AFC Playoff Picture Raises Interesting Questions

Well it's that time of year. The best of the best (I say that with reservations), are set to play starting this Saturday to earn a trip to cold, snowy Indianapolis in early February for Super Bowl XLVI.

The AFC welcomes back three teams from last years playoffs, and three new teams, which includes one franchise that is getting its first taste of the postseason. Looking at the field in the AFC, there are few things to ponder about the six teams in the running for the Lombardi trophy.

1) New England Patriots: Let's face it, a year without the Patriots in the playoffs is like a Christmas without a tree. It doesn't seem right. Of course, Tom Brady leads the Pariots offense into the playoffs, while him and his offense have to carry the defense on their backs. No doubt the offense is potent, but the defense flat out stinks. Tight end Rob Gronkowski has been a beast the entire season for New England. As of now, the Patriots are a clear favorite, as always. But could a team like Pittsburgh knock them off after the bye week? Let's not forget the Divisional game against the Jets last year. Don't worry Bill, Rex is watching from home this year.

2) Baltimore Ravens: Where do I start with the Ravens? Great at home, bad on the road against sub-par teams. Best thing that happened for Baltimore was beating the Steelers both times this year. The football universe will show that the two teams will most likely meet at some point. The Ravens are dangerous at home and are vulnerable on the road (except Pittsburgh apparently). Lewis and Suggs lead the defense, which is one reason why the Ravens are where they are and Flacco has played well, but still needs to prove himself in the playoffs. If Baltimore and New England meet in the AFC Championship, you would have to believe New England has the advantage. If Baltimore gets lucky and is home for the AFC title game against Pittsburgh or whoever, put your money on Baltimore.

3) Houston Texans: Welcome to the postseason Houston! A favorite at the beginning of the season to win in a weak AFC South, the Texans have had their high and low moments this season. The lowest being losing Matt Schaub to injury and losing their last three games of the regular season, but we all knew they would be the #3 seed regardless of how they finished after clinching the division. The lack of a quarterback could mean an early exit for the Texans against Cincinnati this Saturday in Houston. If anything, they only make it to the divisional round.

4) Denver Broncos: Where's the Tylenol?! I guess it wouldn't be fair to start talking about the Broncos without mentioning Tim Tebow. Yes, he pulled out some magical comebacks at the end of most of the games during their 6 game winning streak, but "Tebow Time" took a backseat to the New England Patriots on December 19th and lead to Denver losing their final three games. Only in the AFC West can you lose three straight and still win the division. Thank the Broncos defense and kicker Matt Prater for keeping them in the playoff picure. Of course, Tebow worked the little magic he's had this year, but he'll need a lot more with Pittsburgh coming to town. Tim Tebow, have you met James Harrison. Denver deserves to be out after the Wild Card game. But the dreaded "Tebow Time" could strike if the Steelers let Denver stay in the game.

5) Pittsburgh Steelers: For as many times Baltimore shot itself in the foot, Pittsburgh did so themselves. Losing twice to the Ravens didn't help their cause and when opportunity showed itself as an early Christmas gift for the Steelers in San Francisco following a Ravens loss to the Chargers, Pittsburgh wasted it. Of course the Steelers have dealt with once again a thin offensive line, an injured quarterback and now their number one running back out with an ACL injury. As it has been over the past few years, the Steelers rely on Roethlisberger to carry the offense. With all the injuries Big Ben has sustained in his career, a high ankle sprain injury couldn't stop him from playing against the 49ers. The result was bad, but you see the toughness of Roethlisberger. The Steelers defense is aging, but they have been able to stay #1 overall in the NFL. Troy Polamalu will be a key asset as the playoffs begin. James Harrison can make Tebow's day a nightmare if his offensive lineman can't contain him. Steelers should be favorites to knock out the Broncos. But keep in mind the NFC Wild Card game with 7-9 NFC West Champion Seahawks shocked the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints. So be on your toes Pittsburgh. Crazier things have happened.

6) Cincinnati Bengals: Be honest, after Carson Palmer opted out of Cincy and Ochocinco and Owens left, it seemed like "doom and gloom" for Bengals fans. Some even gave up their season tickets they were that disgusted. With a rookie quarterback in Andy Dalton, nobody expected a winning year or even in the playoff run. But Dalton stood strong along with rookie wide receiver AJ Green, the Bengals are looking at a bright future. Even if they don't beat Houston, it was an unexpected season for this club after all their key players left. Can they beat Houston? I think they can, but don't expect an upset win over the Patriots in Foxboro.  

Winter Classic Still Strong After Five Years

The 5th Annual Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic could not have been better. Two division rivals, both sitting one and two in the Atlantic Division standings, playing to the final whistle in front of over 47,000 fans at Citizens Bank Park.

The National Hockey League's outdoor gala had less problems with mother nature in Philadelphia than they did last year in Pittsburgh. With the game being scheduled a day later due to the NFL games, it gave the ice crew some time to keep the ice playable with mild temperatures and fear of rain in the forecast. Of course the league moved the game back two hours, with temperatures dropping later into the afternoon. Luckily not dealing a repeat of 2011, with heavy rain and temperatures in the 50's. 

The spectacle of the game was as big as it has been in the past. Most in part to the Flyers and Rangers fans who keep it alive. Let's face it, the Winter Classic is a hot event that two of the 30 teams in the NHL hope to hold on New Years Day (or weekend). The 2nd annual alumni game bringing back some of the greats of Philadelphia and New York's hockey past had the Phillies ballpark filled to capacity on New Years Eve. Be honest, if you're a Flyers fan, you were somewhat excited to see Bobby Clarke and Eric Lindros skate together.

