The garland is sagging, the cookies have crumbled and the caramels are all gone from the giant box of chocolates.
It's almost time to put up the new calendar, to go back to work and school and to confront the bleak gloom of winter with no significant vacation time looming. Sigh.
Before dragging 2018 to the curb with the tree, though, it's time to take one look back at the previous 12 months with the annual year-end quiz. Grab a pair of freshly-sharpened No. 2 pencils and have a go at the traditional dozen puzzlers.
(As always, scores will be graded on the Bob Kipper hanging curve).
---
1. What has Clint Hurdle brought the Pirates?
a. An end to 20 years of losing.
b. Three consecutive postseason appearances.
c. The 162-game bad mood.
---
2. It can be troublesome to misplace:
a. Glasses.
b. Keys.
c. Confidence in Bud Dupree.
---
3. What is the primary selling point for Pitt football tickets?
a. The excitement.
b. The tradition.
c. The elbow room.
---
4. StubHub and SeatGeek have brought:
a. A new business plan.
b. Customer options.
c. Tickets that cost less than a stadium beer.
---
5. What was the messiest high-profile breakup?
a. Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux.
b. Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie.
c. James Harrison and the Steelers.
---
6. If you don't like the way the Penguins are being coached, you might be:
a. A critic.
b. Hard to please.
c. Jim Rutherford.
---
7. Sean Rodriguez was:
a. Overmatched.
b. Finished.
c. An actual downgrade from John Jaso.
---
8. What was the least exclusive group?
a. Steelers Nation.
b. Notre Dame subway alumni.
c. Tweeters who thought a Chris Boswell "Oh, can't kick" joke was hilarious.
---
9. Who performed the best at Heinz Field?
a. Ben Roethlisberger.
b. JuJu Smith-Schuster.
c. Kenny Chesney.
---
10. People on a sugar-restricted diet should avoid:
a. Desserts.
b. Breakfast pastries.
c. Dan Potash's Penguins interviews.
---
11. The Steelers need to identify:
a. Their draft priorities.
b. A free agent strategy.
c. What person thought Artie Burns was a good idea.
---
12. If you see Evgeni Malkin, you should:
a. Take a selfie.
b. Get an autograph.
c. Tell him the Penguins have been looking for him.
---
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com).
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Friday, December 28, 2018
Altoona Mirror, December 26, 2018
JuJu Smith-Schuster said he was the reason the Steelers lost last Sunday's game in New Orleans.
His sentiments were noble, but incorrect.
Make no mistake, Smith-Schuster's late-game fumble played a key role. But it wasn't the only reason the Steelers are in a scramble to win the AFC North and need help to achieve that goal.
For examples:
--Stevan Ridley also fumbled at a key juncture. The Saints are very good at jarring the ball loose, and the Steelers should have been aware and extra cautious about protecting the ball. L.J. Fort blocked the Saints' subsequent field goal attempt, but the loss of possession cost the Steelers a chance to put more points on the board.
--The defense allowed the Saints to convert a third-and-20 and keep a possession going. They made it with an extra five yards to spare, and that gain contributed to the winning touchdown. Third-and-20 should require something short of a miracle to convert. The Steelers defense just isn't good enough, and that's an area that has to be addressed in the off-season.
--Mike Tomlin misread the risk/reward ratio and called for a fake punt that gave the Saints the ball at the Steelers' 46. The Steelers led by four points at the time. Yes, an 11-point gap with about four minutes to go would have likely put the Saints away.
But failing there gave Drew Brees the ball on a short field. He led the Saints on what proved to be the winning touchdown drive and took nearly three minutes off the clock while forcing the Steelers to spend their last time outs. Tomlin said he was being aggressive, but it wasn't worth the gamble. Not then, not there.
Smith-Schuster's fumble came after all those things happened, so it may have been the mistake most fresh in everyone's mind.
But losing that game was a team effort, as it usually is.
And now instead of finishing the season in cruise control, the Steelers are not only in a fight to make the playoffs. They're also rooting for the Cleveland Browns to help them.
---
You don't always think of the NFL season as being excessively long.
It certainly isn't lengthy in the sense that baseball season is, starting in the last week of March with the possibility of extending into the first week of November.
But the course of 16 games in 17 weeks can take some varied paths. Look no further than Baltimore, where coach John Harbaugh was just told he will return next season.
It wasn't that long ago when Harbaugh was on everyone's list to get fired the day after the season ended.
Then the Ravens started winning, and now they're in position to overtake the Steelers for the division title. If the Ravens beat Cleveland on Sunday, they're in. Doesn't matter what the Steelers do if the Ravens take care of their own business.
So Harbaugh, thought to be hanging by a thread, is now in solid. It's an impatient world, but sometimes it's better to wait.
---
Mark Kaboly, who covers the Steelers for The Athletic, reviewed all the games this season and came to an interesting conclusion about how things can unfold in the NFL.
By his count, the Steelers are four plays away from having a 6-9 record at this point. They're also five plays away from being 13-2, according to Kaboly's calculations.
---
Those of us in the bifocals set don't need another reason to feel old, but consider this:
The latest edition of the annual Pirates' alumni newsletter reports that both Jay Bell and Orlando Merced are grandfathers.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
His sentiments were noble, but incorrect.
Make no mistake, Smith-Schuster's late-game fumble played a key role. But it wasn't the only reason the Steelers are in a scramble to win the AFC North and need help to achieve that goal.
For examples:
--Stevan Ridley also fumbled at a key juncture. The Saints are very good at jarring the ball loose, and the Steelers should have been aware and extra cautious about protecting the ball. L.J. Fort blocked the Saints' subsequent field goal attempt, but the loss of possession cost the Steelers a chance to put more points on the board.
--The defense allowed the Saints to convert a third-and-20 and keep a possession going. They made it with an extra five yards to spare, and that gain contributed to the winning touchdown. Third-and-20 should require something short of a miracle to convert. The Steelers defense just isn't good enough, and that's an area that has to be addressed in the off-season.
--Mike Tomlin misread the risk/reward ratio and called for a fake punt that gave the Saints the ball at the Steelers' 46. The Steelers led by four points at the time. Yes, an 11-point gap with about four minutes to go would have likely put the Saints away.
