Like the rest of the NFL teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers chose this week to begin their Organized Team Activities (OTA) which annually takes place at their Southside Facility at the UPMC Sports Complex. Many teams use the OTAs to help develop players and make them better. These training sessions are in late April and early May. The OTAs are the only practices between the end of the previous season and the start of training camp. These offseason training activities do not require the players to wear pads, and they usually are in shorts with their helmets, which was good for the Steelers, because it certainly was a hot day.

“Hot weather is a good ingredient for team building.” Said Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin “particularly from a physical condition standpoint. We’re at the very beginning of the offseason programs and those are some of the things that are on the front of our minds, just simply starting off with a good base of a good overall physical conditioning.”

The Steelers head Coach also had this to say about the first day “It was a very positive day, the first rule to getting better is showing up and out football team did that and I’m excited about seeing the guys and getting started with our journey into 2013.”

And Tomiln certainly did see the majority of his guys on this first day. It was truly a mixture of rookies and veterans who got a chance to work together for the first time, which also shows that there’s truly a sense of urgency on this team after their disappointing 8-8 2012 season that left them out of the postseason for the first time since 2009. But Tomlin said that there’s always a sense of urgency. “This time of year you need to have a certain sense of urgency as you build and prepare and hopefully this year no different than any other in that regard.”

Among the veterans who are here is safety Troy Polamalu, who usually never attends OTA’s and would do his offseason training in Oregon. “Well, I’m here.” Said Polamalu with a chuckle. When asked about how he was feeling, Polamalu replied “I fell okay.” When asked if he felt that his previous injuries are a thing of the past, Polamalu replied “They’re definitely a thing of the past, there’s a lot to learn each and every year and this being my 11th year, I’m very fortunate.” Some feel that Polamalu looks like he’s in top physical shape-similar to his college days at USC.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had this to say about the first day of OTA’s “It’s good to see guys, it’s definitely different because we got a lot of new guys and new faces but the guys who are here are ready to rock and roll and ready to contribute.”

Missing from this year’s OTA’s is a person who was also missing from last year’s OTA’s, wide receiver Mike Wallace who was in a hold out last season, but is now with the Miami Dolphins this year after signing a multi-year contract as a free agent. But according to fellow receiver Antonio Brown, they will be fine.

“We got all the pieces in place that we need, we’re not going to focus on what’s not here or there” Said Brown “We got a bunch of big play guys that’s capable and a bunch of guys with opportunity.” When asked if there’s anything different that they do after an 8-8 season, Brown replied. “A lot of things you do different. You critique your game, and you find things you can do to be better. Ball security is going to be key and being ready to make plays for the team.”

So it’s apparent that the Steelers are ready and are truly on a mission to have a huge 2013, but they also know that one day of practice doesn’t tell the whole story. Just ask Tomlin if anybody stands out to him on this first day “Not at all.” Said Tomlin “Football in shorts.”

Notes: Tomlin said that rookie wide receiver Markus Wheaton is the only rookie not attending OTA’s “When he’s available to us, he’ll be here.” The Pittsburgh Steelers have hired former cornerback Chidi Iwuoma as the team’s BLESTO Scout, it was announced today. The team’s former BLESTO Scout, Mike Butler, will now serve as a college scout. Iwuoma comes to the Steelers after serving as the Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development at the University of California from 2010-12. Prior to that, Iwuoma worked in Cal’s Athletic Study Center from 2009-10, where he assisted student-athletes with a wide range of academic topics. Iwuoma spent seven seasons as a cornerback in the NFL from 2001-07, and he was a member of the Steelers’ Super Bowl XL team. (www.steelers.com)

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 Democrat Bill Peduto and Republican Josh Wander will face each other in the upcoming general election for Pittsburgh Mayor. Peduto beat out Mayoral hopefuls; former state auditor General Jack Wagner, state Rep, Jake Wheatley and community activist, A.J. Richardson. 

State Rep. Jake Wheatley admits that his campaign lacked funds but not effort.  During Wheatley’s election night event held at SAVOY in the Strip District, the politician was surrounded by family, friends and a handful of campaign volunteers.  Wheatley quietly stepped into the race for Pittsburgh Mayor and ran a successful campaign but not without some controversy.  Reports of a domestic violence incident surfaced during the campaign and long-time political ally Rep. Ed Gainey endorsed Bill Peduto over Wheatley.

UrbanMediaToday’s Allegra Johnson spoke to Wheatley during his campaign event on  election night.

1.   I will start with the sad news of the passing of former NFL running back Chuck Muncie. Muncie 60, is a native of Uniontown Pa who played for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers from 1976-1984. He was a 3-time Pro-Bowler and a 3-time All-Pro Selection. Prayers and condolences to his family.

2.      I remember Muncie as being one of those bruising backs that was honestly in the class of Franco Harris and Earl Campbell. He was the first Saints player to rush for 1,000 yards. But his finer moments were when he was traded to the Chargers, not just because of his stats but because they were a playoff contender, making it to the playoffs and winning two AFC West Championships.

3.      I think his finest moment was when he rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown in the classic 41-38 playoff win vs. the Miami Dolphins in 1982. For his career, he rushed for 6,702 rushing yards, 263 receptions for 2,323 yards, 20 kickoff returns for 432 yards, and 74 touchdowns.

4.      As for the rest of the NFL, it has been told that the Green Bay Packers want to ‘bury the hatchet’ with former All-Pro quarterback Brett Farve. Their goal is to have a Brett Farve Day and retire his #4 jersey sometime during the 2013 season.

5.      I admire the Packers initiative to mend the fences with Farve, it’s truly a classy move, but to be honest, they didn’t do anything to the man.

6.      Why? Because they made the bold step after the 2007 season to move on from him to up-and-coming Aaron Rodgers. They tried to preserve his legacy by getting him to retire-instead of releasing him, but I never thought Farve was really ready to quit. And that was proven when the Packers eventually traded his rights to the New York Jets months later.

7.      But the drama started because of Farve and his statements that he didn’t want to play for the Packers again (especially backup to Rodgers) and that he was not really ready to retire. Well, why did he agree to it?

8.      The Packers were tired of being held hostage by Farve for several seasons when he would act very indecisive about his future. As we know, Favre played 2008 for the Jets, told them that he was retiring, and then played two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before finally retiring in 2011.

9.      Hopefully Farve will do his part to mend those fences with the Packers, since he was the one who put them up in the first place.

10.  I just read that Baltimore Ravens linebacker Rolando McClain retired Wednesday at the game of 23. He had just signed a 1-year deal with the Ravens after 3 seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

11.  No one knows why McClain has chosen to retire, but he has also had a troubled history with the law, getting arrested 3 times in the past 11 months. He was tabbed to be a replacement for future Hall-of Famer Ray Lewis, but it’s apparent that the young man needs to get his life together.

12.  Do I think McClain will stay retired? No. But he has to realize that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s conduct policy will keep him away if he decides not to change his ways.

13.  So it’s apparent that University of Pitt basketball player JJ Moore does want to transfer and play his final season elsewhere eh? Once again, decisions like this make no sense to me.

14.  Moore is not critical to the Panthers success, having only played two complete seasons with only a few good games. His eventual departure only affects the team’s depth, and he’s obviously not concerned about a career in the NBA. Oh well. Enjoy waiting a year to play again Mr. Moore.

15.  As for the Panthers, they will remain busy finding more JUCO players to fill out their roster. It seems like their work will never be done.

16.  Speaking of college basketball, the top recruit in the country has made his decision: Canadian 6-7 power forward Andrew Wiggins has decided to take his talents to the University of Kansas. Many folks thought that he was heading to Kentucky (sorry Coach John Calipari)

17.  So I hear that the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is thinking about a TV station of their own eh? To be honest, I wondered why they had not already had one. That conference has been around since the 1950’s and is one of the best in college sports. (if not the most stable)

18.  Back to Pitt. AD Steve Pederson is not saying that he hopes that the series with longtime rival Penn State will be renewed. Hopefully it can happen. It shouldn’t have ended in the first place.

19.  While we’re at it, get that ‘Backyard Brawl’ between West Virginia renewed too Pederson. You know that was an awesome rivalry; a guaranteed sell-out.

20.  I am impressed with Pirates starter Francisco Liriano, who finally pitched his first game for the Pirates and struck out 9 in an 11-1 win vs. the New York Mets.

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Pittsburgh City Code requires that City Council Members run for a new four-year term on a staggered schedule, with four members elected at the same time as the Mayor.

            In 2013, the even-numbered Council seats are up, and District 8 offers the only vacant seat as Councilor Bill Peduto runs for the Democratic nomination for Mayor. Vying to fill the void for the Democratic nomination are Peduto’s Chief of Staff Dan Gilman, longtime political and social activist Jeanne Clark and attorney, community organizer and civil rights advocate Sam Hens-Greco.

            District 8 encompasses the neighborhoods of Bloomfield, Friendship, East Liberty, Shadyside, Point Breeze, North and West Oakland, and Squirrel Hill North.

            For the past eight years, Gilman has worked for Peduto after stints with the American Civil Liberties Union and with Congressman Mike Doyle in Washington DC, where he also held a Presidential Fellowship at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. A lifelong resident of the city, Gilman graduated from Shady Side Academy, and holds a Bachelors Degree in Ethics, Hstory and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

            Gilman thinks the problems in District 8 are representative of those of the entire city: “How do we improve the delivery of city services? For too long, we have felt that city services are not provided efficiently or fairly across the board.”

            Gilman feels that the city’s lag in technology is a reason why delays occur in city services like building inspections, street paving and other services.

            “We have a lot of really hard working men and women who work for the city, but they’re completely hamstrung by the lack of technology and the lack of infrastructure to provide the services.”

            “The second thing is, how do you grow a 21st Century economy,” Gilman says. “The city is doing amazing things, but we’re still losing young people at an amazing clip. That’s because the types of jobs aren’t here for the type of work that will succeed in a new economy. We need to set up a one-stop shop for small businesses owners, entrepreneurs and for start-up companies to get the answers they need to create a business here and to keep it here, whether it’s tax incentives or city owned properties they could buy to create a headquarters or questions about the payroll tax.”

            “We need to focus on economic development and not real estate development, and that’s a key difference,” Gilman , who has been instrumental in East End developments totaling over $1 billion, regularly meeting with developers, contractors and their employees, and most importantly, neighbors and community groups to achieve growth without negatively impacting livability.

            Gilman does not believe that his association with Peduto, who many claim has been a divisive force on Council, will affect his own tenure, because he is part of a coalition of elected officials and organizations who have pledged to work together.

            Gilman says he thinks the disagreements between members of Council is over-publicized.

            “There’s no doubt there is dissension, but it’s not different from any other democratic body,” Gilman says. “It’s not always bad. Debate and disagreement is a healthy form of government: We’ve accomplished a lot of great things as a City Council over the last eight years, and I think all nine members should be proud of it. I would put this Council against the record of any other in terms of the impact they have had.”

            “I don’t know what body you’re going to get where nine people are all really going to like each other,” Gilman says. “The idea that we should all hang out together is just unrealistic.”

            “I have nine years working block by block and house by house on constituent issues. I’m not an unknown commodity,” Gilman says. “People know what they’re going to get, and I think they’re appreciative of what I’ve done.”

            Gilman has received endorsements from the Post-Gazette, AFSCME District Council 84, SEIU Local 32BJ and 668, SEIU Healthcare, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 23, Paramedics Local 1, Laborers District Council of Western PA, IATSE Local 3, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers Local 400, the Sierra Club Allegheny Group, and Clean Water Action.

            His political endorsements include State Representatives Erin Molchany, Ed Gainey and Dom Costa, County Controller Chelsa Wagner, and City Council Representatives Theresa Kail-Smith, Bruce Kraus, Corey O’Connor and Peduto.

            Jeanne Clark has been active in public service for more than four decades, working as an advocate for  gender and civil rights, social justice, economic equity and environmental protection. One of 10 children of a District Magistrate, Clark says she learned three lessons: “One, if you want to be heard, you have to speak up; two, a public servant can use government to help people in need, and three, personal kindnesses and a loving heart go hand-in-hand with advocacy.

            “In over 40 years, I’ve helped create and pass laws at a state and Federal level,” Clark says. “I’m also the only woman running for the seat in a district which has never elected a woman. I am committed to diversifying every level of Pittsburgh: Boards, commissions, elected offices, on both a gender and race basis.”

            “If we don’t start having all of our institutions look like the city, and if we don’t stop wasting the talents of women of all colors and men of color who really should be a part of decision making and governance, we will ever be a great city.”

            “We also need to make sure that we have a command staff in the Police Bureau that are not only serving the people, but also providing good leadership for the rank and file,” Clark says. “We need to re-diversify the police department. At one point, we had the most diverse department in the nation under a consent decree, but as soon as we lost the consent decree, we lost the ability to hire men and women of all colors.”

            “We also need to make sure our budgets reflect who we are, and what we believe,” Clark says. “I believe a budget is a moral document that should take care of all of our citizens across all districts, that every community gets the public services they need, that all employees are treated appropriately and paid a living wage, and that they’ve got a pension they can retire to.”

            Clark says that even though Council has “no governance over the schools, we should be committed to creating community support from all citizens, whether or not they’ve got kids in the schools, to help make sure our kids get the very best educations they can possibly get, and to support the teachers who are there day to day doing very good work.”

            “I would help lead the community to reconnecting and recommitting to the schools, because we can’t have a world-class community without world-class schools.”

            Clark says she would be honored to earn the seat because “for 40 years, I have been able to do great work outside of being an elected official. I just think it would be an amazing opportunity to serve the people of Pittsburgh and to serve social justice by being ‘inside,’ making the laws, passing the budgets, and making Pittsburgh all it can be.”

            Clark has been endorsed by the Allegheny County Labor Council, Equality PA, the Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh, Greater PA Regional Council of Carpenters, Operating Engineers Locals 66 and 95, Pittsburgh Building and Construction Trades Council, PA NOW, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, Progressive Majority, and Teamsters Joint Council 40.

            She has also received individual endorsements from former Congressman William Coyne, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Council Representative Amanda Green Hawkins, County Real Estate Department Manager Valerie McDonald Roberts, former State Treasurer Barbara Hafer, former State DEP Secretary John Hanger, and DEP Regional Chief George Jugovic, Jr., former State Senator Allen Kukovich and his wife, Nancy, Chief Operating Officer of Adelphoi USA,  civil rights activist Alma Speed Fox, Kate Michelman, former president of the National Abortion Rights Action League, NOW President Terry O’Neill, Feminist Majority President Ellie Smeal, Green Building Alliance Founder Rebecca Flora, Georgia Berner of Berner International, Josh Knauer, CEO of Rhiza Labs, IUOE Local 66 Business Manager James T. Kunz, Jr., Duquesne Light’s Jody Noble, Attorneys William R. Caroselli, Dusty Elias Kirk, Joan Ellenbogen, Andrea Geraghty and Caroline Roberto, AFL-CIO Execs Jack Shea, Rich Stanizzo ad Sylvia C. Wilson, Caren Glotfelty of the Heinz Endowments, Barbara Barnes, Lee Fogarty, Diane Petronko, Morris Turner and Jamini Vincent Davis.

            In contrast, Sam Hens-Greco says he has sought very few endorsements, and has earned only the Fourteenth Ward Independent Democratic Committee’s nod.

            “Everybody I’ve sought endorsements from, I’ve been very clear: I’m seeking only their endorsement, I’m not seeking their money,” as Hens-Greco has financed his entire campaign by himself or through donations from family and friends. “I’ve received money from one Political Action Committee, a law firm who are actually friends, but the rest is all individual contributions.”

            The candidate says he brings a different kind of leadership, “and a whole different set of world experiences” to the campaign. Hens-Greco is an attorney and civil, particularly LGBT, rights activist, community organizer and environmental activist. Originally from Washington, DC, he moved to Point Breeze with his wife, Katherine after receiving their law degrees from Antioch University School of Law.

            “I’ve been an attorney for 28 years, and I have been helping people in difficult circumstances, in crisis, for more than 30 years. I’ve been an advocate, I’ve been a negotiator, a mediator,” Hens-Greco says, “and I think those are skills that will serve the constituents in District 8 well.”

            “People have been asking me, ‘What are the top three issues you will be working on in Council?’ and what I see the main role of any municipal government as is to provide safety. That’s where the majority of our money goes, that’s where our services are, in police and fire, and when I look at the city and say ‘How do we transform it, what do I want the city to look like in five or 10 years,’ we have to address the issue of gun violence.”

            “We are the group charged with public safety, and if there’s one thing we could change radically, that would be eliminating gun violence.”

            “Federal and state officials are terribly frustrated at trying to work at those levels, and having to fight the NRA,” Hens-Greco says, “but the first question out of everyone’s mouth at every meeting is what can we do now, how can we address this problem now.”

            “I think it’s time to change the model, to look at this at a grassroots level, as a civil right, as a human right, and not just a gun control issue,” says Hens-Greco, “and let’s talk about how we can change it. The group that is most responsible for public safety has to take the lead. We need to have a strategic plan, to say these are the best practices.”

            “There are a number of groups working on the issue, but I don’t see the laser-focused coordination, and I see that as my role on Council.”

            “You give people a meaningful task, and you give them the tools to get it done,” Hens-Greco says, citing the Lost and Stolen Gun legislation as one of those tools.  “But look at what happened at Target. You have an unstable individual who is walking down the street, and he harms a couple people with a knife. It’s a horrible, tragic event, but the next week, the father was able to walk out of the hospital with his daughter.”

            “:You’re not going to eliminate people who have difficulties and act out like that,” Hens-Greco says, “but the fact that he didn’t have a gun changes the whole scenario afterwards.”

By Nancy Hart

nancy@urbanmediatoday.com

Twitter: @nhart543

Pittsburgh City Code requires that City Council Members run for a new four-year term on a staggered schedule, with four members elected at the same time as the Mayor.

            In 2013, the even-numbered Council seats are up, with District 2 Representative Theresa Kail-Smith unopposed.

            Kail-Smith, who represents the neighborhoods of Banksville, Chartiers City, Crafton Heights, Duquesne Heights, East Carnegie, Elliot, Esplen, Fairywood, Mount Washington, Oakwood, Ridgemont, Sheraden, the West End, Westwood and Windgap, serves as the Chair of Council’s Committee on Public Safety.

            District 4 Council Representative Natalia Rudiak is facing opposition from retired Postal Service employee and teacher/athletic coach Johnny Lee.

            Rudiak was elected to her seat on Council in 2009, and has since been very active in revitalizing the south Pittsburgh neighborhoods she represents, including Beechview, Bon Air, Brookline, Carrick and Overbrook, and one voting district in Mount Washington. She is the Chair of the Performance and Asset Management Committee, overseeing city facilities, information systems and the cable bureau, and sustainability initiatives.

            Rudiak says she always looks at her district from the perspective of three standards she focused on in her first campaign: “Rebuild the business districts, protect our neighborhoods from crime and neglect, and restore public trust” in the Council representative.

            “We’ve taken a look at all our business districts, including Brownsville Road, Route 51, Brookline Boulevard, West Liberty Avenue, and Broadway. In each of those locations, I could name a dozen projects we have going on,” Rudiak says. “In the past few years, I have been meeting with dozens of real estate developers and introducing our South Pittsburgh neighborhoods to them.”

            “I ran for office because I believed our south neighborhoods were being neglected while others were being lavished with attention,” Rudiak says. “I learned that it was not that we’d been neglected, per se, it’s that no one had ever reached out. I’ve been working to bring professional economic development to South Pittsburgh.”

            Rudiak has been working with Economic Development South, a development that previously focused only on the surrounding suburban communities of Baldwin and Whitehall, to work on “corridor solutions.”

            “We are able to pool all of our population and all of our political power to get grants, and have gotten every one we’ve applied for.”

            “In Beechview, we have sixteen buildings that were bought by [Federal and international fugitive] Bernardo Katz, some of which sold at Sherriff’s auction, some bought by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, but unlike East Liberty or the South Side or Lawrenceville, we don’t have full-time community development professionals,” Rudiak says. “We are applying for grants with the Mount Washington Community Development Corporation, which has a half-dozen professionals on staff, to rebuild the business district up there.”

            “Code enforcement is a huge issue,” Rudiak says. “We’re not like some neighborhoods that have whole blocks vacant, but one or two houses are vacant, and unfortunately blight affects everyone. I look forward to working with whoever our new mayor is to completely reform our code enforcement system to hold landlords accountable for high grass and broken windows.”

            “We’ve also been working really, really closely to rebuild our Block Watches, and you can usually find myself or one of my staff at every single block watch meeting. I have actually gone out and door-knocked with people to set up Block Watches in their neighborhoods.”

            “In attempting to restore public trust,” Rudiak says, “I’ve tried to be as open and communicative with residents as possible. We have a monthly e-newsletter with signups at coffee shops and the library — unfortunately we don’t have enough money to do it by post, but we’re trying to do it as ‘grassroots’ as possible.”

            “I’m always on Twitter, I’m always posting on Facebook to be as transparent as possible.”

            “We’re trying to make government work better, and let taxpayers trust that their tax dollars are being spent wisely,” Rudiak says.

            A Carrick High School graduate, Rudiak received her Bachelors Degree from George Washington University, and holds a Masters Degree in Public Policy Management from Carnegie Mellon University.

            She has been endorsed for re-election by the Post-Gazette, the South Pittsburgh Reporter, Equality PA, Steel City Stonewall Dems, Gertrude Stein Political Club, Planned Parenthood, PA NOW, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers Local 400, Allegheny County Labor Council and the Laborer’s District Council of Western PA, the Sheet Metal Workers, Service Employees International Union Locals 32BJ and 668, SEIU Health Care PA, the Pittsburgh Building Trades Council, Fraternal Association of Paramedics Local 1, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 3, Sierra Club Allegheny Group, Clean Water Action and Progress Pittsburgh PAC.

            Her political endorsers include County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, State Representative Erin Molchany, County Council Representative Jim Ellenbogen, and fellow City Council Representatives Bruce Kraus, Bill Peduto and President Darlene Harris. She has also been endorsed by both of her 2009 opponents for the seat, Anthony Coghill and Richard Weaver.

            Johnny Lee is a lifelong resident of Brookline, and holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Education from Clarion University. He was a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service for 24 years, then worked in Postal management for another 16, and was a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers for eight years.

            A community activist, Lee also worked as a teacher at the Church of the Resurrection School and as a coach there and at Seton-LaSalle and Bishop Canevin High Schools. He is currently an announcer for MSA Sports.

            Lee did not return repeated requests for comment, but has been using the slogan “More for District 4,” claiming that Rudiak is “the second council person for Shadyside.”

            Rudiak says “I think I’m more strategic in my approach to problem solving” than her opponent. “I actually have concrete ideas. One of his more recent mailers says something like: ‘I promise to take whatever action is necessary to protect the safety of our communities.’ We try to work at the entire scope of the problem.”

            “My opponent hasn’t attended any meetings in Beechview or Carrick, and that’s an important part of being a representative.”

            “I’ve been taken aback by the tone his campaign has been taking., by the negativity. People who work with our office on a regular basis feel they are treated respectfully.”

            Lee has received endorsements from City Controller (and former Mayoral candidate) Michael Lamb, the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, Firefighters Local 1, Fraternal Order of Police Local 1, Teamsters Local 211, Steamfitters Local 449, Plumbers Local 27, and Boilermakers Local 154.

By Nancy Hart

nancy@urbanmediatoday.com

Twitter: @nhart543

Pittsburgh City Code requires that City Council Members run for a new four-year term on a staggered schedule, with four members elected at the same time as the Mayor.

            In 2013, the even-numbered Council seats are up, with District 6 incumbent R. Daniel Lavelle facing former Mayoral candidate, attorney and businessman Franco “Dok” Harris and Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Safety Manager Tonya Payne, who held the seat prior to her defeat by Lavelle.

            Incumbent Lavelle, a former Chief of Staff to State Representative Jake Wheatley, a current candidate for Mayor, has also served as a legislative aide to Sala Udin, who held the District 6 seat until his defeat by Payne in 2005. He was born in the Hill District, attended Pittsburgh Public Schools, and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Kent State University. Lavelle also works for his family’s company, Lavelle Real Estate.

            Lavelle, who also serves as Chair of City Council’s Committee on Land Use and Economic Development, with a seat on the board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority, says that during his first term, he has brought $67 million worth of development to his neighborhoods, leveraged into $670 million in development.

            “We have also worked very diligently to ensure that while we work on redevelopment, the community benefits,” Lavelle says. “We have continued to work to ensure that minority participation requirements for these projects are in compliance with MWDBE participation standards.”

            The Councilor also sponsored an amendment to the City Code requiring financial institutions who hold city accounts to commit to reinvestment in city neighborhoods, which passed in April.

            Lavelle says that he has worked hard to keep his promise to restore pride and integrity in the district, which covers a widely diverse set of neighborhoods including Perry Hilltop, the Hill District, North Side, Uptown, Downtown and Oakland, and says he has taken great strides in fulfilling his ambition to be sure those communities are once again safe and prosperous.

            “I believe we’re doing that,” Lavelle says, “but there’s more to do, and I look forward to serving the district for four more years.” 

            In addition to the endorsements of the Post-Gazette and the New Pittsburgh Courier, Lavelle has been endorsed by the Allegheny County Central Labor Council. African American Women for Political Change, AFSCME District Council 84, Firefighters Local 1, Service Employees International Union Locals BJ32, 668 and SEIU Healthcare, and Unite Here Local 57.

