Tree of Life

13 Sep

A More Painful Route to a Losing Season by Jon Pennline

published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, September 13th, 2012 – 2:45 pm

Remember the old days, when the Pirates would be 20 games under .500 before the All-Star break and half the city of Pittsburgh cared more about who would be the backup left tackle for the Steelers? Those seemed like dark times but, compared to now, they may have been easier on the heart.

For the second straight season, the Pirates are in the midst of an epic collapse in September, and with 20 games remaining, it seems unlikely they will finish the season with their first winning record in 20 years. Oddly enough, they are still in the wild-card race (2.5 games back) thanks to the Cardinals and Dodgers losing on a consistent basis as well.

While going 10-10 down the final stretch seems like a modest request, the truth is the Pirates are 13-26 in their last 39 games and in the middle of a six game losing streak. The pitching has been inconsistent, the offense has been atrocious, and the manager has made enough bad decisions in one week to have his job placed in question.

Assuming the Pirates cannot turn it around and recover a winning record, this will easily go down as the most painful season of the last 20 years. Through the middle of last season, the Pirates were in unfamiliar territory and they were excused for their inability to maintain a winning season. After all, they were a young team that was never used to winning at the major league level.

This year, however, there is no excuse.

The Pirates have veteran players to compliment a solid group of young talent. They have Andrew McCutchen, an MVP calibre player, as well as slugging corner players Garrett Jones and Pedro Alvarez. They have an excellent second baseman in Neil Walker and a strong defensive shortstop in Clint Barmes. They may not have the roster to win the World Series, but they should be able to finish with a winning record, at the very least.

If the Pirates finish with a losing record, they will kill any excitement from the fan base for the first five months of next season. How can fans possibly be excited if the Pirates are 20 games over .500 at the All-Star break in 2013? How can fans possibly talk playoffs or a winning record when, for two seasons now, the Pirates had an opportunity to do both only to fall excruciatingly short?

The Pittsburgh Pirates have managed to do something that only the Pittsburgh Pirates could do: they've won more games while, at the same time, agonizing the faith of the fan base more than before.

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Posted in Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers

 

11 Sep

Dejan Kovacevic and John Steigerwald Talking Pirates

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Tuesday, September 11th, 2012 – 2:14 pm

Listen to the Dejan Kovacevic Show every Tuesday 1pm to 2pm on TribLIVE Radio- Triblive.com and Sportstalk.Triblive.com.

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Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

11 Sep

Examining Week 1 in the NFL by Chris Cappella

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, September 11th, 2012 – 8:45 am

The day week one in the NFL season ends, MVP's are proclaimed, Super Bowl match-ups are announced, and the sports world collectively claims who is underrated and overrated.

I'm here to tell everyone: relax.

The Steelers are not going to go 0-16, the New York Jets are not going to average 48 points per game, and Michael Vick will have much better days than what we observed in yesterdays 17-16 win survival at Cleveland. However, there were some things I learned watching yesterday's week one games. Here are a few of my thoughts:

The Steelers are fine: Everyone in the Pittsburgh area needs to take a collective breath. It was week one. On the road. Against Peyton Manning. Are we sure Manning took a year off last year? He again out-smarted his opponent and looked sharp in all aspects. I think we're going to continue to see teams try and run up-tempo against the Steelers defense much like the Broncos did Sunday night with much success. But again, let's keep this in perspective. Winning on the road week one is tough to do to begin with. Factor in that James Harrison and Ryan Clark did not play in this game (two of the four best players on defense) and you get the result you did. The Steelers were excellent on third downs against a tough Denver defense and had a chance late in the game to take the lead. I liked what I saw out of Jonathon Dwyer (9 carries, 43 yards, ran hard and decisive) and the offensive line, who protected Roethlisberger well before that disastrous desperation drive. Overall, there are more positives than negatives.

Russell Wilson is not the second coming of God: Yes, Russell Wilson had a very good pre-season, but I stand by my opinion that Matt Flynn should be the starting quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson was the biggest star in the four exhibition games that no one cares about or game plans for. Wilson will likely be a pro-bowl caliber quarterback in this league, but as for Sunday, the 18-34, 153 yards with a touchdown and interception apiece were not good enough to beat the Cardinals, led by a combination of John Skelton and Kevin Kolb.

