Pittsburgh Sports N'at

[roach4091]

My Boooyyyyyyyssssssssssss!!!!!!!!

[02opida]

nice

[PCola77]

Haha, this is funny. Good thing he has nothing better to worry about...

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09014/941656-100.stm

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, at least for this week, wants to be known as Luke Steelerstahl.

"On behalf of the Steelers Nation, I've decided to remove the word 'Ravens' from my name just like the Steelers will remove them from the AFC Championship," he said, referring to Sunday's playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.

The mayor this morning began, but did not complete, a Verified Petition for a Name Change.

Civil court staff gave the petition a docket number but said they did not expect to file it, in part because it was not complete and they did not receive the requisite $108 check. Had Mr. Ravenstahl completed the process, a police background check and other steps would have followed.

[Art2Gecko]

That would be cool... a chance for the steelers to redeem themselves for their loss to philly earlier this year.

[PCola77]

So Art, can we have an all PA Super Bowl? That would be fun. I'm from near Philly but went to Pitt, so I have friends taht are diehards on both sides.

[dffhogs]

Thanks for posting that.

[Art2Gecko]

Steelers 'D' family portrait

http://www.post-gazette.com/multimedia/?videoid=101373&cmpid=mmpanel2

[Art2Gecko]

lol, now that's a good one Sterling...

[roach4091]

LOL

[stervc]

Detroit Lions vs Pittsburgh Steelers Superbowl 2010!(EOM)

[cuzloc]

I would rather beat the Titans personally just because they defaced the Terrible Towel. But another smash mouth game against the Ravens would always be fun

[Art2Gecko]

welcome! Here's to hoping for a Steelers/Ravens AFC championship game! and we kick their purple tailfeathers!

[cuzloc]

Welcome the newest member ME

[Art2Gecko]

Harrison fifth Steelers player named defensive man of year
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

James Harrison, seen here celebrating after a successful interception, has carved a new model for outside linebackers in the NFL.NFL scouts have a new model for outside linebackers to consider when they scrutinize prospects on the college level.

"Six-foot tall and 255 pounds," James Harrison proclaimed yesterday. "That is the new prototype outside linebacker."

Harrison's unique stature grew immeasurably yesterday when he won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in a vote conducted by The Associated Press. Four other Steelers have won it; three are in the Hall of Fame: Joe Greene (1972, 1974), Mel Blount (1975) and Jack Lambert (1976), and Rod Woodson (1993) should be elected on his first try Jan. 31.

Harrison finds himself in good company, although as a two-year starter at age 30, he says he does not belong with the rest.

"No, I do not because they did it for a long time at a high level," Harrison said. "I have done pretty well for the last two years. That doesn't compare to what they have done."

Nevertheless, Harrison has become an overnight sensation the past two seasons, the classic rags-to-riches story, a relative nobody who went from no job to two-time Pro Bowl player and voted the best in the league.

At the same time, his story is as unique as his size for his position. The previous Steelers winners of this award were high draft picks: Greene and Woodson each in the first round, Lambert in the second and Blount in the third. Harrison, who shares Lambert's alma mater of Kent State, was not drafted.

The Steelers signed him as a rookie free agent in 2002 and then cut him three times over the next two seasons, although he played briefly as a rookie. Baltimore also signed him and sent him to NFL Europe before cutting him.

Probably the only reason Harrison is here today, besides his persistence, was the broken hand starting left outside linebacker Clark Haggans sustained 10 days before the 2004 training camp opened. The Steelers needed another linebacker and dialed Harrison's number.

"If he doesn't break his hand, I am not here," Harrison said.

Harrison's demeanor was so menacing that even one of his former position coaches, Mike Archer, was quoted as saying he could not wait for him to be cut. Harrison matured and focused his menacing nature on opponents rather than his own coaches and teammates.

When Mike Tomlin came in as coach last year, the Steelers released another Pro Bowl linebacker, Joey Porter (who led the AFC with 17 1/2 sacks this season in Miami), to make room for Harrison to start on the right side. He led the Steelers his first year as a starter with 8 1/2 sacks, then set a team record this season with 16 sacks to go with seven forced fumbles -- one causing a key safety in an 11-10 victory against San Diego -- and an interception. His 34 quarterback pressures led No. 2 LaMarr Woodley by 14.

NFL scouts often quickly dismiss 6-footers as candidates for outside linebacker, especially in a 3-4 defense, because they are not tall enough. Harrison, though, uses his height combined with his strength and speed to his advantage.

"He automatically has a leverage advantage on guys," said Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks, who, at 6 feet 8, should know. "Then you add strength and speed to that, it's a deadly combination.

"He's either going to fake a guy out or he's going to just outmuscle him because of leverage. You get under a taller guy, you get under his shoulder pads and you just push him back."

Harrison earned 22 of 50 votes of a nationwide media panel compiled by the AP, nine more than Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware.

First published on January 6, 2009 at 12:00 am

[Art2Gecko]

No. 1 ranking huge boost to Pitt's basketball image
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
They gave Pitt men's basketball coach Jamie Dixon the finger yesterday when he dropped his kids off at school.

