Tree of Life

28 May

MATT DALLMAN’S GOAL AND ASSIST EARN HIM SPOT ON USL PRO TEAM OF THE WEEK FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE WEEK, FOURTH TIME IN 2013

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Tuesday, May 28th, 2013 – 3:57 pm

Pittsburgh – For the second week in a row, Pittsburgh Riverhounds midfielder, Matt Dallman, was selected to the USL PRO Team of the Week. Dallman’s selection for Week 10 of the 2013 USL PRO season came after recording a goal and an assist in the Riverhounds 2-0 victory over the Antigua Barracuda FC, a game that secured an undefeated record for the Riverhounds in USL PRO action for the Club in the month of May.

“It’s great to make Team of the Week again, but I’m happier that the team is starting to put some good performances together and remain undefeated in five league games,” said Dallman.

Dallman’s assist to his teammate Mike Seth in the 18th minute of play was his sixth of the season and currently leads the league above Nathaniel Robinson of the Richmond Kickers and Jamie Watson of Orlando City, who each have recorded five assists.

“In my opinion, Mike Seth has scored our goal of the year so far,” said Dallman. “I am lucky to have had the assist, because it was a very difficult finish.”

Dallman also scored his first goal of the season in Friday night’s game, a left-footed strike across the face of Antigua’s goalkeeper, Molvin James.

“My goal was just the result of some fantastic movement from Jhonny and Kevin,” said Dallman.

Dallman’s goal earned $2,000 for the American Red Cross to benefit the victims of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado.

For each goal the Riverhounds scored against the Barracuda, corporate partners Highmark, Shallenberger Construction, 84 Lumber, and Century United Soccer Club each generously donated $500 to help the tornado relief efforts.

The two goals scored by the Riverhounds as well as individual donations collected throughout the game earned the American Red Cross over $5,600.

This week is Dallman’s fourth selection to the USL PRO Team of the Week for the 2013 season. The midfielder from Portland received recognition in Week Four for his assist to the Riverhounds’ lone goal against Harrisburg at Highmark Stadium on April 13 in front of a sold out crowd (3,922), honorable mention in Week Five for stellar play against the Dayton Dutch Lions, and Week Nine recognition for his two assists in the 2-1 victory over the Phoenix FC Wolves.

“Matt’s hard work and perseverance are really beginning to pay off for him and are paying huge dividends for our team,” said Riverhounds Head Coach Justin Evans. “I am very happy that Matt’s efforts are being recognized throughout our league and look forward to him continuing on his offensive frenzy throughout the remainder of the season.”

Joining Dallman this week are forward Jhonny Arteaga and midfielder Kevin Kerr, who both received honorable mentions. In Friday’s game, Arteaga recorded the assist for Dallman’s goal, while Kerr had a standout performance in his midfield position, helping to maintain possession of the ball in the offensive half of the field, despite the Riverhounds playing down a man for 68 minutes due to a red card ejection of Mike Seth.

Dallman and the Riverhounds continue their home stand in the month of June with a game against league rivals, Rochester Rhinos, on Saturday, June 1, at Highmark Stadium. On June 7, the Riverhounds welcome Toronto FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) to Highmark Stadium for a T-shirt giveaway night sponsored by Highmark. The Club concludes the home stand against the defending league champions, Charleston Battery, on Saturday, June 15. Following the game against Charleston, a fireworks display provided by Pyrotecnico will light up the Pittsburgh skyline. Kick off for each game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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28 May

WWE RAW-Give them what they want

published in category: Wrestling Reality on Tuesday, May 28th, 2013 – 3:26 pm


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Posted in Wrestling Reality

 

28 May

DK on Pens-Bruins

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, May 28th, 2013 – 2:04 pm


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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

28 May

Power Dreams by Dominic Errico

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Tuesday, May 28th, 2013 – 10:11 am

The funny thing about chasing your dreams is that sometimes you do finally get there. No I haven’t gotten all the way to where I want to go in my broadcasting career but I’ve seen positive steps in the right direction over the past few years.

Last night I got to fill in as the public address announcer for the Pittsburgh Power at the Consol Energy Center, a major league venue. It’s a gig I envisioned filling ever since I first started honing my announcing skills in Erie and Johnstown.

Every step of the way people have believed in me, people who have reinforced my confidence in my abilities and told me to never stop giving up. Last night was a validation of their confidence in me and their spirit flowed through me as freely as the words from my lips.

Some of my friends and family asked if I was nervous but to be honest it felt like pretty much every other game I’ve ever announced. I felt the rush of adrenaline right before player introductions. There’s something about the lights going out and Thunderstruck kicking in that still gets my heart pumping. There’s also a feeling of power knowing your words can help impact the way a crowd reacts. Bringing the crowd to life with the home team on defense is always a blast.