The Bills did not look like contenders: After numerous "experts" ignored the fact that the Buffalo Bills still have no secondary, linebackers, offensive line, quarterback, and a running back who can stay healthy and picked them to not only beat the Jets but be a wild card team, Buffalo gave up 48 points to a Jets offense who could barely muster up a touchdown this preseason. Which leads me to this

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Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

11 Sep

Top 5 Player Stories for the Penguins by Jon Pennline

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, September 11th, 2012 – 8:43 am

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a lot of questions to answer heading into what will hopefully be a 2012-2013 season. As stated last week, there's concern over whether or not they are still the best team in the Eastern Conference. Subsequently, there are some run-off stories to this team with each player carrying their own headlines for 2012. Here are the top five player stories:

Evgeni Malkin

"Geno" proved his offseason training/rehab regimen last year was no joke, tallying 109 points and winning the Art Ross, Hart, and Ted Lindsay awards. Malkin was great nearly every night with downright breathtaking performances sprikled throughout the season. The big question: can "Geno" repeat his MVP calibre play? He certainly has the talent to be the best player in the world, but, at times, shows lapses in concentration. Malkin went back to Russia to train vigorously for the upcoming season. He seems to have found the perfect conditioning plan which will, hopefully, transition into another 100+ point performance.

Paul Martin

When Ray Shero signed Martin to a 5 year, $25 million deal, he envisioned an excellent puck moving defenseman who could take care of business in his own end. Two years into the deal, Martin has turned from defensive anchor to salary cap killer. Despite Nashville having strong interest to Martin's rights, Shero, elected to hold on to the 31 year old from Minnesota. This could be Martin's last season to make an impact on the Pens. If he has a performance anything like last year, Shero may not be so patient to pull the trigger on a deal.

Marc-Andre Fleury

Fleury's 2011-2012 campaign was a giant roller coaster. After looking like a breakout goaltender halfway through the season, Fleury threw his name into consideration for the Vezina Trophy. The final month, however, became a free fall as Fleury's GAA rose by over one full point. Now, with the prime of his career starting age-wise, can Fleury pick up where he left off in March and finish the season in June with a Stanley Cup?

Sidney Crosby

The most exciting player in the game finally made his return to hockey after battling over one full year of concussion symptoms. Unfortunately, Crosby's return spelled the end for Pittsburgh as they forgot how to be a successful team with their captain back at the helm. Crosby's nearly invisible performance in the playoffs against the Flyers didn't ease the pain but he may have been out of shape from not playing for so long. The question now is, can Sidney Crosby stay healthy for an entire season while also playing at a world-class level?

Brandon Sutter

The biggest piece of the Jordan Staal trade (for now) will try to replicate #11's defensive role while providing excellent third-line offensive production. Sutter may not be the complete package like Staal, but he could become a more vital piece as he will likely be tasked to center the top penalty kill and defensive lines. Despite being just 23 year old, Sutter showed the leadership qualities for the Carolina Hurricanes who were reluctant to include him in the trade. With so many stars and leaders already on the Pens, Sutter will don the black and vegas gold as a second-tier player. However, his demeanor on and off the ice could make him a fan-favorite for Pittsburgh fans.

Assuming the league doesn't commit suicide with another lockout, the Penguins will have a lot of questions to answer. If they're going to be a Stanley Cup-contending team, they will need these five players to lead the charge toward what will hopefully be a fourth Stanley Cup championship.

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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

11 Sep

Its Only Week One by Marissa Dubaich

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, September 11th, 2012 – 8:41 am

It was another disappointing loss for the Pittsburgh Steelers in a back and forth battle against the Denver Broncos. The Sunday Night Showdown was a game that everyone was talking about, especially the topic of Peyton Manning.

Peyton Manning definitely took the spot light away from QB Ben Roethlisberger. After his spectacular performance, Manning became the fastest and the third QB to reach his 400th career touchdown and it's obvious that his number will increase throughout the season. Let's be honest, the Steelers did not miss Manning at all. It was their goal to keep Manning on the sidelines as much as possible. The Steelers couldn't stop him; Peyton had an impressive game and it seemed like never left the NFL for over 600 days.

Ben Roethlisberger completed 22 passes out of 40 attempts, had two touchdowns but had one interception in the forth quarter. That 43-yard interception was not pretty, there was less than 2 minutes left on the clock and the Steelers were 2 and 10 when Tracy Porter intercepted the ball for a return touchdown.

I'm not saying that the Steelers didn't do well, they fought the battle but lost it in the fourth quarter

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Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

07 Sep

TribLIVE Radio High School Football Athlete of the Week

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Friday, September 7th, 2012 – 3:37 pm

Congrats to Montour's Devin Wilson who was voted TribLIVE Radio's High School Football Athlete of the Week. He has helped Montour get off to a 2-0 start on the season after the thrilling 28-27 overtime victory over Central Valley last night. Wilson rushed for 73 yards on 12 carries and caught three passes for 49 last night.

Last week, Montour beat Hopewell 34-8 in the season opener. Devin Wilson out-gained Hopewell by himself with five catches for 180 yards and three touchdowns.