            Tonya Payne, Safety Manager for the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, prides herself on not being a politician, preferring to consider herself an advocate for her neighbors. She holds an Associate Degree from Community College of Allegheny County in Criminal Justice and Corrections, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Duquesne University.

            She represented District 6 on City Council from 2006 until 2010, and says she decided to run when she did not see the district moving forward. She has received the endorsement of the City Democratic Committee, but could not be reached for other comment.

            Payne, who serves as a Democratic Committeewoman, says she is running again because she sees a lack of “good leadership.”

            “Two major attributes of a good leader are character and integrity,” Payne says, “I spent a lot of time doing community development, for people who came to us because they were in need.”

            Franco “Dok” Harris, who has previously run for Mayor of Pittsburgh, says that he has no political ties to any “dynasty,” and could thus be the ideal manager of a city. “I am running to represent our neighbors, not special interests.”

            “I have the ability to bring everyone to the table, and that’s been built up over years of negotiations, mentoring, creating small businesses like I help to start in my own legal practice,” Harris says. “I will deliver the best possible service to all my constituents.”

            Harris was raised on the North Side of Pittsburgh, and currently resides Downtown. He has a Bachelors Degree in Politics from Princeton University, attained his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Business Degree from Carnegie Mellon University. In addition to his legal practice, Harris also works at Super Bakery, his family’s business which produces fortified baked goods.

            “I have really lived all over the district: Born and raised in the North Side, went to school in Oakland, live Downtown and now our company is investing in the Hill,” Harris says. “So I am somebody who’s not just focused on one neighborhood. District 6 is so diverse, with the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city as well as some of the poorest neighborhoods in the country.”

            “A lot of people, especially on the North Side, especially seniors, are worried that they’re being left out, losing their homes through gentrification,” Harris says.

            “The [residential] population of Downtown has ‘blown up’ over the last decade, but it still doesn’t feel like a neighborhood.” Harris says. “There’s no grocery store Downtown. We need to make Downtown more livable, because it’s the heart of our city, make it so people want to live there as well as go there.”

            “We need to use smart development. The lower Hill needs more than lip service, not just MWDBE contracting that subcontracts again” Harris says. “The Hill is the corridor to Downtown, but we have to make sure that the people who live there are included, to make it work for the people who live there.”

            “Each and every part of the district has different needs, and I believe I can represent each and every neighborhood the best way.”

            Harris has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police Local 1, Planned Parenthood, P2PAC and others.

By Nancy Hart

nancy@urbanmediatoday.com

Twitter: @nhart543

The YMCA and United Healthcare expressed their concern about the health of children when they joined together to form the first-annual Health Bee. The purpose of the event was to promote Youth Development, healthy living and for social responsibility. Middle school students from eight YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh branches will compete against one another in a Jeopardy-style competition focused on nutrition, fitness, health and science.

This special event took place at the Thelma Lovette YMCA from 6:30-8:00pm. As children become teens, they become responsible for making an increasing number of their own choices, including what to eat, how much to exercise, and how they view their bodies.  The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh and United Healthcare teamed up for the Health Bee to encourage kids at this critical point in their development to form healthy habits that will last them into adulthood.

“I think this is beneficial in so many ways because it speaks about health and about the Y. “Said Mike Malone, Chairman of the YMCA Metropolitan Board “It’s a great night, it should be fun.”

Various board members who attended, like Carolyn Grady, senior vice president of development, YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, Gretchen North, associate vice president of healthy living, YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, Debbie Pricener, associate vice president of youth development, YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.

Former Pitt Panthers basketball player(and current Pitt broadcaster) Curtis Aiken was scheduled to be at the event but could not attend and was replaced by Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Beachum was also at the event, and served as moderator. He said that it’s really important that athletes make their presence in the community. “I’m happy to be here and excited to be with the kids and I am impressed with how they’ve prepared. It’s good that the see us in this light instead of just the shoulder pads and helmets. They need to see us in this light.

“We’re grateful that the Steelers are also supporting us.” Said Malone “That really helps.”

United Healthcare Vice President EJ Heckert also served as moderator and watched the kids answer questions ranging from the ‘4 Food Groups’ and ‘Spider Man’s identity’. Dan Tropeano, executive director, United Healthcare, Pennsylvania and Delaware hosted the final round.

 The teams that competed were:

• Allegheny YMCA
• Baierl Family YMCA (took 2nd place and received $2,000 to support health programs at their Y to fight childhood obesity)
• McKeesport YMCA
• North Boroughs YMCA
• South Hills YMCA (took 3rd place and received $1,000 to support health programs at their Y to fight childhood obesity)
• Thelma Lovette YMCA
• Wilmerding YMCA (took 1st place and received $3,000 to support health programs at their Y to fight childhood obesity)

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In the TV sitcom ‘The Odd Couple’, two men from different backgrounds made a strong attempt to co-exist in the same apartment and eventually had an impact on each other’s lives. Those two men were the neat Felix Unger and the sloppy Oscar Madison.

Well, the NFL Draft is kind of like ‘The Odd Couple’ in the fact that athletes were either drafted in rounds 1-7, or added as an Undrafted Free Agent which produces different perceptions and (to the non-athlete) expectations. But to the athlete, no matter how they arrived to the team, their goal remains the same: To make the team.

Such is the case of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who like every NFL team made their selections in the draft and welcomed them to the 2013 Rookie Mini-Camp, which began on Thursday with a day of orientation at their offices and would conclude with practices in which they would don an NFL helmet with team’s logo on it.

Two rookies who arrived at Steelers headquarters are a perfect example of this point because of how they were added to the team are as different at night and day. There’s Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, who was selected as the Steelers first round pick, and then there’s safety Andrew Taglienetti, who played his college ball at the Pitt, went undrafted and signed as a free agent.

Now it’s obvious that Taglienetti has a longer road to make the team than Jones, despite only taking the shortest distance to get to the Steelers offices because the Pitt offices are only next door. “That’s funny, I’ve been here for 5 years and I’ve never set foot on the Steelers side.” Said Taglienetti, whose father is former Pittsburgh Penguin Peter Taglienetti “The only time I ever did was when I snuck into their hot tub and cold tub. When I first walked upstairs and saw those 6 Super Bowl trophies, I could tell that this was a first-class organization. I’m really impressed with it, and I’m really thankful and proud.”

Taglienetti (who will wear #38) knows that he’s a longshot to make the team that has been his favorite since he was a child, but it’s not impossible for an undrafted free agent to make the team-even have a long career. And folks in Pittsburgh know that’s true based on the careers of former Steelers safety Donnie Shell, tight end Randy Grossman, running back Willie Parker, linebacker James Harrison and current Steeler, defensive tackle Steve McClendon.

“Some may say that the odds may are against me because of the tryout but I’m approaching this as a job which it is, but I’m having fun. What an experience.” Said Taglienetti.

It’s not a question whether Jones will make the team (which 1st rounder’s usually do) but he comes not only with the high expectation that comes with being the first round pick, but with the possibility of competing with incumbent starter Jason Worilds to fill the huge shoes left by Harrison, who was released in March and has since signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jones(pictured) doesn’t quite see it that way “I don’t compare myself; James Harrison is a great player. I respect him and have never met him, I enjoy his game. I wouldn’t mind having the same impact as James Harrison but I’m just going to continue to listen to the coaches to improve my game.”

Jones had a stellar season in his final season at Georgia, sacking the quarterback 14.4 times, something that the Steelers are used to and they’re hoping to get back to with the addition of Jones, the emerging of Worilds and a ‘comeback’ season of LaMarr Woodley. “All I gotta do is get under their wings and learn, and work hard to better my craft.” Said Jones who also said that the playbook shouldn’t be difficult because the system is basically the same as the one he had in Georgia. Fans hope the Jones turns more like top picks Lawrence Timmons and Woodley (who was drafted 1&2 in 2007) than Huey Richardson, who was a 1991 first round flop.

When asked if he heard from Woodley or any of the other linebackers, Jones (who will wear #95) replied “He (Woodley) called me and told me good luck on the night I was drafted. He, Troy (Polamalu) and Ike (Taylor). I also received a text from Ben (Roethlisberger).”

Both players realize that it’s just the beginning of their experience as a Steeler, with hopes that it turns into a long one.

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The eighth annual B-PEP Jazz concert was a musical “fun-raiser” for the Black Political Empowerment Project or B-PEP which has been serving the Metropolitan Pittsburgh community for 27 years. Part of the proceeds of the event always held the Monday after Easter benefited the work of B-PEP’s Coalition Against Violence. Tene' Croom talked to B-PEP Chairman Tim Stevens about the fundraiser. (see details in video)

Renowned trumpeter Sean Jones and his Quartet was host along with the Tim Stevens/Leonard Johnson Project. Guest artists included vocalists Michelle Benson and Etta Cox, saxophonist Kenny Blake, drummer Roger Humphries, not to mention the smooth styling of the group Artistree, among some sixty artists who performed.

B-PEP honored the contributions of jazz artists who have passed away – trumpeter Charles “Chuck” Austin, drummer Mary Turner and singer Leroy K. Wofford.  The organization also sent out get well wishes as it honored pianist Chris Pangikas, who is hospitalized with a serious heart condition.

Reach Tene’ at tene.croom.tc@gmail.com

In 2007, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Florida State Linebacker Lawrence Timmons with the 17th pick, and he turned out to be a keeper. History repeated itself this year as once again the Steelers had the 17th pick, and once again they used it on a linebacker, this time in the person of Jarvis Jones from Georgia. And boy, are they happy about it.

“Once again, we’re very pleased to have a player like Jarvis Jones available for us at the 17th pick.” Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert said at a special news conference. “He definitely was one of the guys that I talked about the other day as being a special player in this draft. He’s a solid kid. He’s a great player. He’s productive at a major college level. In fact, he’s been dominant at the major college level. He plays the run, he chases the ball, and most important he gets after the passer, a highly productive pass rusher in one of the best conferences in the country. It’s really just a great honor to have this kid joining our team. We’re really excited about it.”

The Steelers had several options to choose from when it was their time to pick. Some mock drafts had them taking Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert (who went #21 to Cincinnati) but many experts had the Steelers drafting the 6-2, 245 product of  Richland, Georgia. The logic made perfect sense, especially after the Steelers decided that they wanted to move on from veteran linebacker James Harrison, who was the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was a perennial All-Pro and Pro Bowler. For them to move on from a player like Harrison, it meant finding a suitable (and young) replacement, and the Steelers are banking on Jones being that man.

“It really was a fun and easy evaluation” Said Head Coach Mike Tomlin “When you look at the outside linebackers in the 3-4 defenses; generally there is some projection and so forth involved in the evaluation. This was an easy evaluation from that standpoint. He plays in a very similar scheme, he’s asked to do things in a manner in which he’ll be asked to do it here in Pittsburgh, very little guesswork in that regard made it a fun evaluation and made it a comfortable evaluation. He excelled in what they asked him to do and he’ll be asked to do similar things here. So, all in all, we’re just very thankful and very excited to have Jarvis.”

Drafting Jones is also a major sign that the Steelers are not totally confident that 3rd year man Jason Worilds is ready to take over for Harrison despite a career season in which he was second on the team in sacks with 5. Plus the team needed depth at this position, with Chris Carter being the only backup. Plus, the position struggled greatly as a result of a disappointing season by LaMarr Woodley, who battled hamstring injuries most of the season.

The scenario is almost like the ’07 draft too: Back then, the Steelers had just terminated linebacker Joey Porter and knew that they had to find a replacement-very quickly. Well, not only did they draft Timmons, they also drafted Woodley in the 2nd round too. Harrison did earn the starting spot on the outside and became a star. Timmons and Woodley also earned starting spots as well. Could we be saying the same thing this year with them releasing Harrison and drafting Timmons? It’ll certainly be an alert to Worlds, who will have to give the Steelers a reason as to why they can’t trust in him as one of the starting outside linebackers.

The concern about Jones though is his health, which Colbert and Tomlin swiftly dismissed. “There was no problem. The kid has played two seasons without an issue at the University of Georgia. Of course, he has to go through a physical and just to be sure we made another check when he came in. Certainly we’re very comfortable with his medical status or we wouldn’t have made that pick.”           

Jones Started all 26 games he appeared in at Georgia…Recorded 168 tackles (96 solos) for his entire career, including 155 tackles (91 solos) as a Bulldog…At Georgia, he posted 28.0 sacks, tying Jimmy Payne (1978-82) for third in school history…Registered 45.5 stops for loss, generating 44.0 hits for minus 235 yards during his playing days at Georgia…Caused nine fumbles, ninth-best among active NCAA FBS players…He also recovered two fumbles…Recorded 88 quarterback pressures as a Bulldog, as he broke up five passes and intercepted another.

He earned All-American first-team honors from The NFL Draft Report, Walter Camp, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association, Sporting News and Phil Steele…Named a finalist for the Lombardi Trophy, Brutus Award, Bednarik Trophy and Angarsk Award along with the LOTT Impact Trophy, the Bulldogs' permanent captain was the recipient of the Vince Dooley Most Valuable Player of the Year Award and named one of team's Most Valuable Defensive Player. He was also a Unanimous first-team All-Southeastern Conference choice.

In 2012, he Started 12 games at outside linebacker, ranking third on the team with 85 tackles…Led the SEC and placed second in the nation with an average of 1.21 quarterback sacks per game, as his 14.5 sacks for minus 103 yards broke the previous school season-record of 14 by David Pollack in 2002.

Jones was even aware of the Steelers need for a linebacker as he shared that his goal is to get to Harrison “I’ve got a lot of work to do to get to James Harrison. The guy is powerful, has speed and he is a pro. I’m trying to get on the level he’s at. I’ve got a lot of work to do. He’s one of the guys I look up to as far as trying to learn how to better my game and better my craft. He’s a great player.”

Notes: The Kansas City Chiefs made Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars also drafted a tackle, selecting Luke Joeckel from Texas A & M, opening the door for 3 tackles being selected in the first 4 picks for the first time since 1968. The only local player selected was West Virginia University WR Tavon Austin getting selected 8th by the St. Louis Rams. In addition to Jones, a total of 12 players from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) were selected in the first round, tied the ACC who did it in 2006.

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1.      Ok since the NFL Draft looms, it’s only right that we start with that right? Of course. It’s still not certain who will be the #1 overall pick when the Kansas City Chiefs get on the clock. Some mock drafts have them taking OT Jack Joeckel from Texas A&M.

2.      It’s nice to know that first round overall picks no longer cave into the peer pressure of drafting a ‘glamorous’ pick. (Ex: Quarterback) the Chiefs avoided that when they traded for former San Francisco 49er Alex Smith.

3.      In fact, some mock drafts predict that the first QB of the draft will be selected with pick 13 in the round one by the New York Jets, and he will be Geno Smith from WVU. It could happen, but I feel for Smith if it does, because many issues do the Jets have.(Basic Yoda lingo)

4.      The Jets have QB Mark Sanchez, whom they gave a contract to, they have Tim Tebow whose talents they completely wasted and they have just added former Jacksonville Jaguar David Gerrard. If the Jets are smart, they will spare Smith from their misery.

5.      There’s not a ‘darling’ of this year’s draft either, which is a good thing. Maybe that will convince teams to really focus on selecting the best players available.

6.      Take for instance, the Pittsburgh Steelers who has the 17th pick. They’re known for drafting the best player available and have done an excellent job at doing that the last several years. But if you watched their dismal 8-8 season, you know like I do that they have many draft needs.

7.      So who will the Steelers draft? According to General Manager Kevin Colbert, they will get a great player at 17, and I agree with him. But the question remains, who will it be?

8.      On mock draft has them taking Georgia OLB Jarvis Jones to help replace the departed James Harrison. Others have them picking Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert because starter Heath Miller may not be ready. Either pick will do.

9.      Since the draft is deep in wide receivers and cornerbacks (According to Coach Mike Tomlin) I expect them to add at least one of each, especially at corner after the departure of Keenan Lewis.

10.  Some mock drafts feel that no running back will be selected in the first round but if they do, Alabama running back Eddie Lacey will be the first one taken at 21 by the Cincinnati Bengals.

11.  Back to the Jets, who traded star cornerback Darelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their 2014 first round pick. And then the Bucs gave Revis a 5 year-$96 million deal. Problem is, there’s no guaranteed money.

12.  I mean really guys, I think folks go to the Jets and leave without their common sense. Why would Revis agree to that type of deal? If they cut him, he will get a total of $0.

13.  Moving on, the NBA Playoffs are heating up and I expect the San Antonio Spurs and the defending champion Miami Heat to sweep their first round opponents (LA Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, respectively) right out of the playoffs.

14.  A friend of mine feels that I’m ignorant because I think that the Lakers will be swept. The proof is in the pudding: No Kobe Bryant, no chance. The Spurs have been there, done that.

15.  Speaking of the Heat, I still predict them to repeat as NBA Champions.

16.  So did the Cleveland Cavaliers really think they had a chance at getting Phil Jackson as their next Coach? C’mon man. They knew Jackson was way out of their league when they re-hired Mike Brown who was out of his league in LA.

17.  I’m surprised to hear that NCAA Champion Louisville will be getting their star guard back. Russ Smith announced that he will be returning for his senior season.

18.  The Pitt basketball schedule is pretty awesome. Although the dates are not set, it is revealed that they will play Duke at home. That game’s gonna be huge.

19.  At least they will get Maryland (home and away) before they bolt to the Big Ten. I’ve always wanted to see how they fared against the Terrapins (Fear the Turtle!)

20.  The Pirates are looking pretty decent in this young season. I’m impressed with the production of OF Travis Snider who had bust written all over him when the Pirates acquired him from Toronto for Brad Lincoln last season. Let’s hope he keeps it up.

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With the departure of running back Ruschel Shell, the Pitt Panthers football team is preparing themselves to go into the 2013 season with the goal of filling a gaping hole at that position.

After a freshman season in which he rushed for 641 yards and 4 touchdowns serving backup to starter Ray Graham, Shell was the shoo-in for the starting position for 2013 and beyond, until personal issues led him to decide to transfer from the school. His desire was to head to the west coast, and when Pitt blocked his interests in Arizona and Arizona State, Shell decided on Tuesday that he wanted to resume his college football career at UCLA. He will be eligible to play in Sept. of 2014.

Shell would have been the second running back from Hopewell High School to star at Pitt, with the other back being Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett, who is still Pitt’s all-time leading rusher. The Panthers did what they could to help Shell, even gave him time off to consider his decision, but he decided to transfer anyway.

So now the question is whose left? Who can carry the load at running back now that Shell’s gone? The answer lies in the next man up, and that man is junior Isaac Bennett. The young man from Tulsa, Oklahoma has played in parts of the past two seasons for Pitt, rushing for 378 yards and 5 touchdowns, he has proven that he is durable and can run over tacklers to get yardage. Plus, now he is the remaining back with the most experience and is expected to be the starter. Bennett rushed for 114 yards including a 48 yard touchdown in the annual spring game. He also fumbled once, but it may have been due to sloppiness.

After him is Desmond Brown, who is a senior but has spent most of his career on special teams. His only claim to fame is the fact that he is the brother of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. He rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown in the Spring Game. Then there’s sophomore Malcolm Crockett, who also hasn’t had much playing time. He rushed for 2,000 yards his last two seasons in high school and some may think that this is his opportunity to make an impact. He rushed for 45 yards, but fumbled twice in the Spring Game.

So although Shell’s departure hurt Pitt, it could also be a blessing in disguise due to the fact that these new running backs have a huge window of opportunity to make names for themselves.

In other Pitt news, with this being the inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) ticket sales are being sold at a record pace. As of April 15, over 32,000 tickets have already been sold, leaving only 13,367 tickets available. It is also expected to sell at least 10,000 tickets to students, making this the highest amount of tickets sold since the 2003 season when Heisman Trophy candidate WR Larry Fitzgerald was still playing.

It’s no surprise that all the hype is about their 2013 schedule which has them playing Notre Dame (Nov. 9), Miami (Nov. 29), Virginia (Sept. 28), North Carolina (Nov. 16) and their home opener against Orange Bowl Champion Florida State on Labor Day (Sept. 2) which is certain to sell out (like the Notre Dame game).

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The first Pittsburgh Black Political Convention was an unqualified success. The event began Friday evening at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church with approximately 200 people listening intently to the presentations of the candidates for mayor in the May 21 Primary Election. The mayoral candidates were asked to respond to a document received a couple weeks ago, which PBPC calls The Black Agenda.

The second phase began Saturday morning, with five polling places spread around the city, north, east, south, west and central. The polls opened at 10:00 AM and closed promptly at 3:00 PM. The ballots were brought back to Wesley Center AME Zion Church where they were counted. There were a total of 215 ballots cast. State Representative Jake Wheatley won the highest number of votes with 112 votes (52%). The closest contender was Councilman Bill Peduto with 72 votes (33%), followed by Former Auditor General Jack Wagner, with 29 votes (12%). Therefore, the first candidate to be endorsed by the Pittsburgh Black Political Convention is Jake Wheatley.

PBPC will meet with Mr. Wheatley next week to determine how we can best support his campaign. It is our intention to raise funds, recruit volunteers, build community support, get out the votes and do everything in our power to make Jake the next mayor of the City of Pittsburgh.

PBPC was pleased with the turnout, given the fact that the convention was pulled off in just a few short weeks, beginning with the incumbent mayor Luke Ravenstahl pulling out of the race. People came out to Mt. Ararat despite the cold, driving rain Friday evening and 215 people came out to cast votes on Saturday. This was the first convention of its kind, with efforts to expand and consolidate the black vote and to use that bloc of votes as leverage directed toward issues such as poverty, unemployment, police abuse, and homicides, narcotics, and gun trafficking permeating the black community.

The organizers of the Convention came together united in their concern over the lack of attention being focused on the condition of a quarter of Pittsburgh’s population. The African American community has been ignored by political officials and socio-economic conditions have gotten worse for black Pittsburghers compared to black populations in most major metropolitan areas of the United States.

Although many in Pittsburgh wonder if the PBPC will expand their reach to positions other than mayor to elected offices throughout Allegheny County, the organizers are insistent that, for the time being, they will focus exclusively on the mayor’s race and Jake Wheatley’s campaign. Then the group will meet to decide where they will go next.

When the University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball Coach Agnes Berenato was relieved of her duties a week ago, Athletic Director Steve Pederson said that he felt that with the school moving into the Atlantic Coast Conference it was time for a leadership change-and that meant a new head coach, and that a national search for that new coach would begin immediately.

Well, that national search didn’t take long and they certainly didn’t have to go far for that next Coach as Pitt officially hired former Duquesne coach and Pittsburgh native Suzie McConnell-Serio to coach the women’s basketball team.

“It’s a very exciting day at the University of Pittsburgh” Said Pederson who introduced McConnell-Serio at a special news conference “I’ve figured out a long time ago in basketball that if you want to win, you better get yourself a great point guard. And we brought in the best point guard that we could find to lead the program forward. It’s an exciting time for all of us.

This is an unusual situation when you hire someone in your hometown from people you respect; it becomes a little bit delicate.” Pederson referred to speaking with Duquesne’s athletic director Greg Amodio to get his permission to interview McConnell-Serio. “And I appreciated how everyone in Duquesne had handled this. At the same time, it’s also a great reflection of what they’ve done there and what they’ve accomplished in their women’s program because certainly they made an outstanding hire six months ago.”

“It was clear that when I met with her in my office at Heinz Field” Said Pederson “that she was the perfect fit.” Pederson then officially introduced McConnell-Serio as the next Pitt Women’s basketball head coach.

“First of all, I want to thank you all for coming” Said McConell-Serio who was joined by family members, member of the media and current Pitt women’s players “It’s a little overwhelming walking into a press room with this size of a crowd, but I can’t tell you how excited I am and incredibly grateful to Steve Pederson and Chancellor (Mark) Nordenberg for an incredible opportunity.

It’s an exciting opportunity for me, my family and my staff who have come with me from Duquesne (who was also present at the news conference) that we will hit the ground running with a tremendous group of girls that I’ve had the opportunity to meet prior to this press conference. With us moving to the ACC is a great challenge in going to one of the best conferences in the country, we are truly excited about the challenge and the opportunity that it presents. Now we know that it’s going to take a lot of hard work, but we’ve agreed to the hard work that it’s going to take to bring the pride back to Pitt Basketball.

We also know of the pride that comes with putting on the Pitt jersey and what it means to compete at a high level and the dedication and commitment that it’ll take to be that team. I am truly excited. Honestly I grew up a Pitt fan; I went to the Little Panthers and was one of their ball handlers. I came to camps here, I am a Pittsburgh Girl, through and through and I told Steve that I would’ve never left Duquesne for a better job than this job because this is my home this is where we want to live and I am excited that I only had to move two miles further to come to work every day.”

     A member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and a two-time Olympic medalist as a player, McConnell-Serio joins Pitt following impressive six-year tenure at neighboring Duquesne University. As head coach of the Dukes (2007-13), she never suffered a losing season and led Duquesne to five consecutive 20-win campaigns for the first time in the program's history.