But failing there gave Drew Brees the ball on a short field. He led the Saints on what proved to be the winning touchdown drive and took nearly three minutes off the clock while forcing the Steelers to spend their last time outs. Tomlin said he was being aggressive, but it wasn't worth the gamble. Not then, not there.
Smith-Schuster's fumble came after all those things happened, so it may have been the mistake most fresh in everyone's mind.
But losing that game was a team effort, as it usually is.
And now instead of finishing the season in cruise control, the Steelers are not only in a fight to make the playoffs. They're also rooting for the Cleveland Browns to help them.
---
You don't always think of the NFL season as being excessively long.
It certainly isn't lengthy in the sense that baseball season is, starting in the last week of March with the possibility of extending into the first week of November.
But the course of 16 games in 17 weeks can take some varied paths. Look no further than Baltimore, where coach John Harbaugh was just told he will return next season.
It wasn't that long ago when Harbaugh was on everyone's list to get fired the day after the season ended.
Then the Ravens started winning, and now they're in position to overtake the Steelers for the division title. If the Ravens beat Cleveland on Sunday, they're in. Doesn't matter what the Steelers do if the Ravens take care of their own business.
So Harbaugh, thought to be hanging by a thread, is now in solid. It's an impatient world, but sometimes it's better to wait.
---
Mark Kaboly, who covers the Steelers for The Athletic, reviewed all the games this season and came to an interesting conclusion about how things can unfold in the NFL.
By his count, the Steelers are four plays away from having a 6-9 record at this point. They're also five plays away from being 13-2, according to Kaboly's calculations.
---
Those of us in the bifocals set don't need another reason to feel old, but consider this:
The latest edition of the annual Pirates' alumni newsletter reports that both Jay Bell and Orlando Merced are grandfathers.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Altoona Mirror, December 23, 2018
It's the most wonderful time of the year, filled with great traditions -- overeating, overspending and cursing those made-in-China lights that don't work.
The other custom is to gather the family 'round the fake fireplace for a group sing of the annual holiday song parodies. Once again, inspiration is credited to Mad magazine, Allan Sherman and "Cordic & Company," the official radio show of Olde Frothingslosh, the pale stale ale with the foam on the bottom.
Find a key that's comfortable, and sing them loud and proud. And have yourself a merry little Christmas.
---
The story of the season for the Steelers was the absence of Le'Veon Bell. He turned down a contract in excess of $14 million and will now apparently test the free agent market.
To the tune of "Jingle Bells."
Where is Bell?
What the hell?
Threw that cash away.
-
Le'Veon's big holdout,
He didn't want to play.
Hey!
-
Flushed it all,
No football.
It's all me-me-me.
Hope he had a good time
Riding his jet ski.
----
It's a tradition within a tradition -- the year in Pittsburgh sports set to the tune of "Deck The Hall." As usual, it's three stanzas of doggerel per pro team, and we start with the Penguins.
-
Three-peat wasn't in the cards,
Fa la la la la la la la la
No Cup visits to back yards.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Washington was just too tough.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Caps had heart, no more cream puff.
Fa la la la la la la la la
-
Flower left, he had to go,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Missed him much, he's such a pro.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Found a home out in the west,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Vegas fans were quite impressed.
Fa la la la la la la la la.
-
Window's closing, could be scary.
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Was falling short just momentary?
Fa la la la la la la la la
Sid's no kid, now 32.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Can the captain still come through?
Fa la la la la la la la la
--To the Steelers:
Bell held out, offer rebuffed.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Fourteen million? Not enough.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Stayed away, no bumps and bruises
Fa la la la la la la la la
His odd logic just confuses.
Fa la la la la la la la la
-
Twitter is so uninspired
Fa la la la la la la la la
Tweeters want Mike Tomlin fired
Fa la la la la la la la la
He's never had a losing season
Fa la la la la la la la la
At least invent a valid reason.
Fa la la la la la la la la
-
Super Bowl's the expectation
Fa la la la la la la la la
Real tough crowd, the Steelers Nation
Fa la la la la la la la la
Too much stress to have much fun
Fa la la la la la la la la
Even Rocky Bleier's done
Fa la la la la la la la la
--And the Pirates:
Pirates started in the snow
Fa la la la la la la la la
Pittsburgh looked like Buffalo
Fa la la la la la la la la
Team was hot despite the deep freeze
Fa la la la la la la la la
Turned out that was just a tease
Fa la la la la la la la la
-
Power needed, how 'bout Josh Bell?
Fa la la la la la la la la
Home run total really fell.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Have to back the pitching staff
Fa la la la la la la la la
Score more runs on ther behalf
Fa la la la la la la la la
-
Marte benched for lack of hustle
Fa la la la la la la la la
Last year it was steroid muscles
Fa la la la la la la la la
Lots of talent, drives Clint crazy
Fa la la la la la la la la
Has no business playing lazy
Fa la la la la la la la la
---
The Supreme Court legalized sports betting. Just in time for Christmas, the Rivers Casino, practically in the shadow of Heinz Field, opened a sports book.
To the tune of "My Favorite Things"
Point spreads and parlays, the over and under.
Betting my pay check, I hope I don't blunder.
Who knows what upsets the weekend might bring,
Action's a gamb-a-ler's favorite thing.
-
Groceries at risk, and so are the kids' shoes.
Not going home if the L-A Rams lose.
Losses could be so devastating,
This is a gamb-a-ler's most-dreaded thing.
-
Adrenalin rush comes with money at stake.
He missed a chip shot? I can't catch a break.
Making me crazy, a fast 10-point swing,
This is a gamb-a-ler's most stressful thing.
-
Humans are flawed, I need no reminder.
Wife got a U-Haul, I can't seem to find her.
What kind of changes would bankruptcy bring?
This is a gamb-a-ler's frightening thing.
-
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
The other custom is to gather the family 'round the fake fireplace for a group sing of the annual holiday song parodies. Once again, inspiration is credited to Mad magazine, Allan Sherman and "Cordic & Company," the official radio show of Olde Frothingslosh, the pale stale ale with the foam on the bottom.
Find a key that's comfortable, and sing them loud and proud. And have yourself a merry little Christmas.
---
The story of the season for the Steelers was the absence of Le'Veon Bell. He turned down a contract in excess of $14 million and will now apparently test the free agent market.
To the tune of "Jingle Bells."
Where is Bell?
What the hell?
Threw that cash away.
-
Le'Veon's big holdout,
He didn't want to play.
Hey!