The drama leading up to the game heightens every year. The biggest concern is the weather on the day of the event. While many hope for snow and temperatures in the mid 30's (the ideal weather for the ice that was seen at the inaugural event in Buffalo), people in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh can tell you snow is not always in the forecast for the first day in January. The Pittsburgh Classic was the first one challenged by mother nature. Heavy rains and almost 60 degree weather threatened the game, with many hoping the game could continue. The game was moved to 8pm that night, creating a more dramatic atmosphere, and had Penguin and Capital fans sitting in rain during the third period. For the league, they were lucky to pull the game off that night.

Add HBO's "24/7" series into the equation and you have hockey drama at its most realistic and finest. How many teams let you into their locker room and their inner circle for a month? Especially two clubs like the Flyers and Rangers who are in the middle of an Atlantic Division dogfight with each other and the rest of their division. You see all of it, obscenities and all (especially former Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau). This will make you want to get HBO if you don't subscribe currently.   

Now, onto the game. A first period filled with physical play that anyone would expect from two teams that have dropped the gloves in the first minute of their first two meetings this season. The Flyers got the home crowd going with Brayden Schenn getting his first NHL goal on a rebound. How excited would you be to score your first goal in the pros in front of 47,000 plus people at the age of 20? Schenn got to do it. Claude Giroux gave the Flyers some insurance with a goal set up by a breakout by Scott Hartnell to Maxime Talbot, who played in his third Winter Classic this afternoon, making it 2-0 Philadelphia.

While we are on the topic of former Pittsburgh Penguins, Mike Rupp, who had a fight in the 2011 Winter Classic, scored quickly and saluted the Flyer faithful, making it 2-1. If you were in line for hot chocolate and not in your seat for the beginning of the third, the game changed quickly. Rupp scored again and then Brad Richards, another Ranger pickup during the offseason, gave New York the lead within the first 6 minutes of the period. The last five minutes of the game had people glued to the TV. With minor penalties setting up a 4 on 4 situation, it created open ice and an opportunity for the Flyers to pull Babrovsky and try to tie the game. A penalty shot opportunity gave the Flyers a golden opportunity with less than 20 seconds left in the game. Briere went one on one with Henrik Lundqvist, who was a wall toward the end of the game and denied Briere on the penalty shot.

A tough one to swallow for the people of Philadelphia and a reason to celebrate for the Ranger faithful, both teams and their fans should take time to reflect on the experience, especially those who were lucky enough to get tickets. It's an event that someone like myself remembers when the game was held at Heinz Field. Despite the rain and the delayed start, it had all the elements of a memorable day. There was at least some flurries toward the end of the second period.

So where will the NHL Winter Classic be held in 2013? Let the campaigning begin.

Talbot Deserves Cheers, Not Jeers From Penguin Fans

With the Philadelphia Flyers making their first trip to Pittsburgh this season, fans still remember that day in late June when fan favorite Maxime Talbot signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. While his departure from the Penguins was imminent, the idea that Talbot would sign with the cross-state rival Flyers had some questioning how he could do such a thing.

While it will pain many to see Talbot in orange and black at Consol Energy Center tomorrow night, there are a few reasons why fans should applaud him for what he did while he was a member of the Penguins.

His overall representation as a fan favorite. It's enough for people to point to Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin as their favorite player, but for others, Talbot stood out. I have always acknowledged that NHL players are some of the best athletes when it comes to fan relations. Talbot was a perfect example of that representation. A character in his own without trying to draw all the attention to himself. I said that Philadelphia was lucky to be getting a guy like Talbot. Who could forget his A&L Car Motor Sales commercials that had him getting "Superstar Treatment?" I can also say that my family adopted him as our favorite. His "Ice Time" program covers are still on the refrigerator. 

Another reason would be the on ice contributions that Talbot brought to the Penguins. Talbot was a great defensive forward and unsung hero in his time in Pittsburgh.

Wind the clock back to April 25, 2009. The Penguins are in a series clinching situation against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Flyers go up 3-0, and Tablot and Carcillo drop the gloves. While not a victory for Talbot, it was the spark the Penguins needed to come back and win the game 5-3. Go to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. The story of how an unexpected player will rise and lead his team to victory in the deciding game. In that Stanley Cup clinching 2-1 victory, Talbot had both goals.

So for those of you who feel that these reasons still don't take away from the fact that he did take a contract with the Flyers, look at it this way. Talbot, unlike Jagr, who is expecting and will be booed by the Penguins crowd for the first time since May 4, 2008, is a young player who is still has a long career ahead of him. Talbot is 27, and wanted a long term contract from the Penguins, who didn't offer him one, and the Flyers did. He also left on better terms than Jagr did.

So if you are a Penguin fan and are going to the game tomorrow night, show your appreciation for Max Tablot. There is a lot more to him than the color of the jersey he wears. FYI: He's #27 now.

Who Is in Charge at Penn State?

The scandal at Penn State has many people not just looking at the former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky in this case, but at the Penn State administration as a whole. The term “chain of command” is a term used when trying to determine who is to blame for the lack of reporting the incidents involving Sandusky. When you look closer, you see how one activity at Penn State causes unbalance in the administration.   

The chain of command seems to break when dealing with Penn State football. While at most colleges, the AD has authority over the entire department. At Penn State, it would seem Paterno had more than most in his position.

When most people think of Penn State, they think two things. Joe Paterno, and football. There is no doubt that football is a power that can dictate many universities across the country. For Penn State, it has identified the college. Its value backs up the argument, as the football program is worth $99 million, the third highest in college football.

Paterno has the most wins of any Division I-A coach and two national championships. He has been a part of the coaching staff since 1950 and head coach since 1966. For any school, 46 years is a long time for one man to coach any team.

Paterno’s influence has gone beyond football. He has become a beloved “grandfather figure” amongst student and alumni, and has even donated money for the library and spiritual center, two other things that make him more of a hero in the eyes of Penn Staters. With that, Paterno has always given some the thought that he is above everyone else. A man who has been more of a figurehead than a coach over the past decade. Of course it may be we as fans that put coaches like Paterno on such a high pedestal.