    This past season, Duquesne went 24-8 overall and 11-3 in the Atlantic 10. The 24 wins tied the school record set by McConnell-Serio's 2010-11 team, while the 11 conference victories were the most ever by the Dukes. Boasting an RPI of 36, Duquesne advanced to the 2013 Women's National Invitation Tournament, an unprecedented fifth consecutive postseason berth for the program. She owned a 120-68 record at Duquesne.

     From 2003-06, she was the head coach of the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. Inheriting a team that finished 10-22 the previous year, she immediately turned the franchise around by leading the Lynx to a single-season record 18 victories and their first-ever playoff berth. The following year, McConnell-Serio guided Minnesota back to the playoffs, earning a franchise-best No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, and was named the 2004 WNBA Coach of the Year. 

    Prior to her WNBA coaching tenure, McConnell-Serio coached at nearby Oakland Catholic High School (1990-2003) and firmly established its girls' basketball program as a perennial Pennsylvania power. She led the Eagles to three PIAA Class AAAA championships and finished as the state runner-up twice. McConnell-Serio averaged 24 wins per year at Oakland Catholic, while producing nearly a dozen NCAA Division I scholarship players.

 Before going on to coaching, McConnell-Serio enjoyed one of the finest playing careers in the history of women's basketball. That career began in Western Pennsylvania, where she was a Parade All-American and four-year starter at Seton-La Salle High School. As a senior she led the Lady Rebels to a 35-1 record and the PIAA championship. She also led the softball team to the WPIAL championship as a .500 hitter and was selected the Female Athlete of the Year by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

    McConnell-Serio went on to star at Penn State (1984-88) and set NCAA Division I records for career assists (1,307), assists in a season (355) and single-season assists per game (11.8). She became the first player in program history to be named a first team All-American and was also a four-time All-Atlantic 10 honoree. McConnell-Serio was the 1988 recipient of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, presented to the nation's best senior player under 5-foot-8. The Nittany Lions advanced to the NCAA Tournament each year of her career and had a four-year record of 95-33 (.742).

    McConnell-Serio was the point guard for two Olympic teams, winning a gold medal at the 1988 Games in Seoul and a bronze in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. She has won five total medals for the USA as a player, including the 1991 World University Games (gold), 1986 FIBA World Championship (gold) and 1985 R. William Jones Cup (gold). In 2011, McConnell-Serio had her first USA Basketball coaching assignment, serving as an assistant for the USA Women's World University Games Team that won gold.

    McConnell-Serio was drafted in the second round (16th overall pick) by the Cleveland Rockers in the 1998 WNBA Draft and played three decorated seasons. In her initial campaign she was honored as the WNBA Newcomer of the Year and selected first team All-WNBA. She also went on to be a two-time recipient of the league's Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award (1998 and 2000).

    In 2008, McConnell-Serio received induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. She was a member of the WPIAL Hall of Fame's inaugural class in 2007 and was elected to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. She was selected the first Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year in 1999 and repeated the honor in 2010.

    Sports Illustrated named McConnell-Serio the best 5-foot-4 basketball player - male or female - of all-time. That magazine also named her one of the Top 50 Pennsylvania Athletes of the 20th Century. She additionally was named to the USA Today All-Time Women's Basketball Team.

When asked about whether her career has come full circle now that she’s back in Pittsburgh, McConnell-Serio replied “I believe it is. This was an opportunity to come home. Steve originally offered a 5-year contract, but I wanted the 6th year because I’m invested, I want to be here. This is my last job and I want to be here as long as he’ll have me here.”

    McConnell-Serio and her husband Pete were both born and raised in the Brookline area of Pittsburgh. They are the parents of four children: Peter (22), Jordan (18), Mandi (17) and Madison (15).

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1.      Well, the college basketball season is officially over, and I want to congratulate the team that I picked to win it all-the Louisville Cardinals for winning the National Championship over the Michigan Wolverines 82-76.

2.      That was honestly the best basketball game that I’ve watched in years. The Cardinals falling behind the Wolverines and then the Cardinals coming back and taking over. Kudos to Michigan for making it that far, because nobody expected them to.

3.      Also Kudos to former Michigan ‘Fab 5’ players Chris Webber and Juwan Howard answering fellow teammate Jalen Rose’s clarion call to attend the game. Especially Webber because he had not been in contact with the school since he was part of the scandal that got all of their 1991-93 wins vacated.

4.      Also congrats to the Connecticut Huskies for winning the Women’s NCAA national championship by basically blowing out Louisville on Tuesday. Kudos to the Louisville women’s team for joining the men’s team in making it to the championship. I know that school is lovin’ it.

5.      Louisville men’s Coach Rick Pitino attended the women’s game, but his team was not allowed to attend-because it violated NCAA rules. They would’ve had to buy tickets, but couldn’t do that because it also violated NCAA Rules. Ridiculous.

6.      Louisville guard Russ Smith made it known that he will declare for the NBA Draft; I would not be surprised if Michigan guard Trey Burke was right behind him.

7.      Speaking of Pitino, he was also named to the Basketball Hall of Fame along with Gary Payton, Bernard King, Dawn Staley, Jerry Tarkanian and others who make up the Class of 2013. Congrats to them all.

8.      So I’m a lot calmer one week after hearing the news that Pitt center Steven Adams decided to declare early for the NBA Draft. He wants to take care of his family who’s facing financial trouble in New Zealand. I totally respect him for that.

9.      So who’re the Panthers hoping to sign to replace Adams? 6-10 250 lb Joseph Uchebo. The young man is a Junior College player and he’s a former teammate of current Panther recruit, guard Josh Newkirk.

10.   As for the other Pitt team, I still shake my head as (former) running back Ruschel Shell who officially transferred last week, making it known that he wants to play football out west and at Arizona State (with former Pitt Coach Todd Graham) Pitt promptly blocked that request.

11.  Anyway, the NFL always has news and it starts with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who now know that the New England Patriots have officially signed WR Emmanuel Sanders to a 1-year offer sheet worth $2.5 million. Since Sanders is a restricted free agent, the Steelers have 5 days to match. I say, let him go.

12.  Why? Because Sanders has not lived up to the expectations that were on him when he was drafted in the 3rd round in 2010. He spent half of those years underachieving and the other half injured. If he goes, it won’t be a total loss.

13.  I hear that the 2013 NFL Draft is deep with wide receivers, the Steelers can draft 2 more and move on.

14.  I squint my eyes at the Steelers for holding onto defensive tackle Alameda Ta’amu after he finally had his trial. Sure every person deserves a second chance, but they’re released players for less than what Ta’amu did. Oh well.

15.  It looks like the NFL Free Agency has calmed down a bit, which usually happens before the draft. Once again, the hype of it all was just hype and the Miami Dolphins are once again irrelevant (at least until the season starts)

16.  So Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White has labeled their team’s 2013 season ‘Super Bowl or Bust’ eh? Well, since they were that close in getting there last season, I’ll let him have that one.

17.  Congrats to the LA Clippers on winning their first ever Pacific Division Divison title after (ironically) beating the LA Lakers on Sunday. That will be the first-ever banner that the Clippers will put up in the Staples Center.

18.  I also congratulate the Golden State Warriors for earning their second playoff berth in 19 years. I’ll say it again: First-Year Coach Mark Jackson should be named NBA Coach of the Year.

19.  And congrats to the New York Knicks for winning their first Atlantic Division title since 1994. They’ve truly come a long way.

20.  So rap mogul and Brooklyn Nets minority owner Jay Z is selling his ownership shares to become an NBA agent? C’mon Dude, learn from Master P about staying in your lane.

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1.      Ok, where do I begin…this has been a very disappointing week for the Pitt Panthers football and basketball teams. A total of 3 players have decided to transfer or leave early.

2.      In football its running back Ruschel Shell, who made his decision after Coach Paul Chryst gave him some time to think about it. His absence will hurt the Panthers as they now will rely on junior Isaac Bennett to take the load.

3.      I’m not saying that Bennett is bad; he’s not that bad actually. He’s had some good moments in the past two seasons. But compared to Shell, it is a bit of a downgrade.

4.      The other player to transfer is basketball player Trey Ziegler, who just transferred to Pitt a year ago. His departure makes no sense, but it won’t hurt the team as much.

5.      But losing center Steven Adams will hurt the basketball team as he decided to declare himself eligible for the NBA after one college season. This will create a gaping hole in their frontcourt.

6.      I understand Adams’ reasons. He’s from New Zealand and wants to support his family. But you want to be in proper position to do that, and that only comes with being ready, which I do not think Adams is.

7.      He had an ok freshman season with the Panthers, averaging 7 points and 6 rebounds and averaged 2 blocks a game. Those are hardly impressive numbers for someone who had all that hype. The potential is there, but a second season at Pitt could’ve helped him improve on those numbers.

8.      Players like Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett didn’t need to play college ball, but Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan did.

9.      Plus another dominating center, Zeke Marshall from Akron (and McKeesport) went all 4 years at Akron and his stats improved every year. I think Adams could’ve benefitted from (at least) another season. But he made his decision and I wish him the best.

10.  Some NBA Mock Drafts predict Adams as a late first-round pick. I don’t think I agree with that, but we’ll see.

11.  And on top of all that, the women’s basketball coach Agnes Berenato was fired as well. She only got them to two Sweet Sixteen appearances for the first time in their history.

12.  Anyway, onto the NCAA Tournament in which is now at the Final Four in Atlanta. Louisville will play Wichita State, and Michigan will play Syracuse.

13.  Here’s my prediction: Louisville and Michigan will win and Louisville will be the National Champion.

14.  And then there’s Rutgers head Coach Mike Rice who acted horrible toward his players in a practice that was caught on video. What did the school do? Nothing, until ESPN did a story on it, and that’s when they decided to fire Rice.

15.  I think its reprehensible how persons in authority try to sweep wrongs under the rug.  They need to do better, plain and simple.

16.  The Pittsburgh Steelers have been awfully quiet, probably because they’re getting ready for the NFL Draft that starts April 25. It’s hard to tell who will be their first pick at 17.

17.  It gets me that some of the fans are complaining about Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. As if he’s washed up. C’mon now, the man was in NFL MVP talks until he got hurt. There are too many NFL teams out there that need a quality QB, so count your blessings.

18.  Speaking of QB’s, the Arizona Cardinals just traded for Carson Palmer, late of the Oakland Raiders and very late of the Cincinnati Bengals. He hasn’t even hit the field yet, and he’s already the Cardinals best QB since Kurt Warner.

19.  Congrats to the NBA’s LA Clippers for winning their 50th game and their first Pacific Division Title for the first time in their history. They have truly come a long way since being the doormat of the NBA.

20.  The Pittsburgh Pirates have started the season 1-2 after dropping 2 of 3 to the Chicago Cubs. And once again, the pitching isn’t at fault as starters AJ Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez and James McDonald gave up only 4 runs in 3 games. But it’s the hitting, as they’re off to another struggling start. Next up: the LA Dodgers.

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In what has become a harrowing week for the University of Pittsburgh sports teams that has been filled with departures, two more players have decided to leave the school, making it 3 players in two days.

Just one day after hearing the news that freshman running back Ruschel Shell has decided to transfer, another top-notch freshman has also said his goodbyes as 7-foot tall center Steven Adams has announced that he will forego the his remaining 3 years in college to declare for the NBA Draft. And to seal that declaration, Adams said that he would be hiring an agent, prohibiting him from returning for his sophomore season if he found a reason to change his mind. Junior Trey Ziegler has also decided to leave Pitt by transferring from the school that he transferred to just one year ago.

“In discussing options with my family and Coach Dixon, I feel that it is in my best interest to declare for the NBA Draft,” Adams said. “I want to thank everyone at Pitt including my teammates, coaching staff, the administration and the fans that have all supported me over the last year.”

One of Pitt’s highest recruits since Dejuan Blair, the product from New Zealand was expected to have an immediate impact to the Panthers, especially at the center position, and although he was still developing, he did have an impact. A Big East All-Rookie Team selection, Adams led Pitt in blocked shots (65), rebounding (6.3 rpg.) and field goal percentage (.571), while also contributing 7.2 points per game. While starting all 32 of his games played in 2012-13, Adams totaled two double-doubles, six double figure scoring games and five 10-plus rebound games. He concluded his freshman season ranked among school freshman season leaders in several statistical categories including games started (2nd), field goal percentage (1st), rebounds (6th), rebound average (7th), percentage of starts (1st), blocked shots (2nd) and blocked shots average (3rd).

His best non-conference game was against Bethune-Cookman in which he scored 16 points and 10 rebounds, and his best Big East game was against Cincinnati in which he scored 13 points, and his only NCAA Tournament game was a good one in which he had 13 points and 11 rebounds, both team highs. Most media folks feel like that performance on the national stage got the attention of many NBA scouts, despite the fact that they were at almost every game during the season.

“After talking with Steven and his family, we fully support him in this decision,” Pitt Coach Jamie Dixon said. “We support him in choosing to pursue his dreams and in having the opportunity to provide for his family back in New Zealand. We will continue to stay involved in the process and he will always be a part of the Pitt Basketball family.”

Dixon also had this to say about Ziegler, who transferred to Pitt from Central Michigan: “We will assist Trey in finding the best situation for him to reach his goals both academically and athletically,” Dixon said. “He’s a great kid, hard worker and good player. We thank Trey for his contribution to our program over the last year and wish him much success in the future.” Zeigler, a 6-foot-5-inch, 203-pound guard, averaged 4.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in 31 games played for Pitt in 2012-13. His best game was against DePaul in which he led the team with 18 points in 18 minutes.

So now Dixon and the basketball team will have to find a suitable replacement for Adams, who now leaves a gaping hole at center, especially with the graduation of Dante Taylor and the transfer of 7-foot Malcolm Gilbert. They have 6-8 power forward Mike Young coming in, but in the meantime, their only big man is senior Talib Zanna, who played all of last season as the starting power forward.

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Bethesda, MD (BlackNews.com) -- Robert L. Johnson, founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies and founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), today announced the results of a national poll commissioned by Zogby Analytics that reveals current African American sentiment on a range of issues that include the state of national affairs, race relations, employment, and a variety of current political and social issues. Johnson announced the results of the Zogby poll during his remarks today at a National Press Club Luncheon.

"I commissioned this poll for a number of reasons," said Johnson. "First, for African Americans, this country has experienced the most historic political event and that is the election and re-election of the first African American president, Barack Obama. Because of this, I wanted to find out how African Americans today feel about Obama's presidency and equally important, if they feel that their lives are better off having lived under the first four years of Obama and the prospect of an Obama Administration for the next four years," he continued.

"Second, the country has experienced the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and African Americans have been the hardest hit. Today, African Americans continue to have double the rate of unemployment and less access to capital, and whereas, African Americans were once the largest ethnic minority group and the dominant minority political voice, they are now confronted with the growing political influence of the Hispanic population, which may directly impact competition for jobs and minority business opportunities," he continued.

"Further, I wanted to create a discussion within the Black community and the broader community to bring to the forefront of public debate key issues of primary concern to African Americans. I am pleased to say that I am intrigued by the results of the poll and I believe better informed," he noted.

The poll reveals that African Americans have an immense sense of pride in Barack Obama as President of the United States and he is unequivocally liked. He receives a 91% favorable rating. Seventy-two percent believe that President Obama's election has helped them while only 4% believe his election has hurt them.

African Americans believe that President Obama's election has helped them. A majority of those polled - 62 percent - are optimistic about employment in the next four years.

On the issue of employment, the poll reveals that thirty percent of respondents believe they are doing better off financially than compared to four years ago; however, the most recent jobs report shows an ongoing high rate of unemployment within the African American community. When polled on why African Americans believe Black unemployment is consistently double that of whites, responses include: failure of the education system for minorities, lack of corporate commitment to hiring minorities, and a failure of government policies for hiring practices.

The poll was conducted by John Zogby and Zogby Analytics. One thousand and two randomly selected African American adults were polled by telephone and online survey. The complete survey results and remarks from today's National Press Club Luncheon can be found online at www.rljcompanies.com/news.

WHY RLJ COMMISSIONED THE POLL?

1. For Black Americans, this country has experienced the most historic political event since the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation. That event is of course, the election and re-election of the first African American president, Barack Obama. Because of this, this monumental occurrence for all Americans, but particularly African Americans, I wanted to find out how African Americans today feel about Obama's presidency and equally important, if they feel that their lives are better off having lived under the first four years of Obama and the prospect of an Obama Administration for the next four years.

2. This Nation is engaged in a major debate about the role of government in providing for the economic well-being of working-class and middle-class Americans. Without question, most African American families fall within that category. The debate raises the question of how much entitlement security the government should make available to these citizens and who should bear the cost of such transfer payments. The issue being raised is whether this country's economic future is at risk because of the rising costs of entitlements and the debt and deficit that follow. This dispute, no matter how it is resolved, will directly impact African American families more so than any other population.

This country has recently experienced the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. We have seen a decline in economic growth and opportunity for all Americans but African Americans have been the hardest hit. This has been true in the past and it is true today as the most recent economic data clearly drives home that fact.


Here are the facts:

a. African Americans have double the rate of unemployment as white Americans (The National average is 7.7% and African American unemployment is 13.8% [Source: February 2013 Jobs Report US DOL] to be honest, it's probably greater than that when you count the number of African Americans who have simply given up on finding employment. Sadly, this is not a new fact, and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, African American unemployment has been double that of Whites for over 50 years;

b. The income gap of white Americans is 10 times that of Black Americans - the net worth of the median white household is $118,000, and the net worth of the median Black household is $11,800;

c. The wealth gap between black Americans and white Americans over the last 20 years has increased from $20,000 to $90,000 according to the Pew Research Center; and

d. Nearly half of African Americans born to middle class families in the 60s will not attain the wealth of their parents (Source: Pew Research Center)

3. African Americans were once the largest ethnic minority group and the dominant minority political voice dating back to the Civil Rights Movement. African Americans are now confronted with the growing influence of the Hispanic population, which is today the largest minority population group.

I wanted to gauge African American sentiment about the political and economic changes that could result from Hispanic Americans being the largest minority. This demographic fact could lead to Hispanics potentially exercising greater political influence within the country on key issues of importance to African Americans, namely, competition for jobs and minority business opportunities and perhaps Hispanics becoming the dominant ethnic voice on cultural and social issues;

4. I also wanted to find out how African Americans feel about their political leaders and organizations that represent their interests, as well as assess their attitudes about key social and cultural "issues of the moment" e.g. immigration reform; marriage equality; the gun and assault weapons ban; and the 2016 presidential election; and finally,

5. I didn't know of any other organization that has recently conducted a poll targeted to African Americans with this combination of social, economic, and political questions, so I decided to do it. I wanted to create a discussion within the Black community and the broader community to bring to the forefront of public debate key issues of primary concern to African Americans. I am pleased to say that I am intrigued by the results of the poll and I believe better informed. I hope you will be also.

Now, despite all of these political and economic realities confronting Black America, what truly intrigues me is that the poll results point to a Black America firmly believing that their lives are a "glass half-filled" rather than "glass half empty".


RESULTS OF THE POLL: Black Opinions in the Age of Obama: Results of a National Zogby Poll
So, what did the poll, which I have chosen to entitle Black Opinions in the Age of Obama reveal? African Americans have an immense sense of pride in Barack Obama as President of the United States and he is unequivocally liked. He receives a 91% favorable rating. Seventy-two percent believe that President Obama's election has helped them while only 4% believe his election has hurt them.

Consistent with the data that shows that African Americans believe that President Obama's election has helped them, a majority of those polled - 62 percent - are optimistic about employment in the next four years.

Thirty percent (30%) of the respondents say they are doing better off financially than they were four years ago, about half say they are at least doing the same, and twenty-five percent (25%) say that "African Americans in general" are doing better while forty-four percent (44%) say they are doing about the same and twenty-one percent (21%) say they are worse off.

On race relations, tied to this feeling that the Obama presidency has been positive for African Americans fifty-three percent (53%) say that white-African American relations will improve, while only twenty-three (23%) are pessimistic.

When asked why they believed the Black unemployment rate was double that of whites. Responses include:
* Failure of the education system for minorities/African Americans (50%)
* Lack of corporate commitment to hiring minorities/African Americans (48%)
* Lack of good government policies (25%)

As to whether respondents felt they were overlooked or discounted as a serious candidate for employment because of their race, forty-seven (47%) percent said yes and thirty-nine percent (39%) said no.

When asked why the wealth gap has increased by $70,000 over the last 20 years, nearly half (47%) of respondents say that both the lack of jobs and a lack of access to capital are to blame for the wealth gap between whites and African Americans.

Since I agree that unemployment and access to capital are the most pressing issues for African Americans, I also asked in the poll about something I have been promoting for the last few years - what I have called The RLJ Rule.

Two years ago at this Press Club, I spoke about The RLJ Rule which is adapted from the National Football League's (NFL) Rooney Rule. In 2003, the NFL established the Rooney Rule, which mandated subject to a fine, that the 32 teams give fair interviews to qualified minority candidates whenever a head coaching or general manager position becomes available before making a new hire.

The RLJ Rule, unlike the Rooney Rule, is voluntary and designed to encourage companies to establish best practice policies to identify and interview at least two African Americans at the managerial level before filling a position and to interview qualified Black businesses prior to awarding a procurement contract.

We included a description of The RLJ Rule in the poll and found that 75 percent polled were either "very" or "somewhat" supportive. Forty-seven percent of respondents said it would help African Americans' chances to be hired or to become a minority supplier and 53 percent said they would like to see The RLJ Rule enacted into law.

With these critical economic issues facing the African American community, the poll asked who was the person or organization that would be the voice for African Americans to ensure their voice was heard at the national level. The leading civil rights/economic empowerment organizations scored very well.

The NAACP received an 83% favorable rating, the National Urban League received a 69% favorable rating, and the Congressional Black Caucus received a 68% favorable rating. When respondents were asked for the name of individuals who best represents their interests, an overwhelming 40% said no one speaks for them.

A segment of the poll focused on issues related to the emergence of the Hispanic population, race relations, guns, gay rights, and the 2016 presidential election:

Hispanics - Sixty-three percent favor a path to full citizenship within 10 years for Hispanics who are here illegally, while only 16% say they should "never" achieve full citizenship. Interestingly enough, 51% of African Americans believe that Hispanics "will achieve greater economic growth than African Americans over the next five years". Thirty-nine percent (39%) of 18-29 year olds shared this feeling and sixty-percent (60%) of those over 50 years old.

Some of the reasons include:
* Hispanics face less racism than African Americans
* Hispanic lifestyle/work ethics
* Hispanics given more opportunity/education is better

Guns - Sixty-seven percent (two out of three polled) favor a ban on assault weapons, while 20% oppose such a ban. This includes a majority of all age groups.

Expressing a deep concern about reaction to crime in the Black community, seventy-five percent (three out of four) believe that the Nation pays less attention to Black on Black crimes than on gun crimes against whites.

Gay Rights - African Americans are evenly split on the issue of same sex marriage. Forty-two percent feel that marriage is exclusively defined as between a man and a woman; while 40% would support gay marriages having the same rights as heterosexual couples. We also asked a question about ministers who oppose homosexuality and gay marriage.

The results were evenly split:
* One in three (34%) support the ministers;
* One in three (31%) say the ministers are wrong; and
* One in three (35%) have no opinion

2016 Presidential Race - We asked this question, if the Democratic primary for President were held today, for whom would you vote and who should President Obama endorse to succeed him as the next President of the United States?

* Out of six potential Democratic candidates, nearly half of the respondents (46%) say they would support Hillary Clinton for President if the Democratic primary was held today and about one in five would support Vice President Biden.


CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the Zogby poll clearly demonstrates, for African Americans, having an African American President elected to two terms has created a tremendous feeling of unparalleled political pride.

Because of this feeling, and despite all of the economic challenges before us, I believe that African Americans are uniquely hopeful about their future. Interestingly enough, this emotion and belief was expressed by President Obama during his recent speech to the people of Israel. Speaking about the African American experience, the President said, "To African Americans, the story of the Exodus told a powerful tale about emerging from the grip of bondage to reach for liberty and human dignity - a tale that was carried from slavery through the civil rights movement. For generations this promise helped people weather poverty and persecution while holding on to the hope that a better day was on the horizon."

I completely agree with the President. However, my concern and maybe even fear is that if this faith-like hope, or "promise of a better day on the horizon" is not rewarded with real and measureable economic change during and after the Obama presidency, the failure to do so could, and that would be regrettable, result in a major shift from hope to despair for millions of African Americans who today look at this Nation in the age of Obama and say "our glass is half-filled and we are still hopeful".

After a 2012 season in which the Pittsburgh Pirates showed great promise, poise and excellent baseball that produced a winning a winning record for most of the summer, they hoped to start the 2013 season strong with good pitching and hitting.

Unfortunately those hopes will have to wait until their second game of the season because the Pirates home opener was not so successful as they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Chicago Cubs in their home opener in front of  39,078 fans who braved 39 degree temperatures by bundling up to support their team.

Starter AJ Burnett (16-10 in 2012) took the hill for his first-ever Opening Day start and was hoping to continue his success against a team in which he almost had a no-hitter July 31st last season. He had held the Cubs to no hits for 8 innings until pinch-hitter Adrian Cardenas ended it with a base hit to right field and finished with a one-hit complete game 5-0 shutout,the best performance by a Pirate pitcher in 2012. His opponent on the mound was Cubs pitcher Jeff Samadzija (9-13 in 2012)

Well, the Cubs wasted no time getting hits off Burnett in this game. After he struck out leadoff hitter David DeJesus, shortstop Starlin DeCastro lined a single to left field and then first baseman Anthony Rizzo saw a Burnett pitch that he liked and promptly hit it over 400 feet into the center-field seats for a 2-run home run and a 2-0 Cubs lead.