-
Flushed it all,
No football.
It's all me-me-me.
Hope he had a good time
Riding his jet ski.
----
It's a tradition within a tradition -- the year in Pittsburgh sports set to the tune of "Deck The Hall." As usual, it's three stanzas of doggerel per pro team, and we start with the Penguins.
-
Three-peat wasn't in the cards,
Fa la la la la la la la la
No Cup visits to back yards.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Washington was just too tough.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Caps had heart, no more cream puff.
Fa la la la la la la la la
-
Flower left, he had to go,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Missed him much, he's such a pro.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Found a home out in the west,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Vegas fans were quite impressed.
Fa la la la la la la la la.
-
Window's closing, could be scary.
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Was falling short just momentary?
Fa la la la la la la la la
Sid's no kid, now 32.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Can the captain still come through?
Fa la la la la la la la la
--To the Steelers:
Bell held out, offer rebuffed.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Fourteen million? Not enough.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Stayed away, no bumps and bruises
Fa la la la la la la la la
His odd logic just confuses.
Fa la la la la la la la la
-
Twitter is so uninspired
Fa la la la la la la la la
Tweeters want Mike Tomlin fired
Fa la la la la la la la la
He's never had a losing season
Fa la la la la la la la la
At least invent a valid reason.
Fa la la la la la la la la
-
Super Bowl's the expectation
Fa la la la la la la la la
Real tough crowd, the Steelers Nation
Fa la la la la la la la la
Too much stress to have much fun
Fa la la la la la la la la
Even Rocky Bleier's done
Fa la la la la la la la la
--And the Pirates:
Pirates started in the snow
Fa la la la la la la la la
Pittsburgh looked like Buffalo
Fa la la la la la la la la
Team was hot despite the deep freeze
Fa la la la la la la la la
Turned out that was just a tease
Fa la la la la la la la la
-
Power needed, how 'bout Josh Bell?
Fa la la la la la la la la
Home run total really fell.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Have to back the pitching staff
Fa la la la la la la la la
Score more runs on ther behalf
Fa la la la la la la la la
-
Marte benched for lack of hustle
Fa la la la la la la la la
Last year it was steroid muscles
Fa la la la la la la la la
Lots of talent, drives Clint crazy
Fa la la la la la la la la
Has no business playing lazy
Fa la la la la la la la la
---
The Supreme Court legalized sports betting. Just in time for Christmas, the Rivers Casino, practically in the shadow of Heinz Field, opened a sports book.
To the tune of "My Favorite Things"
Point spreads and parlays, the over and under.
Betting my pay check, I hope I don't blunder.
Who knows what upsets the weekend might bring,
Action's a gamb-a-ler's favorite thing.
-
Groceries at risk, and so are the kids' shoes.
Not going home if the L-A Rams lose.
Losses could be so devastating,
This is a gamb-a-ler's most-dreaded thing.
-
Adrenalin rush comes with money at stake.
He missed a chip shot? I can't catch a break.
Making me crazy, a fast 10-point swing,
This is a gamb-a-ler's most stressful thing.
-
Humans are flawed, I need no reminder.
Wife got a U-Haul, I can't seem to find her.
What kind of changes would bankruptcy bring?
This is a gamb-a-ler's frightening thing.
-
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Altoona Mirror, December 19, 2018
The Steelers' three-game losing streak is history, but that didn't put Ben Roethlisberger in a sunny mood on Tuesday.
The quarterback took a few minutes on his day off and used his weekly radio show to complain about a media report that claimed he has cracked ribs.
Roethlisberger missed several series of the game at Oakland two weeks ago with the injury. He returned to that game, and played the entire game in Sunday's 17-10 victory over New England.
He complained that NFL Network Ian Rapoport got it wrong about him. You may recall that Rapoport previously reported Roethlisberger would ask to be traded after the 2013 season.
The only rib debate I'm qualified to participate in is sauce vs. dry rub. However, a trainer once told me that when an athlete is listed as having "bruised ribs," it means the bones are really broken.
Who knows? Roethlisberger was able to get through Sunday's game, admitting the trainers designed some extra padding and medical treatments. It looks like he'll play with the injury for as long as the Steelers' season lasts. Bruised or broken, his ribs could be a factor.
In other Steelers matters:
--Jaylen Samuels had a strong game against the Patriots, but it may be too much to expect him to repeat the performance this Sunday in New Orleans. The Saints are one of the best teams at stopping the run, and Samuels is a converted receiver learning to play running back.
--Mike Tomlin is unwavering in his backing of struggling kicker Chris Boswell. What choice does he have? Boswell has succeeded before, and the replacement options aren't appealing in mid-December. If Tomlin has his hands in his pockets when Boswell kicks, bet that he's hiding crossed fingers.
--People are still calling talk shows to debate whether Tomlin should be fired if the Steelers miss the playoffs. He's been here 12 years and he's never had a losing season. They're not going to fire him.
--When will Rocky Bleier post his review of Sunday's game? On wait, that's right. He's done with the Steelers.
---
If you attended any of Gene Dargan's pro wrestling cards at Jaffa Mosque back in the day, you probably saw Frank Durso lose the opening match.
Durso was a squatty and shaggy guy who played the bad guy and helped get a lot of shows started by losing to a fan favorite.
Durso (his real last name was Scuillo) died last week at 81.
As a college kid, I wrote press releases for Gene and went to a lot of the shows. I'd offer a cheery hello to Frank Durso, and he would invariably say, "You got any beer?"
I never did, and he would immediately lose interest in talking to me.
It's been a sad year for fans of the old "Studio Wrestling" show. The legendary Bruno Sammartino passed away in April, Johnny Valiant (originally John L. Sullivan) was killed in an accident a few weeks before that, and now Durso is gone, too.
---
If you need a last-minute gift for an avid fan, my book "The Best Pittsburgh Sports Arguments" is available through your favorite online retailer. It may be available at your nearby book store, too, assuming you have one.
It was published in 2007, but most of it has been unaffected by the passage of time. There's plenty of stuff about the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins (and other offbeat subjects like sports movies and athlete's celebrity wives) and I typed it all myself.
There are 100 different debates, so a reader can easily jump around. A friend told me he considers it the ultimate bathroom book, and insisted that was a compliment. I'll take whatever positive reviews I can get.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
The quarterback took a few minutes on his day off and used his weekly radio show to complain about a media report that claimed he has cracked ribs.