Based on how the grand jury report described the incident, it seems obvious that there was no reporting to police by no one about the 2002 incident and even the 1998 incident seen by a custodian at Penn State. It makes you wonder just how important football is to the university. Maybe too much?

While we are just at the beginning of this investigation, some feel that a cover-up has happened. Whether it was the administration protecting Paterno and the football program, or the police are keeping something under wraps, the power structure at Penn State is unstable. With former FBI Director Louis Freeh, who used to investigate the mafia, now heading the investigation into Penn State, it seems fitting for the somewhat “mob mentality” in State College. If anything, Penn State keeping quiet about this only hurt itself in the process. Cleaning out the entire current administration is the best move to make. Now that Joe Pa is no longer coach, it’s time to reconstruct the chain of command at Penn State, with football not influencing most of the activity in the administration.       

A Trip to Wrigley Field

There are places we hope to travel to in our lifetime. For an historian, the Pyramids or Stonehenge might be a destination. For sports fans, traveling to a place like Fenway Park or Wrigley Field and seeing a baseball game is one we all put on our bucket list. With the old stadiums like Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds have recently or have been gone for a long time, leaving only two relics of baseball's golden age to remain amongst the 21st Century architecture of stadiums today.

My dad and I have always wanted to visit Wrigley and Fenway for a baseball game. This summer, we thought we would mark one off the list. To see a stadium like Wrigley takes you back to a simpler time of the early days of baseball with only minor alterations for the new century. As Notre Dame football fans, we see Wrigley Field as another stadium in the Midwest that displays the traditional days of sports, like Notre Dame Stadium still does for college football. As a friend of mine said, "it's like you traveled back in time."

The area around the neighborhood of Wrigleyville seems to always be abuzz when the Cubs play a home game. Regardless of the sub-par season the team is having, attendance out-does other cities with winning ball clubs. To think it has been over a century since this team has won a World Series title and the Cubs still bring out the large numbers for their games.

The view of the old-time scoreboard and the ivy wall are even more amazing than when you see it on television. The rooftop seating is a unique feature you don't see in other cities. The sound of organ music is a far cry from the recorded music you hear in most ballparks today. It reminds me of the days when Pittsburgh's Vince Lascheid would play before Pirate games at Three Rivers Stadium. The flags to display the division standings of the National League remind you of a time when the National League was the only thing that mattered to Cubs fans before Interleague came into play.

There were many people like us from out of town that wanted to see one of baseball's remaining shrines to the old days. For most of us, we hope that Wrigley and Fenway remain forever and long after we're gone. To remind those of the future about the history of this century old game.

It Was Only Two Weeks Ago...

You ever find yourself saying "it seems like only yesterday" and then you go into your story. For me it only feels like yesterday that the Pittsburgh Pirates were above .500 and in first place in the National League Central. I wake up this morning to see the Pirates 10 games out of first, and in fourth place. As a Bucs fan, you have to be asking yourself "how the hell did this happen?!"

Since late June, the Pirates have found a way to compete with the rag-tag team they had. Especially with all the injuries and call ups that they have dealt with since June. There seemed to be a feeling that this would not only be the year that the Pirates not only got over .500, but they had a chance to compete with the Brewers and Cardinals for the division title. It brought out fans in record numbers and made people reformed baseball fans. To hear people telling Neil Walker that he and the team made them love baseball again had to be inspirational for a group of guys playing roulette and winning most of the night. It seems that they finally caught the bullet back during the 19 inning game against the Braves in the early morning of July 27th. Since then, the Pirates are 1-11 in their last 12 games. Going from 54-48 to 54-58 in 10 days. It's almost like we woke up from a beautiful dream and we are now dealing with a realistic nightmare.

OK. I know we weren't dreaming. But think about it. Last month, the Pirates had us all convinced they could could compete with their roster and the Steeler's season was in jeopardy with no CBA in the works. So with no football in the future, and the Bucs showing they could compete, you had to feel like you are dreaming. All you would need to top off that dream would be a NCAA title for both Pitt football and basketball.

Now with the NFL back at work, the normal script is back in action. Perhaps Christopher Nolan got his "Dark Knight Rises" script notes mixed with the normal script we have been used to for almost 20 years.

I hate talking like this, but this losing stream of 10 games is like getting punched in the face on regular daily basis. Especially when you get swept by the Cubs and Padres at home. With the implosion of the pitching staff and bullpen, it shows the harsh consquenses when you rely on your puffing to bail you out when your offense is struggling. At least Neil Huntington didn't give away the future when getting Ludwig and Lee.

SIDE NOTE: I wrote this article on my iPhone while in the car going to Chicago. Currently passing Cleveland.

Four Days in Atlanta We Won't Forget

As I begin to write this post, the Pirates are in Philadelphia down by 7 after the Phillies went up 8-0 in the first two innings, lighting up starting pitcher Charlie Morton like the liberty bell in the outfield at Citizens Bank Park. While the Phillies series is a different story, let's return to the four days in Atlanta. If the Pirates wanted to leave any town any sooner, it had to be Atlanta.

A week that started with a two hour rain delay during a national television broadcast on ESPN Monday Night Baseball, and resulted in a win before the clock struck midnight. The next day, the weather was better, but dark clouds soon formed as the game went into extra innings. A late night affair that became the longest game in the history of both teams, and ended in the ugliest way possible. It was already enough the Pirates has no runs in the last 18 innings of that game, but umpire Jerry Meals, who became a top trend on Twitter and also received a special tagged trend #jerrymealssaysitssafe, which I and many had fun with, made one of the worst calls in the history of baseball, making Jim Joyce's safe call to ruin a no-hitter in Detroit look bleak to Meals' blunder in the 19 inning marathon.

