17 Jun
Tyler Boyd on Big 33 Game
published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Monday, June 17th, 2013 – 5:14 am
Posted in Sports Talk Radio
Tree of Life
17 Jun
Turnovers Plague Pittsburgh In 59-21 Loss To Philadelphia
published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Monday, June 17th, 2013 – 4:51 am
PITTSBURGH, PA (JUNE 15, 2013) – Seven Pittsburgh Power turnovers and two Philadelphia Soul net recoveries were too much for the Power (3-9) to overcome in their 59-21 loss to the Soul (7-5), in front of 6,059 at CONSOL Energy Center tonight.
In the 1st Quarter, Philadelphia took advantage of two Power turnovers and a net recovery, which resulted in 21 straight Soul points. After the Power turned over the ball on downs in the game’s opening possession, the Soul took over at the Pittsburgh 9-yard line. Three plays later, Philadelphia fullback Derrick Ross scored from 4 yards out to give the Soul a 7-0 lead. After the two teams exchanged turnovers on their respective possessions, Philadelphia quarterback Dan Raudabaugh found Ross on the first play of the next drive to give the Soul a 14-0 lead. After another Power turnover, Ross scored his third touchdown of the quarter – the AFL Highlight of the Game – on a 14 yard catch-and-run, hurdling a Power defender, making the score 21-0.
The 2nd Quarter opened with Power kicker Julian Rauch missing a 64-yard field goal. The Soul took over at their own 20-yard line and scored five plays later, as Raudabaugh found Ryan McDaniel on an 11-yard scoring pass, which gave the Soul a 28-0 lead. The Power finally got on the board at the 1:48 mark of the 2nd Quarter, as Shane Austin, who replaced Derek Cassidy at the end of 1st Quarter, found Julian Talley for a 30-yard touchdown pass, which made the score 28-7. Philadelphia kicker Carlos Martinez closed out the first half scoring with a 27-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Soul a 31-7 lead.
The Soul wasted no time adding to their lead, scoring on the first play of the 3rd Quarter on McDaniel’s 45-yard touchdown catch from Raudabaugh, which made the score 38-7. The Power responded with Talley’s second touchdown catch from Austin that cut the lead to 38-14. Philadelphia came right back when Raudabaugh connected with Anthony Jones for a 7-yard touchdown pass, which increased their lead to 45-14. The Soul took advantage of another Power turnover, as Rayshaun Kizer’s (Riddell Defensive Player Of The Game) interception led to Andre Thurman 5-yard touchdown catch two plays later, increasing the Philadelphia’s lead to 52-14. The Soul had a net recovery on the ensuing kickoff and found the end zone four plays later on Jones’ second touchdown catch of the game, making the score 59-14. Mike Washington scored his first touchdown of the game on a 40-yard catch from Austin which ended the 3rd quarter scoring with the Soul leading 59-21.
Neither team scored in the 4th Quarter.
Philadelphia’s Derrick Ross (Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game and J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game)became the new AFL all-time rushing leader this evening (surpassing Arizona and Carolina’s Bo Kelly, who played from 1996-2007) with 1,618 yards. Ross finished the game with three touchdowns (2 receiving and 1 rushing), 54 rushing yards and 12 receiving yards. Raudabaugh finished with 18-of-27 for 211 yards and 7 touchdowns.
The Power’s Shane Austin was 18-of-30 with a game high 269 yards and 3 touchdowns. Julian Talley led Pittsburgh’s receiving corps with 9 catches for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Power hit the road next Saturday, June 22 against the Orlando Predators (4-8) at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on both thisTV Pittsburgh and TribLIVE Radio SportsTalk. Pittsburgh’s next home game is Saturday, June 29 against the New Orleans VooDoo at 7:00 p.m.
RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
Philadelphia Fullback Derrick Ross
RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
Philadelphia Defensive Back Rayshaun Kizer
J. LEWIS SMALL PLAYMAKER OF THE GAME
Philadelphia Fullback Derrick Ross
CUTTERS CATCH OF THE GAME
Philadelphia’s Anthony Jones’ deflected reception while seated on turf in 1st Quarter
AFL HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
Philadelphia’s Derrick Ross’ 3rd touchdown of the 1st Quarter, hurdling over Pittsburgh defender
Posted in Sports Talk Radio
17 Jun
RIVERHOUNDS EXTEND UNBEATEN STREAK TO EIGHT
published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Monday, June 17th, 2013 – 4:50 am
Pittsburgh – On a gorgeous night in Station Square, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and the Charleston Battery end in a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 3,464 at Highmark Stadium. Jose Angulo’s second-half goal leveled the score against the defending USL PRO Champions, extending the Riverhounds unbeaten streak to eight games.
From the opening whistle, the game was filled with excitement as both sides received multiple scoring opportunities throughout. The Riverhounds and Battery exchanged quality chances in the first five minutes, but neither side was able to find the back of the net.
The Riverhounds Seth C’deBaca rattled the crossbar when he struck a bouncing ball inside the Battery’s penalty area in the 17th minute. A combination between five Riverhounds players down the right flank found Kevin Kerr overlapping Matt Dallman. Kerr delivered a cross for a slashing Angulo at the near post, but his service deflected off of Angulo’s heel. Following the play at the near post, C’deBaca cleanly shot a right-footed half volley the whistled past Battery goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper, but his attempt was denied by the woodwork.