The Pirates did their best to respond in the bottom half of the first inning as leadoff hitter Sterling Marte was walked by Samadzija. Right fielder Andrew Jones then lined a pitch to second baseman Alberto Gonzalez, who bobbled the ball which made Marte and Jones were safe.  2012 All-Star Andrew McCutchen advanced the runners for the first out, but third baseman Pedro Alvarez and  first Baseman Gaby Sanchez ended all hopes with both players struck out to end the inning.

Burnett recovered by shutting out the Cubs in the next several innings and striking out 9 batters in that span before giving up a double to catcher Wellington Castillo which scored right fielder Nate Schierholtz to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead. Burnett (0-1) finished with 10 strikeouts in 5 innings for the day. Relief pitchers Justin Wilson, Jared Hughes and Mark Melancon relieved Burnett and did not give up a run the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, the Pirates bats were of no support to Burnett as they only managed one hit when he was on the mound, which indicates how great a game that Samadzija had. The Cubs Pitcher (1-0)struck out 9 Pirate batters and gave up only two hits in 8 innings before giving way to closer Carlos Marmol (20 saves in 2012)

That’s when the Pirates bats woke up after McCutchen reached first base after getting hit from a pitch by Marmol, then he stole second to get in scoring position. That’s when Alvarez lined a single up the middle that scored McCutchen for the first Pirates run of the game. Marmol was replaced by reliever James Russell who got second baseman Neil Walker to line out to right field and Kyuji Fujikawa earned the save as he got new catcher Russell Martin to pop out to second base to end the game.

Notes: Before the game, McCutchen received two awards that honored his spectacular 2012 season. He received the Rawlings Gold Glove award, annually given to the player judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performance at each position, and the Silver Slugger award, given annually to the best offensive player at each position. The last Pirate to win a Gold Glove was OF Nate McClouth (2008) and the last Pirate to win a Silver Slugger was Jay Bell in 1993. Bell currently serves as the Pirates pitching coach.

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“We need the stability of a leader who has the experience to move this city and the region forward,” says State Representative Ed Gainey, “and that’s why I’m here today to endorse Bill Peduto as the city’s next Mayor.”

            Gainey, in addition to representing the 24th Legislative District in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives, served as the Allegheny County Democratic Committeeman in the 12th Ward’s 10th District until he resigned that post Wednesday in order to endorse Peduto’s candidacy on Wednesday at the “People for Peduto” campaign office on Highland Avenue in East Liberty.

            Peduto says Gainey’s endorsement is an honor, because Gainey is “not only a newly-elected leader, but someone who has been a leader in the community for years.”

            “Over the years, I’ve been able to watch as Ed builds a movement,” says Peduto. “It’s a movement that extends far beyond the East End, it’s a movement all throughout the city. When I talk about building a new coalition, not the same people, not the same old groups that have been there forever, I talk about people like Ed Gainey.”

            “Pittsburgh is at a pivotal point,” says Gainey, “and I’m glad that we’re going to have a gentleman running for Mayor who has the type of experience we need to grow Pittsburgh, working with the middle class families to watch them grow, who has always been able to involve community.”

            Peduto “has always supported working-class families by supporting unions,” Gainey says, “and making sure that we’re growing the middle class. We need that in a leader right now.”

            “We are the City of Champions, and we need Bill Peduto to champion the types of activity necessary to grow the city,” says Gainey.

            “The main reason I support Peduto is because we need someone who’s going to work across all levels of government, from the city to the county to the state. That resonates in this campaign because so many elected officials support Bill Peduto,” Gainey says. “With that type of support going forward, we have the ability to get things done in Pittsburgh that we have not done before.”

            In addition to Gainey, Peduto has received endorsements from State Senator Wayne Fontana, State Representative Erin Molchany, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, and fellow Council Members Bruce Kraus and Natalia Rudiak, who he calls “the future of Pittsburgh.”

            “We have a coalition that we’ve built with elected leaders,” Peduto says, “and we’ve also been able to team that up with the endorsements of six unions, service unions, unions for the public service employees of the City of Pittsburgh, and unions that represent the building trades. This campaign represents diversity over many different spectrums, but what it really represents is a new coalition for the future.”

            “We were born to respect the past,” Peduto says, “but we also know that there is a new Pittsburgh on the horizon, and with this type of leadership, we’re going to be able to get there.”

            “In a six person race, our goal is to get as close to 50 percent of the votes as possible,” says Peduto, “and I think we’re the only campaign that has that opportunity, so we just have to do our work to get our message out to people. I know that it’s a message that will resonate and they’ll want to be a part of.”

            As of 2:15 Wednesday, the last day to officially withdraw from the Primary race, Peduto says he heard no rumors, nor had discussions, with other candidates regarding their intentions to remain in the running; however, City Council President Darlene Harris withdrew from the race before the close of business at the Division of Elections leaving Peduto with only four opponents in the Democratic Primary: Former State Auditor General Jack Wagner, State Representative Jake Wheatley, community activist AJ Richardson and City Controller Michael Lamb.

            “We’re not making any deals,” Peduto says, “and there’s no quid pro quo involved in any of our endorsements. It’s a matter of understanding where we want to take this city.”

            One former contestant, State Senator Jim Ferlo, who announced his withdrawal earlier, endorsed Peduto opponent Wagner earlier on Wednesday. Also endorsing Wagner were the International Association of Firefighters Local 1, who had originally endorsed Mayor Luke Ravenstahl in late 2012, the Fraternal Order of Police Fort Pitt Lodge Number 1, the Operating Engineers Local 66 and Teamster’s Local 249.

            “Jack’s been around for 30-some years,” says Peduto. “I’m sure he has been able to build up a certain loyalty. I don’t take anything away from [the endorsements], but I don’t put anything on it.”

            “We’ll go with what we have on board: The Ed Gaineys and Erin Molchanys. Rich Fitzgerald and Wayne Fontana. Bruce Kraus and Natalia Rudiak,” Peduto says. “SEIU and Laborers. Medics and Ironworkers and Steelworkers.”

            “We’ve been able to build a new coalition, and that’s only the beginning. It’s about a new Pittsburgh. Not about the same people and organizations who have been around for 20-30 years.”

            “With the election of Barack Obama, the African-American community has politically evolved,” says Gainey. “They are more active than they have been in the past, and they want to know the candidate is in their interest, and they go to the polls with that in mind.”

            “The notion that I want to eliminate is that we are a ‘tale of two cities,’” Gainey says. “Sometimes you don’t have to look at it as an African-American or Caucasian city: We’re all just one city, called the city of Pittsburgh.
            Gainey says that often in urban areas, “what impacts one ethnic group impacts the other ethnic group, so a lot of times, it doesn’t come down to ethnicity, it comes down to ‘How do we repair and rebuild our urban area?’”

            “All the candidates come with a [geographical] base,” Gainey says. “The key is how much can you grow your base, and I think Peduto is more in position to grow the base.  Bill’s been able to put together a good organization that is about the people, and is concerned with issues that most have an impact on the African-American community.”

            “We are the 15th largest major metropolitan city,” says Gainey. “We have to look down the line and say ‘What does this look like in 20 years?’ Do we just want a lower-class community, or do we want an African-American middle class?”

            “There’s a difference between Issue and Interest,” Gainey says. “When we talk about interest, I think about who has the ability to bring people together in a way that has impacted positive growth. I think Peduto has done those things in the past.”

            “Even in the neighborhoods that Bill does not live in, he has come out and helped those communities, whether it’s development plans or connecting them to resources. That’s the type of activity that shows you are about the interest of the neighborhood and making sure that it’s being taken care of, not just discussing the issues,” Gainey says.

            “The candidates need to tell the people how they’re going to address the systematic problems,” Gainey says. “How are you going to create entrepreneurship, how are you going to create development, how are you going to be active in the community and rebuild and revitalize the community?”

            “They need to create a plan for growth, to show they know what’s going on in the community and how they can help it. What are you going to do to stop what’s going on right now?”

            “When Peduto introduced the Lost and Stolen Handgun legislation, that was major. That finally said ‘we know the impact that has had in the community,’ and he’s saying ‘we are going to try, here’s what I’m going to do to help,” Gainey says, “and that’s what we need.”

            “We need to make sure that the underserved communities are addressed,” says Gainey, “because when they are addressed, how much greater will the city be?”

By Nancy Hart

nancy@urbanmediatoday.com

Twitter: @nhart543

For the past two days, the questions have been how the Pitt Panthers basketball team would fare in a potential Third Round matchup against #1 seeded Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament and even a possible chance at another Sweet 16 for the first time since they reached the Elite Eight in 2009. Problem is, they should’ve asked how they would fare against their second round opponent first.

When Pitt’s opponent gets overlooked, it always fails in the end because that opponent eventually makes its presence known, and in this case it was the 9th seeded Wichita State Shockers, who put on a shocker on their own in a 71-55 upset over the 8th seeded Panthers, sending the Panthers home this early for the first time since 2005 when they lost to Pacific.

“Extremely disappointed in the loss.” Head Coach Jaime Dixon said “I know we’re a better team than we showed today. I’m sorry it ended this way for our seniors.”

Dixon was near tears in his postgame conference, especially when he spoke about the fact that it the last game for his departing seniors guard Tray Woodall and Dante Taylor. Dixon especially felt for Woodall, who had an uncharacteristically poor game, shooting 1-12 with only 2 points and 0-5 from 3-point range. He also concluded his career by fouling out-something that he had never done in his 5-year career at Pitt.

“I’m sorry I let my team down” said a very tearful Woodall “It’s the worst game I’ve ever played. I’m sorry.” Taylor was also seen with his head in a towel as time expired.

Dixon is also the subject of rumors connecting him to the vacant head coaching job at USC. He has not officially responded to those rumors and when he was asked about it in the postgame conference, he said “I just had my point guard break down. Furthest thing from my mind.”

As for the game itself, it was a sloppy one for Pitt from start to finish, and the shockers weren’t that far off as both teams as Pitt only trailed 11-9 with 12:00 left in the first half. The Panthers led 13-11 and 19-17 before the Shockers and scoring leader Malcolm Armstead and Clearanthony Early got the Shockers to extend their lead to 26-21 to end the first half. Armstead finished the game with 22 points and Early 21 to lead the Shockers.

Usually Pitt gets it together in the second half, but not this time. Early and Armstead kept the scoring going and the Panthers kept missing jumpers, three point baskets and layups. They shot only 35.2% in the game, and the Shockers were no better shooting 38.2%, but they scored when it mattered, and in the second half, they scored often.

As the second half continued, the Shockers got more confident as they began to run away from the Panthers, who looked totally stunned and yes, shocked by the Shockers.

The only person on Pitt’s team that didn’t look as shocked was freshman Steven Adams as he used college basketball’s biggest stage to put on his finest performance this season by scoring 13 points and 11 rebounds and 2 blocks, all game highs for Pitt. He showed what all expected from him when he started this season. But it was not enough to overcome the clutch scoring by the Shockers who proved to be too much for the Panthers and they eventually sealed the deal, 71-55.

Adams is also dealing with rumors that he may forego his remaining college years for the NBA, but he informed the media that he is ‘definitely’ coming back.

What also hurt the Panthers were turnovers. They committed 15, five from Woodall. The Shockers took advantage of those turnovers and converted them into points. "Our guys took the fight to them, by getting a body on them, being quicker to the ball," Shockers Head Coach Gregg Marshall said. "The steals we had on them were big, big baskets and gave us a lead, and a comfortable lead as the game went on." Early led the shockers with 7 rebounds and Armstead lead with 5 assists. Freshman guard James Robinson led Pitt with 3 assists.

Now the Shockers (27-8) will move onto face #1 seed Gonzaga in the third round which takes place on Saturday with hopes of pulling off another upset, which is the first in this year’s tournament. They play a Gonzaga team who had to comeback from a huge deficit to beat 16th ranked Southern, 64-58.

As for the Panthers well, they not only face a long flight home from Salt Lake City, but a huge offseason of uncertainty because of the rumors of Dixon and Adams, the departures of Woodall and Taylor, and transition because the school will began conference play in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) next season.

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

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Tene’ Croom talked to Monifa Bandele, campaign director for MomsRising.org, a multicultural civil rights organization.  Bandele wants to make everyone aware that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging input on its website about proposed changes it’s considering regarding snacks being offered in public school lunch rooms. No changes have been made in school cafeterias in over 30 years. There’s a deadline to give comments to the USDA. You can hear details in this interview.  Reach Tene’ at tene.croom.tc@gmail.com

After hearing the news that they’re officially back to the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday, the Pitt Panthers basketball team will now focus on the most important aspect as they take on 9th seeded Wichita State on Thursday at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City in Utah. The game is scheduled to start at 1:40pm, and that important aspect is-winning.

Although unhappy about being an 8th seed for only the second time in program history, some say that it was the result of another weak non-conference schedule as well as a disappointing 67-62 loss to Rutgers early in the season and a 72-69 quarterfinal loss to Syracuse in the Big East Tournament, but the Panthers have put that behind them as they prepare to head to Utah and get ready to perform on College Basketball’s biggest and grandest stage.

“That's how it worked out,” Head coach Jaime Dixon said. “We can't do anything about that. What we can do is play well on Thursday and do the best we can against Wichita State.”

“Eighth seed, no one is happy with it,” Guard Tray Woodall said who is playing in his final NCAA Tournament “but we're just happy to be back in the tournament and ready to compete.”

The Panthers had been regular attendees to the NCAA Tournament for 10 straight seasons (2002-2011) until a disappointing 2011-12 season temporarily ended that invite. But this season, they’re back and hope to embark on a deep run that will end with a championship.

Pitt (24-8, 12-6 Big East)  is ranked #20 in the final AP Poll (#22 in final Coaches’ Poll) of the season, but they know that none of that matters now as they get their sights focused on playing the Shockers (26-8, 12-6 MVC) on Thursday. And although a lot of media outlets have the Panthers playing #1 seeded Gonzaga (31-2) in the next round, they know better than to overlook an opponent.

The Shockers led by Head Coach Greg Marshall (6th season) are also an at-large team who fell in their conference tournament and they’re hoping to live up to their nickname and make shockwaves in the NCAA Tournament. Their biggest wins of the season were against VCU and Creighton, both of whom are in the Tournament and their worst losses were against Evansville and against Southern Illinois.

Their best player is junior Cleanthony Early who was named to the All-Missouri Valley first team and was the league's Newcomer of the Year. He led the Shockers in scoring with 13.6 points per game. Senior forward Carl Hall led the team with 7.2 rebounds/game and senior guard Malcolm Armstead led with 4.0 assists per game. As a team, The Shockers rank 27th in the nation in rebounding, averaging 38.4.  They have been to the NCAA Tournament a total of 9 times, with a record of 8-10. Their most recent appearance was just last season in which they suffered an opening round 69-62 loss to VCU.

Woodall led Pitt with 11.8ppg and 5.2 assists per game, freshman center Steven Adams led with 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. As a team, they rank 7th in the country in assists with 16.5/game, and are 18th in the country with a .475 field goal percentage.

WSU and Pittsburgh have three common opponents, the most notable those wild-and-crazy Detroit Titans. You remember them from their high-wire act at Koch Arena, where they pushed the Shockers before losing 94-79 on Feb. 23. Pittsburgh beat Detroit 74-61 on Dec. 1 at Pitt. Both Dixon and Marshall love a deep bench and tough, physical play.

Both teams are strong on defense with the Panthers only giving up 55.4 ppg, and the Shockers giving up 60.7 ppg. Their most recent matchup was in 2009 in which the Panthers beat the Shockers 68-55 in the CBE Classic in Kansas City.

Marshall had this to say about the Panthers: “Off the top of my head, a lot of tough-minded man to man,” Marshall said. “A very physical, strong team that works to get the best shot they can. They’re not in any hurry. The game could be in the 50s.”

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Pic courtesy of wildcatbluenation.com

Honoring Mister Rogers by recognizing corporate leaders in workplace volunteer programs
Pittsburgh, PA (March 19, 2013) – For the third year, United Way of Allegheny County will celebrate volunteerism and celebrate the life and legacy of Mister Rogers on March 20th, what would have been his 85th birthday.
United Way of Allegheny County offers a number of meaningful, sustained, relationship based volunteer opportunities. With signature programs such as Be 1 in a Million, Free Tax Prep, and Open Your Heart to a Senior more than 3,000 volunteers provide invaluable hours of service to the community, the neighborhood.
“With these volunteer opportunities, United Way helps people find ways to be good neighbors every day. Helping children, students, families and seniors.” said Christy Stuber, Director of Volunteer Initiatives, United Way of Allegheny County. On Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Day, United Way will celebrate with a number of activities to raise awareness of the impact volunteers make in the community and what better way than to do so than honoring the values Mister Rogers taught us - being a good neighbor is important.
City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County have both proclaimed March 20th as Good Neighbor Day.
United Way has worked with neighborhood organizations to provide free donuts, free admission, special performances and more to the more than 3,000 volunteers supporting United Way Volunteer Initiatives.
Community Art Project & Display – United Way has partnered with Pittsburgh Glass Center, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, Shadyside Academy and Pitcairn Senior & After School Program to create art projects inspired by Mister Rogers Neighborhood. They have crafted buildings to create a unique United Way Neighborhood. These projects will be on display at the Children’s Museum March 20-23.
The community is invited to join and participate in the celebration, with a lunchtime celebration concert in Market Square on Wednesday, March 20. Wear sneakers. Bring a sweater (men’s, women’s, girls or boys) and donate to United Way. The collected sweaters will be distributed to area organizations; Catholic Charities, South Hills Interfaith Ministries, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, and North Hills Community Outreach. Listen to Pittsburgh band, Neighbours, four guys rocking a few Mister Rogers classics, with media partners WYEP and WESA. Meet Mr. McFeely and learn about the volunteer opportunities available with United Way.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 | 12:00 noon | Market Square
* Photo Op* At 12:15pm a Flash Mob, with dancers from across generations, will perform. Visitors can take pictures with a scaled-down replica of the trolley. Sweaters will be collected. Neighbours will be performing. Mr. McFeely will be taking pictures and signing autographs.

At 5:30pm on March 20th, United Way will continue the celebration of the life and work of Mister Rogers by honoring the companies and their employee volunteers who make our neighborhoods a special place. A Celebration of Volunteering will honor the companies with outstanding volunteer programs.
Companies being honored:
Alcoa, Inc.
BNY Mellon
CCAC
City of Pittsburgh
Eaton Corporation, Equitable
Pittsburgh Board of Education
University of Pittsburgh
UPMC
Rite Aid
Robert Morris University.
In addition to recognizing these companies’ outstanding volunteer programs, United Way will present mini-grants to several partner agencies. These grants will assist the organizations in bolstering their volunteer efforts and help them achieve greater impact in the community.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 | 5:30 – 7:30pm | Children’s Museum
About United Way of Allegheny County – United Way of Allegheny County is a change agent and efficient community fundraiser that improves lives by addressing critical community needs. By convening diverse partners and investing in programs and people to advance solutions, United Way creates long-lasting change and helps children and youth succeed, strengthens and supports families by promoting financial stability, ensures the safety and well-being of vulnerable seniors, and provides county-wide access to information and referral sources meeting basic needs.
www.UnitedWayPittsburgh.org UnitedWayPittsburgh @UnitedWayPgh #GoodNeighborDay

When the Pitt Panthers beat the Syracuse Orange 65-55 Feb 2, it was stated that Pitt benefited from the absence of forward James Southerland. Of course in the spirit of sportsmanship, neither Pitt or Syracuse would admit that or use that as an excuse as to how they played that day, but with Southerland playing in the rematch of their Big East Tournament Quarterfinal game at Madison Square Garden, it appears that whoever said that was absolutely correct.

Southerland made his presence known as he scored a game-high 20 points and was an amazing 6-6 from 3-point range as he helped #19 Syracuse(25-8) beat the #17th ranked Panthers (24-8) 62-59, and moving onto face the #5Georgetown Hoyas (25-5) in the Semifinal round on Friday. Southerland hit five of his six 3-pointers in the first half alone.

But he wasn’t the only one as Syracuse as a team was 12-19 in 3-point baskets (63.2%) which included guard CJ Fair’s 3, guard Brandon Triche’s 2 and even guard Michael Carter-Williams hit one and he’s usually 28% beyond the arc. But when you’re hot, you’re hot.

Unfortunately the Panthers were not hot as they also attempted 19 three-point shots, only to connect on 6 (31.6%) and 3 of those 6 belonged to guard Tray Woodall who attempted a game-high 8.

Plus the Panthers were cold from the start of the game after spotting the Orange a 10-6 lead, they came back to take the lead 11-10 on a jumper by forward Talib Zanna. The game was then tied at 14 until Syracuse went on an impressive 15-1 run in which they did not miss a basket unlike Pitt and were suddenly leading 29-18 before Coach Jaime Dixon pulled his team in for a timeout. Although center Steven Adams’ jumper and guard James Robinson’s 3-pointer and free throws closed the gap to 32-27, the Orange continued to make baskets as they extended their lead to 37-27. And if that alone didn’t hurt Pitt, Fair put up a 3-pointer at the buzzer and made it to give them a commanding 40-27 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Pitt tried to get off to a good start as Robinson’s layup closed the lead to 40-29, but the Orange kept the 3-pointer going and eventually were leading 37-27 with 10:42 left to play. And then back came the Panthers as Robinson and Patterson made jumpers and then Woodall hit a huge 3-pointer to close the lead to 47-43. But that was short-lived as Carter-Williams hit his back-breaking 3-pointer to extend Syracuse’s lead to 50-43.

Southerland hit his final 3-pointer of the game to extend their lead to 55-47 and then the Panthers struck again with a tip spot by forward Lamar Patterson and a layup by Zanna and it was 55-51 Orange.

Robinson’s free throw closed it to 56-52 with 2:39 left to play and then Woodall jumper and free throw closed it to 58-55. And with 32 seconds left to play, Patterson missed a wide-open 3-point attempt and it was rebounded by Zanna who was fouled as he scored and the Panthers were only trailing 58-57.One of the Panthers albatross all season was free throw shooting and Zanna helped remind everyone of that when he missed his free throw and then fouled Carter-Williams who made both free throws to extend Syracuse’s lead to 60-57. Although Patterson made a late layup, it was too late as the Orange sealed the 62-59 win.

Patterson led Pitt with 14 points and 11 rebounds and Robinson had 4 assists. For the Orange, Fair had 7 rebounds and Carter-Williams had 7 assists.

This was the final Big East game for the Panthers as their next conference game will be in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) but even though this loss was painful, they know that their season is not over as they get ready to see who they will be playing in the NCAA Tournament which begins next week. The Panthers are projected as a 6th seed.

The Orange will also be leaving for the ACC, but have put off departure plans for at least another night as they try to take the Big East championship trophy out the door with them. But to do that, they have to beat a hot Hoya team who’s led by Big East Player of the year Otto Porter.

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

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Pic courtesy of washingtonpost.com

The Pitt Panthers basketball team is over and after last season’s setback, they can enter the postseason with their eyes on bigger and better things. Pitt rebounded from a disappointing 22-17 overall record (5-13 Big East) in 2011-12 to a more ‘Pitt-like’ 24-7 (12-6) record this season. They also open this week ranked #17 in the AP Poll (#19 in Coaches’ Poll) and when you play that well and play in a major conference like the Big East then you know an invite to the NCAA Tournament is coming.

But that’s next week, this week is Conference Championship Week and for the Panthers that means the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Panthers are that #4 seed which gives them the unique double-bye which means that they will not play until Quarterfinal Round on Thursday at 2pm. Their opponents could be the Syracuse Orange, Seton Hall Pirates or South Florida Bulls all of which Pitt beat in the regular season. That puts Pitt only 3 games away from the Big East Tournament championship, something they haven’t been to (and won) since 2008. They also won the championship in 2003.

This is also a sentimental tournament for Pitt as it marks their final one as they will be departing the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013-14. Pitt has advanced to seven of the last 12 Big East Championship Finals and has captured two tournament titles in both 2003 and 2008. Pitt owns a 20-11 record in Big East Championship games since 2000-01. Named Madison Square Garden’s “Team of the Decade” from 2000-10, Pitt has claimed 18 of its last 27 contests at MSG and owns a sterling 30-15 record at MSG since 2000-01. The first Big East Tournament game will be its 46th game at MSG since the 2000-01 season and 89th all-time.

Since 2000-01, Pitt has claimed a league-leading 20 victories at the Big East Championships, followed by Syracuse (16), Connecticut (16), Georgetown (14), Louisville (11) and Villanova (10).Pitt has also won six all-time Big East regular season titles and three league outright titles (1987-88, 2003-04 and 2010-11). Since the 2000-01 season, Pitt has claimed a league-leading six total Big East championships (four regular season titles—2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2010-11 and two tournament titles—2003, 2008).Over the last 12 seasons, Pitt ranks among the nation’s top-5 in overall winning percentage (319-94) and owns the Big East’s best regular season record (141-63).