I used a lot of my trademark calls and the crowd responded favorably. It didn’t hurt that I got to announce the first Power win at home in well over a year. I felt the electricity in the air, the excitement at how the game was going, and then the sheer joy of the fans when the clock struck 0:00 and we could finally party.

We won….

That’s right I said we, because I can. I was part of the team last night, the so called 9th man on the mic according to a few fans, and I tried my hardest to will that team to victory. I felt a connection with the Power fans and I hope they felt it in return.

I know I’m supposed to remain unbiased as a member of the media but last night I was part of the team and it felt different, it felt great. I was caught up in the emotions the team and fans were feeling because I had invested myself into this one. I know how much it means to this team to finally win one for the fans at home.

Yes it was the players on the field who ended up making the difference in the end, but maybe just maybe there’s something to this homefield advantage and I firmly believe a revved up crowd can make a huge difference in the Arena Football league.

One of my favorite parts of the night was right after the score went final, getting to add a little personal touch to the game. I blurted out, “Libbie leave the lights on, we’re celebrating a Power win tonight!” It’s always fun to add your wife to Power lore. Not many people get the chance to have that kind of impact.

Hope I get to say it again soon.

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Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

28 May

Polarizing Penguins by Jon Pennline

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, May 28th, 2013 – 8:55 am

The NBA has the Lakers, MLB has the Yankees, the NCAA has the Fighting Irish, and the NHL has the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Penguins aren’t placed on this list because of how hated they are throughout North America, alone. Rather, they are placed on this list because of their polarizing nature.

All Pittsburgh fans believe the Penguins are the most hated team in the NHL and they could be right. After all, the internet is full of comments from people saying Sidney (or Cindy) Crosby is a baby, Matt Cooke is a dirty player, and Mario Lemieux is a hypocrite. Let’s not forget all the times Crosby barked at the referees in seasons’ past, or Cooke’s vicious elbow-to-head contact on several opponents before his “reformation” in 2012 to help fuel the fire.

You are also likely to find several slurs being used against commissioner Gary Bettman and the referees for “fixing” the games so the Penguins always win. It seems if the Penguins win a game, the referees and the league are the reason why.

That’s always my favorite.

The fact is, the Penguins have the top two players in the world and, by far, the most talented team in the NHL on paper. That, alone, will get you one-way ticket to “Haterville”.

But what people in Pittsburgh may not realize is that they have more fans than they think.

First off, with hockey growing exponentially around the world -mainly in Europe- thousands of people are turning on the NHL to get into the sport. When they look at these playoffs, they see jerseys featuring the skating penguins, raising its arms in celebration. Not only is Pittsburgh talented, but they fill the net, making the sport exciting to watch. Plus, people cheer for a winner when they don’t have a diehard rooting interest for a specific team.

If we look a little closer to home, say on the Western Hemisphere, we’ll see several friends North of the border who are rooting for the Penguins to win the Cup. Those fans, particularly located in Alberta, have traded in Red and Black for Black and Vegas Gold. Their franchise player, Jarome Iginla, was traded to Pittsburgh for a chance to raise the Stanley Cup for the first time in a hall of fame career. Those same fans want Iginla to raise the Cup because he’s earned that right after captaining the Flames for 16 and a half seasons.

Speaking of captains, how about Brenden Morrow? Morrow was brought in about a week before Iginla, having been traded from Dallas where he spent the first 14 years of his career. In 2006, the Stars asked former captain Mike Modano to relinquish his captaincy as a means to reward Morrow for his dedication and leadership to the team.

The Stars were eliminated from playoff contention during the regular season, and with one Pacific division rival guaranteed to make the Western Conference finals, who do you think they’re rooting for? The Red Wings? Blackhawks?

Doubt it.

And then there is Canada, itself. A lot of Canadians have polarizing views on Sidney Crosby. While some hate him, others love him. In the same vein, most Canadians love Jarome Iginla and appreciate the hard work Brenden Morrow has done in Dallas. Above everything else, the two have three Olympic Gold Medals, something that Canada takes very seriously every four years.

Ray Shero brought in great role players with enough skill to keep up with the young talent already in place. But he also brought in, particularly with Morrow and Iginla, natural leaders and fan favorites from other franchises. While some fans see the trades as making an already hated team even more hated, others will see it as an opportunity to live, almost vicariously, through their favorite player.

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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

26 May

Power Score 27 Straight in Win

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Sunday, May 26th, 2013 – 1:00 pm

PITTSBURGH, PA – (May 25, 2013) – Pittsburgh’s Steven Sheffield threw for six touchdown and ran for one more to lead the Power to a 55-44 come-from-behind victory in front of 5,340 at CONSOL Energy Center tonight. The Power, who were down 44-28 with 13:58 to play in the 4th quarter, ended the game by scoring 27 straight points.