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Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

07 Sep

2012 Pittsburgh Steelers X-Factors by Alonzo Mable

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, September 7th, 2012 – 1:50 pm

The Pittsburgh Steelers' championship puzzle won't be completed without a few key pieces. Here are those pieces-players that will define the upcoming season for the Steelers. Returning to the Super Bowl is a must, but it will not come without these players owning in the league.

Mike Wallace

Wallace just ended an extended holdout for the Steelers. He needs the team just as much as the Steelers need him. Wallace is playing for his "Larry Fitzgerald money" and will do anything to shine as such. He's out to prove he is a top receiver and will ball out this year to at least earn himself the franchise tag. Over his 3 years with the team, Wallace has averaged over 1,060yards a year with eight touchdowns. If Big Ben stays healthy, expect an air show this year with the determined Wallace.

Antonio Brown

Brown has already accomplished something Wallace has not, which is getting the bigpayday. With only one accomplished season under his belt,he has shown the Steelers enough to make him one of Ben Roethlisberger's favorite targets. Brown and Wallace will form one of the most formidable WR duos in the game. And remember, Antonio Brown is not just a wide receiver-he can be a game changer if given the opportunity in the return game as well.

Rashard Mendenhall

If Mendenhall returned to his 2010 form, it would be the ideal situation for the Steelers.Since he is returning from reconstructive knee surgery, though, they will obviously lighten the load. Whether Mendenhall will start Game 1 or miss time is still a mystery, but he will be needed and leaned on as the season continues. Stats from last year show he lacked the proper amount of carries. In the four games the Steelers lost, Mendenhall carried the ball 15 times or less. Pittsburgh needs to return to the grind it out football for their domination the AFC North to return.

Keenan Lewis

Lewis is a 4th year pro, but only has one career start under his belt. Because of that, he will be under the spotlight this season. While he will have the help of the front seven, with a large portion of pass rush coming from James Harrison, most offensive coordinators will highlight Lewis as a target. He will rise to the occasion and prove the doubters wrong showing he belongs on the Steelers defense. Lewis's greatest challenge with come in the form of theGiants (Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks), Ravens (Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin),and Cowboys (Miles Austin and Dez Bryant). These are the key games in which Lewis' performance will define his season.

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Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

07 Sep

Sideline Pass by Ike Taylor

published in category: Ike Taylor, Pittsburgh Steelers, Sports Talk Radio on Friday, September 7th, 2012 – 12:20 pm

And we're off!

As I'm sure you're all aware, the 2012 NFL season got under way Wednesday, and the Cowboys walked away with a win against the Giants. As we are on the verge of our season opener, excitement is building. Our first game of the season is against the Denver Broncos at Denver, and I can't tell you how hungry and eager we are for this game; I hope you fans are, too.

Before I start the season, I like to reflect and remind myself of who I am, how I got to where I am today and what I need to do to continue to grow, not only as a player but also as a man. I think about all of the hard work I have put in personally and the work we have put in as a team. I think about my family and how much they mean to me. My son has his first T-ball game Saturday, and I know he's going to be a star out there. He's confident and motivated and just as fast as can be (#MINISWAGGIN). The thought of him out there makes me smile; it makes me so grateful for all I have in this world.

I reflect on the importance of surrounding myself with positive, motivated and hardworking people. Negativity and pessimism are contagious; they have no place in the lives of those who want to be happy, healthy and successful in life. I realized this early in life and have tried to remind others around me of this. There is no telling where a positive attitude and a no-excuse work ethic can take you.

I like to remind myself of everything I am grateful for in my life and let the things I tend worry about go. I remind myself of the simple joys, like laughing and joking around with friends, family and teammates, and trying new restaurants around town, which is one of my favorite things to do. On that note, if you haven't tried the sushi at Umi, you are missing out. It's one of my favorite spots in Shadyside.

I'm a bit of a foodie at heart, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to enjoy eating out. It is those little things that make life worth living. So remember those things that make you smile or ignite your passion.

So with that said, who's ready? I know I am! Once I have taken the time to appreciate those things in life that I am grateful for, I feel fully prepared to take on the season with all that I have. To give anything less than 100 percent to this team, the coaches and the fans who have meant so much to me for the past decade, would be doing a disservice to myself.

I've got my Paradigm Swaggin' University gear laid out and lined up for the trip to Denver. Would love to see how many of you I can get to rock the Swaggin' University gear on game day each week.

I'm excited to see what the 2012 season has in store. Bring on Sunday night!

Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor is a contributor for Trib Total Media. His column appears Fridays. He also hosts a talk show Tuesdays from 2-3 p.m. on TribLive Radio.

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Posted in Ike Taylor, Pittsburgh Steelers, Sports Talk Radio

 



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