Pitt Head Coach Jamie Dixon enters his 10th and final Big East Championship with a 12-8 tournament record. In 2008, he guided Pitt to its second all-time Big East Tournament title and its seventh Big East Championship Finals appearance in school history.

“We had a great history there” Dixon said about being in the Big East “We’ve tried to treat Madison Square Garden as our second home. That’s our mentality and we expect to play well there.”

Dixon and his players were getting ready to board the bus en route to New York and he said that they had a good practice and he thinks they’re ready. “Everyone’s good and was out there. No one got hurt on the off-day. We’re ready to go.”

In the 81-66 win vs. DePaul Saturday, guard Tray Woodall injured his knee despite finishing the game and scoring 18 points. When asked about the status of his knee, he replied “It’s good. It’s not bad enough to hold me out. If it was, I would’ve just sat out or Coach would’ve approached me.” When asked about the difference between last season and this season forward JJ Moore replied “Last year it was a downfall for us, we just wanted to play hard in the summer and go out and play better than last year. Our goals are set and we’re just gonna keep going with it.”

Notes:  The Big East gave out several individual awards on Monday, Louisville center Gorgui Dieng, has been named Big East Defensive Player of the Year by a vote of the league’s head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own players. The league also announced that Kadeem Batts of Providence and Michael Carter-Williams of Syracuse are co-winners of the Big East Most Improved Player Award.  Marquette junior forward Davante Gardner has won the Big East Sixth Man Award.  His teammate Junior Cadougan has been named the winner of the Big East Sportsmanship Award.

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The 17th ranked Pitt Panthers basketball team found out who their opponent will be as they prepare for their debut in the Big East Tournament, and it will be a rematch with the 19th ranked Syracuse Orange Thursday 2pm at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Benefits of a double-bye as a result of a 4th place finish in Big East regular season play, the Panthers (24-7, 12-6) had to wait for Seton Hall to beat South Florida and then Syracuse (24-8, 11-7) to beat Seton Hall before they found out who they would be playing. The Panthers beat the then 6th ranked Orange in a 65-55 upset on Feb. 2, that win catapulted Pitt into the Top 25 and they stayed there the rest of the regular season. The Panthers overpowered the Orange in that game and led from start to finish and prompted Coach Jim Boeheim to say that Pitt was the best team in the Big East. Guard Tray Woodall led Pitt with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals, and Syracuse forward CJ Fair led all scorers with 20 points.

This game has a lot of irony for both teams as it will be the last Big East Tournament for both as they will be moving to the ACC next season, and they will also be concluding a Big East rivalry that has been going on since Pitt joined the conference in 1982. The winner of this game will face the Cincinnati/Georgetown winner on Friday.

Pitt has 4 regular season Big East championships and 2 in the tournament, while Syracuse has 3 regular-season regular season championships and 2 in the tournament. Head Coach Jaime Dixon has a 12-8 (.600) record in the tournament and Boeheim had a 47-28 (.620) in the tournament.

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 As the clock ticked 4pm on Tuesday March 12, a group of folks in this country began to celebrate and scream ‘Happy New Year!’ because a new year has arrived-for the NFL that is, as their new fiscal year officially ushered in the 2013 season. And that means free agency for the true celebrants, the hundreds of unrestricted free agents who can now receive huge financial offers from teams around the league.

No 2013 free agent had more anticipation than wide receiver Mike Wallace. The 2009 3rd round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers quickly became an ex-Steeler as he decided to take his talents to South Beach and agree to the largest deal of the day-a 5-year $65 million contract with the Miami Dolphins which includes a $30 million signing bonus. This contract will also pay Wallace $13 million annually.

Wallace, 26 had been seeking this type of payday a year ago, when he was a restricted free agent, but teams were unwilling to give up a first round pick for him. Plus the Steelers were unable to immediately re-sign him due to being $25 million over the salary cap. They refused to Franchise Tag him, but offered him the highest one-year tender of $2.7 million with hopes that they would eventually sign him to a long-term deal. But Wallace was none too thrilled as he refused to sign that tender and held out through OTA’s, mini-camp, training camp.

There were reports that they did offer a new contract to Wallace, but when he didn’t accept, they gave that money to fellow wide receiver Antonio Brown in the form of a 6 year $42.5 million deal. When Wallace finally did report to sign his tender before the final preseason game, it was obvious that this would be his final season in Pittsburgh.

During his career with the Steelers, Wallace caught 235 passes for 4,042 yards and 32 touchdowns. He had two 1,000 yard seasons and was a starter in the Pro Bowl in 2011. He helped lead the Steelers to a Super Bowl in 2010 in which they lost to the Green Bay Packers. In that game, he caught 9 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.

But the Dolphins were not done as they had previously re-signed their current leading receiver Brian Hartline to a new deal a week ago. After inking Wallace, they then signed linebacker Daniel Ellerbe from the super bowl champion Baltimore Ravens to a 5 year deal worth $35 million.

Miami was not the only team to use money to lure a player away from the super bowl champs as the Cleveland Browns signed linebacker Paul Kruger to a 5-year deal worth $40 million. Kruger led the Ravens with 9 sacks (4.5 in the playoffs) including 2 in their super bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers.  It has truly been an interesting week so far for the Ravens as they traded wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the 49ers for a 6th round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. This all took place after the champs re-signed super bowl MVP quarterback Joe Flacco to a 6 year $120 million deal.

Wallace’s former team the Steelers were a little busy too as they re-signed veteran linebacker Larry Foote to a 3-year deal, keeping the Arizona Cardinals off his trail. They also re-signed veteran wide receiver Plaxico Burress to a one-year deal, and re-signed guard Ramon Foster to a 3-year deal on Monday.

Other deals included: Former New York Giants tight end Marcellus Bennett signing a deal with the Chicago Bears, who also added former New Orleans Saints tackle Jemon Bushrod. The Indianapolis Colts signed former Detroit Lions tackle Gosder Cherilus and former Green Bay Packers linebacker Erik Walden. The Kansas City Chiefs officially announced the acquisition of former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and cornerback Namdi Asomugha was released by the Philadelphia Eagles. The Buffalo Bills also released veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

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Pic courtesy of nesn.com

After weeks of rumors and speculation sparked by a federal investigation into Pittsburgh Bureau of Police finances that led to the resignation of Chief Nate Harper and questions about debit cards possessed by bodyguards assigned to protect him, noted absences from scheduled campaign events, and rumors about his mother’s health, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl held a press conference Friday to announce that he was withdrawing from his campaign to gain another term for that office.
Ravenstahl did not resign from his office, saying he intends to complete his term in office, continuing to work at initiatives he feels have been successful, but, he says, “would never have been possible for me without the tireless support of my family, the voters, and my incredible staff.”
‘This success, however, comes at a cost. The grueling demands of this office are difficult to describe, the sacrifices significant,” Ravenstahl says. “Those who pay the greatest price are those who are closest to me.”
“After a careful and considerable amount of thought, I have decided that that price has become too great to endure, and as a result, I am here today to announce that I am dropping my bid for reelection.”
Ravenstahl says his withdrawal comes “with a clear mind: The recent events surrounding police, and the many nasty and vicious allegations levied against me, and those closest to me, have caused me to reflect a great deal and arrive at the decision I have.”
Ravenstahl says that politics will cause many to speculate that the investigation was the impetus for his withdrawal, but that he is not a target of any investigation.
  “I have done nothing wrong,” he says, “and that will be proven over time.”
Ravenstahl says the pressures of the job have been making him consider leaving his post “for some time, probably for the past couple of years.”
For the preceding several days, Ravenstahl says, he devoted a “lot of thought and reflection” to the decision to “make sure I was proceeding with a clear mind, and I’m really happy with my decision.”
Ravenstahl announced he would seek reelection ten days earlier, but says he doesn’t know exactly what it was that caused him to rethink his decision, but “in order to move forward, I had to make a decision.”
“There’s no ‘silver bullet,’ there’s no specific reason, really,” for the Mayor to declare, then withdraw in the span of ten days. “It was just honestly what I’ve been feeling for a long time, and I was probably trying to fight that feeling for a long time, I did fight that feeling for a long time, and for whatever reason, I finally made the decision that I probably should have made three months ago, honestly.”
“My timing is not too good, honestly, but I didn’t want timing to not allow me to make what I thought was the best decision.”
Saying how proud he is of the city and of his own accomplishments, Ravenstahl says that he “will continue to carry that pride over the next ten months” until the expiration of his current term, “and will continue to follow my heart and do the best job that I can.”
Ravenstahl speculated that freedom from campaigning might even make him a more effective leader for the city. “The ability to make decisions without fear of alienating a constituency is a good feeling, and it may allow us to do some things that are perhaps bolder than what someone who might have to run for reelection might consider.”
The Mayor also hopes that he may achieve more cooperation from others in city government “now that they don’t see me as someone they have to defeat. I’m optimistic that may happen, though it’s difficult to predict what’s going to happen.”
“We have ten months, and we will continue to do the job. We may even have the opportunity to do some things that we otherwise wouldn’t have, just given the politics. We’re not going anywhere. We’ll be here for the next ten months and continue to do what we think is best for Pittsburgh.”
The Mayor says that allegations made by a former bodyguard that those officers were asked to pad their timesheets as a possible cover for his own late-night activities are “simply not true.”
Ravenstahl says he has not considered endorsing one of the two remaining candidates in the race, City Council Member Bill Peduto or City Controller Mike Lamb. Ravenstahl says that in fact, he has a specific candidate in mind who he would encourage to enter the race, but would not identify the candidate.
Ravenstahl’s comment immediately sparked a firestorm of speculation about the identity of the “mystery candidate.”
State Auditor Jack Wagner, who leaves that office due to term limits, has already publicly stated that he was considering entering the race. Other names being bandied are Wagner’s niece, former State Representative and Allegheny County Controller Chelsea Wagner,  who has said she would not rule out a run for the post, State Senator  and former City Council Member Jim Ferlo, current City Council President Darlene Harris, who admits she is considering a run, and Dan Onorato, a former City Council Member, Allegheny County Controller, gubernatorial candidate and who served as the first Allegheny County Executive, who now works for Highmark. 
Many others are rumored to also be considering a run for the post, now that the pressure of facing an incumbent candidate have been lifted, including City Council Member Reverend Ricky Burgess and his fellow Council Member Daniel Lavelle, although Lavelle says he is “only considering.”
Asked whether his brother, State Representative Adam Ravenstahl, might be the Mayor’s candidate of choice, Luke Ravenstahl was drowned out by his mother, who stood next to his father alongside her son for the entire conference, with her resounding “No!”
Peduto, who has been campaigning for the office a third time, says entering the race at this point would be challenging for almost any contender.
“In the next twelve weeks, they would have to create a committee, get the required number of signatures on petitions [250 registered Democratic voters by Tuesday, March 12], start fundraising, build a staff, and open a headquarters and rise up to $1 million.”
Peduto says his own campaign will continue as it has been, “because I wasn’t running against Luke, I was running for Pittsburgh,” although “the message may get tweaked a little.” Peduto says that Ravenstahl’s supporters are now “looking for who’s most likely to win.”
Addressing Ravenstahl’s own campaign “war chest,” Peduto says he expects the Mayor will contact major donors to assess what to do with the fund, estimated to be more than $900,000.
If he doesn’t return the donations, Ravenstahl can give as much as $8000 to any other candidate for the office, $4000 for a primary campaign and an additional $4000 for the General Election, and half as much as that to a campaign for any other city office.
“That’s for the city,” says Peduto. “There are no limits for county or state races, so if he wanted to, he could give it all to his brother [State Representative Adam Ravenstahl].”
Peduto says he knows what the Mayor is going through right now, having withdrawn from the same race six years previously. “I know how hard that decision is. I know where he’s at right now, and I wish him the best.”
Lamb says he respects the mayor’s decision to withdraw, wishing the Mayor and his family the best. “As our city continues to face serious challenges, I hope to work with the Mayor, his Administration, and City Council for the remainder of his term toward our common goal of improving Pittsburgh and the lives of the people who call it home.” Lamb says that he welcomes anyone in the city into the debate.
Ravenstahl choked up a bit when asked about how his staff reacted to his decision to leave the race. “It was emotional. These folks have invested themselves in me. I have some folks here who’ve worked with me, dedicate their life and put up with that same scrutiny and [whose] commitment is incredible. They understand and support what I’m doing.”
“I think I freaked out a lot of my staff when I told them this is not a somber day,” Ravenstahl said. “All of those people that may not have agreed with that decision are standing with me, and I’m blessed to have a tremendous amount of support from people who may be in the back crying or at home watching who are crying, but I’m happy.”
Ravenstahl says the public nature of the job was unexpected, but also says he does not blame the media for anything. “I’m not angry at you guys; I understand the job you have to do. I just wish you understood the job we have to do a little better, but it’s just the nature of the jobs we have to do.”
“I dislike the ability of folks to say and do whatever they want to say and do, regardless of any truth to it,” Ravenstahl says. “I dislike the politics of it, the people who are in it to win at any cost. But that’s not going to change, regardless of what I’d like.”
Ravenstahl says that he expects issues with the Bureau of Police will be resolved satisfactorily under the direction of Acting Chief Regina McDonald, and does not expect to be called for questioning again by federal investigators. “I will continue to cooperate like I have,” however, should that become necessary.
“I was told point-blank that I wasn’t a target, and I know I’m not a target, because I didn’t do anything wrong. That’s what I’m most confident about, as the investigation continues.”
“We will entrust that the Chief will lead the way” to restoring morale to the troubled bureau. “I don’t plan on doing her job for her, just like I didn’t do Chief Harper’s job for him. I’ve entrusted her with the position, and I think she’ll do a good job. The rank and file officers are great officers, and I think they’ll respond to her leadership.” 
While Ravenstahl has no career plans at this point, other than as unpaid coach to four-year-old son Connor’s tee-ball team, he says that he will not rule out a return to politics. 
“I know that I will always live in Pittsburgh. I’m pretty opening minded to anything at this point, but I haven’t had any conversations with anyone at this point,” says Ravenstahl, who holds a degree in Business Administration from Washington and Jefferson College.
Asked whether his future might include a post in the administration of any future mayor, including his “mystery candidate,” Ravenstahl said “No. I will rule that one out,” with a laugh.
“I look forward to having more time with my family, my brothers, my son, obviously, and I think that will be my focus.”

By Nancy Hart
nancy@urbanmediatoday.com
Twitter: @nhart543

Looking back at my life, I can honestly say that I have been blessed by many folks who have played a part of my 40 years on this earth. Some who just passed by, and there were some who were a permanent fixture in my life for years, and what they taught me has stuck with me to this day. It’s so important to realize that this marathon called life is not only lived by the one who lives it, but also supported by those who will play a part in that life. I know for a fact that the positive persons in my life truly outweighed the negative persons in my life to the point that they don’t even exist anymore.

But in this article for Black History Month, I honor a person who made a tremendous difference to me and who had left a mark on me that was so impactful that it will never be erased and that person is named Walter Butler.

From the age of 12 until my young adult years, Walter has been a Youth Leader, basketball coach, mentor and friend. He truly fit the description of what it meant to be a ‘Big Brother.’ I first met Walter in 1985 when I was a youngster at Bethany Baptist Church which was the same year that he began attending that local assembly. A native of Philadelphia, Walter ended up in Pittsburgh as a result of taking classes at Duquesne University and stayed almost 20 years. He also met a University of Pittsburgh student by the name of Renee’ Jones who eventually became his wife. I had known Renee’ for several years before she married Walter. They currently reside in Harrisburg Pa and have two children, Jonathan and Jasmine.

I sum up the impact that Walter had on my life in 3 points: Spiritual, life and sports

Spiritual-As a Christian, Walter not only taught what the Bible said, he lived by it. What my friends and I saw in church is what we saw out of it, which defines integrity. He truly had a burden and passion for young folks to know Jesus Christ. He taught Sunday School,  and was committed to the youth as he and Renee’ operated the ‘Youth Alive’ youth group in which we learned about life, dealing with peer pressure and the importance of responding based on what the Bible said. He not only held the Youth Alive meetings at the church, he also hosted them in his house as well as took us to different churches, missions events and national youth events such as DC ’88, Pittsburgh ’89 and Lake Champion, which were sponsored by the Christian youth organization called Young Life. I believe such exposure to these experiences helped confirm my call to ministry.

Life-Walter always talked to us about life, and what it meant to be an African-American and Christian. He challenged us to speak out minds and be confident in making sound decisions. And once again, he not only stayed on us about it, he also exemplified it with how he treated others, his wife and his children. He encouraged me to never feel limited in what I could do and that I could accomplish anything that I could put my mind to, and not be caught up in stereotypes regarding the color of my skin. Even as teenagers, he would talk to us about dating, and to set the standards of what we looked for in a girl and to never lower or compromise those standards. (Which reflects who I married) Unlike today’s age where it seems like the trust has waned with some adults spending time kids, Walter was proven to be trustworthy and even spoke to my parents on a regular basis especially when they had questions about the youth group. He was not there to take the place of my parents, but he stayed in his lane as a mentor. I’ll never forget the book that he gave me called The measure of a Man by Gene Getz It taught me that a real man was to take the example of Christ, and it shaped me into the Christian man that I am today. I was able to reconnect with him in 2006 and he gave me sound advice just days before my wedding.

Sports-Walter not only loved sports, but he played them-and quite well. He was excellent at basketball and he invited the youth group to play at the Salvation Army and other venues on a regular basis as well and we even played in Christian basketball tournaments in Ohio. I learned to appreciate basketball because of his knowledge and my friends and I watched a lot of games with him. He also took my friends and I to a few Pirates games because he knew of my love for baseball.  He taught me to use my strengths on the court and not worry about what I could not do and he always encouraged us to be aggressive.

So I’m grateful to God for the role that Walter Craig Butler has played in my life and I dedicate African American History to him.

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

Follow me at Ray Porter Jr@urbanmediaRay on twitter

1.      I wanted to start things off by honoring Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, who passed away a few days ago at age 80. He basically was Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones before he was Jerry Jones as far as ownership style and influence.

2.      Since buying the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979, he drafted Earvin “Magic” Johnson, perhaps the greatest Laker of them all, James Worthy, Kobe Bryant, among others and added players like Shaquille O’Neal and the end result were 10 championships.

3.      Buss was also responsible for adding the ‘Showtime’ to the Lakers as well which put them in a ‘5-star’ status among sports teams like the New York Yankees, Cowboys, Notre Dame, etc.

4.      Bryant and Johnson among others spoke very highly of Buss, stating that they were grateful for the opportunity that he gave them, and Magic in particular, stated that Buss made him into the man that he is today.

5.      O’Neal, who had his clashes with Buss during his time with the Lakers that led to his eventual trade, gave a classy response tweeting that he was “deeply saddened over da loss of the great Dr. Jerry Buss. He was a dear friend, mentor, and brilliant business mind thank u 4 8 gr8 yrs."

6.      NBA Commissioner David Stern had this to say about Dr. Buss: "The NBA has lost a visionary owner whose influence on our league is incalculable & will be felt for decades to come."

7.      As for the rest of the NBA, they’re getting ready for the second half of their season in which the Trade Deadline is approaching (Thursday 2/21 at 3pm) and the rumors are rampant.

8.      Will the Lakers rid themselves of center Dwight Howard who has been nothing but a ‘Drama King’ to that team? Will Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett waives his no-trade clause to be dealt to LA’s other team-the Clippers? Where will Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith be dealt to? Other than MLB’s deadline, this is the most intriguing one.

9.      The other question is whether the Clippers, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks can continue their amazing seasons after equally amazing starts. This time of the season is a different kind of animal and it will separate the men from the boys.

10.  Speaking of Warriors, Coach Mark Jackson is a shoo-in for NBA Coach of the Year. What an amazing job by the first year coach.

11.  Oh-and Happy Belated birthday to the greatest NBA player-Michael Jordan who turned 50 on Sunday.

12.  In NFL news, there are reports that the Miami Dolphins are preparing to offer free agent Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace a deal that could average $12 million a season. My thoughts? Peace out Mike.

13.  And that’s not to be hard on Wallace, he’s a good dude and was pleasant to interview, but he was truly upset over not getting a deal last season and did not like the $2.7 million one year tender that was given to him by the Steelers.

14.  But Wallace is a young man who wants to get paid-and I don’t blame him, but he also had a disappointing 2012 season in which he held out of training camp and had a sup par 816 yards. With the Steelers salary cap issues, they will let him walk.

15.  Mark my words, the Steelers can find another Mike Wallace.

16.  I heard that the KC Chiefs cut WR Steve Breaston. If he can do at least half of what Wallace did, he would be a great addition at WR. Plus, he’s a fan of OC Todd Haley.

17.  Glad that former Pitt Panthers RB Ray Graham was invited to the NFL Combine. His talent will certainly get him drafted.

18.  Speaking of Pitt, that performance by the basketball team vs. Notre Dame on Monday was the worst performance that I’ve ever witnessed. To play like that in front of the home crowd is embarrassing and I hope they learn from it.

19.  Congrats to Serena Williams on being ranked #1 in the world for an 8th time. It just proves that she’s still the best and she was labeled the oldest to be ranked #1 at 31? Wow.

20.  Also congrats to NASCAR driver Danica Patrick becoming the first female driver to win the pole for the Daytona 500. Even Jeff Gordon said that accomplishment is good for the sport.

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

Follow me at Ray Porter Jr. @urbanmediaRay on twitter
Pic courtesy ot brietbart.com

Perhaps Luke Ravenstahl’s reelection campaign is so confident they feel they can defy superstition as Campaign Manager Alethia Henry announced that “13” would be “our lucky number” for this  year’s quest for reelection.

            Or maybe the ultra-youthful staffers are capitalizing on pop star Taylor Swift’s belief that 13 is the luckiest number, bringing her hit singles and innumerable music honors.

            “There are 13 Tuesdays until Election Day,” says Henry. “On Election Day, we have 13 hours to turn out the voters, and it’s 2013, the year we re-elect Mayor Luke.”

            On Tuesday night, as Ravenstahl’s campaign office opened for business on Smallman Street in the former headquarters for Barack Obama’s re-election, Henry was right at home in the same place she had served the president as a member of his 2008 and 2012 campaigns.

            “I’ve lived in places like Flint, Michigan, and Houston, and Detroit — places that have been really devastated economically,” Henry says, but she chose to work for Ravenstahl’s campaign because he “brought Pittsburgh back.”

            The 33-year-old Ravenstahl, who became Mayor of Pittsburgh in 2006 following the death of then-Mayor Bob O’Connor, was happy to take credit for the city’s resurgence.

            Taking the stage amid cries of “Lu-u-u-u-ke,” Ravenstahl said he believes this is “one of, if not the best, times to ever be in Pittsburgh.”

            “There are more people today working in the city of Pittsburgh than ever before,” Ravenstahl says. “One-point-two million people live in the city, more than at the height of the steel industry. Our population, for the first time in my lifetime, is growing.”

            Ravenstahl says employment rates have improved over the past six years he has been in office, especially compared to the loss of 50,000 people 30 years ago due to a “17 or 18 percent” unemployment rate.

            “Pittsburgh is headed in the right direction,” Ravenstahl says, “and I couldn’t be more excited about telling that story.”

            “Everything that happens in this city happens because of hard work,” he says.

            “It hasn’t been easy. We’ve had detractors every step of the way,” Ravenstahl says.       In his only negative reference to his Primary opponents, City Council Member Bill Peduto and City Controller Michael Lamb “A couple of them are running against me.”

             “We clearly have different visions for Pittsburgh,” the Mayor says, “and I believe that our vision is the right one.”

            “We’ve said from the beginning that it’s important to keep what we have here, both from a business perspective and a resident’s perspective,” Ravenstahl says. “How are you going to do that?”

            “We’re going to do that by not raising taxes, which we haven’t done in seven straight years.  Second is by investing in our neighborhoods., making sure they’re safe and clean. For six straight years, our crime rate has dropped, a testament to the hard-working men and women of the police department.”

            “Third and finally is doing what we do best,” Ravenstahl says. “We’ve been fiscally responsible. The decisions we make on an annual basis, when we budget. Sometimes even on a daily basis when I’ve had to say no, and it’s not easy to do that.”

            “I think we’ve been responsible in a way that no other administration has before,” says Ravenstahl. “We haven’t raised taxes, we’ve reduced our debt, and six or seven years later, we’re on the verge of getting out of ‘Act 47’,” a declaration of financial distress allowing the Commonwealth to impose restrictions while conducting fiduciary  oversight.

            “I can’t wait to engage with the citizens of this community,” he says. “I believe we’re headed in the right direction, and I believe the residents of this community believe we’re headed in the right direction.”

            Or, as one campaign staffer pointed out, “Like Bill Clinton said, if there’s a tortoise on a post, it didn’t get there by accident.”

By Nancy Hart

nancy@urbanmediatoday.com



           

What Can Employers and Employees Do?

from Monster.com
When Audrey Murrell's mother was a biology student in the 1950s, she was told that she had to wait for all the white students to finish their experiments before she could use the lab.

Fast-forward to the 1980s, when Murrell was a graduate student herself. The discrimination she faced was not as blatant but just as real. She was excluded from study groups, and other students would take all the copies of homework assignments before she could get one.

"You're left with this feeling of ‘is this discrimination, or is it me, or is it them?'" says Murrell, associate professor of business administration and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh's Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. "You know it's them, [but] it's just harder to prove, because it's not obvious discrimination."