Roethlisberger missed several series of the game at Oakland two weeks ago with the injury. He returned to that game, and played the entire game in Sunday's 17-10 victory over New England.
He complained that NFL Network Ian Rapoport got it wrong about him. You may recall that Rapoport previously reported Roethlisberger would ask to be traded after the 2013 season.
The only rib debate I'm qualified to participate in is sauce vs. dry rub. However, a trainer once told me that when an athlete is listed as having "bruised ribs," it means the bones are really broken.
Who knows? Roethlisberger was able to get through Sunday's game, admitting the trainers designed some extra padding and medical treatments. It looks like he'll play with the injury for as long as the Steelers' season lasts. Bruised or broken, his ribs could be a factor.
In other Steelers matters:
--Jaylen Samuels had a strong game against the Patriots, but it may be too much to expect him to repeat the performance this Sunday in New Orleans. The Saints are one of the best teams at stopping the run, and Samuels is a converted receiver learning to play running back.
--Mike Tomlin is unwavering in his backing of struggling kicker Chris Boswell. What choice does he have? Boswell has succeeded before, and the replacement options aren't appealing in mid-December. If Tomlin has his hands in his pockets when Boswell kicks, bet that he's hiding crossed fingers.
--People are still calling talk shows to debate whether Tomlin should be fired if the Steelers miss the playoffs. He's been here 12 years and he's never had a losing season. They're not going to fire him.
--When will Rocky Bleier post his review of Sunday's game? On wait, that's right. He's done with the Steelers.
---
If you attended any of Gene Dargan's pro wrestling cards at Jaffa Mosque back in the day, you probably saw Frank Durso lose the opening match.
Durso was a squatty and shaggy guy who played the bad guy and helped get a lot of shows started by losing to a fan favorite.
Durso (his real last name was Scuillo) died last week at 81.
As a college kid, I wrote press releases for Gene and went to a lot of the shows. I'd offer a cheery hello to Frank Durso, and he would invariably say, "You got any beer?"
I never did, and he would immediately lose interest in talking to me.
It's been a sad year for fans of the old "Studio Wrestling" show. The legendary Bruno Sammartino passed away in April, Johnny Valiant (originally John L. Sullivan) was killed in an accident a few weeks before that, and now Durso is gone, too.
---
If you need a last-minute gift for an avid fan, my book "The Best Pittsburgh Sports Arguments" is available through your favorite online retailer. It may be available at your nearby book store, too, assuming you have one.
It was published in 2007, but most of it has been unaffected by the passage of time. There's plenty of stuff about the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins (and other offbeat subjects like sports movies and athlete's celebrity wives) and I typed it all myself.
There are 100 different debates, so a reader can easily jump around. A friend told me he considers it the ultimate bathroom book, and insisted that was a compliment. I'll take whatever positive reviews I can get.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Altoona Mirror, December 16, 2018
If you're lucky enough to have a ticket for today's marquee match between the New England Patriots and Steelers, you may want to make a stop on the way to Heinz Field.
The Rivers Casino, which is right in the neighborhood, is offering sports betting now. You can drop in and make a wager on the game, then go over and keep an eye on your investment.
Last week one of the TV stations interviewed citizens about the introduction of legal sports gambling and one guy said, "It's always more interesting when you have something riding on the game."
Of course, it's also always more interesting when you can't pay the electric bill, and maybe that will be part of the equation for some people.
You may not like slot machines or blackjack. Maybe you're lousy at picking lottery numbers and understand the long odds against winning.
But almost everybody has an opinion on sports, and some will back those feelings with hard-earned cash.
One of the few perks of a sports writing life is having a ringside seat for all sorts of aberrant behavior. A colleague once lucked his way into two paychecks and blew both of them betting. He wound up in bankruptcy court.
His autumn Sundays went like this: He would bet a bunch of the 1 o'clock NFL games. "How'd you do?" someone would ask. "Lost a little," was the closest he'd come to admitting defeat. That was invariably followed by, "I'll get it back on the 4 o'clock games."
But he rarely did. And his last-ditch salvage efforts on Monday night too often put him deeper in the hole.
Repeat that for about 16 weeks, and then you're looking for an attorney who specializes in bankruptcy cases.
Not everybody loses. Just most people. Sports betting is not new. But now you don't have to call Sonny's brother-in-law's cousin to make a bet. It's an impulse purchase, like a pack of gum or a Slurpee. Just more expensive
There will be lives ruined by legal sports gambling, and it starts today.
---
Tim Neverett, who broadcast Pirates games for seven seasons, was cut loose by the Boston Red Sox's flagship radio station last week.
Neverett said he was told in June that he should start looking for a new job. The reason? The station wants a new approach to play-by-play in baseball-crazed New England.
The term "talk show approach" popped up, but the station denied that. It did, however, admit it thought a more conversational approach was in order. In other words, if the announcers are debating who should pitch on Saturday, that discussion takes precedence over strict attention to details like the ball-strike count or score of the game being played.
A long time ago, Bob Prince was fired by KDKA and the Pirates because he would ramble off topic and stray from the play-by-play.
Turns out the old Gunner was just 40 years ahead of his time.
---
On the field, Bill Fralic was a monster, a search-and-destroy player who lived in the weight room and made opponents pay for that sweat.
Coaches said he brought a defensive lineman's mentality to the offensive line, and they were right. There was nothing passive about his game.
Fralic died of cancer last week at 56. One of his last acts was to pay the hotel bill for his alma mater, Penn Hills, at the state playoffs in Hershey. It was a last act of generosity for the hometown he never forgot.
As tough as he was on the field, Fralic was almost shy away from football. He tried to keep his charitable acts quiet.
When it came to Penn Hills and Pitt, his impact lasted long after he played football for those schools.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
The Rivers Casino, which is right in the neighborhood, is offering sports betting now. You can drop in and make a wager on the game, then go over and keep an eye on your investment.
Last week one of the TV stations interviewed citizens about the introduction of legal sports gambling and one guy said, "It's always more interesting when you have something riding on the game."
Of course, it's also always more interesting when you can't pay the electric bill, and maybe that will be part of the equation for some people.
You may not like slot machines or blackjack. Maybe you're lousy at picking lottery numbers and understand the long odds against winning.
But almost everybody has an opinion on sports, and some will back those feelings with hard-earned cash.