The index finger.

"It doesn't feel any differently to me, but I do understand that it's great for our school and our fans and for the city," Dixon said moments after learning Pitt had climbed to No. 1 in The Associated Press men's basketball poll for the first time.

"But I think our guys understand that this isn't going to help us beat St. John's on Sunday."

Dixon is right. They're not going to give Pitt a trophy or national championship rings for being No. 1 on Jan. 6. We're not talking about college football here. No. 1 will be determined at the NCAA tournament in March and April, as it should be.

But to try to minimize the importance of the ranking to Pitt, its fans and the city in any way is flat wrong. This is a big deal. Everybody loves being No. 1 in anything, especially for the first time. Everybody loves holding that right index finger high and wagging it for their favorite team. The teachers and parents at the Dixon kids' school are not alone in their joy this morning.

The ranking is huge for Pitt because of where its program was when Ben Howland and Dixon, his top lieutenant, took over in 1999. Pitt might have been worst in the Big East Conference. Now -- at least this week -- it's best in America.

Remarkable.

What a job Howland did.

What a job Dixon continues to do.

"My first day here, when I started recruiting, I was thinking, 'We've got to get better than what we are,' " Dixon said. "You can't think about being No. 1 or winning a national championship on the first day. You just think about getting better. That's where we're still at. We've got to keep getting better. We've got to get better than we were on Saturday [in a 70-54 road blowout of then-No. 11 Georgetown]."

That's why Pitt has a real shot of being No. 1 on April 7, the morning after the confetti falls and "One Shining Moment" is played at the Final Four in Detroit.

That and Sam Young, Levance Fields and DeJuan Blair, of course.

And Dixon.

I remember writing the man was a terrible hire when Howland left for UCLA in 2003. Pitt first offered the job to the late Skip Prosser, then the Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year at Wake Forest and a Carnegie man, who turned it down. It seemed like university officials settled for Dixon, who had no head coaching experience.

I'm guessing I've been dead wrong at least six million times over the years, but I've never made a worse call than that one.

I've also never been so happy to be so wrong.

What a pleasure it is to watch a Dixon team. It's not just because no one comes closer to guaranteeing a home win every night; Pitt is 105-10 at Petersen Events Center. Dixon's teams always play hard, always play defense and always play unselfish basketball.

What's not to like?

It will be interesting to see how Pitt handles the burden of being No. 1. "It can either be a distraction or motivation," Dixon said. "I think we'll use it as motivation. Our seniors have done a real good job of not allowing distractions to creep up on us."

It also will be fun to see if Pitt can get past the NCAA tournament's Round of 16, something it didn't do under Howland and hasn't done under Dixon. "I don't hide from that fact," Dixon said. "As consistent as we've been over the past eight years -- and we've been as good as any program in the country in a lot of ways -- we haven't won a national championship. That's what separates you. That puts you on a different level."

With the three stars, strong supporting role players and this coach, this could be the year for Pitt.

Are we pretty lucky or what?

The Steelers went 12-4 against a brutal schedule, won the AFC North Division and have as much chance as any team of winning the Super Bowl.

The Penguins, though in something of a deep funk, still have Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury. Remember two things: Hardly anyone looked at them as a Stanley Cup favorite at this time last season, and invaluable defenseman Sergei Gonchar will be back for the playoffs.

Pitt is No. 1 in the country and could get to the Final Four.

We really are lucky.

What a great time to be a Pittsburgh sports fan.

Ron Cook can be reached at [e-mail]. More articles by this author
First published on January 6, 2009 at 12:00 am

[dffhogs]

Taxing the Black & Gold black & blue

By Glen Meakem
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The Rooney family's rush to complete a new ownership deal for the Pittsburgh Steelers before the new presidential administration and enhanced Democrat congressional majority can raise the capital gains tax rate sends a clear message that such a tax hike is neither fair nor good economic policy.

Dan Rooney and son Art II are changing their minority ownership stakes by buying a majority position from Dan's brothers. Those brothers must sell most or all of their equity positions because of their NFL-prohibited interests in gambling and horse racing and their need to cover future inheritance taxes.

Dan and Art Rooney will buy a portion of the Steelers they do not own for approximately $800 million. And here's where capital gains tax rates become so important.

At the current rate of 15 percent, Dan's brothers will pay the federal government $120 million on their gain. But if the deal is not closed this year and the tax rate is increased by the Democrats to 28 percent, as suggested by Barack Obama during his campaign, then the tax will be $224 million.

That's a whopping $104 million tax increase for the divesting Rooney brothers.

Naturally, if any of us were in the Rooney family's position, we'd also rush to pay our capital gains taxes at the lower rate. But when I first heard Art Rooney Jr. say this month that "we're all hanging our hats that we get it done before the change in the administration," I was struck by the irony.

Dan Rooney, of course, is a very vocal supporter of the new administration. He announced his support for Sen. Obama in April. Then, in October, he presented Obama with a Steelers jersey at a huge Mellon Arena rally. Rooney supports Obama despite his intention to raise capital gains tax rates.