Discrimination in the workplace and academia leads to more than just a bad day. It takes a toll on the physical, mental and emotional well-being of employees and students.

"There are two broad categories of overt discrimination -- threats and intimidation," says Murrell, who for the past 15 years has researched issues such as affirmative action, workplace discrimination, sexual harassment and mentoring practices. "It's clear [these are] discrimination. Then there are subtle forms of discrimination that are more challenging and harder to detect."

Workplace Discrimination Is Common

Forty-six percent of African American workers believe they have been treated unfairly by their employers, compared with 10 percent of whites, according to a 2002 Rutgers University study, "A Workplace Divided: How Americans View Discrimination and Race on the Job." The study also found 28 percent of African Americans and 22 percent of Hispanics/Latinos have experienced workplace discrimination, compared with 6 percent of whites.

"Often, the burden falls on the worker to prove that he or she is being discriminated against," says Murrell. "This can lead to a lot of self-doubt and lack of confidence. Then you're likely to see withdrawal, detaching oneself from the job, which leads to internal bitterness and anger."

The feelings of hopelessness, mistrust, despair and alienation common among people facing bias don't stop at the end of the workday. Stress and depression don't just affect employees at work but also at homeamong family, friends and loved ones.

Hard to Ask for Help

A related issue is the stigma that still surrounds mental health and illness in the African American community. "There's this belief that we have to appear strong at all times," Murrell says. "Many of us don't believe in going to a therapist and discussing our personal business with a stranger. [But] bias and the way it affects our physical and emotional state has very real consequences. Employers have to take notice as well, because these things will negatively impact performance."

What Should Employers Do?

Murrell says employers can address workplace bias through the following actions:

• Recognize the difference between job level and job title. An employee may be granted a particular title, but if the level of responsibility and challenges haven't changed, the worker can feel he is being appeased and that he isn't fully trusted or valued within the organization.
• Examine barriers to both entry and advancement.
• Study companies that consistently do things right. Pay attention to diversity leaders, and integrate their best practices into your workplace culture.
• Concentrate on targeted recruitment strategies.
• Create focused employee-development initiatives such as formal mentorship programs that equalize resources and facilitate diversity.
• Form affinity or diversity groups within the company.

What Should Employees Do?

Workers also play an important part. According to Murrell, they should:

• Participate in company-sponsored affinity and networking groups.
• Join external professional organizations.
• Develop informal social support networks made up of people who can offer insight into workplace issues.
• Consider therapy or counseling. Community-based employee assistance programs also offer more holistic approaches to dealing with workplace issues.
• Seek out a job coach who can help you move to the next level in your career.
• Keep a detailed log of events in case you decide to file a complaint with your supervisors, human resources department, union, a lawyer and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

"Today's discrimination is a lot more subtle," Murrell says. "If we don't tell younger people out there that discrimination has taken a different form, then they'll think they're the problem."

By Michelle K. Massie, Monster Contributing Writer  

On Thursday morning, State Representative Ed Gainey and Pittsburgh City Councilman and Mayoral candidate Bill Peduto hosted a press conference at the intersection of Kelly and Sterrett Streets in Homewood, where the body of a young man was recently found in the bushes, a victim of a gunshot wound.

            Peduto, author of the city’s “lost and stolen gun legislation” passed into law in 2008, says the man’s life may have been saved had the city enforced that law, which requires owners of firearms to report to police when those weapons are stolen or lost.

            “The key is that although it’s been passed,” says Gainey, “we don’t have one person ever charged. The killing that’s happened in the streets, and not one person.”

            Similar legislation has passed in over 50 cities and municipalities across the state, Peduto claims, but City of Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has refused to have the legislation enforced, saying he believes it is “unconstitutional.”

            “We know that there’s an industry out there that’s supplying guns to people who want to use them [illegally], Peduto says. “The industry can be stopped. People are making money on death, and we want to kill the death industry.”

            “This legislation gives police a new tool to figure out who the people who aren’t reporting it are,” says Peduto, “and guess what? In many cases, the same person shows up again and again and again when they find the ‘straw purchaser,’ and it gives [law enforcement] another means to keep the guns out of the hands of those trying to do harm.”

            According to Rob Conroy, Regional Director of  CeaseFirePa, a coalition of citizens active in the fight against gun violence, 77 percent of guns confiscated after use in criminal activity were once legally owned, but “less than half of those were reported lost or stolen before the gun appeared at a crime scene.”

            “This is an issue that’s tearing our city apart. It’s costing us the most important thing we have, which is people,” says Peduto. “It’s something we can actively do something about, and that is unforgivable.”

            “This is about the kids,” says Gainey.

            “When lost or stolen guns get into the hands of the wrong people, who are the victims? Our children. We know [straw purchasers] have no problem putting guns in the hands of 14- and 15-year-olds doing everything they can because they have no idea of the power they have in their hands because they have a gun.”

            Gainey says that elected officials have an obligation to “close all the loopholes to make our city safer.”

            “Why would you let something that has deadly consequences live in the streets,” Gainey asks those who do not report missing handguns. “We’re losing our children, and we’re not taking it as seriously as we need to take it.”

            “Let’s not act like we can’t do whatever’s necessary.”

            “Last year, we lost 96 people,” says Community Activist Adrienne Young, who lost her son, a student at Carnegie Mellon University, to a shooting with a handgun allegedly purchased from a jitney station which was never reported as lost. “This year so far, we’ve lost six. I go from mother to mother. . . It’s fragmenting our community, it’s like a domino effect.”

            “They say the guns are lost, they say that they’re stolen, after the murder.”

            “This is the law in the city of Pittsburgh. It’s not being enforced,” says Peduto.

            “People who are of age have a right to drink, but we encourage people not to drink and drive,” says Reverend Dr. John Welch of Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network. “It’s a level of responsibility.”

            “We’re not trying to tell people they can’t own guns, but they have to purchase them legally, and if they have them, they have to be responsible for them.”

            “The whole idea of whether it’s constitutional or unconstitutional to enforce something like this,” says Welch, “somebody has to make the effort to find the first person who has been irresponsible enough to let that gun get loose and be involved in a violent crime. Unless somebody takes that first step, more lives will be lost senselessly.”

            “We have to save our young folks,” says Reverend Tyrone Munson, Pastor of Olivet Baptist Church. “In the 34 years I have been preaching I have attended the funerals of over 450 young people killed because people have not taken responsibility, and it’s a shame that until it falls into somebody’s hand because their kid has been killed,  no one is concerned.”

            “We need leaders to be concerned, we need a community that’s concerned about these kids. These kids don’t understand what’s going on, they do things that are not responsible. We need leaders to let people know that lives have been taken that are crying out for redemption.”

            “We need to take responsibility, not only in Homewood, but in every community,” says Munson. “The only people who feel responsibility are the parents who lost this kid, but something needs to be done, not tomorrow, but right now.”

            Welch says the community needs to become more involved in the campaign to have the legislation enforced.

            “I’d like to see more people who look like me stand up for this. I would like to see people get more vehemently upset about what’s going on in this community,” says Welch. “It’s a zip code issue, it’s a poverty issue. We don’t have homicides in Shadyside like we have in Homewood. We don’t have homicides in Mount Lebanon like we have in the Hill District.”

            “When the young woman who was at the Inauguration was killed in Chicago, someone said ‘This is Sandy Hook,’” Welch says. “Well, I’ll say this: Homewood is Sandy Hook. The Hill District is Sandy Hook. Pittsburgh is Sandy Hook. We have to make sure that we have ordinances that make people more responsible.”

            “I don’t want to see any more young black kids die. I want to see them in school, I want to see them in college,” says Welch. “I don’t want to see them in the grave, I want to see them at Google.”

            “This has been a force that has created results,” says Peduto. “That’s why Mayors Against Illegal Guns, across this country, have signed on. One of those signatures is Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, and he refuses to do anything about it, and that’s unacceptable.”

            “When this law has been enforced, there has been a reduction in straw purchases.”

            “If we don’t do this for the love of our children,” says Gainey, “we have failed this city.”

By Nancy Hart

nancy@urbanmediatoday.com  

            

Is the idea of dating an old-fashion to this general of young people?  Are we all too busy to put down our smart phones and actually have a conversation with other human?  And has dinner and a movie been replaced with texting and “hooking-up” on social media?  Author Craig Wilson says yes! 

In his new book; “Dating for Life”, Wilson explains that old fashioned dating is just what this generation needs.  Recently, UrbanMediaToday’s Allegra Johnson spoke with Wilson about what a date really looks like in a slow economy and why it’s important to date in every social situation. 

Allegra Johnson:  Everyone has a different definition for dating.  In your professional opinion, what is dating?

Craig Wilson:  If you look it up in the dictionary, dating means to go out socially with another person. But actually the derivative of dating is from a Greek word which means to give.  So technically, when you go out with anyone; romantically or otherwise, you are giving them a date.

AJ:  When we talk about dating, what are the rules of today?

CW:  I believe very much that people have forgotten the art form of taking someone out and showing them a good time.  And too many times romance enters the picture and all bets are off.  For example, if you go out with your friend and you have a nice dinner and see a show, there are four things that you do that are in common with a romantic date.  First of all; you both did something that you both agreed upon.  Second, you had no particular expectations.  Third, you both learned and grew by sharing information.  And finally, you both expressed gratitude at the end of the date.  And that's really what a date is. 

AJ:  When it comes to romantic dating, when did our society stop knowing how to date?

CW:  I think it all began when instant messenger and other asynchronous forms of communication popped in.  I can distinctively remember people not knowing what to do at 7:45 on a Friday night and then by 8:00, everyone was going to someone's place to hang out; that's the instant messenger crowd.  And I think that ultimately fostered the "hook up" generation, because it was no longer a date but a gathering.  With today's generation, there is no sense of dating.  Honestly, I don't blame this millennial generation, they inherited a tough economy, and the average debt for the average millennial is 20 thousand dollars, so the aspect of dating is a little tough too.

AJ:  Can you really go on a date and not spend that much money?

CW:  You know, romance is like playing the piano; there are a few rules to it but ultimately when you get proficient, forget the rules and you play with all your heart.  So there are ways to have a good date without spending any money at all.  It’s about making the date memorable.  If you are going out with someone who you want to get to know better, the date could be going roller blading, flying a kite, art museums or a free concert.  But what we’re really talking about is chivalry.  To say going on a date is too expensive; that’s a cop-out.  At the end of the day it’s about the golden rule, paying respect to another person.  I think that needs to come back into play in this day and age of dating.  I just read an article that said only 20 percent of young people are marrying by the age of 30.  It also said that only 40 percent of young people felt that marriage was something they wanted in the future. 

AJ:  Well, how do we get back to that respect in dating?

CW:  I do think that women are still raised with the idea of chivalry and romance and yet when it comes to social environments they put that idea to the side.  I met this wonderful woman who is in the medical field that had moved up from the South to Chicago and she told me that men up North were well put together but they are less gentlemanly then men in the South.  So it also depends on the area.  It seems like in the urban North people are just a little more casual about relationships.  But it’s really up to the woman to hold her ground and not settle for less than what she wants. 

AJ:  Is there anything else you want to add?

CW:  The goal of dating is really to foster a relationship even if there isn’t a romance.  The secret to dating for life is to never stop.  If you do form that special relationship dating for life will nurture it.  And whatever got you to the altar, don’t alter it.  Just because you said “I do” doesn’t mean you say I don’t have to date my spouse anymore.  
allegra@urbanmediatoday.com

It's Valentine's Day!  This year V-Day falls on a Thursday and according to Orbitz travel expert Jeanenne Tornantore it's the perfect time for a romantic getaway.  UrbanMediaToday's Allegra Johnson spoke with Jeanenne about how the average traveler can find some great last minute get-a-way deals and how giving the gift of travel can be a romantic V-Day gesture. 

Allegra Johnson:  Are there still some great deals for last minute Valentines Day travel?

Jeanenne Tornantore:  Yes there are.  The key is really finding the hotel deals.  As we get closer to the long President's day weekend, airfare is getting pretty pricey. 

AJ:  What are the top destinations for this weekend?

JT:  Well, our top 5 destinations include:  Vegas; average hotel rates are just a little over $150.00 a night.  New York City, Orlando, Miami and New Orleans are the top destinations that people will be going to this weekend.  Orlando has some really great hotel rates; $118.00 a night on average.  And you can find rooms in New Orleans just under $200.00 a night. 

AJ:  It's great that hotel rates are so low but why are airfares increasing?  Is it just because of President's Day?

JT:  Because travel volume is a bit higher on long weekends, we do see rates going up.  There is a little more demand for the long weekend that's why we typically see airfare and hotel rates go up during that time.  The key is to really look for sales. 

AJ:  So how can we save on airfare?

JT:  You can save by typically looking on the off-peak days.  So Friday and Monday of this weekend are going to be the busiest.  You can save by staying a day longer or leave a day earlier and that will help you find more options for your airfare. 

AJ:  So if you are going to travel this weekend, what are some of the perks that hotels are offering?

JT:  For a romantic getaway we typically see hotels offering packages that include some romantic amenities.  Things like champagne and chocolates, couples spa treatments and breakfast in bed.  So if you're planning a romantic getaway, look for deals that include extra amenities because it will be cheaper to book as a package deal. 

AJ:  Websites like Orbitz have made it so easy to become your own travel agent but sometimes it can get overwhelming.  Do you have any tips for booking online?

JT:  Well if you're looking for deals and you're trying to find a great place to get away for the weekend you should search for deals.  On Orbitz we have a tab called "Deals".  This is where you are going to find all the current promotions and sales.  You can find hotel and airfare sales.  The deals tab can help get you started.

AJ:  Is there anything else you would like to add?

JT:  I think it's interesting that 80 percent of consumers say they have never received travel as a Valentine's Day gift.  I think it's one of those things that people think about but might not actually present as a gift.  So there's a big opportunity to do something different this Valentine's Day. 
allegra@urbanmediatoday.com      Photo:happyvalentinedaysms.com 

1.      If I ever run for President of the United States-and lose, at least I’ll know how to give a Concession speech-being that I’ve been giving them to the Baltimore Ravens for the entire NFL Playoffs.

2.      In every round that the Ravens played in during these playoffs, I have predicted the Ravens losing, and they won. And of course that includes the Super Bowl in which they defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31.

3.      Let’s be honest: They did earn it, especially quarterback Joe Flacco who played a flawless game, throwing for 3 touchdowns and no interceptions which made him a shoo-in for Super Bowl MVP.

4.      But let’s give the 49ers credit too for making an impressive comeback after being down 28-6. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick led the way with 3 TD drives and almost completed a 4th on their final drive with seconds remaining. Their comeback made for an exciting game, especially since it was delayed due to a power outage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

5.      It is pretty cool to see a veteran like Ray Lewis leave the game on top. It wasn’t like Jerome Bettis, but it’s nice to see, and also seeing safety Ed Reed get a ring too. Plus I think that John Harbaugh is a pretty good Coach (now if he could only get his brother Jim to please loosen up!)

6.      So being the good sport that I am, I congratulate the Ravens on winning the Super Bowl. (There, I said it) You made a lot of Steelers fans happy because the 49ers will not tie their record of winning 6 Super Bowls.

7.      I was hoping that the 49ers did win 6, because the Steelers need to get hungry again, something that they haven’t been since 2008. But then again, the Ravens winning it all can make them hungry too, or annoyed because they have to hear about it over and over again next season.

8.      Speaking of the Steelers, once again former running back Jerome Bettis gets robbed by being passed over for the Hall of Fame. I can kinda understand last year, but C’mon man! Not again.

9.      Former Buccaneers DT Warren Sapp is a great player, but he did not have to get in on the first ballot. Next year would’ve been perfect for him. Bettis is #6 on the all-time rushing list and he’s still not in. I was not happy when I hear that news.

10.  I was however, happy for former Vikings WR Cris Carter who finally got the call after 5 tries. He’s one of the best and his public tears were proof of how much he really wanted it. I’m also happy for O-linemen Larry Allen, Jonathan Ogden and Coach Bill Parcells. Congrats fellas.

11.  So in 2014, players like LB Derrick Brooks, the late Junior Seau, WR Isaac Bruce, Coach Tony Dungy among others, and then include DE Michael Strahan, DE Charles Haley and Bettis, you would hope that The Bus will finally get in.

12.  Now onto College Football, I really am glad that Clairton’s Tyler Boyd made his commitment to Pitt official. I know he’s young, but he’s not a baby. You learn how to make sound decisions before you turn 17.

13.  What about young running back Alex Collins who was set to sign his Letter of Intent to play at Arkansas, when suddenly his mother (Andrea McDonald) pulls a Nick Fury and confiscates the letter and disappears so he can’t sign it?

14.  Really Ms. McDonald, I mean really! I know it’s hard to see your son leave the state of Florida, but you and I could come up with a Top Ten list on how to handle that situation better. Very childish and selfish act that has now gone down in infamy.

15.  But alas, his father Johnny Collins saved the day and got the LOI for him to sign, which he did on Thursday.

16.  Speaking of Pitt, there are reports that the schedule makers are trying to have them play Florida State on Labor Day instead of Villanova. Now that would be interesting, wouldn’t it?

17.  So the Indiana Hoosiers is #1 in college basketball once again eh? I wonder if they can keep it longer than two weeks unlike the last two teams (Louisville, Michigan) could not do? I tell you, teams keep that #1 spot like they’re staying at a hotel.

18.  I still can’t believe that for the first time in 34 years, Dick Vitale(pictured) is finally working the Final Four. That man has been priceless to college basketball. Well, he’ll only make that better too.

19.  I’m tired of Lakers Center Dwight Howard. He has successfully turned his new team into Orlando West. He’s a drama king and the Lakers look wounded because of it. Do yourselves a favor Lakers, get rid of Howard!

20.  The Seattle Mariners signed pitcher Felix Hernandez to a 5-year $135.5 million extension. Pardon me if I say whoa! I bet he’s singing the O Jay’s classic hit.

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

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With each win, it’s becoming more evident that the Pitt Panthers basketball team’s season of 2011-12 was truly a fluke and that they’re better than that. Well this game against the #6 Syracuse Orange was a statement that they truly are better.

The Panthers welcomed the Orange to the Petersen Events Center and sent them back home after defeating them 65-55 in front of a sold-out crowd of 12,632 and a national audience watching on ESPN.

Guard Tray Woodall led a balanced attack with 13 points, 4 assists and 4 steals as the Panthers improved to 13-1 at home against Top 10 teams and saw his team’s record improve to 18-5 and 6-4 in the Big East Conference. “The strength of our team is in numbers. It was a real important win coming off a loss at Louisville.” Said Woodall. “I think our strength is in playing out ten guys.” Head Coach Jaime Dixon said of his team “That’s why we’ve improved so much.”

Forward Talib Zanna pulled down a game high 12 rebounds as the Panthers out rebounded the Orange (18-3, 6-2) 39-24 in the game. They also overcame a tough day at the foul line, shooting only 66.7% (14-21) and they also had a game-high 20 turnovers, which would’ve destroyed this team a year ago.

The Orange had the week off after another stunning loss to Villanova 75-71 in overtime, and they played without center DaJuan Coleman who will be out for 4 weeks after having knee surgery. But nevertheless, the Panthers could only deal with who’s on the floor and not in the medical room.

Both teams truly played a typical Big East style game, physical and low scoring which was evident as the Orange took their largest lead 10-5 with 13:44 left in the first half. It became 12-5 when forward CJ Fair tipped in a lay-up. Fair would go on to score a game-high 20 points. But the Panthers would storm back with baskets by guard James Robinson and forward Dante Taylor and would eventually tie the game at 14 with a layup by forward JJ Moore.

Orange guard Michael Carter-Willams two free throws and dunk would push them to an 18-14 lead, and the Panthers stormed back again with baskets by Zanna and forward Lamar Patterson to tie the game at 18. Then Woodall hit a huge 3-pointer to give the Panthers a 21-18 lead and they never trailed again as they would go into halftime 27-25.

In the second half, the Panthers kept it going as they added more points and were leading 31-25 with 17:51 left to play. Then the Orange stormed back thanks to Panther turnovers and baskets by Carter-Williams and guard Brandon Triche and the game was tied at 35. But the Panthers would not be denied as their clutch shooting continued as guard Cameron Wright’s 3-pointer gave the lead back to the Panthers at 38-35.

Then the Panthers blew it open as baskets by Patterson and Taylor and center Steven Adams gave them their largest lead of the game at that point, 45-39. Guard Durand Johnson hit a 3-pointer to extend the Panthers lead to 48-39 with 5:51 left in the game. But the Orange tried to come back as Triche’s 4 free throws closed the Panthers lead to 50-45, and then they committed a foul on Adams which caused him to have a swollen eye which caused him to not be able to make his free throws.

That left Orange Head Coach Jim Boeheim to choose the Pitt player to make the free throws and he chose Wright who is the worst shooter on the team at the line, and he promptly made both baskets to extend Pitt’s lead to 52-45. The Panthers would eventually get their first 10-point lead which turned out to be the final score at 65-55.

“We definitely feel like we took a step forward today.” Said Patterson who had 7 points “That was a good team out there.”

Coach Boeheim was very complimentary of the Panthers “I think they’re a really good team…I think they’ll be difficult team the rest of the way.” Boeheim also called the Panthers the best rebounding team in the Big East.

With this win, the Panthers should be voted back in the Top 25, but of course that’s up to the voters, al the Panthers can continue to do is keep the victories coming so the NCAA Tournament Committee will vote them into the Field of 68 in March, but a win like this is certainly hard to ignore.

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis finally made it to the final 10 for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time since he was eligible, but for the 3rd straight year, he’ll have to wait until the next year as he and several others were left off the final cut for the Class of 2013.

The voters decided that the NFL’s 6th leading rusher could wait a little while longer and they made the decision to select Wide Receiver Cris Carter, Offensive lineman Larry Allen and Jonathan Ogden, defensive tackle Warren Sapp and Head Coach Bill Parcells, plus defensive tackle Curley Culp and linebacker Dave Robinson from the senior committee-to make up the Class of 2013.

Bettis can learn from a few players in the Class on what it means to wait and persevere like Carter, who had to wait 6 years before getting selected and Parcells, who waited 4 years. And of course, there were other players, particularly Steelers who didn’t get in like wide receiver Lynn Swann who waited 14 years before getting inducted in 2001.

Carter was so emotional when he got the call that he broke down in tears saying that this was something that he really wanted. In his 16 years, he became only the second wide receiver to reach 1,000 receptions in a career. He also caught at least 70 passes in 10 seasons and totaled 130 touchdowns in his career. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins. He was an 8-time Pro Bowler and a 2-time All-Pro.

Parcells was hoping to get in the 2012 Class to be with one of his favorite players running back Curtis Martin but he fell short and ended up being Martin’s presenter. During his 19-year coaching career, he coached for the New York Giants, New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys and finished his career with a record of 172-130-1 with 3 Super Bowl trips, winning 2 with the Giants and losing one with the Patriots. In addition to Martin, Parcells has also coached Hall of Fame linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson.

Sapp, Allen and Ogden all made it on their first year of eligibility, a testament of how the voters truly valued them and their careers.

Sapp was drafted by the Tampa bay Buccaneers and ended up playing 13 seasons finishing with the Oakland Raiders. His 96.5 career sacks are the second most for a defensive tackle and he was also the 1999 Defensive Player of the Year. He earned a Super Bowl ring with Tampa Bay in 2002. He was a 7-time Pro Bowler and a 4-time All-Pro.

Allen played 14 seasons, 11 with the Dallas Cowboys playing guard, but he also served at every position except center. He played with fellow hall of famers Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin before finishing his career with San Francisco. He was an 11-time Pro Bowler and a 7-time All-Pro, and earned a Super Bowl ring in 1995.

Ogden played his entire career with the Baltimore Ravens. Drafted in 1996, he was the first-ever player drafted by Baltimore and ended up making the Pro Bowl every season except his rookie year (11 times) he was also a 9-time All-Pro playing at tackle. He paved the way for running back Jamal Lewis as he rushed for over 2,000 yards in 2003 becoming only the 5th running back to do so.

Culp dominated at defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1968-1974, winning a ring in 1968. He was an AFL All-Star in 1969 and a 5-time Pro-Bowler. He was also a first-team All-Pro in 1975. He finished his career with the Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions.

Robinson played linebacker on those great Green Bay Packers teams from 1963-1972. He also has the distinction of being drafted by the Packers in the NFL, the AFL’s San Diego Chargers and the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. He was a 3-time Pro Bowler and earned two rings with the Packers.

The Class of 2013 will be inducted on August 4th, 2013.

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

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Winners of 5 of their last 6, the Pitt Panthers basketball team will now face the best that the Big East Conference has to offer as they take on the #12 ranked Louisville Cardinals and the #6 ranked Syracuse Orange.

For the 4th consecutive week, the Panthers (17-4) are unranked in the Associated Press and the Coaches Polls, but their 5-3 Big East record has them in a tie for 3rd place with St. John’s. What’s also ironic about their 5-3 record is that they’ve already equaled their Big East win total from a year ago when they finished a disappointing 5-13.

For the Panthers to make a return to the Top 25, it’s going to take getting victories vs. ranked teams and their next two opponents certainly fits that bill especially since they’ve lost to three ranked teams (Michigan, Cincinnati and Marquette) but they did get a victory against then-#19 Georgetown on January 8.

