Hey there, Buddy!
There's a concern that professional sports are becoming too chummy, a theory boosted last week with the footage of Ben Roethlisberger asking Tom Brady for his jersey.
Snooping cameras caught the conversation between the quarterbacks prior to last Sunday's game at Heinz Field.
Of course, social media exploded, calling Roethlisberger a "fanboy" and suggesting he embarrassed himself by making the request of a quarterback who has generally handled the Steelers.
The practice of asking for a jersey or an autograph is not uncommon. Some players have trophy rooms, some collect swag to be used at charity auctions, some are probably stocking their storerooms for future non-charity auctions.
It's not that big a deal. Most players don't make the requests directly, instead using a third party. Locker room helpers are always relaying requests on behalf of players.
Some players don't like it. Jason Kendall, who pretty much hated everything, blew up when he found out teammate Jon Lieber had sent a proxy to ask Mark McGwire for an autographed bat. Pitcher Doug Bair was always sending people to the visiting clubhouse to get baseballs signed by players he thought were bound for the Hall of Fame.
Lately, NFL players have taken to swapping jerseys after games. Some Steelers did it on the field until Mike Tomlin issued an order that all the trades had to be made behind the scenes.
There's no question there's more fraternization among players. John Jaso was a one-man Welcome Wagon in his first season with the Pirates, routinely greeting and chatting with everyone who reached first base.
It can be galling. In the old days, Jim Leyland would be stomping to the mound to remove Paul Wagner from the game, and Jay Bell would be gabbing amiably at second base with the guy who just hit a bases-clearing double.
Occasionally, a manager will set some rules. Tony Pena was shocked one afternoon when Frank Robinson ejected him from the San Francisco Giants dugout hours before a game. Pena had stopped by to talk with some friends in Giants uniforms, and Robinson would have none of it.
"Get over in your own dugout," he barked at Pena. Pena thought Robinson was kidding. Robinson reinforced the message, and Pena sheepishly retreated.
There has to be some happy medium between the current hugfest and blatant hostility. The Steelers-Bengals playoff game last January almost turned into a street fight, and that wasn't good.
Some professional distance would be welcome, at least on the field. Players often get together before or after games, and nobody knows or cares.
At Willie Stargell's memorial, Joe Morgan recalled trips to Pittsburgh when he would join Stargell for an evening that started with dinner and ended at dawn when they exited one of those after-hours clubs that had a peephole and a lot of muscle guarding the door.
So Big Ben taking home an authentic Brady jersey? No problem. But if Tomlin ever asks Bill Belichick for his chopped-sleeve hoodie, we have an issue.
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--NEEDS REPAIRS
The Pitt Panthers' three losses have come in games where they've scored 38, 36 and 36 points.
To think Pat Narduzzi came here with a reputation as a defensive genius.
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--STOP FOR DIRECTIONS
The Pirates have shaken up their staff, firing third base coach Rick Sofield and re-assigning first base coach Nick Leyva to a position off the field.
That might help. Sofield made some stunningly bad decisions, and a team with a losing record isn't likely to overlook those.
The onus for the alarming number of bad base running decisions is still on the players. The coaches offer help, but the players have to react in the moment and make smart decisions. That's been a problem.
Maybe new coaches will help, but not as much as affixing a GPS to Starling Marte's sleeve might.
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