With the victory, the Power improved to 3-6 and 2-0 in the division and recorded their first home victory of the season. Cleveland fell to 2-7 overall and 1-1 in divisional play. The Power are currently in sole possession of the final American Conference playoff spot with Orlando’s loss this evening.

On the game’s opening possession, the Power defense held the Gladiators to -1 yards forcing Cleveland into a 62-yard field goal attempt that was wide right. However, the Power could not capitalize, missing a 53-yard field goal try. After stopping the Gladiators on their next possession, Sheffield connected with Mike Washington for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Cleveland tied the score at 7-7 on Bryan Zbydniewski‘s 19-yard touchdown throw to Thyron Lewis on the final of the play of the 1st quarter.

The Power took a 14-7 lead early in the 2nd quarter on Sheffield’s 32-yard touchdown pass newly activated Kenny Stafford, the Cutters Catch Of The Game. The Gladiators tied the score at 14-14 on Terrill Byrd’s 3-yard touchdown rush. Pittsburgh regained the lead at 21-14 on a Sheffield 6-yard touchdown rush that was set up by a 28-yard completion to Julian Talley. Cleveland tied the game at 21-21 on Jamar Howard’s 12-yard touchdown catch from Zbydniewski. The Power went up 28-21 on Stafford’s 17-yard touchdown catch from Sheffield. Cleveland closed out the first half quarter scoring on Aaron Pettrey’s 36-yard field goal that sent the game into halftime with the Power leading 28-24, marking the first time Pittsburgh has led at the half in 2013.

On the first play of the 3rd quarter, Sheffield completed a 32-yard pass to Stafford to the Cleveland 17-yard line. However, the Power failed to score when Julian Rauch’s field goal attempt was wide right. Cleveland capitalized on the turnover and took its first lead of the game at 31-28 three plays later on Carlese Franklin’s 3-yard touchdown run. Cleveland added to their lead after LaRoche Jackson recovered a Sheffield fumble at the Pittsburgh 21-yard line, which led to Dominick Goodman’s 6-yard touchdown catch from Zbydniewski, which made the score 38-28 heading into the 4th quarter.

On the second play of the quarter, Cleveland’s Joe Phinisee, the Riddell Defensive Player Of The Game, intercepted Sheffield and returned the ball 49 yards for a touchdown, which was also the AFL Highlight Of The Game, which increased the Gladiators lead to 44-28. Cleveland would not score the rest of the contest.

The Power answered on the ensuing kickoff with Chris LeFlore’s (the J. Lewis Small Playmaker Of The Game) 56-yard return for a touchdown which cut the deficit to 10 points at 44-34. After the Power’s defense held Cleveland to a 4-and-out on their next possession, Sheffield found Washington in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown catch which made the score 44-41. Pittsburgh stopped Cleveland for the second straight series, as Pettrey’s 64-yard field goal attempt sailed into the seats, which gave the Power the ball at their own 20-yard line. Washington would give the Power the lead, catching his third touchdown of the game that made the score 48-44 with 2:39 remaining. Power defensive back Brandon Freeman intercepted Zbydniewski on the next play from scrimmage, giving the Power the ball at their own 16-yard line. On the next play, Talley caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Sheffield, the Russell Athletic Player Of The Game, with 1:04 remaining. Pittsburgh’s defense stopped Cleveland once again, making the final score 55-44.

The 55 points marked the Power’s highest point total of the season, and their 11-point win was their largest margin of victory. The home win at CONSOL Energy Center also stopped an 11-game home losing streak dating back to April 14, 2012 – a win over the Orlando Predators, which ironically also featured a large comeback in the second half (31 points-the largest in AFL history).

The Power visit the Jacksonville Sharks next Saturday, June 1. Kickoff from Jacksonville’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium is at 7:00 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast live on both thisTV Pittsburgh and TribLIVE Radio SportsTalk. Pittsburgh’s next home game is Saturday, June 15 against the division-leading Philadelphia Soul at 7:00 p.m.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

Steven Sheffield – Pittsburgh

RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

Joe Phinisee – Cleveland

J. LEWIS SMALL PLAYMAKER OF THE GAME

Chris LeFlore – Pittsburgh

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE GAME

Pittsburgh’s Kenny Stafford’s 32-yard touchdown catch from Steven Sheffield in the 2nd quarter

AFL HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME

Cleveland’s Joe Phinisee’s 49-yard interception return for touchdown in the 4th quarter

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Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

25 May

Cooke on the series win over Sens

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, May 25th, 2013 – 4:01 pm


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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

25 May

Crosby on eliminating Sens

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, May 25th, 2013 – 4:00 pm


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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 



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