The Cardinals (16-4, 4-3) are in the midst of a slump after losing 3 straight games, which included a stunning 53-51 overtime buzzer-beater against Georgetown. This was a team who was ranked #1 only 3 weeks ago. Coach Rick Pitino’s squad is looking to end this losing streak against a Panther team that they swept last season. The Cardinals boast one of the top guards in the conference in Russ Smith who leads the team with 18.4 PPG, and their top defender is forward Gorgui Dieng. (9.1 RPG) guard Peyton Silva leads with 5.9 assists per game.

What the Panthers have to watch out for is the Cardinals full-court press which they faced in their win vs. DePaul which caused them to commit 18 turnovers. Obviously Louisville is a better team. Their matchup will be played at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville.

The Orange (18-2, 6-1) continues to be a force in the Big East despite losing a few players to the NBA, but they are also looking to end a losing streak as they were upset by Villanova 75-71 on Saturday, their first Big East loss. Their top scorer is guard Brandon Triche (14.9 PPG) top rebounder is forward C.J Fair (7.2 RPG) and guard Michael Carter-Williams leads with 8.9 assists per game. Coach Jim Boeheim’s team defeated the Panthers in their lone matchup last season.

Meanwhile, the Panthers continue to get wins that they were unable to get last season, which ultimately hurt them in the conference. They have more discipline, hunger and leadership and a stronger will to win. Plus having no significant injuries to key players (ex: G Tray Woodall) helps as well. It also makes a difference when a team does not have to deal with a High School All-American (Ex: F Khem Birch) who suddenly decides to transfer to another school after their first 10 games.

So no distractions and no injuries are the recipes of a successful team, but beating teams like Louisville and Syracuse will help confirm that success as well.

Notes: Panthers remain 5th in the country in assists per game (17.8) and are 11th in field goal percentage (.492) The latest ESPN Braketology NCAA Tournament predictions has Pitt as a #9 seed in the Midwest Region.

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

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1.      We begin with the largest event in the NFL, the Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers vs. the Baltimore Ravens.  And there are so many sub plots to this game. (Ex: Harbaugh brothers, LB Ray Lewis final game, WR Randy Moss has a chance to win a ring, 49ers have a chance to win 6 rings, etc….)

2.      Speaking of Lewis, he’s back in the spotlight for the wrong reasons once again as he is now accused by a Sports Illustrated report for taking a banned substance to help him get over his torn triceps injury. The substance? Deer Antler spray.

3.      Deer Antler Spray? How do these folks come up with these ideas? Well apparently it’s illegal to use in the NFL and the media person apparently waited until Super Bowl media day to ask Lewis about it.

4.      Of course Lewis has been denying it for the past day and a half. He calls those claims ‘ridiculous’ and calls the accuser a ‘coward.’ Whether this story is true or not, #52 will be suited up in is purple and black on Sunday.

5.      Speaking of claims Mr. Moss says that he’s the greatest wide receiver of all time. Uh Randy, there’s a certain Hall of Famer named Jerry Rice that will disagree with you.

6.      Some folks can argue that Moss’s talent was great, but we did not see that used to its fullest capacity because he was a head case most of his career. Rice was more consistent and did not have to be the fastest to be the best, only the smartest.

7.      Besides, Rice never took a play off or was selfish. He didn’t demand attention, but his production earned it.

8.      So here’s my prediction: As good as the Ravens have been in the postseason, the 49ers have a better defense and are more talented. The 49ers have beaten the best of the NFC and on paper the Ravens certainly aren’t the best of the AFC. But they’re here. 49ers 27, Ravens 20.

9.      And so what if they tie the Pittsburgh Steelers for most SB wins with 6? If they have a problem with it, then win #7 next year. (As my lovely wife would say) The End.

10.  I do like the 49ers offense though, and QB Colin Kaepernick needs to explode with wide receivers Moss and Michael Crabtree and tight end Vernon Davis. Plus running back Frank Gore is a beast.

11.  And then there’s the Pro Football Hall of fame as they get ready to vote and announce their Class of 2013, and former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis is on it.

12.  I feel that this is Bettis’ year. He’s #6 on the all-time rushing list and the top 4 (Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and Curtis Martin) are all in the HOF, and #5 is LaDanian Tomlinson will eventually get in. Makes sense that #6 gets in too.

13.  The others? Michael Strahan, Cris Carter, Charles Haley, Eddie DeBartolo Sr, Bill Parcells.

14.  Ok, now the Michigan Wolverines basketball team is now ranked #1, for the first time since the Fab Five years in 1992. I’m happy for them; let’s just hope that they keep it longer than two weeks.

15.  As disappointing it was to see Pitt lose to Louisville, they can redeem themselves against Syracuse, but it will not be easy. And they certainly cannot shoot 3-12 at the free throw line.

16.  Uh-oh, I hear that college football could be close to enabling its players to make money. I guess it’s justified, in that way it will stop them getting it illegally.

17.  So the Los Angeles Lakers are on a winning streak eh? I guess that means that they’re the best team in the NBA again. (whateva man) They’re still not even the best team in the Staples Center.

18.  I’m starting to think that it’s the Oklahoma City Thunder’s time to win it all. And it might be a rematch with the Miami Heat for it to happen.

19.  Congrats to Tiger Woods for winning another championship. He just keeps going and going…

20.  11 days until pitchers and catchers report. I have to admit, I am curious about this upcoming season for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

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1.      Well, the Super Bowl matchup is set, and I admit that I have to eat some crow because both teams that I expected to make the Big Game truly made me look like a liar.

2.      I rooted for the Atlanta Falcons to beat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, and I rooted for the New England Patriots to beat the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, and what happened? The 49ers and Ravens took those Super Bowl tickets and are headed to New Orleans.

3.      Now don’t get me wrong, both teams deserved the trip. The 49ers played patient ball, coming back from a 17-point deficit and forcing quarterback Matt Ryan into committing costly turnovers, while their running game ran right over Atlanta and into the Super Bowl.

4.      While the Ravens just flat out punched quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots in the mouth-in their own stadium. I’m not a Ravens fan, but they get my respect for that performance.

5.       So it’s officially a ‘Harbaugh Bowl.’ Brothers Jim (49ers) and John (Ravens) will oppose each other in the Big Game as head Coaches. This is the first time that this has ever happened in NFL history.

6.      Of course the other headline is about Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who’s officially playing his last game and hopes to go out on top (a la, Steelers RB Jerome Bettis) and quarterback Joe Flacco has proven that he’s a big game QB.

7.      So I know it’s early, and I know the end result will tie the Steelers with 6 SB wins, but I am rooting for the 49ers to win this one because of how effective their running game and defense is.

8.      Besides, the Steelers record is no way threatened with a tie, they’re just sharing the record, and I can live with that. Maybe that will put fire under their rears to go after #7 in 2013.

9.      Speaking of the Steelers, they’re really going to need to make those tough decisions in the offseason, but in the Salary Cap era, such is life in the NFL. But I hope that they get a true veteran running back among other things.

10.  Well, it looks like Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley is going to stay with the Steelers after all (for at least another year) let’s see what the man can do with a healthy (I hope) offense at his disposal.

11.  And then there’s the accusations from former Oakland Raiders WR’s Tim Brown and Jerry Rice that former coach Jim Callahan ‘tanked’ Super Bowl 27 and allowed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat them because of Callahan’s friendship with former Raider’s Coach Jon Gruden. C’mon man!

12.  I mean, we’re all adults’ right? Even if there was some truth to this, why are they talking about this 10 years later? And what do they expect to gain by insulting this man’s (who has denied this) character to the media?

13.  That game surprised me too, I expected the Raiders to win, but the Buccaneers and their #1 ranked defense kicked their rear ends 48-21 in which QB Rich Gannon was intercepted 5 times-3 of which was returned for TD’s. But it was all a sabotage, whateva, man.

14.  And then there’s the infamous linebacker from Notre Dame, Manti T’eo, who now admits that he did lie about his girlfriend after he found out that she did not exist. But he claims that he was still a victim of a hoax. Once again, whateva, man.

15.  The Pitt basketball team looks to be on the right track as a result of their 3-game winning streak. Of course the real challenge comes when they play Big East teams like #3 Syracuse and #5 Louisville, but it also helps that they’re beating the teams that the papers suggest that they should, something that they didn’t do last year.

16.   And then, Louisville loses to Villanova, who lost to Pitt. Gotta love the Big East, even if the teams, who play in it, do not.

17.  It looks like no one really wants that #1 ranking in college basketball eh? Louisville gave it back to Duke after having it for two weeks. Duke gave it up after losing and Michigan just let it fly over their heads after losing a day after Duke lost. Gotta love College Basketball.

18.  I’m still amazed about the Los Angeles Clippers and their surprising start (32-11) but they’ve lost two straight and are without point guard Chris Paul, it’s obvious that they need him to make a serious run in the playoffs, if he’s not 100%, they may need to make a deal for a veteran guard at the trade deadline.

19.  And then there are the LA Lakers…what a mess. They’re old and immature and are living off the glory years. Changes are needed, and the first one should be trading center Dwight Howard.

20.  I’m sure the Orlando Magic is breathing a sigh of relief that they no longer have to put up with Howard’s drama. But what team is willing to?

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

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Close losses can be looked at in so many ways. The team that loses can be applauded because they hung in there against a great team, or can be ridiculed because they played down to the level of their competition and lost vs. a not-so-good team. Either way, no matter how you look at it in the end, a loss is still a loss.

Such is the case with the Pitt Panthers basketball team as they took another one on the chin by falling to another ranked team, #12 Louisville Cardinals 64-58 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Guard Russ Smith’s 20 points, center Gourgi Dieng’s 12 rebounds(and an amazing 5 blocks) and guard Peyton Silva’s 10 assists helped the Cardinals(17-4, 5-3 Big East) end their 3-game losing streak that also caused them to lose their #1 ranking from 3 weeks ago. The loss for Pitt (17-5, 5-4) ended their 4 game winning streak and added another loss to a Top-25 team. And it doesn’t get any better for them as #6 Syracuse will be on their way to the Petersen Events Center to play Pitt on Saturday.

What’s also disappointing about this loss is the fact that the Panthers hung with the Cardinals for most of the game, despite an awful 3-12 shooting at the foul line-which was probably the difference between hanging with the Cardinals, and beating them.

Pitt took a 9-6 lead in the opening half of the game thanks to a 3-pointer from guard Tray Woodall, but after turning the ball over, Louisville tied the game with a 3 of their own courtesy of Smith. The star guard also gave the Cardinals a 10-9 lead after sinking his second free throw. But the Cardinals weren’t done as they sunk more free throws and baskets and suddenly they were leading a confused and disoriented Pitt team 20-12 with 9:17 left in the first half.

Smith then struck again as his layup and 3-point basket gave the Cardinals a 27-16 lead, their largest of the game, before the Panthers quickly got back into it by ending the first half only trailing the Cardinals 32-26.

In the second half, the Cardinals started giving farewell invites as Dieng’s layup and guard-forward Luke Hancock’s 3-pointer extended their lead to 37-26 before Coach Jaime Dixon gathered Pitt in for a timeout.

Then center Dante Taylor came alive as he scored 6 points to get Pitt to within 8 with 14:49 left in the game, and his free throw got them to within 7. But such momentum was quickly erased when forward Montrazel Harrell’s dunk gave Louisville a 10-point lead 43-33, but the Panthers wouldn’t let them go too far.

Then the Panthers received a true spark as forward JJ Moore’s 3-pointer and a free throw by guard James Robinson got Pitt back to within 8, then forward Lamar Patterson’s 3-point shot closed the Cardinal’s lead to 45-40 with 10:45 left in the game. The Panthers kept the three point shot going as Woodall and Robinson each hit one and suddenly Pitt was only trailing by 3 with 6:09 left in the game.

But the Cardinals still had the lead and they kept adding to it forward Chane Behenan’s two dunks pushed their lead to 53-48 and then Smith’s three pointer pushed their lead to 56-48. But the Panthers were not done as forward Trey Ziegler’s layup and Patterson’s 3-point jumper closed the Cardinals lead to 58-55 with 1:18 left in the game.

After Behanan’s two free throws extended the Cardinals lead to 60-55, Woodall made the Pitt bench jump as he hit another 3 point shot to close the deficit to 60-58 with 13.7 seconds left. But it was too little, too late as Dieng and Smith’s free throws extended the Cardinal’s lead to 64-58, and Woodall’s 3-pointer as time expired certainly wasn’t enough as the Panthers lost another tough one to the Cardinals 64-61.

Woodall led Pitt with 14 points, forward Talib Zanna had 7 rebounds and Woodall and Robinson each had 3 assists.

So once again, the Panthers play the ‘what if’ game, about what if they played a complete game. It’s plain and simple: If they would’ve made their foul shots, the Panthers would’ve won.

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The Pitt Panthers began last week putting on an impressive performance vs. the Georgetown Hoyas as they literally destroyed them 73-45 at the Verizon Center in Washington DC. It gave them their first win in the Big East Conference and their first win vs. ranked opponent and for the moment, things were looking pretty good for the Panthers as they’re trying to make a return to the NCAA Tournament.

Unfortunately that streak was short lived as they lost a hard-fought and exciting game to the Marquette Golden Eagles 74-67 in overtime. That game featured an incredible performance by senior forward Lamar Patterson, who made a career-high 6 three-pointers and lead Pitt with 22 points. One of those 3’s was made as time expired and sent Pitt into overtime and the entire Petersen Events Center on its feet.

But in sports, the bottom line is all about wins and losses, and that loss to Marquette now has the Panthers at 13-4 with a 1-3 Big East record. They hope to get their conference record a step closer to .500 when they travel to Philadelphia on Wednesday to face the Villanova Wildcats at 7pm. The Wildcats have a record of 11-5 (2-1 Big East) and are fresh off a 72-61 loss to #7 Syracuse. Their leading scorer is sophomore forward JayVaughn Pinkston (13.3), senior forward  Mouphtaou Yarou leads in rebounds (6.3) and freshman guard Ryan Arcidiacono leads in assists (3.4). Pitt and Villanova face similar conference issues as both plan on leaving the Big East with the Panthers heading to the ACC and the Wildcats agreeing to join a new alliance called the ‘Catholic 7.’

But the concerns about the Panthers remain on the court as they continue to find a rhythm of consistency. It is a fact that they’re much better than last year’s team, but they’re not looking like the teams that’s been one of the best in the conference. They have several young players who have made an impact, but they need to do it on a consistent basis.

The main concern is now the status of senior guard Tray Woodall, who suffered a concussion against Marquette on Saturday. Many persons feel that if he was playing in the game, then maybe the Panthers would’ve won, but they still could’ve got the win provided that they would’ve made the key baskets in overtime. It is still not determined if Woodall will play vs. Villanova.

One of the issues that the Panthers need to fix is the free throws in which they have only made 221 out of 330, and it has certainly hurt them, especially in clutch moments. Their leading scorer Talib Zanna (12.6 PPG) and he was dominated in the paint by the Marquette defenders and scored a season-low 3 points in 24 minutes. Of course the eyes are still on freshman center Steven Adams who leads Pitt with 6.1 rebounds per game and 1.9 blocks per game. He also had a ferocious swat of a ball that helped Pitt keep pace with Marquette on Saturday.

Some critics say that Adams is a disappointment, especially since most have called him the team’s greatest recruit since Dejuan Blair. Like Blair, Adams was voted Preseason Big East Rookie of the Year, but the question is will he do another thing that Blair did, and that was to win the regular Big East Rookie of the Year award? Others say that Adams (who is from New Zealand) is still adjusting to playing in the United States and that the fans just have to be patient. Adams has shown flashes of what he can really do with a 16 point, 10 rebound game vs. Bethune-Cookman, and he has also had 14 points against Duquesne in the City Game Dec 5, but can those flashes turn into consistency as some of the best teams in the Big East loom? (Louisville, Syracuse and Connecticut) time will tell.

The good news is that Pitt has shown flashes from freshman guards James Robinson and Durand Johnson who had impressive games vs. Marquette. Both did what they could to fill in for the loss of Woodall with Robinson scoring 12 points and 4 assists, and Johnson scoring 10 points and hitting 3 three pointers.
 
So the key for the Panthers is to get a revived performance from Zanna a healthy Woodall and consistent play from Adams and Robinson, plus more stellar performances from Patterson to show that they’re serious about making their mark in the Big East. If they can do that, that mark certainly will be made.

Notes: The Panthers remain unranked in both the AP (2 votes) and the Coaches’ Polls. Louisville is now the new #1 in both Polls and Syracuse (#6), and Notre Dame (#20) and Marquette (#25 AP) represents the conference in the Top 25.

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For a minute there it looked like things were all right for the Pitt Panthers basketball team, they had wrapped up their non-conference schedule and finished it with a record of 12-1 (with their only loss to top ranked Michigan, a team that they put a scare in) and even were voted back into the Top 25 in both the AP and Coaches’ Polls at #24. Folks continued to express concern (and complaints) about how that non-conference schedule will hurt this team once Big East Conference play begins.

Well, they’re now two games into conference play and the Panthers are now 0-2 with losses against #21(AP) Cincinnati on New Year’s Eve, a game in which they were leading by 8 at halftime, and to Rutgers last Saturday. Many folks called this an upset loss. (Or was it?) In some ways, losing to Rutgers was an upset loss because they beat a ranked team, but it’s a fact that because the team is on their first losing streak this season, there is cause for concern.

The Panthers currently find themselves with an overall record of 12-3, out of the Top 25 for the first time in two weeks and now have the daunting task of ending their losing streak against another ranked opponent, the Georgetown Hoyas (Tuesday at 9pm on ESPN) who are currently ranked #19 in the AP Poll (#22 in the Coaches Poll) with a 10-2 record. They’re 0-1 in conference play with their loss coming against Marquette. The Hoyas have also beaten a ranked team, stopping #11 UCLA 78-70.

Coach John Thompson III’s team leader is forward Otto Porter, Jr. He leads the Hoyas in points (13.2) rebounds (7.5), and blocks (1.3). If there’s a positive about the Panthers playing this team is that they played them last season at Petersen Events Center-and beat them soundly 72-60. The Panthers led that game from start to finish and left the Hoyas (and their coach) completely stunned. That victory was basically one of the only bright spots in an otherwise dismal season for the Panthers. This year’s game will be at Verizon Center in downtown Washington DC.

So what’s wrong with the Panthers? Of course many folks will start with the schedule, but there’s nothing that can be done about that right now. The non-conference schedule is over and teams have to play the hand that’s dealt to them.

In their 70-61 loss to the Bearcats, the Panthers started strong, but then fell apart in the second half as the team missed key baskets and free throws while the Bearcats put a full-court press on them that basically took them out of the game. In the 67-62 loss to Rutgers, they had a horrible start, trailing by as many as 14 points at halftime but they started the second half strong, getting to within 2 points of the Scarlet Knights twice in the final 5 minutes but once again the poor shooting and poor rebounding did them in.

It could be that they’re basically a young team, who’re depending on a few freshmen to help get them back on top. And although point guard James Robinson (4.3 assists/game) and center Steven Adams (6.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks/game) have not disappointed, growing pains are expected although this team can’t really afford many.

They need consistency from their leader, guard Tray Woodall (11.5 ppg, 5.8 assists/game) and Forward Lamar Patterson. Plus, putting forward JJ Moore in the mix could give them an immediate spark. Moore led the Panthers with 14 points in their loss to Rutgers. Plus, it’s still early and it’s a long season in the Big East.

Coach Jaime Dixon remains undaunted, and believes that his team will turn it around, and it can happen with just one win against a giant opponent.

Notes: After Georgetown, the Panthers will come home to play Marquette on Saturday at noon, before heading back on the road Jan 16 vs. Villanova at 7pm.

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1.      Well, the Pittsburgh Steelers 2012 season is officially over, I’m glad they got the win vs. the Cleveland Browns, and unlike last time, they were the ones who forced turnovers (4) instead of committing turnovers (8) like they did in the 20-14 loss on Nov 25.

2.      What gets me is that some fans (and media) said that it didn’t matter if the Steelers won or lost their final game. Sorry, that’s a bunch of nonsense. We’ve all watched enough games this season where it seemed like it didn’t matter to the Steelers if they won or lost. Or just to quote the great Herman Edwards “Hello? You play to WIN the game!” (Why thank you Herman)

3.      And then there are the folks who think finishing 7-9 will give them a chance and a better draft pick. Give me a break, why won’t 8-8 give them a good draft pick? The last time the Steelers finished 8-8, who did they draft the following season? Round One: LB Lawrence Timmons. Round Two: LB LaMarr Woodley. ‘Nuff said.

4.      But it will be an interesting offseason for the Steelers as they now have to decide who they’re going to keep and who they’re going to let go. Once again, they’re over the salary cap and they have to make those tough decisions.

5.      LB James Harrison, DE Brett Kiesel and LB Larry Foote could be the salary cap causalities this time, but it’s only speculation at best. Injuries aside, they helped this team finish #1 in the NFL in defense again. They may be asked to restructure or take a pay cut to stay though.

6.      And then there are the unrestricted free agents, and heading that list are WR Mike Wallace and CB Keenan Lewis, who’re both valuable to the team.

7.      Although he held out and had an off year in yardage (836) Wallace still led the team in TDs (8-tied with TE Heath Miller) but you could tell that his mind seemed elsewhere at times with those ill-advised drops. Lewis became the starter and played phenomenal. He didn’t have an interception, but he prevented several would-be touchdowns.

8.      Off the field, I can honestly say that both were very professional and cordial towards me when I did my media duties, but if I had a choice between the two, I would choose Lewis and let Wallace walk.

9.      Before you react, let me explain. The Steelers drafted Wallace in the 3rd round in 2009. They still had Santonio Holmes at the time. They can always find another WR of his caliber. It’s hard to find a good cornerback and folks around here can attest to that.

10.  But all of that remains to be seen. The focus is on those who are in the NFL playoffs which begin the Wild Card Weekend.

11.  Here are my predictions for that first round: Bengals over Texans, Packers over Vikings, Colts over Ravens and Redskins over Seahawks.

12.  Speaking of the Ravens, veteran linebacker Ray Lewis announced to his team that he’s going to retire when their season ends. Ending a stellar 17-year career in which he was a 13-time Pro-Bowler, 7 time All-Pro and Super Bowl MVP. He’s missed the last 2 months with a triceps injury in his arm and may play against the Colts, but he feels that it’s time to hang it up.

13.  Here’s to one of the best Middle Linebackers in NFL History. Next Stop: NFL Hall of Fame.

14.  Out of all of the 7 NFL Coaches who got fired this Monday, I felt that the Chicago Bears were wrong in firing Lovie Smith, especially after a 10-6 season (although they started 7-1) He’s had one of the best winning percentages in the team’s history and he did not deserve to be treated like that.

15.  In College football, the Bowl games are wrapping up and this weekend will be Pitt’s turn as they face Ole Miss in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Saturday at 1pm. Hopefully they will win and finish 7-6 in Coach Paul Chryst’s first season. He deserves it.

16.  I’m still sticking to my guns that Notre Dame will beat Alabama for the National Championship on Monday. It will be a good game.

17.  There are so many reports and rumors about Penn State Coach Jim O’Brien being the target of many NFL teams for their Coaching position. Do college football a favor Jim, don’t give in. Stay at Penn State for a while. They need you. You did a marvelous job this season.

18.  I really am shaking my head over the success of the LA Clippers, who won 17 straight games (16 in December to finish 16-0) and are 25-7, and for once, the top basketball team in LA. The Lakers on the other hand, are 15-16 and are a mess right now. Talk about a role reversal.

19.  Speaking of those Lakers, Kobe Bryant recently complained to the press that his team is too old. Way to go (so-called) Team Leader. That’ll really inspire them.

20.  I still shake my head at the Brooklyn Nets firing of Coach Avery Johnson after a 14-14 start. The man wasn’t given enough of a chance after off-season moves and relocation. Many folks think it had a lot to do with ‘creative differences’ with guard Deron Williams. The man is living up to his rep as a ‘Coach Terminator.’

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Like in all sports years, the 2012 year in sports was a very good and exciting year. Many special things took place this year that we will never forget, and of course there were some not so-special events that we won’t forget either (although we would like to) With that being said, let’s take a look at the Top 20 Sports Stories of 2012.

20. 2012 BCS National Championship Game, Alabama 21, LSU 0-A lot of folks had a problem with the Crimson Tide’s selection for the title game because they weren’t undefeated and had finished second to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in most computer rankings, but it was Coach Nick Saban’s team who got the nod vs. his former team and SEC rival, the Tigers. After meeting November 5, 2011 in which LSU won in overtime 9-6, Alabama quieted all skeptics as they dominated Coach Les Miles team and became champions for the second time in three seasons.

19.Coach Calipari finally became a champion-It took going to a legendary school to do it, but University of Kentucky’s John Calipari finally stood on top of the of the college basketball world as he led his Wildcats to a 67-59 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks, giving Kentucky their 8th title. Freshman Anthony Davis was named NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

18. San Francisco Giants became unlikely world champions-again-To be honest, no one expected the Giants to win the World Series in 2010 when they beat a very good Texas Rangers team, but they proved that nothing beats good pitching, and in 2012 they proved it again (with a little help from World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval) as they swept a very good Detroit Tigers team 4-0 to give manager Bruce Bochy his second title in 3 years.