In an April exchange with Obama, ABC's Charles Gibson correctly explained that "in each instance when the (capital gains) tax rate has been dropped, revenues from the tax increased; the government took in more money. And in the 1980s, when the tax was increased to 28 percent, the revenues went down. So why raise it at all, especially given the fact that 100 million people in this country own stock and would be affected?"

Responded Obama: "Well, Charlie, what I've said is that I would look at raising the capital gains tax for purposes of fairness."

It is unclear to whom Obama intended to be "fair." But, clearly, he was saying that "fairness" trumped actual tax collections and economic growth.

The reason that government tax receipts from the capital gains tax always fall when the tax rate is raised is that, like the Rooney family, people who take on the investment risk of owning stocks and businesses often delay or rush a sale transaction to minimize their tax payment.

This is both legal and ethical.

Also, when capital gains rates are high, people invest less in stocks and less in new businesses and they do not cash in on gains. They avoid the tax by holding long-term, unrealized gains.

Again, this is rational, legal and ethical.

Economic growth is slower because there is less new investment and less new job creation in society than there would be with lower taxes on capital investment. This is how real people make economic decisions, no matter who they are or what their party affiliation.

But higher capital gains rates are also unfair.

Sixty percent of Americans now own stocks or shares in a business. That means that 60 percent of us are investors in the U.S. economy. It also means that 60 percent of us have been crushed over the past few months by the crash in equity prices.

Many people whose investments have been crushed are retirees. Raising the capital gains tax rate above the current 15 percent will not only further slow our economy and decrease tax revenues, it will further penalize tens of millions of retirees, entrepreneurs and risk-taking investors whose portfolios have been eviscerated.

Dan Rooney should persuade the president-elect to take another look at his plans to raise capital gains tax rates. President-elect Obama should act to stabilize the economy, increase real tax revenues and treat investors fairly by announcing that he will maintain the capital gains tax rate at the 15 percent level.

Taking this simple, economically rational action would demonstrate that Barack Obama really does intend to lead all Americans from an intelligent center. Anything less will feed widespread fears that Obama intends to lead America from the ideological left.

Glen Meakem was the founder, chairman and CEO of FreeMarkets Inc. in Pittsburgh. He currently is managing director of Meakem Becker Venture Capital.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/s_599591.html

[Art2Gecko]

Pitt men's basketball team No. 6 in ESPN poll
Thursday, October 30, 2008
By Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pitt men's basketball team debuted at No. 6 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll that was released this morning. The Panthers are one of seven teams from the Big East ranked in the top 25 and among four that are in the top 10.

Connecticut is No. 2, Louisville No. 3 and Notre Dame No. 9.

North Carolina is the preseason No. 1 team. The Tar Heels received all 31 first-place votes. The defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks are ranked No. 23.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

First published on October 30, 2008 at 9:52 am

[Art2Gecko]

Jeez, what an idiot...

Steelers' Holmes, facing drug charge, won't play Sunday
Friday, October 24, 2008
By Gerry Dulac and Jonathan D. Silver, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Peter Diana/Post-GazetteSantonio Holmes won't play Sunday.Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes did not practice with the team today and will not play in Sunday's game against the New York Giants after police said they stopped him with marijuana yesterday.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Holmes, a third-year receiver who is second on the team with 22 catches and 360 yards receiving, will be listed as inactive for the game. He declined to say if Holmes had been suspended by the team or docked one game's pay.

"At this point we've chosen to name him as inactive," Tomlin said after practice. "His situation has created somewhat of a distraction and we want to minimize that as much as we can and remain focused on the task at hand."

Tomlin met with Holmes earlier today and told him he will not be allowed on the sidelines at Heinz Field and to report back to work Monday.

Contacted at home, Holmes said he had no comment.

An NFL spokesman said the matter is being reviewed under the league's substance abuse policy. However, he said the league would not comment.

"We're paid to deal with distractions; the great teams are ones that do," Tomlin said. "They find a way to get the job done. When you're a good team, there are going to be distractions because with good teams there comes attention."

Holmes will be replaced in the starting lineup by Nate Washington, who has touchdown catches of 48 and 50 yards the past two games.

Pittsburgh police pulled Holmes over in the Hill District and found three marijuana-filled cigars yesterday while they were on the lookout for a large stash of drugs in a sport utility vehicle.

Holmes, 24, of Ohio Township, told officers he had smoked marijuana in his sport utility vehicle the day before, according to a police affidavit, but he was not impaired at the time of the traffic stop around 4 p.m. at Centre Avenue and Mario Lemieux Place.

Police let Holmes go and will charge him by summons through the mail with one misdemeanor count of prohibited acts -- in this case having a small amount of marijuana for personal use.

It could not immediately be determined whether Holmes' SUV was the intended target of police officers at the Hill District station, but The Associated Press reported that the vehicle was not the one officers were seeking.

At the 3 p.m. roll call, the officers were told to look for an SUV with an out-of-state license plate traveling through the Hill with a "large amount of narcotics," the police affidavit said.