Twenty minutes later, a wonder-strike by Jose Cuevas would provide the visitors with the lead. Battery Captain Colin Falvey played a long-diagonal ball for Cuevas on the left flank. Taking a first touch inside past his closing marker, Cuevas provided himself with enough space to penetrate Riverhounds defensive third with speed. Picking his head up to gage his range, Cuevas bent his shot perfectly around Riverhounds goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap and into the top right corner of the goal.
Following the break, the Riverhounds elevated the pressure on the Battery, resulting in a flurry of chances. The pressure finally paid off in the 72nd minute off of back-to-back set pieces. Taking a corner from left-to-right, Matt Dallman picked out a streaking Angulo at the near post. Beating Cooper to the ball, Angulo flicked the ball past the keeper into the back of the empty net. With the goal, Angulo raised his team-leading tallies to seven and Dallman raised his league-leading assists to eight.
Both sides pushed forward to find the game winner, but neither side could find the back of the net in the final eighteen minutes.
The Riverhounds travel to Harrisburg next Friday night for the second-leg of the Keystone Derby. The game against the Harrisburg City Islanders is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. kick off at Skyline Sports Complex on City Island. The Battery travel overnight to meet the Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen’s Stadium tomorrow afternoon. Their game is slated for a 4:05 p.m. start.
Posted in Sports Talk Radio
14 Jun
Ike Taylor at Legacy Lanes
published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, June 14th, 2013 – 9:32 am
Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers
14 Jun
Morton on Pirates loss
published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, June 14th, 2013 – 4:48 am
Posted in Pittsburgh Pirates
14 Jun
Some questions answered, many remain as Penguins enter offseason by Wes Uhler
published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, June 14th, 2013 – 4:31 am
Immediately after the Boston Bruins swept the Penguins out of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday, June 7th, Pittsburgh entered an offseason filled with many questions about the team’s future. Would Dan Bylsma be fired? What will the team do with Marc-Andre Fleury? What will become of Dupuis, Iginla, Morrow, Cooke, Adams, and other free agents? And what are the Penguins planning to do with Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, two all stars that only have one year left on their contracts?
Three of these questions were answered quickly. General Manager Ray Shero announced yesterday that Coach Bylsma and two of his assistants, Tony Granato and Todd Reirden, were given two-year contract extensions that will keep them in the Steel City through the 2015-2016 season.
In the same press conference, Shero also stated that he has no plans to move struggling goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, and believes he can return to his form that helped lead the Penguins to two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances. Whether Shero was being honest, or if he is just trying to build up Fleury’s confidence and possible trade value, is something we can only speculate for the time being.
Then this morning, Penguins fans awoke to the news that reigning league MVP Evgeni Malkin had signed an eight-year contract extension, which will keep him in Pittsburgh through the 2021-2022 season.
With Malkin’s extension signed and sealed, Penguins fans should now focus on two things: what will happen with Kris Letang, and which free agents will Shero try to keep in Pittsburgh?
There is no doubt Kris Letang is one of the NHL’s top defensemen. Despite missing 13 games of the shortened 48 game season, Letang was still named a finalist for the Norris Trophy, given to the league’s best defenseman. He averaged more than a point per game this season and led the Penguins in average minutes played per game.
Despite this success, Letang has had his share of struggles in the defensive end, especially in the playoffs against Ottawa and Boston. Many Pittsburgh sports writers and fans will even tell you that Paul Martin, not Letang, was the Penguins best defenseman this season. While Martin makes $5 million annually, there is speculation Letang could demand around $7 million a year when he hits the free agent market next summer.
The Penguins would likely receive great compensation if they decide to deal Letang before he has a chance to walk next summer. Letang is only 26 years old and his game continues to improve every year. Due to the Penguins salary cap constraints and having so many free agents to address, it would not surprise me if Shero tries to move Letang at the NHL Draft, similar to the Jordan Staal situation last summer.
According to the popular NHL salary cap website capgeek.com, the Penguins have almost $8 million in cap space to sign free agents this offseason. I think, along with most Penguins fans, that signing Pascal Dupuis should be, and will be, the organizations top priority. Dupuis has grown into one of the NHL’s premier two-way wingers during his tenure in Pittsburgh, as well as one of the leaders of this team in the dressing room and off the ice. My guess is Dupuis and his agent will try and sign a three-year deal worth around $3.5 million annually.
As for the rest of the unrestricted free agents, Iginla, Morrow, Murray, Adams, and Cooke, the price will have to be right for them to stay in town. Iginla and Morrow are both coming off of contracts that paid them more than $4 million a year, and they will have to take pay cuts to stay in Pittsburgh.
After an embarrassing playoff exit like the Penguins suffered at the hands of the Boston Bruins, change within the organization is inevitable. The Penguins entered the offseason with many questions and doubts surrounding the team, and some of them have already been addressed. How Ray Shero decides to move forward with this group of free agents, and Kris Letang, will speak volumes about the organization. Is a roster shake up on its way, or will the Penguins continue the status quo and hope for a better result next year? Soon enough, these questions will be answered.
Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins
13 Jun
Rossi on Malkin signing
published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, June 13th, 2013 – 2:58 pm
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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins
13 Jun
Hurdle on Cole, Morton, Pedro
published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, June 13th, 2013 – 10:23 am
Posted in Pittsburgh Pirates