One of the few perks of a sports writing life is having a ringside seat for all sorts of aberrant behavior. A colleague once lucked his way into two paychecks and blew both of them betting. He wound up in bankruptcy court.
His autumn Sundays went like this: He would bet a bunch of the 1 o'clock NFL games. "How'd you do?" someone would ask. "Lost a little," was the closest he'd come to admitting defeat. That was invariably followed by, "I'll get it back on the 4 o'clock games."
But he rarely did. And his last-ditch salvage efforts on Monday night too often put him deeper in the hole.
Repeat that for about 16 weeks, and then you're looking for an attorney who specializes in bankruptcy cases.
Not everybody loses. Just most people. Sports betting is not new. But now you don't have to call Sonny's brother-in-law's cousin to make a bet. It's an impulse purchase, like a pack of gum or a Slurpee. Just more expensive
There will be lives ruined by legal sports gambling, and it starts today.
---
Tim Neverett, who broadcast Pirates games for seven seasons, was cut loose by the Boston Red Sox's flagship radio station last week.
Neverett said he was told in June that he should start looking for a new job. The reason? The station wants a new approach to play-by-play in baseball-crazed New England.
The term "talk show approach" popped up, but the station denied that. It did, however, admit it thought a more conversational approach was in order. In other words, if the announcers are debating who should pitch on Saturday, that discussion takes precedence over strict attention to details like the ball-strike count or score of the game being played.
A long time ago, Bob Prince was fired by KDKA and the Pirates because he would ramble off topic and stray from the play-by-play.
Turns out the old Gunner was just 40 years ahead of his time.
---
On the field, Bill Fralic was a monster, a search-and-destroy player who lived in the weight room and made opponents pay for that sweat.
Coaches said he brought a defensive lineman's mentality to the offensive line, and they were right. There was nothing passive about his game.
Fralic died of cancer last week at 56. One of his last acts was to pay the hotel bill for his alma mater, Penn Hills, at the state playoffs in Hershey. It was a last act of generosity for the hometown he never forgot.
As tough as he was on the field, Fralic was almost shy away from football. He tried to keep his charitable acts quiet.
When it came to Penn Hills and Pitt, his impact lasted long after he played football for those schools.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Altoona Mirror, December 12, 2018
The Steelers' season has turned into a mess, and it got even messier with Sunday's loss to the previously 2-10 Raiders in Oakland.
If the lasting image of the 2018 season isn't Le'Veon Bell on a jet ski, it will be Chris Boswell slipping on an invisible banana peel and booting a possible game-tying field goal weakly into the back of a lineman.
So many questions from that game made the Ben Roethlisberger Show and Mike Tomlin press conference must-listening Tuesday on the radio.
Here's what we learned: After Roethlisberger's ribs were crushed, he left the field to seek medical treatment. Apparently he, Dr. James Bradley and general manager Kevin Colbert had difficulty finding the x-ray room. Apparently it's three flights of stairs above the locker room level.
When the x-rays were taken, apparently the images were so murky they couldn't really make a proper evaluation. So they apparently gave Roethlisberger a pain-killing injection.
After the game, Tomlin said that Roethlisberger had been medically cleared from to get back in the game. Tomlin also said he hesitated to replace untested Josh Dobbs with his future Hall of Fame quarterback because "we were in a rhythm and flow of the game."
If there was rhythm and/or flow, it was dissonant and muddy. The Steelers were going nowhere with Dobbs in there.
It's possible -- maybe even likely -- that Tomlin felt the Steelers could beat the Raiders without Roethlisberger. If that was the case, it would make sense to keep him on the sideline to protect his injury.
Of course, Tomlin wouldn't admit that because it would disrespect an opponent. But what he said made absolutely no sense. He pretty much admitted that on Tuesday.
The Steelers fell behind, and Roethlisberger said he would go back in the game. He led the team on the drive for the final field goal, and the game should have been headed for overtime. Instead, Boswell was splayed on the slippery turf, and now the Steelers are in a fight for their playoff lives.
There was a lot of explaining to do, and it started Tuesday on the radio.
These are all subjects certain to be revisited if ownership sits down with Tomlin after a non-playoff season.
When it's all over, the Steelers will be charged with improving the defense. It won't be a bit surprising if owner Art Rooney II insists that Tomlin make staff changes, which will start with defensive coordinator Keith Butler heading out.
Special teams coach Danny Smith should update his resume, too.
When you lose games the way the Steelers have for the past three weeks, status quo is no longer an option.
In other Steelers matters:
--The Steelers will bring in other kickers for tryouts this week. They could very well sign one of them and invent an injury to let Boswell watch the last three weeks from the sideline. He can't be trusted in close games right now.
--The running game without James Conner was spectacularly unimpressive. One of the Steelers' biggest personnel mistakes was failing to adequately plan for Bell's season-long absence.
--Remember how Ike Taylor would get his hands on the football, but fail to make interceptions? The Steelers have a whole platoon of defensive players who do that now.
--Back when Rocky Bleier was sweating and getting his brain scrambled on the field, wonder how he would have felt about hearing criticism from a guy who had played for the Steelers 40 years earlier?
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
If the lasting image of the 2018 season isn't Le'Veon Bell on a jet ski, it will be Chris Boswell slipping on an invisible banana peel and booting a possible game-tying field goal weakly into the back of a lineman.
So many questions from that game made the Ben Roethlisberger Show and Mike Tomlin press conference must-listening Tuesday on the radio.
Here's what we learned: After Roethlisberger's ribs were crushed, he left the field to seek medical treatment. Apparently he, Dr. James Bradley and general manager Kevin Colbert had difficulty finding the x-ray room. Apparently it's three flights of stairs above the locker room level.
When the x-rays were taken, apparently the images were so murky they couldn't really make a proper evaluation. So they apparently gave Roethlisberger a pain-killing injection.
After the game, Tomlin said that Roethlisberger had been medically cleared from to get back in the game. Tomlin also said he hesitated to replace untested Josh Dobbs with his future Hall of Fame quarterback because "we were in a rhythm and flow of the game."
If there was rhythm and/or flow, it was dissonant and muddy. The Steelers were going nowhere with Dobbs in there.
It's possible -- maybe even likely -- that Tomlin felt the Steelers could beat the Raiders without Roethlisberger. If that was the case, it would make sense to keep him on the sideline to protect his injury.