While I and the rest of the baseball loving world blasted Jerry Meals on television, radio and social media sites, the Pirates went back to work to stay close with Milwaukee and St. Louis in the NL Central. Much to our dismay, the game went into extra innings once again. Upon this, I tweeted Pittsburgh sports columnist and 93.7 The Fan's Joe Starkey jokingly asking him the name of the home plate umpire that night, which he retweeted. Of course, the game didn't go any longer as the Braves made the bottom of the 10th batting practice working with Leroux on the mound and Joel Hanrahan for the second straight night not being used in key situations. I guess you could say that Sid Bream was laughing wherever he is now.

Although the Bucs couldn't win the rubber match the night before, the Pirates got help from Andrew McCutchen and saw Kevin Correia beat Derek Lowe in the pitching match-up, while picking up an RBI early in the game.

After that recap, we can now look at what we learned from our long visit in the deep South.

1) Lyle Overbay is Useless: For all the free passes Overbay has received by many in the media, his performance finally made people realize that he flat out sucks. 1 for 8 in the 19 inning game on Tuesday night, Wednesday morning made you react to him stepping up to the plate like you would a pitcher (NL fans only feel this, sorry AL fans).

2) Pedro was Average: Wasn't expecting the world from Alvarez, but he did OK. Good defense, despite the routine ground-out that ended in a ground-rule double. He came up big in different situations. The Bucs need more from him if they wanna stay toward the top of the Central.

3) Is Steve Pierce Even There? Pierce has been as productive as Lyle Overbay. Not much of a comment, but many would take him over Overbay at first in a heart beat.

4) Daniel McCutchen: The 6th starter?: OK, I know he won't be the 6th pitcher in the rotation the Pirates would add, but his 5+ innings in extra's on Tuesday was impressive. It took Jerry Meals to spoil the effort. May I add that he lasted as long as James McDonald and Charlie Morton have in their past few starts.



5) THE PIRATES NEED A BAT!: This road trip is a challenge for this team. What seems to be a bigger challenge is the Pirates front office having to actually make a move and pick up a hitter to spark a Pirates offense that is more cold than warm. The only thing standing between GM Neil Huntington and a trade to keep the Pirates relevant through September is the black sheep of Pittsburgh sports, Bob Nutting. This would be a great moment for the C. Montgomery Burns of Pittsburgh to share his wealth with the fan base by picking up a bat in exchange for some measly prospects. God forbid, we give away a prospect. If the Pirates do, they only risk having a more productive offense. Then again, that's my opinion, and I don't work the books for the Pirates. If the Pirates make a move by Sunday, get a player like Derek Lee and make a run at the division title but come up a game or two short, I think Pirates fans would be content with that. But I think everyone would like that division title to go along with a winning season, which is what we've really wanted for 18 years.

Pittsburgh is Experiencing a Baseball Revival.

July 20, 2010. I think the city of Pittsburgh was counting down the days until the Pittsburgh Steelers hit training camp at St. Vincent College. One year later, the city sees its long-time lowly baseball team, the Pirates in first place with a game on Milwaukee in the NL Central. That’s right! The Pirates are in first place and Pittsburgh sports fans, regardless of the Pirates record, are not counting the days down to Steelers camp. Instead they are being drawn to the Bucco bandwagon that is filling up faster than the Titanic filled up with water and sank. Of course the NFL is still in a lockout that may come to an end within days, but the Pirates could have fans watching games through September and possibly into October.

OK, some are thinking that most Pirates fans and I are looking too far into the future, like we are running the Steelers and Penguins championship parade route in our heads already. Yes, we may be in over our heads with the Pirates right now. But come on, can you blame us? Especially fans like myself who were not old enough or alive to see the 1992 season. Then again, maybe we didn’t want to be there to see Sid Bream send the Braves to the World Series that year. Think about all the things that have happened since then. We’ve had three different Presidents, gas was a lot cheaper, and Bill Cowher was just starting out as the new Steelers head coach. So the steel city has suffered with America’s pastime for more than a while. A team that used to be the dominate sport of Pittsburgh, long before the Steelers turned the corner in the 1970’s and the Penguins drafted a young French-Canadian named Mario.

While critics may see this as a phase in the Pirates season that could soon disappear as quickly as it began, it has made those who believed that the Pirates would someday turn the corner feeling like prophets and reeling those fans who were getting away back to PNC Park this summer. In mid-June, the Pirates began to show signs of a .500 team, even after being swept by Cleveland. Pittsburgher’s believed that this team may have something going for them. It’s almost like in the film Major League when an Indian’s fan thinks, “Maybe they aren’t so f*#king bad.” Pirate merchandise has been flying off the shelves. McCutchen jerseys, “hammer time” shirts for Joel Hanrahan and Neil “the Pittsburgh Kid” Walker shirts are seen all over town along with caps and other t-shirts. Then there is attendance. The Pirates have shattered attendance records (with a little help from Phillies and Red Sox fans) in June and July. 26,000 + fans came to PNC Park tonight against the Cincinnati Reds on a hot, humid Tuesday night, and there were no bobblehead or t-shirt giveaways. There were no fireworks or .38 Special after the game. People came to see and support a young group of players who are making this town remember why they love baseball. The close division race, the scoreboard watching, the tight late-inning games, and the feeling that every game matters. Pittsburgh can only hope that the Pirates continue their success as the hot days of summer soon become the early days of fall. For now, baseball is back in the steel city and it has those old enough to remember a good Pirate team thinking back to those gold old days. For those who have never seen a winning Pirate team, this may be the year, and hopefully, a new chapter in a 125 year-old story.