An hour later, Officer Thomas Gorecki spotted Holmes' black SUV with Florida plates and pulled it over.

Holmes did not have his driver's license but handed over his registration and insurance paperwork.

Officers said they smelled marijuana in the SUV. Officer John Kusenko asked Holmes if he had been smoking marijuana in the SUV that day.

"No," Holmes told officers, according to the affidavit, "but yesterday I was."

Police said Holmes told them he had marijuana in the vehicle. He pointed out two marijuana-filled cigars, known as "blunts," in a vehicle compartment. Officers found a third blunt from a pack of cigars in the center console.

Yesterday's incident is the latest in a string of legal troubles for Holmes. In June 2006, he was arrested in Ohio on domestic violence charges, which were later dismissed. The charges stemmed from an incident involving LaShae Boone of Columbus, the mother of one of his three children. The charges were dismissed after the judge in the case was assured by Holmes' lawyers that their client was participating in ongoing counseling offered through the NFL.

Holmes also was arrested in South Beach, Fla., for disorderly conduct during a Memorial Day weekend crackdown by local authorities in 2006. That charge was later dropped in exchange for a $250 donation to the Police Officers Assistance Trust Fund.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
First published on October 24, 2008 at 2:14 am

[Art2Gecko]

NFL to investigate Ravens "bounty" on Steelers
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Baltimore defensive end Terrell Suggs is under investigation by the National Football League for saying the Ravens had a "bounty" on Steelers Rashard Mendenhall and Hines Ward.

"We certainly are looking into it," Ray Anderson, the NFL's Executive Vice President of Football Operations, said in Pittsburgh today.

Anderson said that league officials have seen Suggs' comments and "we will look into it aggressively."

Suggs revealed recently on the syndicated sports radio talk show "2 Live Stews" that the Ravens had a bounty on Mendenhall and on Ward.

"We definitely like to send our messages to rookie running backs who think they've made it." Suggs said. "We did a good a job of sending a message."

As for Ward, Suggs said, "Hines Ward is definitely a dirty player, a cheap shot artist."

"If he chooses to say that, so be it," Tomlin said. "We respect that guy. He's a heck of a player. I saw him run with the ball on somebody last week. We don't lose any sleep over what anybody says."

Anderson paid a visit to the Steelers today because of recent comments by some of them over fines that were levied the past few weeks and players such as Troy Polamalu calling it a "pansy" league.




First published on October 22, 2008 at 1:48 pm

[Buckey]

THE kid putting on a show on a SHOW IN T-O - one of two shrines in hockey


Investing is for those who don't know how to trade

[Art2Gecko]

Steelers' Parker aggravates knee injury
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pro Bowl running back Willie Parker did not practice with the Steelers today after aggravating his injured knee and it is uncertain if he will return after a two-game absence to play in Cincinnati.

Parker, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in his past three games in Cincinnati, stepped in a hole in practice Monday and aggravated the sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.


First published on October 15, 2008 at 3:36 pm

[Art2Gecko]

Roethlisberger named AFC player of week
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The NFL today named Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger the AFC offensive player of the week.

Roethlisberger completed 26 of 41 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns in a 26-21 victory at Jacksonville Sunday. He threw one interception when receiver Santonio Holmes fell down.

Roethlisberger threw the winning touchdown pass of eight yards to Hines Ward with 1:53 left.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

First published on October 8, 2008 at 11:29 am

[PCola77]

Nice bets. Oregon State sure choked that away, huh? I picked USF in my football fool to put a reverse jinx on them. I guess it worked. :)

Of course, now we'll lose to Navy next weekend, but at least I have 10 days to enjoy this...

[Buckey]

I took em to cover and to win last night on two seperate bets. Only $20 per bet. Nailed memphis game also and was OOOOOO so close on a nice upset in that late game. OOOO so close

[PCola77]

Yeah Panthers!!!!! Wooooooooooooooooo! That Bowling Green loss really sucks now...

[roach4091]

Indeed! We are in trouble this year! IMO maybe 8-8

[Art2Gecko]

yeah, not taking anything away from the philly D, but man the pgh O-line looked like the keystone cops out there today.

[roach4091]

yep! they stunk out loud! Philly played well defensively though!

[Art2Gecko]

Wow, worst Steeler game I've watched in years..... O-line = puke today, 9 sacks??!! give me a break.

[Art2Gecko]

Druckenmiller withdraws name from Steelers sale
Thursday, September 18, 2008
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Doug Jones/Portland Press Herald

Stanley Druckenmiller drops bid for Steelers: "Given my love for Pittsburgh and what I know the team means to the city, I wish them [the Rooney family] all the same success they have had in the past. Go Steelers!"The four Rooney brothers have told New York billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller they are turning down his offer to buy each of their 16 percent shares in the Steelers, ending a seven-month courtship in which Druckenmiller was seeking to gain controlling stock interest in the franchise.

Druckenmiller told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he is "disappointed" and is withdrawing his name from the sale process.