Of course, Tomlin wouldn't admit that because it would disrespect an opponent. But what he said made absolutely no sense. He pretty much admitted that on Tuesday.
The Steelers fell behind, and Roethlisberger said he would go back in the game. He led the team on the drive for the final field goal, and the game should have been headed for overtime. Instead, Boswell was splayed on the slippery turf, and now the Steelers are in a fight for their playoff lives.
There was a lot of explaining to do, and it started Tuesday on the radio.
These are all subjects certain to be revisited if ownership sits down with Tomlin after a non-playoff season.
When it's all over, the Steelers will be charged with improving the defense. It won't be a bit surprising if owner Art Rooney II insists that Tomlin make staff changes, which will start with defensive coordinator Keith Butler heading out.
Special teams coach Danny Smith should update his resume, too.
When you lose games the way the Steelers have for the past three weeks, status quo is no longer an option.
In other Steelers matters:
--The Steelers will bring in other kickers for tryouts this week. They could very well sign one of them and invent an injury to let Boswell watch the last three weeks from the sideline. He can't be trusted in close games right now.
--The running game without James Conner was spectacularly unimpressive. One of the Steelers' biggest personnel mistakes was failing to adequately plan for Bell's season-long absence.
--Remember how Ike Taylor would get his hands on the football, but fail to make interceptions? The Steelers have a whole platoon of defensive players who do that now.
--Back when Rocky Bleier was sweating and getting his brain scrambled on the field, wonder how he would have felt about hearing criticism from a guy who had played for the Steelers 40 years earlier?
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Altoona Mirror, December 9, 2018
The Steelers are supposed to win in Oakland this afternoon.
Yes, James Conner is out, but the Raiders are 2-10 and haven't done very much right this season.
This game and the season finale at home against Cincinnati are set up on a tee for the Steelers. In between two gimmes, they have New England at Heinz Field and play at New Orleans.
They need to go at least 2-2 in this final stretch, although 3-1 would be a lot better.
They can't afford to stumble today in Oakland.
---
NBA star Stephen Curry recently got a letter from a nine-year-old girl who complained that Curry's signature sneakers were not available in girls' sizes.
She plays basketball and wants to wear the same shoes that Curry does. He sent back a handwritten note and let her know this oversight will soon be corrected.
Of course. What kind of country are we running if every kid doesn't have a chance to buy a pair of $130 sneakers that won't fit next year?
---
At about 5-foot-6, Sam Nover was unlikely to be the biggest person in the room. So he settled for being the loudest.
He had a booming voice, and there was seemingly no volume control. It was always at 10.
Nover, who died last week at 77, spent more than 30 years with WPXI-TV (originally WIIC). He came from Detroit in the early '70s with a mandate to shake up the station's sleepy sports operation.
He definitely did. Bombastic and supremely self-confident, Nover excelled at shrinking the day's news to a smoothly-delivered four minutes. He was a presence on the air.
His personality came through in the commentaries, well-crafted and often hard-hitting. While Bill Currie was down the dial cracking stale jokes about his ex-wife, Nover was using his commentary time to accuse Johnny Majors of mistreating some Pitt football players.
Nover liked attention. When he had a scoop, he would alert the local wire service bureaus. Sometimes the exclusives missed. When Nover incorrectly reported the Steelers would trade Joe Gilliam to the Bears, he went on the air the next night and revealed the name of the Chicago sportscaster who provided the bad information.
There was bite to Nover's game. He and Myron Cope couldn't stand each other. When station management chopped off part of Nover's air time for disjointed commentary from a fading Bob Prince, Nover rebelled. One night he introduced Prince with, "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you a man who remains convinced his skinny neckties will come back in style."
Nover proved it's possible for a physically small man to walk with swagger. He favored sunglasses and the white belt with matching loafers look when that was fashionable. He addressed male colleagues as "babe" without irony. Bill Cardille nicknamed him "Sammy Star."
He had brass. On the road with the Steelers, he would often call the busiest restaurant in town and convince them to reserve a Saturday evening table for "Dr. Nover" and his party.
Nover called Penguins games on TV, and did Steelers' pre-season games, too. He was a good enough play-by-play broadcaster to get work with NBC on NFL games. He was set for a big role in NBC's Olympic boxing coverage until the United States boycotted the 1980 Games.
Nover got a 30-minute sit down with Roberto Clemente just months before the Pirates star's death. It serves as Clemente's epitaph. Nover did good work, and he did it with his customary unabashed flair.
There's the story of the time he sold his car via a classified ad. He listed all the features of the car, all the reasons to buy this one and not any of the others listed.
The last item was quintessential Sam Nover. It read, "Celebrity driven."
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Yes, James Conner is out, but the Raiders are 2-10 and haven't done very much right this season.
This game and the season finale at home against Cincinnati are set up on a tee for the Steelers. In between two gimmes, they have New England at Heinz Field and play at New Orleans.
They need to go at least 2-2 in this final stretch, although 3-1 would be a lot better.
They can't afford to stumble today in Oakland.
---
NBA star Stephen Curry recently got a letter from a nine-year-old girl who complained that Curry's signature sneakers were not available in girls' sizes.
She plays basketball and wants to wear the same shoes that Curry does. He sent back a handwritten note and let her know this oversight will soon be corrected.
Of course. What kind of country are we running if every kid doesn't have a chance to buy a pair of $130 sneakers that won't fit next year?
---
At about 5-foot-6, Sam Nover was unlikely to be the biggest person in the room. So he settled for being the loudest.
He had a booming voice, and there was seemingly no volume control. It was always at 10.
Nover, who died last week at 77, spent more than 30 years with WPXI-TV (originally WIIC). He came from Detroit in the early '70s with a mandate to shake up the station's sleepy sports operation.
He definitely did. Bombastic and supremely self-confident, Nover excelled at shrinking the day's news to a smoothly-delivered four minutes. He was a presence on the air.
His personality came through in the commentaries, well-crafted and often hard-hitting. While Bill Currie was down the dial cracking stale jokes about his ex-wife, Nover was using his commentary time to accuse Johnny Majors of mistreating some Pitt football players.
Nover liked attention. When he had a scoop, he would alert the local wire service bureaus. Sometimes the exclusives missed. When Nover incorrectly reported the Steelers would trade Joe Gilliam to the Bears, he went on the air the next night and revealed the name of the Chicago sportscaster who provided the bad information.