Jagr's Choice Shows the True Colors Pittsburgh Forgot

For Pittsburgh Penguin fans, they have to be slapping themselves for not realizing that Jarimor Jagr was capable of making the move he did on Friday afternoon. Earlier in the week, the Steel City was abuzz about the idea that Jagr was very interested in signing with the Pens in his return to the NHL. On Wednesday, Pittsburgh expected Jagr to make a flight into New York City, hop on a plane to Pittsburgh, and agree to a one year, $2 Million deal. To top it all off, all the Pittsburgh affiliates would have had coverage of the live broadcast of Jarimor receiving his "68" jersey on a jersey different from the one he wore a decade ago with the team, and shaking Mario Lemieux's hand and possibly a "bro-hug."

For all of us, our alarm clocks awoke us from that wonderful dream while Jagr's whereabouts remained unknown from Wednesday night into Friday afternoon. The Penguins and Red Wings both patiently waiting to hear on his decision, finally pulled their deals an hour before free agency began. Pens fans showed some disappointment, which turned into anger once the afternoon rolled around. The news that Jagr not only turned Pittsburgh down, but then the news that he took $1.3 million more to play for the Philadelphia Flyers.

For those of you who have never watched hockey or followed it, the Penguins and Flyers hate each other. There was more love between Biggie and 2Pac than there is between these two teams. So you can see why your friend the Penguin fan may have had steam coming out of their ears yesterday.

Well, unless Jagr doesn't know the Flyers schedule, he will have to face the crowd that once loved him long ago three times, and maybe even in a playoff series in the spring. So it is going to be interesting to see the fans reaction to Jagr when he takes the ice on December 29 at CONSOL Energy Center. Hopefully for him, the fans are still in the Christmas spirit, and the Pens are at the top of the Atlantic and East. While it won't be like Lebron James' return to Cleveland, it will be a hostile environment, especially since Pittsburgh is still pulling the knife out of their back which Jagr dug deeper this time.

So what did we learn from all of this? Jarimor Jagr is in it for the money. OK,  lesson learned, but to go to an arch rival that the Penguins despise with a passion leaves fans feeling that this was the nail in the coffin for any reconciliation of Jagr and the Penguins. This may not bother Ray Shero as much, but what about a guy like Mario? A man who reached out to him when he could have said "sorry, but we're not interested in your services anymore." So put your Jagr jersey back in the closet or into your bonfire this 4th of July weekend, it'll be a collectors item down the road or good firewood. 

Jagr's Interest in Penguins Creating Buzz, Questions

For many Penguins fans, we can all remember the amazing play of the Czech born Jarimor Jagr, a man whose name could be arranged to say "MARIO JR." He dangled the puck and scored a goal to tie Chicago in the historical comeback in Game 1 of the 1992 Stanley Cup Final. He became the leader of the Penguins after Mario Lemieux retired for the first time. We can all say that Jagr will be in the Hockey Hall of Fame and he is worthy of having his number 68 retired and raised to the rafters at Consol Energy Center along with Mario and Briere (66, 21). If Jagr's story with the Penguins was as simple as this, Hollywood would pass on the simple storyline. But Jarimor's story took him from being the town hero and became an outlaw a decade ago.

The story of Jarimor Jagr has been written and re-written by people based on their attitude toward the man who Pittsburgh once called a hero. Most of remember how his time ended in the Steel City and the rumors that spread about him. Of course, rumors are rumors and like my hockey coach always said "what is said in the locker room, stays in the locker room." Of course, the Pittsburgh and national media never wanted a sound bite after our junior varsity games. This has lead to divided feelings towards him.

Fans of the Penguins will acknowledge that Jagr was a big part of the success the Pens had in the 90's. That may be, but some fans remember how the break-up went and many would say that Jagr got the better of the divorce settlement. I have attended hundreds of Penguin games over the past 15 years. I have been to several games that Jagr has played in as a Capital and a Ranger. Boos seemed to outshine the cheers from the fans, especially during the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2008, Jagr's then final games in the NHL.

Now onto the main part of this article. Everyone in Pittsburgh and the hockey world is buzzing about Jagr's interest in coming back to the NHL, and seems to be looking at Pittsburgh. It's been reported that he has talked to Mario and maybe even Ray Shero. The Penguins had extended an invite to a charity golf outing which would be a 20 year reunion for the 1991 Stanley Cup team.

When it comes to coming back to the NHL and possibly signing with the Pens, it should seem reasonable that fans have put aside their grudges with Jagr. They are now analyzing it based on how much he can contribute to this team that is still a Stanley Cup contender.

It's obvious that his age sticks out. He's 39. He is not the young Jagr that blew us all away in the 90's. Then again, the Penguins did bring back Alexei Kovalev halfway through this past season to add some reinforcement to a battered squad. In his three years in the KHL, Jagr had 82 goals and 102 assists. Not bad stats for a guy his age. The Penguins also need some help at Right Wing. Keep that in mind.

The Penguins also have to look at who they will resign and have to let go once July 1 rolls around. Shero should look at signing Tyler Kennedy to a 3 year contract, and will have to make a tough choice that may involve saying goodbye to fan favorite Max Talbot or Dupuis. The Penguins will have $5 Million added to their salary cap this year. If they are serious about Jagr, they need to negotiate a one year deal worth at most $2 million. Jagr may not get what he wants, but the Pens need to think about the core of their team.

One reason that I think Jagr could be resigned is to finish his career in the city where he became a star. By saying that, I would expect Jagr to play an important role in the Penguins lineup. He will have a chance to play with Malkin, who plays like a young Jagr and Crosby, the reincarnation of Mario Lemieux according to many. If he thinks he can coast through the season and just pick up his paycheck and call it quits, the fans will not tolerate that and will let him hear it.

Pirates in the American League? Good Idea, But No

The Pittsburgh Pirates are making their plea with Major League Baseball to escape the NL Central and move back into the East. Although one person I heard on Pittsburgh 93.7 FM The Fan had a different idea that involved ending a Pirates tradition that has been around for 125 years.

