division plays one less game inside Division and one more game inside Conference outside Division)
Eastern Conference (8-Team Divisions)
Within Conference (Division): 30 games
* 5 games vs. two teams (3 Home/2 Away vs. one team, 2 Home/3 Away vs. one team) AND 4 games vs. five teams (2 Home/2 Away). Teams rotated on a yearly basis.
* 5 X 2 =10 games
* 4 X 5 = 20 games
Within Conference (Non-Division): 24 games
* 3 games vs. each team (2 Home/1 Away vs. four teams, 1 Home/2 Away vs. four teams). Teams rotated on a yearly basis.
* 3 X 8 = 24 games
Non-Conference: 28 games
* 2 games vs. each team (1 Home/1 Away)
* 2 X 14 = 28 games
(source: NHL.com)
Whoa. Confusing right?
My focus wasn’t so much on how many times the Penguins will play one team in the “Metropolitan Division”, but rather how many games are actually played in the division. That number is 30 for the Eastern Conference and 29 for the Western Conference.
Thirty divisional games.
That means teams will play less than half of their games against divisional opponents. At the same time, each team will play a team out of their conference twice. That means Western Conference teams will play three more games against Eastern Conference opponents than in their own division.
With this schedule the NHL is showing that divisions don’t hold a whole lot of weight. The league isn’t promoting rivalries, showcasing tight divisional races, or rewarding teams for winning divisions. Yes, Pittsburgh is still in the same division as Philadelphia, ridiculously named the Metropolitan Division (seriously, why not name the other three divisions Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte?) and Detroit moved to the Northeast with Toronto. But what’s the point if, at most, they wont play each other more than five times a season?
The Penguins and Flyers played each other eight times a year through the 2007-2008 season. Then the league cut divisional games to six match ups a season afterward. Now it is being cut to five, making room for two games a piece against the Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, and Dallas Stars.
Zzzzzz
The good news is, this is probably a temporary solution. With the Florida Panthers offering eight dollar tickets (with free parking), the Phoenix Coyotes’ future still in doubt, and the league looking to expand, more moves will be made over the next 5-10 years.
For now, we’ll have to enjoy watching a regular season that relies on outdoor games and the “excitement” of seeing teams from other conferences. In the end, the Stanley Cup playoffs is the most dramatic, intense, and exciting event in the league. But the NHL has taken it to another level by further making the regular season less exciting.
24 Jul
published in category: College Sports on Wednesday, July 24th, 2013 – 11:29 am
PITTSBURGH—Pitt senior safety Jason Hendricks, who led the Panthers in both tackles and interceptions last year, has been named to the preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference team, the league announced today.
The preseason All-ACC team is comprised of 25 players (11 offense, 11 defense and three specialists) and was selected by media members in attendance at this week’s 2013 ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro.
Hendricks (Brooklyn, N.Y./Hudson Catholic [N.J.]) was a force against the run and pass last year. The second-team All-Big East pick led the Panthers in tackles (90) and interceptions (six). Hendricks’ interception total was the highest by a Pitt player since 2000, while his 0.46 INTs per game led the Big East and ranked sixth nationally.
Hendricks anchored a Pitt secondary that owned lofty 2012 NCAA rankings in pass defense (20th, 194.15 yards/game), pass efficiency defense (21st, 113.12 rating) and interceptions (26th, 15 total). The Panthers ranked 17th nationally in total defense, allowing just 330.54 yards per contest.
In a very tight vote, Pitt senior defensive tackle Aaron Donald narrowly missed receiving a berth on the team. Donald (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills), a preseason candidate for various national awards, was a first-team All-Big East selection last year, compiling 64 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He led the Big East and ranked 12th nationally with 1.54 TFLs per game.
The 2013 season marks the Panthers’ first as a member of the ACC. Pitt will open the year with a highly anticipated showdown against defending ACC and Orange Bowl champion Florida State on Labor Day (Sept. 2) at Heinz Field. The ESPN national telecast will kick off at 8 p.m.