There was bite to Nover's game. He and Myron Cope couldn't stand each other. When station management chopped off part of Nover's air time for disjointed commentary from a fading Bob Prince, Nover rebelled. One night he introduced Prince with, "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you a man who remains convinced his skinny neckties will come back in style."
Nover proved it's possible for a physically small man to walk with swagger. He favored sunglasses and the white belt with matching loafers look when that was fashionable. He addressed male colleagues as "babe" without irony. Bill Cardille nicknamed him "Sammy Star."
He had brass. On the road with the Steelers, he would often call the busiest restaurant in town and convince them to reserve a Saturday evening table for "Dr. Nover" and his party.
Nover called Penguins games on TV, and did Steelers' pre-season games, too. He was a good enough play-by-play broadcaster to get work with NBC on NFL games. He was set for a big role in NBC's Olympic boxing coverage until the United States boycotted the 1980 Games.
Nover got a 30-minute sit down with Roberto Clemente just months before the Pirates star's death. It serves as Clemente's epitaph. Nover did good work, and he did it with his customary unabashed flair.
There's the story of the time he sold his car via a classified ad. He listed all the features of the car, all the reasons to buy this one and not any of the others listed.
The last item was quintessential Sam Nover. It read, "Celebrity driven."
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Altoona Mirror, December 5, 2018
James Conner won't play for the Steelers in this Sunday's game at Oakland because of an ankle sprain.
He'll be replaced by a committee of running backs so anonymous they could use "Hello, my name is" stick-on tags.
Officially it's Stevan Ridley, Jaylen Samuels and Trey Edmunds. That last one has been freshly bumped up from the practice squad.
It doesn't mean they can't run effectively, it just means nobody has any reason to expect much out of them.
When blowhards were yelling, "Who needs Le'Veon Bell?" the answer was always clear: The Steelers would need him if anything happened to Conner.
Now something has happened to Conner, and the team will try to patch together a running game in his absence. If there's anything good about this, it's the timing. The Raiders are pretty lousy.
Then again, there's no guarantee Conner will miss just this one game. The next two are home against New England and at New Orleans. That's difficult.
It's the point in the season when every team's depth is being tested by injury absences. The problem here is the lack of proven running backs the Steelers have behind Conner. Remember, Conner was supposed to be Bell's back-up.
They could still sign someone who's currently unemployed, but that doesn't leave much time for a potential new addition to learn even the basics of the playbook.
Four games left in the regular season, and the Steelers are down to their third option at running back. Even against the 2-10 Raiders, that's not a good feeling.
In other Steelers developments:
--It's only Wednesday, but there still hasn't been a apology from the NFL about the way the officiating crew missed a blatant false start penalty against Chargers right tackle Sam Teve.
Instead of a whistle and penalty, the play was allowed to continue and turned into a touchdown for the Raiders. How does an entire crew miss an infraction that was so obvious? The NFL has some explaining to do.
--Fans love to blame coaches when things fall apart. Those who did that had a valid point in Sunday's game. The Chargers figured how to exploit the match up of receiver Keenan Allen against Steelers linebackers.
The Chargers found something that worked. The Steelers had no answer for it. Allen wound up with 148 receiving yards. That can't happen.
--At the risk of being redundant, Mike Tomlin needs help. Specifically, he needs an assistant who can advise him on details like clock management and replay challenges. Tomlin threw away a time out by challenging a play that had virtually no chance to be overturned on review.
He's been on a significant losing streak with challenges, which means he's either getting bad advice or using bad judgment. It's time to examine the Steelers' process and find a way to improve it.
--Two notable absences on Alumni Night -- Jack Lambert was missing from the 1978 Super Bowl team and Troy Polamalu was a no-show from the 2008 championship team.
It would have been a bigger surprise had Lambert been there. Word is he wants to be paid for any appearances, and the Steelers haven't been willing to do that.
Polamalu apparently has bruised feelings because he felt the Steelers forced him into retiring before he was ready. They were right, though. Polamalu's once-spectacular game had become ordinary, and the Steelers hoped he would retire so they didn't have to release him.
Maybe time will heal the rift. Then again, decades of distance hasn't changed Lambert's mind about reunions.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
He'll be replaced by a committee of running backs so anonymous they could use "Hello, my name is" stick-on tags.
Officially it's Stevan Ridley, Jaylen Samuels and Trey Edmunds. That last one has been freshly bumped up from the practice squad.
It doesn't mean they can't run effectively, it just means nobody has any reason to expect much out of them.
When blowhards were yelling, "Who needs Le'Veon Bell?" the answer was always clear: The Steelers would need him if anything happened to Conner.
Now something has happened to Conner, and the team will try to patch together a running game in his absence. If there's anything good about this, it's the timing. The Raiders are pretty lousy.
Then again, there's no guarantee Conner will miss just this one game. The next two are home against New England and at New Orleans. That's difficult.
It's the point in the season when every team's depth is being tested by injury absences. The problem here is the lack of proven running backs the Steelers have behind Conner. Remember, Conner was supposed to be Bell's back-up.
They could still sign someone who's currently unemployed, but that doesn't leave much time for a potential new addition to learn even the basics of the playbook.
Four games left in the regular season, and the Steelers are down to their third option at running back. Even against the 2-10 Raiders, that's not a good feeling.
In other Steelers developments:
--It's only Wednesday, but there still hasn't been a apology from the NFL about the way the officiating crew missed a blatant false start penalty against Chargers right tackle Sam Teve.
Instead of a whistle and penalty, the play was allowed to continue and turned into a touchdown for the Raiders. How does an entire crew miss an infraction that was so obvious? The NFL has some explaining to do.
--Fans love to blame coaches when things fall apart. Those who did that had a valid point in Sunday's game. The Chargers figured how to exploit the match up of receiver Keenan Allen against Steelers linebackers.
The Chargers found something that worked. The Steelers had no answer for it. Allen wound up with 148 receiving yards. That can't happen.
--At the risk of being redundant, Mike Tomlin needs help. Specifically, he needs an assistant who can advise him on details like clock management and replay challenges. Tomlin threw away a time out by challenging a play that had virtually no chance to be overturned on review.
He's been on a significant losing streak with challenges, which means he's either getting bad advice or using bad judgment. It's time to examine the Steelers' process and find a way to improve it.