Joe Starkey, who co-hosts a radio show weekdays 2-6pm on WFAN in Pittsburgh, suggested that the Pirates make the dramatic move and leave the National League for the American League. For me this sounded surreal. I have to say I don't agree with Starkey, but I listened to his argument and saw that he did make a good one.

One reason was the idea of a fresh start for the Bucs. The Pirates have been terrible for almost 20 years, and especially since they were thrown into the NL Central in 1994. With a change in scenery in what would be the AL Central, with the Royals moving to the AL West, the Pirates could stretch their legs out in a whole new atmosphere. Starkey cited the Steelers move to the AFL after the NFL merged with its rival in the early 1970's and the success the Steelers had in the 1970's, and this Pirate team right now is playing .500 and above .500 ball right now.

The second argument was the drivable games for fans who wanna see the Bucs play. The Pirates could create a rival in the Cleveland Indians and even the Detroit Tigers, a team the Pirates played for the title 102 years ago. Even the Chicago White Sox could be a good weekend getaway for Pirates fans, and Minnesota is the exception with driving.  Better than Houston, St. Louis and Milwaukee though.

The third reason would be who the Pirates would see more of on their schedule. Names like the Yankees and Red Sox are bound to bring big crowds to PNC Park. The Bucs could see a spike in attendance, and the Indians rivalry would bring Tribe fans and Pirate fans out more.

Starkey, after hearing your argument I can say it is a well thought-out idea that would make sense. Although I think you would lose the argument for this one reason, TRADITION. The Pirates have been in the National League since they were established in 1887. To move a team like the Bucs from 125 years of National League baseball and start them in the American League might cause a backlash by Pirates fans and some may choose to separate themselves from the team due to the loss of tradition. I hope a move to the NL East comes in the future, but I don't see them being an AL Team. 

Pirates in the NL East? YES!

With Major League Baseball considering realignment for the 2012 season, some teams have been campaigning to make some moves. One team is the Pittsburgh Pirates.

As a Pirates fan, I would see why the team wants to move out of the NL Central. One: The division is a black hole for the Bucs. Four of their opponents play in the central time zone, St. Louis, Chicago, Houston and Milwaukee. To go along with that, the Pirates have not created any close rivalries in that division. We try with Milwaukee, but that is weak compared to Philadelphia and the NY Mets. It might be their fault for mediocre baseball for the past two decades.

There was a time when the Pirates played good baseball and played teams who are now in the current NL East. The old NL East used to have the Pirates playing the Phillies, Mets, and Braves, creating rivalries fans could get excited about. If the Pirates move back into the East, they would not only have old rivalries renewed, but they would also be drivable. The closest team in the NL Central for a Pirates fan to drive and see the team on the road is the Cincinnati Reds. All the others make flying look appealing. Philly would be a five hour drive, the Mets 6, and the Nationals about 4. Of course Atlanta and Florida are the exceptions. But three out of five when it comes to driving distance, not bad! Only problem would be this. If the Houston Astros leave for the AL, and the Pirates get their wish and move to the NL East, that means a four team NL Central and a six team NL East. Do you possibly move the Marlins or Braves to the NL Central? Might not be a bad idea, especially since the Marlins have a small enough fanbase right now where nobody would care.

MLB Realignment Gets Complicated

As far back as I can remember, I always wondered why the National League had two more teams than the American League. Being a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team in the NL, I hated that we were stuck in the NL Central with 6 teams and the AL West only had four. Fast forward over a decade later and Major League Baseball is now considering it.

For a lot of people, it seemed very simple, much like the math you took in 1st grade. Move one NL team to the AL, and we would have 15 in each league. That would have worked in the early 1990's before the idea of Interleague play kicked in. Now Interleague makes realignment harder than AP Calculus. Let's just say the NHL will have an easier time realigning its divisions in 2012 with the new NHL team in Winnipeg.

The league is considering a few changes with realignment. The one everyone has been looking at is moving the Houston Astros to the American League West, which would be the most simple moved to even the leagues up and give the AL West a fifth team. But interleague then becomes a problem. A system that was first introduced in 1997 is now causing problems 14 years later. If this change happens, interleague would be played well into September almost every weekend.

Other ideas included throwing out the divisions with two 15 team leagues. This idea is dumb. I don't wanna go to a game where my team is in 15th place and has not shot at a playoff spot. Divisions make baseball interesting and gets people excited and creates new rivals. Another idea that would break the hearts of traditionalist baseball fans would be ending the National and American Leagues and create three divisions in one big league. MLB East, Central and West Divisions, which would end a century old tradition in baseball.   
Another move by baseball is adding a 5th team to each leagues playoffs. Good idea, but how would you handle that? Do you have a best of 3 between 4 and 5 to see who moves on?

The easiest way to solve the problem with both leagues having 15 teams and scheduling issues is this. Get rid of Interleague baseball. It is an option, one I think that people would be open to. Since the two leagues started playing one another for the World Series in 1903, you never saw the other leagues team unless you were playing for the World Series title. The tradition of the hate for each other has died off, mainly thanks to Interleague and television, which opened NL team cities to AL teams and vice versa. Why not go back to that? I love how Boston and the NY Yankees bring in good crowds for Pirates games, but if Interleague causes the problem, it's easy to pull the plug on it.   

Ashton Kutcher Replaces Charlie Sheen on "Two and a Half Men"

It seems that the top rated CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men will not be One and a Half Men or find itself canceled after all. Ashton Kutcher, well known for his role on That 70's Show, returns to television replacing Charlie Sheen. After Sheen was fired in February for his constant partying as well as his alcohol and drug use, and bashing of network executives, the show was put on hiatus with its future up in the air. The world has watched Sheen create a media fire storm since March, bringing back terms like "bitchin" and "gnarly" and claimed to be "Winning." He has even been on tour with his stage show "My Violent Torpedo of Truth," which has received mixed reviews.