However, the decision to not accept Druckenmiller's offer does not mean the Rooney brothers will sell their shares to their oldest brother, Steelers chairman Dan Rooney, who has also made an offer to purchase their combined 64 percent shares. Instead, they may opt to entertain other outside bids in an attempt to gain more money for their shares, according to sources familiar with the situation.

The four Rooney brothers held a vote this afternoon and called Druckenmiller, chairman of Pittsburgh-based Duquesne Capital Management, with their decision.

In a prepared statement sent to the Post-Gazette, Druckenmiller said, "Seven months ago, I was approached by members of the Rooney family about purchasing their interest in the Pittsburgh Steelers. I engaged in discussions about a possible transaction because a number of family members told me that, after years of effort, they were unlikely to be able to resolve the estate planning and NFL ownership matters of great concern to them.

"If an external solution was necessary, I believed that I could provide the family with an appropriate transaction that also would be in the best long-term interests of the Steelers, the NFL and the city of Pittsburgh. The solution I proposed included a request that Dan Rooney continue to manage the Steelers organization.

"Throughout our discussions, I made clear that if the family could resolve these matters internally it should do so and I would gladly remain only a devoted Steelers fan. Based on recent developments, it has become clear that the Rooneys need substantial additional time to assess their options. I do not wish to complicate these efforts, and I also do not want the lingering uncertainty about my possible involvement to become a distraction to my business and my family.

"For these reasons, I have removed myself from the process. On a personal note, having spent time with all five Rooney brothers, I have come to hold them all in high regard, and it is easy to see why the organization has been so successful. Given my love for Pittsburgh and what I know the team means to the city, I wish them all the same success they have had in the past. Go Steelers!"

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
First published on September 18, 2008 at 7:31 pm

[Art2Gecko]

Steelers' Parker named AFC offensive player of the week.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The NFL today named Willie Parker as the AFC offensive player of the week. Parker ran for 138 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in the Steelers 38-17 victory against Houston Sunday.



First published on September 10, 2008 at 2:22 pm

[Art2Gecko]

With no Brady around, Big Ben is NFL's brightest star
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette


The new No. 1 quarterback -- Ben Roethlisberger

View all related imagesEverything changed at 1:25 p.m. Sunday. When New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady crashed to the Gillette Stadium turf, clutching his left knee, the impact was felt all the way to Pittsburgh. Instantly, the Steelers became a more serious threat to make the Super Bowl. Instantly, Ben Roethlisberger became the NFL's best quarterback.

What?

There's another quarterback you'd want more now that Brady is out for the season?

You can have Peyton Manning or Tony Romo.

I'll take No. 7.

I don't want anyone else trying to lead the Steelers through the AFC, which suddenly seems so much less formidable now that the powerful Patriots had a leg cut out from under them.

No one at Steelers headquarters yesterday was celebrating Brady's bad luck even if his injury significantly lessens the Patriots' Super Bowl hopes. NFL players are card-carrying union brothers. "You never want to see anyone get hurt like that," said veteran quarterback Charlie Batch, who has had his share of injuries, most recently a broken collarbone in the preseason that put him out for the season.

If anything had the Steelers in a mood to party one day after their 38-17 smack-down of the Houston Texans, it was seeing Roethlisberger breeze through the team's South Side complex without so much as a limp. He, just as easily as the great Brady, could be finished for the season. Within an hour after Brady went down after taking a hit from Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, Roethlisberger took a pop on his right knee from Texans defensive tackle Amobi Okoye on the next-to-last play of the first half.

At first, the hit looked bad. Roethlisberger tried to bury his face in the Heinz Field grass, clearly in pain. Who knows what offensive tackle Willie Colon was thinking when he rushed over to help him up? Colon and guard Kendall Simmons had tried to steer Okoye clear of Roethlisberger and were sickened when they saw him crash into the franchise. I know what I was thinking: The season could be over.

I'm guessing I wasn't alone.

Batch said Roethlisberger was pretty shook up at halftime, at least until the docs checked him out.

That made several hundred thousand of us, the 64,000-plus at the stadium and the countless Steelers fans watching on television.

Who really could relax until Roethlisberger jogged onto the field for the first series of the third quarter and promptly lead the Steelers on another touchdown drive?

"After seeing it on film, it could have been another Tom Brady thing," Simmons said after an afternoon team meeting. "Ben said he was all right today. I'm just thankful he was able to pull his leg back enough in time."

Roethlisberger isn't just very good.

He's very lucky.

"That's a quarterback's worst nightmare, someone rolling up your leg like that," Batch said. "That and when someone hits your arm as you're throwing. There are times you know you're going to have to take a hit and you can kind of prepare for it. But there's nothing you can do when someone gets your leg like that."

Even if Roethlisberger's knee did ache a bit yesterday, it's safe to say he felt better than he did after a lot of games the previous two seasons when he was sacked 93 times, more than any AFC quarterback. In addition to the Okoye hit, he was sacked twice by defensive end Mario Williams, once landing on his throwing shoulder, which is never a good thing for a quarterback. Other than those plays, though, his offensive line did a good job keeping him clean.