--Two notable absences on Alumni Night -- Jack Lambert was missing from the 1978 Super Bowl team and Troy Polamalu was a no-show from the 2008 championship team.
It would have been a bigger surprise had Lambert been there. Word is he wants to be paid for any appearances, and the Steelers haven't been willing to do that.
Polamalu apparently has bruised feelings because he felt the Steelers forced him into retiring before he was ready. They were right, though. Polamalu's once-spectacular game had become ordinary, and the Steelers hoped he would retire so they didn't have to release him.
Maybe time will heal the rift. Then again, decades of distance hasn't changed Lambert's mind about reunions.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Altoona Mirror, December 2, 2018
Ben Roethlisberger was right about this much:
Rookie receiver James Washington has to make the catch he didn't make last Sunday in Denver.
He cost the Steelers a touchdown in a game they lost by seven points.
But was Roethlisberger right to go public with his criticism of a rookie player?
Probably not.
For one thing, it was apparent to just about everybody that Washington blew the catch he should have made. So to belabor the point as aggressively as Roethlisberger did on his radio show two days later was piling on.
More to the point, he violated quarterback protocol. Quarterbacks are the ultimate big brothers. They take the blame when it wasn't their fault. They take the bumps so others don't have to. It's a part of the job.
Neil O'Donnell threw a Super Bowl interception to a spot where Andre Hastings was supposed to be. Hastings cut the wrong way and left Dallas Cowboys' defender Larry Brown all alone. Brown parlayed that mistake into a Super Bowl MVP award and a big free agent contract he didn't deserve.
Hastings made the mistake. O'Donnell took the blame. That's what quarterbacks do.
Here's the other thing about Roethlisberger's mini-rant. Although he had a big day statistically, he wasn't flawless. His biggest mistake came at the end when he threw an interception near the goal line.
Roethlisberger maintained that center Maurkice Pouncey blocked his man so well that he bumped him right into a spot to pick off the pass. OK, but Roethlisberger had no business throwing the ball into coverage.
On a play that went awry right from the snap, he would have been smart to wing the ball into the stands and come back on the next down.
The Steelers players are teammates, but they're not of the same generation. Roethlisberger is 36, and his roots are planted in a different time in the NFL. He sometimes loses patience with younger teammates and some of their odd habits.
If there was a hidden message in his criticism of Washington -- like maybe he thinks the rookie doesn't work hard enough in practice or focus in games -- that's another matter entirely.
But just to jump on him for a bad play? That's not good.
It may not have been wrong to send that message, but it wasn't right to make a public delivery.
---
Pirate Fest used to be a three-day event.
This year's version will take five hours.
While Neal Huntington is looking for ways to improve the team, the business side of the operation has an even bigger task. They need to reverse a trend that has seen ticket sales decline by 1,033,286 in the three seasons since 2015, the team's last post-season appearance.
The Pirates posted a winning record last season, and that's at least a step in the right direction. They have some quality young pitchers in a starting rotation that should be good for several seasons into the future. The back of the bullpen is strong.
The offense is obviously a problem, characterized mainly by a lack of power. They compete in a division where the Chicago Cubs don't blink at dropping $20 million a season on a player if they think they need him.
TV ratings indicate people are still following the Pirates. Translating that interest to ticket sales again is the challenge.
---
If the Penguins don't solve their goaltending issues. it's going to seem like a long regular season without a post-season.
They desperately need Matt Murray to have a strong season when he comes off the injured reserve list. There's still plenty of time to fix things, but it won't happen without a resolution to the goaltending woes.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Rookie receiver James Washington has to make the catch he didn't make last Sunday in Denver.
He cost the Steelers a touchdown in a game they lost by seven points.
But was Roethlisberger right to go public with his criticism of a rookie player?
Probably not.
For one thing, it was apparent to just about everybody that Washington blew the catch he should have made. So to belabor the point as aggressively as Roethlisberger did on his radio show two days later was piling on.
More to the point, he violated quarterback protocol. Quarterbacks are the ultimate big brothers. They take the blame when it wasn't their fault. They take the bumps so others don't have to. It's a part of the job.
Neil O'Donnell threw a Super Bowl interception to a spot where Andre Hastings was supposed to be. Hastings cut the wrong way and left Dallas Cowboys' defender Larry Brown all alone. Brown parlayed that mistake into a Super Bowl MVP award and a big free agent contract he didn't deserve.
Hastings made the mistake. O'Donnell took the blame. That's what quarterbacks do.
Here's the other thing about Roethlisberger's mini-rant. Although he had a big day statistically, he wasn't flawless. His biggest mistake came at the end when he threw an interception near the goal line.
Roethlisberger maintained that center Maurkice Pouncey blocked his man so well that he bumped him right into a spot to pick off the pass. OK, but Roethlisberger had no business throwing the ball into coverage.
On a play that went awry right from the snap, he would have been smart to wing the ball into the stands and come back on the next down.
The Steelers players are teammates, but they're not of the same generation. Roethlisberger is 36, and his roots are planted in a different time in the NFL. He sometimes loses patience with younger teammates and some of their odd habits.
If there was a hidden message in his criticism of Washington -- like maybe he thinks the rookie doesn't work hard enough in practice or focus in games -- that's another matter entirely.
But just to jump on him for a bad play? That's not good.
It may not have been wrong to send that message, but it wasn't right to make a public delivery.
---
Pirate Fest used to be a three-day event.
This year's version will take five hours.
While Neal Huntington is looking for ways to improve the team, the business side of the operation has an even bigger task. They need to reverse a trend that has seen ticket sales decline by 1,033,286 in the three seasons since 2015, the team's last post-season appearance.
The Pirates posted a winning record last season, and that's at least a step in the right direction. They have some quality young pitchers in a starting rotation that should be good for several seasons into the future. The back of the bullpen is strong.
The offense is obviously a problem, characterized mainly by a lack of power. They compete in a division where the Chicago Cubs don't blink at dropping $20 million a season on a player if they think they need him.
TV ratings indicate people are still following the Pirates. Translating that interest to ticket sales again is the challenge.
---
If the Penguins don't solve their goaltending issues. it's going to seem like a long regular season without a post-season.
They desperately need Matt Murray to have a strong season when he comes off the injured reserve list. There's still plenty of time to fix things, but it won't happen without a resolution to the goaltending woes.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
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