So, it wasn't former Full House star John Stamos who replaced Sheen. The question is, how will the writers incorporate Kutcher into the show. In the past, shows have had to replace a key character who left for some different reason. One of the first was on the 1960's sitcom Bewitched. The character of Darrin saw Dick York replaced by Dick Sargant after York fell ill. The popular NBC sitcom Cheers saw Shelly Long who played Diane Chambers leave at the end of the fifth season. She was replaced by Kirstie Alley, who was written in as Rebeca Howe, the new owner of the bar after Sam (Ted Danson) sold it to a corporation. Sheen actually was a part of a character change on Spin City. Sheen replaced Michael J. Fox's character on the show for the final two seasons.  

But in the case of replacing Charlie Sheen on the show, it could be a challenge. For those who have watched the show during its run, or those who have starting watching since his meltdown, it's obvious to see that the show was based around Charlie Sheen being himself. A womanizing, hard drinking jingle writer who took in his divorced brother and his underachieving son into his Malibu beach house. How will they write Sheen out and Kutcher in? As much as Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones have been a big part of the show, Sheen is the straw that stirs the drink. Without him in the mix, it will not be the same. I do know that when the show resumes in the Fall, millions will watch the first show back. Hopefully it can work, but then again, it could be a disaster.

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The Green Men Cometh

If the television show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has taught me anything about life, it's that the old saying, "monkey see, monkey do" is true with the Green Man. Charlie Day, a writer and star of the show, portrays Charlie Kelly, an illiterate janitor who owns a dive bar in South Philadelphia with his three friends.

Day and the cast came up with an idea for a persona for Charlie on the show. A green spandex suit that Charlie puts on and dances in when he is intoxicated, or in the episode, was on an accidental acid trip. It became a noticeable symbol of the show. It not only became popular in Philadelphia, it had two imitators in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada making headlines at Vancouver Canucks hockey games, who continue to do it today.

The two "green men," who go by the names Sully and Force, don the green spandex suit and create antics, distracting and mocking the visiting team's player while he's in the penalty box. What's great about this is, their seats are right next to the glass. This puts them in a position where not only do the people around them get to enjoy it, but the fans at home do on CBC and other television networks. Whether it's acrobatics, throwing waffles against the glass when Toronto came to town, or holding a cut-out of Vince Vaughn, a Chicago Blackhawks fan, wearing a Canucks jersey. Never have I seen something like this at a game, but when I saw it, I immediately thought of Charlie Kelly and Sunny.

Jimmy Fallon Has “Revolutionized” Late Night

There was Johnny Carson, then came Letterman, then Jay Leno, followed by Conan O’Brien. All of these names have been a part of NBC late night television. Carson and The Tonight Show created the format of what late night television should be. It starts with the opening monologue, then the comedy bit, followed by the guests, and ends with a comedian or musical act to close out the show (bringing comedians on was a Johnny Carson specialty. Carson will always be the king of late night, and Leno, Letterman and O’Brien all bring their own unique style to both the Tonight Show and Late Night.

More recently, no one has made a bigger impact on late night television other than Jimmy Fallon. Fallon took over Conan O’Brien’s Late Night show after he left to host The Tonight Show, which you remember became a giant mess and was one of NBC’s darkest hours. Fallon is well known for his long run on Saturday Night Live. He became a favorite and joined the club of well-known SNL alumni. Fallon’s entrance into the 12:35am time-slot in March 2009 displayed a change in late night television. Fallon’s show tries to attract younger viewers, mostly that 18-30 year-old audience that is usually watching Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert.

Jimmy Fallon at times, especially in his first few shows, displayed a sense of nervousness in his opening monologue. But as he got comfortable after the first couple of shows, his creativity began to come out, and of course like Conan and Letterman before him, when the nerves leave, their unique talent enters.  

The first thing that made Fallon’s show stand out was his choice of the in-house band. He chose the legendary Roots Band (The Roots), who are involved in the show in several occasions. Fallon has also gone the way of Conan O’Brien when it comes to bringing his own unique style to Late Night. He is appealing to a younger audience, and looks to expand the interviews that put the guests into funny situations. One of the more hilarious bits involved him challenging his guests to beer pong. He even got 88 year-old Betty White to play the college-age game. Playing Tiger Woods PGA 12 The Masters with the man himself on Playstation Move created laughs, especially when Fallon and former SNL castmate Amy Poehler did everything they could to distract Woods when it was his turn. It was also in my opinion, a good way to take pressure off of Woods, being that it was one of his first appearances on a talk show since the controversey that hung over his head for over a year.  Another one that got me was Password with Robert De Niro and The Hangover’s Bradley Cooper. Face it, anything that gets De Niro out of his comfort zone is hilarious, especially since Fallon and him were teammates. 

Fallon has been able to get his audience involved in the show also. Singing karaoke to  Former South Carolina Governor Sanford's messages to his mistress were sung to by audience members as well as other current events.

Fallon is also never afraid to display his muscial talents on the show. The first musical act that got attention was his Neil Young cover of General Larry Platt’s “Pants on the Ground,” a song that was sung during an American Idol audition. He appeared again with another Young cover singing the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Theme Song (younger audience knows that).  If that wasn’t enough, Fallon then pulls out his Bob Dylan impression and does a cover of the theme from Charles in Charge.

Fallon has performed with the musical guests also. A more recent show had him, the group “Stomp” and the legendary Paul Simon performing “Cecilla.” But the best one had to be with Stephen Colbert. The host of the Colbert Report joined Fallon, along with former American Idol contestant Taylor Hicks, the Roots, and the New York Knick dancers in a cover of Rebecca Black’s Infamous song “Friday.” The cover was more liked than the original song. Then again, anything is better than her song.