Just as he predicted it would.

"I'm excited for those guys so they can silence the critics who are talking bad about them," Roethlisberger said during training camp. "I have all the faith in the world that they'll protect me."

It's fun to think about how good Roethlisberger will be this season if he stays healthy. He was just about perfect against the Texans, completing 13 of 14 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns, both to wide receiver Hines Ward. He also wisely picked his spots scrambling, running just twice, the first time for 17 yards on a third-and-4 play on the Steelers' first possession.

"He looks to me to be all the way back to where he was in our workouts after the Super Bowl year, before the [motorcycle] accident," Batch said. "He was on fire then. Every pass was right there. Every decision was the right decision. It's the same way now, and he's just going to keep getting better and better."

Think about that for a second.

Roethlisberger became the first quarterback in NFL history to go 13-0 in the regular season as a rookie in 2004.

He became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl in '05.

He made the Pro Bowl and set Steelers records for touchdown passes (32) and passer-rating (104.1) last season.

And he's going to keep getting better?

Why not?

I ask you:

Why can't Roethlisberger take over for Brady as the NFL's brightest star?

[dffhogs]

I consider them a farm team. Not sure why they want to continue to put no effort in winning...

[roach4091]

Good thing for the Steelers and Pens!! Elsewise the Burgh is in bad shape!!

[Art2Gecko]

Pirates tie pro sports record with 16th losing season
Sunday, September 07, 2008
By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Pirates' 11-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants this afternoon at AT&T Park clinched a 16th consecutive losing season, tying the professional sports record set by the 1933-48 Philadelphia Phillies.

No NFL, NHL or NBA team has had so many.

The Pirates had a 5-0 lead through 3 1/2 innings, but the Giants scored 10 times in the bottom of the fourth, eight of those charged to starter Jeff Karstens. It was the first time the Pirates allowed 10 runs in an inning since Aug. 19, 2003, at St. Louis.

Center fielder Nate McLouth exited in the fourth with a gash above his left eyebrow.

[Art2Gecko]

Freedom teenager John Challis dies of cancer
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
By Mike White
As John Challis battled terminal cancer this spring, he had some goals.

He wanted to graduate from Freedom High School in Beaver County. Check. That happened in June.

He wanted to take one last cruise with his family. Check. That happened in mid-June.

He wanted to start a foundation to raise money for other teenagers with cancer. Check. That got off the ground in July.

But what John wanted most was to touch people through his actions and words. Check. That happened countless times.

John Challis, a teenager who became nationally known the past few months, died of liver and lung cancer Tuesday afternoon at his family's home in Freedom Township. He was only 18, but he passed away with a sense of accomplishment.

In late June, John did an interview from his home. Weak from the cancer that had spread throughout his body, John struggled to keep his eyes open. But his message was strong.

"Everybody is scared. It's not normal to not be scared," John said of his plight. "But I'm not scared as much now. I have letters and other things from people, telling me how I've helped so many people in numerous ways. That makes me feel good."

John had been battling cancer for more than two years, but his hit in a Freedom baseball game this spring led to a story about John in the Post-Gazette, which led to national attention.

People were inspired by John's story and his words. His family has two boxes of letters and cards from well-wishers and people who wrote to let him know they were inspired by his story. His family also has two binders filled with hundreds of e-mails from people who said John had impacted their lives.

One of the e-mails came from a man who said he gave John's Post-Gazette story to a friend -- and it helped turn him away from suicide.

"I just want to say thanks to the people for keeping me going," John said. "All them little cards and stuff I got, keeps me going day by day. To know I'm going downhill a little bit, it doesn't bother me because I've helped so many people. Since I've helped so many people, this is easier to handle."

"Courage + believe = life" became John's trademark. He wrote it inside his baseball hat and some of his Freedom teammates did the same. A baseball glove company sent John a black glove with "Courage + believe = life" embossed in the leather along with John's name.

"Life ain't about how many breaths you take. It's what you do with those breaths," was another one of John's memorable quotes.

One of John's most remarkable moments came in April. He had always loved sports, but because of the cancer, he couldn't participate as a junior or senior at Freedom, except for a few plays in the final football game of Freedom's 2007 season.

John became friends with Freedom baseball coach Steve Wetzel and Mr. Wetzel asked John to be part of the team. He hadn't played baseball in a few years, but John wanted a chance to hit one last time, and Mr. Wetzel granted the wish, pinch-hitting John in a game against Aliquippa.

It couldn't have been scripted any better. John lined a run-scoring single to right field -- on the first pitch. Although he had trouble running, John made it to first base, yelling "I did it. I did it."

That hit helped John's story take off. Over the next few months, John watched a Penguins playoff game with Mario Lemieux, was featured on ESPN television, addressed the Pirates before a game and spent an afternoon with Alex Rodriguez at the New York Yankee's penthouse in Manhattan. He was interviewed on national radio stations and on some stations in other cities. ESPN did a story on him for its SportsCenter show.

A teenager from a small Western Pennsylvania town, dying of cancer, had become a national celebrity.

"We would get things [in the mail] almost every day from people all over the country," said Scott Challis, John's father.

When John attended a Yankees game a few weeks ago, he had a press conference, surrounded by more than 20 reporters and photographers.

"People would sometimes call, too, just wanting to talk to him," his father said. "Some wanted to come meet him. It was amazing. I guess he touched so many people. We were in the airport at Newark [N.J.] and people were coming up to him because they recognized him."

The Pirates brought John to a game in June, gave him a uniform and let him address the team in the clubhouse. He told the players to not worry so much about their statistics and have fun. Mr. Wetzel listened as John told the Pirates to cherish the game -- and life.

Wetzel said, "He said to them, 'You never know what life might bring you. You might have a few sniffles and think it's not a big thing. Then you go to the doctor the next day and they tell you that you have a 10-pound tumor in your stomach.'

"Some of the Pirates got emotional."

Adam LaRoche took particular interest in John and stayed in touch with him after his visit. Recently, LaRoche called John an hour before a Pirates game, just to see how he was doing.

John also spent some time with the Tampa Bay Rays when the team was in town to play the Pirates.

"Their manager, Joe Maddon, called and said he saw the story on John on ESPN and he was just in his hotel room in tears," Mr. Wetzel said. "He said he just wanted to meet John."

But John's favorite moment in the past few months was the trip to New York for a Yankees game.

"Just because it was with my dad," John said. "It was a good time because we both got to experience it, and it felt like something not just for me, but something he enjoyed as well."

John faced his death with courage, dignity, a never-quit attitude and an awareness that was hard to fathom.

John's mother, Gina, tells the story of how a nurse started coming to the family home in June. Gina Challis said, "The first time she was here, John said, 'I know why you're here. You're here to make me comfortable in my last weeks. But it could be more than a few weeks, right?'"

Mr. Wetzel became extremely close with John over the past few years and had asked John to be in his September wedding.

"I really can't explain how his story took off, but the kid was just unbelievable," Mr. Wetzel said. "His attitude and messages I think changed how some people looked at their lives. He changed how I went about life.

"I feel like a piece of my heart is gone now. The thing I'll miss most is his smile. He had a smile that could light up a room."

When asked a few weeks ago how he would like to be remembered, John said, "I could see people having some beers and hopefully remembering how I always tried my best, no matter what I was doing. That's my message just for people to always do their best, no matter what they're doing or how stupid it might seem. And no matter what, there will always be a reward, no matter how small it is."

The web site for John's foundation is www.courageforlifefoundation.org. Donations can be made through the web site.

Besides his mother and father, John is survived by a younger sister, Lexie.

Information on funeral arrangements was not yet available.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More in tomorrow's Post-Gazette.



First published on August 19, 2008 at 2:33 pm

[Art2Gecko]

Penguins to break ground on arena next week
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Penguins and local and state officials will break ground next week on the $290 million arena.

Gov. Ed Rendell broke the news during an appearance in Pittsburgh to announcement the award of money for bridge repairs and other economic development projects.

The ground breaking will take place at 11 a.m. August 14 at the arena site bordered by Fifth Avenue, Washington Place and Centre Avenue. Mr. Rendell is expected to attend, along with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Penguins and other public officials.

The Penguins are hoping to begin construction in earnest by fall and expect to have the facility completed in time for the start of the 2010-2011 hockey season.

Mr. Rendell was at the county courthouse to announce that $93 million would be spent over the next year or so to repair 30 bridges in Allegheny County considered structurally deficient. Mr. Rendell said none of the bridges are in danger of failure at this point.

He also announced the award of $1.47 million to Aetna Inc. to expand its customer service operations and pharmacy call center in Green Tree, a project that will add 360 jobs while retaining abouty 375. PPG Architectural Finishes also received $141,000 in grants and tax credits to relocate customer services operations from Florida and Kentucky to the Pittsburgh area and $125,000 to Haemonetics to expand its Leetsdale manufacturing operations.



First published on August 5, 2008 at 5:09 pm

[Art2Gecko]

yeah, just read that earlier tonight.

[roach4091]

Nady/Marte. Gone

[Art2Gecko]

lol, sorry..

[willowjoe]

Cmon Gecko ..where's your sense of humor?

[Art2Gecko]

Penguins home opener against Devils Oct. 11
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Penguins general manager Ray Shero today announced the team will play its home opener on Saturday, Oct. 11, against the New Jersey Devils at Mellon Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m. The complete regular season schedule will be announced tomorrow.

The Penguins will play six games against Atlantic Division opponents, four games against other Eastern Conference opponents, and one game against all Western Conference teams. They also will play three additional games against Western Conference teams Detroit, San Jose and Columbus.