It is nice to see that Fallon can wear the suit and tie and keep the dignity of late night television, but is willing to loosen the tie and try new things.

The Final Project: By Sean Gallagher and Tom Kane

Our Final Project was to develop a website that provided information on the current Pennsylvania State Budget Proposal regarding education. As many people know, the state may see cut-backs in the funding for education. This is news that will catch the attention of people in the Shippensburg University community and the state at large. For some, they may be confused and have several questions about the budget. We looked to create a website that was non-bias and provided the facts and information that can be used to help them better understand what is going on. We recognize that this issue does bring out political views from both sides of the aisle. We did our best to provide information that did not favor one side over the other. We provide links to this past years budet, this years proposed budget and summaries of both. We also looked to provide information on how the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and Shippensburg have responded to the news, as well as provide them with contact information of their local politicians if they are still unsure of any of the information in the budget and if they had any questions or concerns. Our site can be accessed from the link below.

Pennsylvania State Buget on Education Website

Best Network Theme Song for the NHL?

In the spirit of the new deal with NBC and the NHL, I thought it would be fun to put the theme songs for the current networks and former networks against one another in a contest of which one is the best. Which one is the best?

NHL and NBC Together Again For 10 More Years

In the battle of TV deals, NBC stays with the National Hockey League for a record 10 more years which will give the NHL $2 billion. After offers were going back and forth between ESPN, NBC, FOX and Turner Broadcasting, the league's current suitor matched and out-bid ESPN for the television rights, which was announced this past Tuesday. This was the first time ESPN has taken an interest in acquiring both cable and network rights (ABC) to NHL games. But now, ESPN will not have a shot at hockey until 2021.

This new television deal comes with a lot of benefits for the league. NBC and the cable carrier Versus will carry 100 games during the regular season each year, and will broadcast every playoff game nationally. The NHL on NBC will kick off earlier this year. Instead of the Winter Classic being the first game, a game will air on the network on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S. NBC will continue to cover the classic on New Years Day, along with games 3-7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Versus, which will be renamed withe the NBC name in the title, will carry several games each week, any Future Heritage Classics, and the NHL Premiere Games in Europe.

After hearing about the inevitable deal early Tuesday morning, I was hoping that the NHL didn't get short-changed by NBC. I was shocked to see the 10 year, $2 Billion deal when I first read the article, I was very surprised by the deal. But as I continued to look at the details, I became more optimistic about the new deal.

Here is one reason I believe it was positive. With Comcast buying the network, the chances of NBC getting another television deal with the NHL went up. If this was the same network being run by Jeff Zucker and General Electric, the deal would have looked bleak.

Let's face it. Since GE took over the network, it slowly went downhill. It's ratings were awful, going from #1 in 2002 to last place by 2008. When the orphaned NHL came out of the lockout and was looking for a TV home, NBC made an offer that many people feel the league took out of desperation. Even Conan O'Brien back in his Late Night years mocked NBC for taking the NHL in. Along with the Outdoor Life Network (OLN), now Versus, sub-par production and criticism of the channels dogged the league and NBC. Although I must say that both NBC and Versus have improved when it comes to broadcasting and producing games.

With Comcast now in control of the network, it opens up a window of opportunity for the NHL and NBC to expand and improve year-by-year in this new deal. Comcast now has control over all of NBC's channels, along with them owning Versus. With the promise of every playoff game, there is a possibility that hockey could be shown on the USA Network, and NBC Universal, two channels that were known for their Olympic Coverage in 2010. With Versus most likely being renamed "NBC Sports Network," it will become a better known channel, and hopefully an easier channel to find on most cable company's listings, an issue the league has dealt with since 2005.  

For those of you wondering what ESPN offered the league, get ready to laugh. The Worldwide Leader of Sports offered to broadcast every playoff game, BUT only offered to broadcast one game during the week in the regular season, a terrible deal that even Barry Melrose and Matthew Baranaby, the networks NHL personalities, should be disgusted with. This would put the NHL in the same area with Major League Soccer, a game one time a week on ESPN2. Hopefully the MLS jumps ship and comes to Versus and NBC when their contract expires. Besides, ESPN just likes to cover the NBA and NFL more than anything. Two leagues that could both have lockout years coming up, leaving ESPN with just baseball and its block of shows.

Now, I am optimistic, but I do have some suggestions to make this deal even better and to improve the outreach of the game.
1) Two games on NBC once every other week:
    -Being a Penguins fan I can see all 82 games in the regular season, if I didn't have responsibilities. I like seeing my team on NBC, but there needs to be a game with more Western Conference teams. The 12:30pm start is something that makes me mad. What else is NBC showing that is so important. Well the amateur ski jumping, poker tournaments, and the amateur golf that means nothing to me are BORING! A 1pm game and a 4pm game once every other week would be great with the East and West switching one the one game a week cycle. A 1pm game one week, then a 4pm the week following the doubleheader week. Dick Ebersol, are you getting this? I don't care about some gambler from Iowa who can read someone's bluff for 4 minutes. No wonder the network has struggled.

2) More Personalities
Mike Emerick is a legend when it comes to play-by-play in hockey. Although I would encourage NBC and Versus to bring in announcers from other Comcast Sports Network affiliates to do games. They have in the past but they need to have more. When it comes to former players, bring more of them in. I love Jeremy Roenick, but there has to be a group of former players who can analyze. If Charles Barkley can do it on TNT or basketball, anyone can do it.

3) SHOW THE SCORE!!!
NBC never shoes the score before the break. It's not that big of a deal, but nobody in the production studio has ever thought of creating a graphic that gives the score of the game. It's traditional for all sports, what makes NBC's NHL coverage an exception to tradition?

The best of luck to the NHL and NBC in a marriage with this much money, it's worthy of a possible prenup.