The Penguins also announced their preseason schedule, which includes a game against a Finnish team in Helsinki, Finland. The preseason schedule, with home games in capitals:

Saturday, Sept. 20 TAMPA BAY 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 22 at Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 24 TORONTO 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 26 at Toronto 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 2 at Jokerit (Finland) 11:30 a.m. (Pittsburgh time)

Players will report to training camp at Mellon Arena Sept. 16.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

[willowjoe]

Rumor has it that BIGHUB-TECHLABS--- is creating a headquarters in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvannia(Home of the 2 most famous Pittsburgers --Dan Marino and Art2Gecko)-lmao

[Art2Gecko]

Ferlo, Orie ask for new Pittsburgh casino bids
Monday, July 14, 2008
By Tom Barnes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
HARRISBURG -- Two state senators from the Pittsburgh area want the state Gaming Control Board to revoke the license issued to Don Barden and reopen the Pittsburgh casino license "to a competitive process that will include new applicants."

Sens. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, and Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, sent a letter today to board Chairwoman Mary D. Colins urging the board not to hastily approve a refinancing plan being sought by casino license holder Don Barden, who is ceding control of his Majestic Star casino project to an investors' group from Chicago.

Ms. Orie and Mr. Ferlo called the potential transfer of the slots license to the new group a "last-minute bait and switch," and "unacceptable."

They called the Barden refinancing request "a blatant attempt to force this board into hastily approving a financial bailout without any public scrutiny or input."

They maintained that the Barden casino license, due to his ongoing financing problems, "is no longer financially viable. The proper response of this board is to revoke the license issued to (Mr. Barden)" and then "re-open the license to a competitive process that will include new applicants."

Mr. Barden defeated two other applicants, Isle of Capri and Forest City, when he won the slots license in December 2006.

Board spokesman Doug Harbach said the board "has the power to revoke, suspend or add further conditions to" a license, but said the Barden situation is still under study and he couldn't comment further.

Barden still is trying to finalize a deal with a group headed by Chicago billionaire Neil Bluhm and could ask the gaming board for approval of the license transfer later this week.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

First published on July 14, 2008 at 2:35 pm

[Art2Gecko]

Boy, there's a shocker, huh? Way to go, Gaming Comission,,, not too corrupt, are ya?

[Art2Gecko]

Barden defaults on loan, seeks change in casino ownership
Thursday, July 10, 2008
By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
International lender Credit Suisse has notified North Shore casino developer Don Barden he is in default of a $200 million bridge loan for the project according to a petition filed with the state Gaming Control Board.

The board today is considering a request by Mr. Barden to approve a new financing plan for the casino that includes a change in the company holding the license for the project. Mr. Barden would no longer be the majority owner of the casino, according to his spokesman.

Under the revised plan, Mr. Barden would retain about 25 percent interest in the casino. Walton Street Capital Fund 6, which is investing $120 million to complete financing for the project, will be the majority owner.

Chicago billionaire Neil Bluhm said he is one of five founders of Walton but his stake in the casino would be than 1 percent.

The proposed investment would be used to pay off the bridge loan and to help complete construction.

If Credit Suisse enforces the default, it could result in construction disruption and significant delays in finishing and opening the casino. Work was halted at the site last month after contractors said Mr. Barden hadn't paid for work since April.

Under the proposed restructuring, Mr. Barden would remain a principal licensee and indirect owner of the new company, Holdings Acquisition.

In the petition, Mr. Barden also has backed off a proposal to delay construction on an outdoor amphitheater, boat docks and walking trails for three years. He now says it will be done at the same time the casino is open.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.


First published on July 10, 2008 at 1:07 pm

[Art2Gecko]

Penguins complete Fleury deal, get 2 free-agent wingers
Thursday, July 03, 2008
By Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Penguins have finalized a seven-year contract with goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and have reached agreements to obtain two free-agent wingers.

The Fleury deal is believed to be worth $35 million, which translates to an annual salary-cap hit of $5 million.

The year-by-year breakdown of his salary is not yet known.

Getting the deal done means the Penguins and Fleury will not have to go to salary arbitration, which the team filed for last month to prevent Fleury from testing the open market this week as a restricted free agent.

Also today, the Penguins have agreed to one-year contracts with free-agent wingers Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko, both of whom spent last season with the New York Islanders.

Satan's is worth $3.5 million, Fedotenko's is worth $2.5 million.

Satan has outstanding goal-scoring ability but has been criticized for being a no-show in some games.

He is coming off one of his least productive seasons, with just 16 goals and 25 assists in 80 games on Long Island.

Fedotenko had 16 goals and 17 assists in 67 games in 2007-08.

The Penguins are believed to have focused on those two after learning they would not be able to sign ex-Penguin Markus Naslund.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
First published on July 3, 2008 at 1:31 pm

[Art2Gecko]

Penguins sign Orpik
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Penguins have resigned defenseman Brooks Orpik to a six-year contract.

The contract pays $3.75 million annually. Orpik, 27, played 78 games last season and had 1 goal, 10 assists and a career-best plus-minus rating of plus-11.


First published on July 2, 2008 at 5:10 pm

[Art2Gecko]

Yep, Fast Eddie Rendell no doubt.

[roach4091]

Yep! He should have never been given the contract! Greased someones palm imo!