17.No NCAA Tournament for Pitt Panthers-Pitt had been known as a regular attendee to the NCAA Tournament, but Coach Jaime Dixon’s team had a disappointing 2011-12 season that saw them fall to 17-16(5-13 Big East) which included two non-conference losses and exclusion to college basketball’s Big Dance for the first time in 10 seasons. The Panthers did however keep their postseason streak going when they accepted an invite to the College Basketball Insider (CBI) Tournament, and they promptly went on to win the championship over Washington State.

16. Death of Junior Seau-We still ask why, and perhaps we’ll never know the answer, but former San Diego Chargers All-Pro linebacker Junior Seau decided to do the unthinkable when he ended his life as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest on May 2. He was 43 years old.

15. Eli Manning and the Giants become world champs-again-They barely made it to the playoffs with a 9-7 record but did that stop the New York Giants? Nope. They knocked over Atlanta, 15-1 Green Bay and San Francisco for a rematch against the New England Patriots, and just like in 2007 the Giants took home the Vince Lombardi Trophy, this time 21-17. Manning was once again named Super Bowl MVP.

14. Chris Hoke retires-There’s nothing like a great teammate and Chris Hoke was certainly that for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 2001 draft pick from BYU served his entire career as Casey Hampton’s backup and was just fine while doing it. He played in 83 games (started 18) had 2.0 sacks and 83 tackles and won 2 Super Bowls (played in 3) He announced his retirement on January 25th.

13. Penn State football given 4 year ban-It was truly an unfortunate string of events for the Penn State football team. As a result of FBI findings of sexual assault of children by former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, the NCAA made the decision on July 23rd to fine Penn State $60 million and levied a 4 year ban from bowl games and vacate 112 of the school’s wins from 1998-2011. Sandusky was found guilty on 45 of 48 counts against him on June 22nd.

12.Peyton Manning released from Colts, signs with Broncos-It was the worst of times & best of times for quarterback Peyton Manning, who endured an injury filled 2011 due to neck and back surgeries in which the Indianapolis Colts fell to 2-14 without him. Rather than exercise a $28 million roster bonus, the Colts released their 4-time MVP on March 7, knowing that they had the first overall pick in the draft. A tearful Manning eventually signed a 5-year $96 million contract with the Denver Broncos on March 20, and has had an incredible comeback season which has him once again in MVP talks as a result of leading the Broncos to 10+ wins another division title.

11. The Colts go from 2-14 to playoffs with rookie QB, interim coach-2012 was truly a year of the ‘unexpected’ and nobody expected this from the Colts. They drafted Stanford QB Andrew Luck to become their quarterback of the future and their Head Coach Chuck Pagano took a leave of absence in September due to being diagnosed with leukemia. Former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians took over as interim head coach and with Luck (no pun intended) the Colts went on an impressive streak and are now in the playoffs. Luck is a 4,000 yard passer and is in Offensive Rookie of the Year talks and Arians is a heavy favorite for NFL Coach of the year.

10.Miguel Cabrera wins baseball’s Triple Crown-There are so many milestones in baseball that are deemed un-reachable and that includes the Triple Crown, when a player leads MLB in batting, home runs and runs batted in. No player has accomplished that feat since Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski did so in 1967 until 2012 when Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera got it done when he led the American League with a .330 batting average, 44 home runs and 139 RBI. His trophy was a crown, of course.

9. Plenty of no-hitters to go around-It was truly the season of the no-hitter in baseball as 5 (Yes, five) pitchers each pitched the no-no and three (SF’s Matt Cain, Seattle’s Felix Hernandez and CHW’s Philip Humber) pitched perfect games.

8. USA Shines in the Summer Olympics-The Summer games in London was a perfect moment for the USA to take back their place as the best in the world as they won the overall medal count of 104, which also included some special individual performances by our country as well. Beginning with 16 year old Gabrielle Douglas who took home two gold medals in gymnastics, she became the first African-American to win in the individual All-Around, tennis great Serena Williams won a gold in the singles event and doubles (with her sister Venus), Swimming great Michael Phelps wrapped up an incredible career winning 4 gold and 2 bronze, and the USA Olympic basketball team won another gold.

7. 138-An incredible number, especially in basketball because most teams do not score that many points in a game, especially not individually. At least until Grinnell’s (College) Jack Taylor got it done Nov 20th against Faith Baptist Bible College. His 138 points set a new NCAA record and his team won 179-104. Grinnell gained instant national attention, especially in the NBA by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

6.  Adrian Peterson’s comeback season-You think Peyton Manning’s season was incredible, check out Peterson who suffered a torn ACL and MCL late in the 2011 season. Peterson worked hard in the off-season with the goal of a 2012 return and after starting week one, the Minnesota Vikings running back has once again taken the NFL by storm by not only leading the league in rushing, but he’s now 208 yards away from breaking the NFL single season rushing record of 2,105 yards set by Eric Dickerson in 1984.

5. Andrew McCutchen’s season-The Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder started the year by signing a 6 year $51 million contract, then he went out and earned it by leading the league in batting average for most of the season, earning his second consecutive All-Star trip, and even though he went through another second half swoon, he finished the year hitting .327, 31 HR’s and 96 RBI. He also had 194 hits and scored 107 runs. McCutchen earned his first Gold Glove, Silver Slugger award and was named NL Most Outstanding Player and was 3rd in NL MVP voting.

4. Pirates notch 20th consecutive losing season-Not even McCutchen’s season couldn’t stop the Pirates continued plunge into infamy, and not even a season, in which the team was in playoff contention and began the month of August with a 67-54 record, they fell into a hole and finished with a 79-83 record.

3. Steelers lose to Tim Tebow and Denver Broncos in Wild Card Game-The Steelers were 12-4, the top Wild Card team in the AFC with hopes of going far in the playoffs despite an injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and they were expected to be a Bronco team who got into the playoffs with an 8-8 record due to winning a very bad AFC West Division. Well, that’s why they say the playoffs are a new season because they certainly are. Tebow decided to go deep on the Steelers #1 ranked defense and he ended up carving them on only 4 passes for 316 yards and two TD’s as the Broncos eliminated the stunned Steelers 29-23 in overtime.

2. Pitt narrowly loses to top-ranked Notre Dame in 3 overtimes-The Panthers were 4-4 and traveled to South Bend to face then #3 ranked Notre Dame and they punched them in the mouth early and often en route to a 20-6 lead early in the 4th quarter. Deep down, you just had a feeling that Pitt’s lead wasn’t safe, and the Fighting Irish well, fought back eventually tying the game and sending it into overtime. Pitt had several chances to win it, but could not get it done; Notre Dame finally sealed the deal when quarterback Everett Golson scored on a QB sneak to win 29-26. The Irish eventually ended up ranked #1 and undefeated and will face #2 Alabama in the BCS National Championship game.

1. Hines Ward Retires-2011 was a tough season for Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward. The veteran was no longer the go-to guy as the team had two youngsters (Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown) who made the Pro Bowl and another youngster in Emmanuel Sanders. Plus the team had to cut $25 million in order to get under the salary cap. Unfortunately that meant cutting Ward, their career leader in receptions, receiving yards and TD’s. He was released on Feb 29, and instead to looking for another team to play for, the Super Bowl 40 MVP decided to announce his retirement from football March 20th to ensure that he will always remain a Steeler.

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In most cases, when a team finishes 8-8 it’s not a sign of failure or success because it’s not really a winning or losing record, but to be honest it’s looked upon as a record that’s better than losing because they could’ve easily finished 7-9 or worse, but on the flip side the team could’ve finished 9-7 or better as well.

Look at last year’s Denver Broncos, they finished 8-8 but won the AFC Western Division which is proof that they did not play in a good division and the 2010 Seattle Seahawks who won the NFC West despite finishing 7-9, now we know that’s rare and so did they but the rest of the teams in that division had worse records than they (and besides, those two teams made it to the second round of the playoffs)

But in normal cases finishing 8-8 can be a sigh of relief for an average team, but for a good team it’s usually a failure. Such is the case of the Pittsburgh Steelers who finished their 2012 season with a record of 8-8 and that is considered a failure.

Why? Just look at their record in the previous seasons: (2011)12-4, (2010)12-4, (2009) 9-7, (2008) 12-4. And with the exception of 2009, they were either in the playoffs or Super Bowl. And let’s also be clear: Finishing 8-8 is not the main cause of their failure, it’s the fact that they did not make the playoffs (just like they did in 2009) so when a team is suddenly spending their January on the couch instead of the football field, then that’s a sign that there were things went wrong.

“It was what it was,” Said Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin at his weekly news conference “there’s a certain level of disappointment sitting here right now at a season-ending press conference, those are certainly not our intentions as we desire to be a team that’s consistently in the hunt for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. That didn’t transpire this season for a number of reasons primarily we didn’t do enough in the losing moments of football games it think were 3-5 in 8 of those games and that will produce an 8-8 record and that’ll have you on the outside looking in.”

Losses to Oakland (4-12) Tennessee (6-10) Cleveland (5-11) San Diego (7-9) and Dallas (8-8) hurt the most because these were against teams who were .500 or worse, the losses to Baltimore and Cincinnati (both 10-6) also hurt because they were very close games. It can be clearly said that if the Steelers would’ve won those games, they could’ve easily been 15-1, and that’s no exaggeration.

Tomlin pointed out that his team failed to close out close games, what were the reasons, and what else cause the Steelers to miss the 2012 playoffs?

A.    Injuries-It’s true that Tomlin or the Steelers will never use this as an excuse as to why their season ended so prematurely (especially in those close losses) but let’s be real: The Steelers were a walking MASH unit this season. Their injuries began in the preseason when 3rd round draft pick Chris Spence and fullback David Johnson went down with season-ending injuries, and then first round pick David DeCastro went down with injury, not to mention running back Rashard Mendenhall and linebacker James Harrison were recuperating from surgery and injuries from the offseason and it was not certain if they were ready to play.

 

And it just got worse in the regular season. Injuries to safety Troy Polamalu, linebacker Lamar Woodley and Chris Carter, wide receivers Antonio Brown, Jerricho Cotchery and Mike Wallace, running back Isaac Redman and Baron Batch, cornerbacks Ike Taylor, Keenan Lewis & Curtis Brown, tackles Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams, guard Willie Colon, tight end Heath Miller, quarterback Byron Leftwich and of course Ben Roethlisberger. That’s a total of 23 players who missed games this season due to injury. It’s amazing that the team finished 8-8.

Roethlisberger’s injury proved the most costly. The team went 1-2 without him and 1-3 when he returned. It’s pretty obvious that he was still hurting.

B.     Performance-You don’t go from 6-3 to 8-8 without some bad plays here and there. The Steelers had more than a few, and they proved costly. From an 8 turnover game in a 20-14 loss to Cleveland, to dropped passes by the wide receivers, to costly penalties by the offensive line, and foolish special teams play (a blocked punt, gave up two fake punts, a punt return for a TD) on coverage and return teams and of course the costly interceptions by Roethlisberger was proof that the Steelers really shot themselves in the foot in several of these games. Plus bad defensive performance in the Oakland and Denver losses and lack of offense in the Cincinnati loss. Not to mention poor protection from the offensive line and basically no running game. When teams play like this, it’s been proven that they aren’t going to win many football games.

C.    Coaching and leadership-It’s hard to question Tomlin because of his coaching record, but there were some calls that he made that had us all scratching our heads. The rotating running back system, especially yanking them out after their 8 fumble game, and using Byron Leftwich instead of Charlie Batch because of Leftwich’s injury history.

And then there’s the leadership issue. Who are the true vocal leaders of the Steelers? In the past, it was Jerome Bettis, Joey Porter, Alan Faneca and Hines Ward. It doesn’t seem like there are any vocal leaders on this current team. Roethlisberger has already been called out by former QB Boomer Esiason saying that he acts like a drama queen and he should ‘be a man.’ There are a lot of players on this team who lead by example, but there needs to be one who takes the head. And Roethlisberger needs to be that one.

But there were some positives to the 2012 season, the Steelers did record their 599th career victory and are one win away from becoming the first AFC team to have 600 wins,(they are 4th on the All-Time list) they are 404-258-2 since 1970, and they have won 8 games for the 9th consecutive season joining the New England Patriots. The Steelers have also finished with the #1 ranked defense for the 6th consecutive season. They’ve also finish #1 vs. the Pass for the second consecutive year.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger posted his 7th straight season with over 3,000 yards passing (3,265), and passing for more than 20 touchdowns (26) for the 4th time in his career. Receiver Mike Wallace led the team with 8 touchdowns, and tight end Heath Miller led the team with 71 receptions. On defense, Lawrence Timmons was tied for the lead with 6 sacks (with James Harrison) and led the team with 3 interceptions.

So although the Steelers will be at home for the playoffs, their reputation has shown that they can bounce back, and that will be their goal as they prepare themselves for an offseason that’ll be full of making important decisions and preparing themselves for 2013.

“I don’t think that 2012 will be a building block for 2013” Said Tomlin “2012 is 2012 and 2013 is 2013.” Said Tomlin.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers knew they had a chance to save face when they faced the Cleveland Browns and they were able to get it done by beating the Cleveland Browns 24-10 to finish 8-8 and end their longest losing streak in several years. They also were able to avenge a horrible 20-14 loss to the Browns back in November in which they committed 8 turnovers.

In the first quarter, the Steelers and Browns traded drives, each team basically amounting to nothing. Rookie quarterback Thad Lewis did throw an interception to safety Troy Polamalu but the Steelers could not capitalize. Eventually quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was able to get a drive going in the second quarter and it resulted in a 41 yard field goal by Shaun Suisham.

The Browns then had a drive of their own with Lewis connecting often with his receivers and eventually gave way to veteran Phil Dawson who nailed a 51-yard field goal to tie the game at 3. As the second quarter was coming to a close, the Steelers defense struck again. Lewis was hit by defensive end Brett Kiesel and linebacker James Harrison and the ball was fumbled and recovered by linebacker Lawrence Timmons. Roethlisberger then found tight end Leonard Pope for a 1 yard TD and the Steelers went into halftime with a 10-3 lead.

The Browns received the ball at the beginning of the second half and basically did nothing on that drive and were ready to punt; only they decided to fake and give it to Ray Ventrone who ran it 35 yards and gave the Browns life again. This was the second fake punt performed against the Steelers this year. Lewis then took advantage of a pass interference call and eventually found wide receiver Greg Little in the back of the end zone for a 7 yard TD and the game was tied at 10.

On the ensuing drive, the Steelers took advantage of two penalties on the Browns defense and effectively drove down the field thanks to key runs by running back Jonathan Dwyer. Roethlisberger then found wide receiver Antonio Brown for a 9 yard TD and the Steelers were once again leading 17-10.

In the 4th quarter, the Browns started an impressive drive but penalties and the Steelers defense did them in and they decided to punt. The Steelers then took the ensuing drive, and eventually punted the ball back to the Browns with 11:51 left in the game. The Browns once again went 3-and-out and gave the ball back to the Steelers, who saw Roethlisberger take another sack and give the ball back to the Browns with over 6 minutes to play.

Lewis then fired a pass to a wide-open Travis Benjamin, who had the first down and tried for more but he fumbled when the ball was stripped and recovered by Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen and the Steelers got the ball back.

The Steelers then took advantage of the turnover as Roethlisberger found receiver Plaxico Burress for the 12 yard TD and the Steelers now led 24-10. It was Burress’ first TD as the Steeler since the 2005 AFC Championship game vs. the New England Patriots.

The Browns once again took the ball and eventually turned the ball over as Timmons slammed into Lewis who coughed up the ball and it was recovered by defensive end Ziggy Hood.

The Steelers then ran out the clock as they sealed the win and avoided their first losing season since 2003.

Roethlisberger had an error-free game, passing for 134 yards and 3 TD’s, Dwyer ran for 52 yards and receiver Emmanuel Sanders led with 28 yards. For the Browns, Lewis passed for 204 yards and a TD, running back Brandon Jackson ran for 54 yards and tight end Ben Watson had 64 yards on 7 receptions.

Notes: Defensive end Brett Kiesel and cornerback Keenan Lewis left the game before halftime with injuries. The Steelers finish 8-8 for only the second time in the last 6 years. The Steelers also played without wide receiver Mike Wallace and cornerback Curtis Brown who were placed on injured reserve.

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One day after the Pittsburgh Steelers crushing loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, a somber Mike Tomlin met with the media for his weekly news conference.

“Obviously it was a disappointing day for us” Said Tomlin “on a lot of levels. We weren’t able to secure victory in the game but also what it meant for us regarding our goals for the season. We’ve been in a lot of close football games, just consistently haven’t made those necessary plays needed to win those games we were 3-5 in games decided by 3 points or less-it’s just not good enough in the National Football League. A lot of games unfold in that manner and you gotta make the critical plays down the stretch in those games if you want to be a consistent winner and we haven’t done that and that’s why we sit in the position that were in today.”

And what Tomlin is referring to is a 7-8 record and officially eliminated from the playoffs as a result of their loss to the Bengals, who earned a trip to the postseason with their victory. This is only the second team that Tomlin has not taken to the playoffs during his 6 years as Steelers coach, with the other occurrence happening in 2009 when they finished with a 9-7 record.

Tomlin continue with the struggles that his team has faced “Obviously third downs in the game were an issue for us, we gotta perform better and we didn’t. We had some scoring opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on we missed a field goal, some other opportunities missed but they are what they are and we accept responsibility for our actions. Cincinnati made the necessary plays and we didn’t.”

The news kept getting worse for the Steelers as Tomlin discussed his injury report: “(running back) Baron Batch had an arm fracture. He had surgery so obviously he’ll be a transaction, an IR guy.” Tomlin then spoke about tight end Heath Miller who left Sunday’s game late in the 4th quarter “Heath Miller has an ACL and a MCL in his right knee, so unfortunately his season comes to an end.” Miller was having a Pro-Bowl season at the time of his injury, catching 71 passes for 816 yards and 8 touchdowns. His 816 yards and 8 TD’s are a career high, and his 71 catches currently lead the team. “He’s been rock-solid for us.” Tomlin said about his tight end “and we appreciate his efforts, he’ll be facing surgery.”

Tomlin also said that wide receiver Mike Wallace (hip rotator strain) guard David DeCastro (hamstring) cornerback Curtis Brown (ankle) and are all listed as questionable “We’ll assess those injuries and we’ll get healthy bodies up and ready to roll as we formulate a game plan as we prepare this week obviously for what will be our last game in the 2012 season. We look forward to preparing for it; we look forward to performing well for our fans at Heinz Field so we can end our season on a high note.”

And that game will be against the Cleveland Browns, who will be coming to Pittsburgh with a record of 5-10, and most importantly having already beaten the Steelers in a lackluster 20-14 win in which the Steelers committed 8 turnovers. Tomlin said that the guys will be ready “In games like these, you gotta win in the line of scrimmage offensively and defensively and I’m sure Cleveland will acknowledge the same.”

Through it all, Tomlin spoke well about his cornerbacks, especially Keenan Lewis and Cortez Allen “I thought our young defensive backs stood up to the task.” Said Tomlin “Especially in this past game regarding situational football. I saw growth in their performance and that needs to continue in order to win this football game.” Allen had a game high two interceptions in Sunday’s loss, the most by a Steelers cornerback this season.

With one game remaining in this disappointing season, the only thing the Steelers can do by defeating the Browns is improve their record to 8-8, preventing Tomlin from having his first losing season as a Steelers coach. After that, a long off-season awaits.

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1.      Well, it is what it is. The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially eliminated from the playoffs after losing to the Cincinnati Bengals 13-10 on Sunday, and I admit it is pretty disappointing.

2.      A lot of fans may think that the Steelers  didn’t deserve to go in the first place I don’t agree. The Steelers lost several winnable games this year and would’ve made the playoffs by default if they would’ve won them.

3.      The 31-19 loss to the Denver Broncos was not a winnable game, and the 34-24 loss to the San Diego Chargers was embarrassing, but that wasn’t winnable either. Other than that, the Steelers should be 13-2 right now, AFC North Division champs and at least a first round bye.

4.      Instead, they’re 7-8 and getting ready to play a meaningless game vs. the Cleveland Browns with hopes of finishing 8-8, their worst record under Coach Mike Tomlin.

5.      I admit that the injures truly did them in, but also very inconsistent play by the offense, especially by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who was 0-3 in his return after missing 3 games due to injury.

6.      I am a fan of Big Ben, but he honestly did not look like himself, overthrowing his wide receivers and throwing ill-advised interceptions that cost them games.

7.      But it wasn’t his entire fault, the offensive line played horrible too. Not providing pass protection or holes for the running game. And the wide receivers were dropping passes like they were hot potatoes.

8.      Through it all, other than the game vs. the Chargers, the defense played pretty well and did all that they could. But you win as a team and lose as a team.

9.      And for folks to blame offensive coordinator Todd Haley is utter foolishness. It’s like the flip of a coin: Applaud him when the team wins, blame him when the team loses. It’s only his first season folks, cut him a break.

10.  Speaking of those Steeler injuries, the team officially placed tight end Heath Miller, (ACL, MCL) cornerback Ike Taylor (knee fracture) and running back Baron Batch (broken arm) on injured reserve meaning their season is over.

11.  With that being said, the AFC playoff qualifiers look like this: Houston (12-3),Denver (12-3) New England (11-4), Baltimore (10-5), Indianapolis (10-5) and Cincinnati (9-6)

12.   Here’s the NFC Playoff qualifiers (so far): Atlanta (13-2), Green Bay (11-4) San Francisco (10-4), and Seattle (10-5) two more spots remain, and Washington (9-6) Minnesota (9-6), Dallas (8-7) and NY Giants (8-7) are all fighting for those spots.

13.  Congrats to the Pitt Panthers basketball team for returning to the Top 25 as they’re ranked #24 in both the AP and Coaches’ polls. A true sign that they’ve come a long way since last season. But the real test comes as Big East conference play begins New Year’s Eve with a matinee game vs. #8 Cincinnati.

14.  Looks like #1 ranked Duke (11-0) is trying to make a comeback to its status of dominance, but all they need is one loss and #2 Michigan (12-0) will take the top spot.

15.  I am excited over Pitt moving onto the ACC, but I have to admit that the Big East still rules in college basketball. Just look at the polls: #4 Louisville, #8 Cincinnati, #9 Syracuse, #15 Georgetown, #21 Notre Dame and #24 Pitt. No other conference has that many teams in the top-25.

16.  And then there’s baseball. As we know, the Pirates signed former Minnesota Twin Francisco Liriano to a two year deal, but then they traded closer Joel Hanrahan to the Boston Red Sox for four players. What gives Pirates?

17.  Who are those four players? IN-OF Joey Sands, IF Ivan Dejesus, and Pitchers Mark Melanoon and Stormy Pimentel. Ever heard of these guys? Me neither.

18.  It looks like the Red Sox is trying to make a strong comeback with the Hanrahan deal. They also signed former Chicago Cub Ryan Dempster.

19.  There’s a team from Los Angeles that’s dominating the NBA right now-and it’s not the Lakers. How ‘bout those Clippers? Winners of 14 straight. They look like they’re finally committing to excellence.

20.  And who allowed the New York Knicks to wear those awful orange uniforms on Christmas Day vs. the Lakers? Those were hideous. The ones that the Lakers wore were pretty nice.

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Pic courtesy of latintimes.com

One of the most popular songs during this time of the year is “There’s no place like home for the holidays” and Perry Como was truly onto something there. But it’s unfortunate that the Steelers decided to literally take that song and apply it to their 2012 season by losing yet another disappointing loss (again at the hands of themselves) this time to the Cincinnati Bengals, which not only dropped them to 7-8, but will have them spending Christmas with the knowledge that they’re officially eliminated from playoff contention.

With the win, the Bengals (9-6) clinched the 6th and final AFC playoff spot. The Indianapolis Colts (10-5) clinched the 5th playoff spot with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs for the first time since the 2009 season.

The Bengals and Steelers traded punts for most of the first and second quarter until quarterback Ben Roethlisberger attempted a pass to tight end Heath Miller, but it was intercepted by Bengals cornerback Leon Hall who returned it 17 yards for the touchdown and a 7-0 Bengals lead.

The Steelers then started an impressive drive which included a 4th down conversion by running back Isaac Redman and a very aggressive run by Rashard Mendenhall, who was playing in his first game since their loss to Cleveland. It wasn’t sure whether Mendenhall would suit up after being suspended last week vs. Dallas, but there he was on the field. The Steelers got to the Bengals 7 yard line but could not convert. In comes kicker Shaun Suisham to attempt a 24 yard field goal and as a result of a bad snap, promptly missed it. The Score stayed 7-0 Bengals until kicker Josh Brown nailed a 41 yard field goal which gave the Bengals a 10-0 lead.

The rest of the second quarter was pretty much the same, the Bengals did have a potential TD pass but it was broken up by cornerback Keenan Lewis. Then with close to 2:00 left in the game, Roethlisberger found his stride and hit wide receiver Antonio Brown for a 60-yard TD and the Steelers closed the Bengals lead to 10-7 to close the first half.

The Bengals received the ball in the second half and quarterback Andy Dalton’s first pass landed in the hands of Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen, his first of his career and the first for the Steelers cornerbacks. Unfortunately nothing resulted from it as Roethlisberger was sacked on another 3rd down and the Steelers once again had to punt.

Then Bengals then took the ball down the field and almost converted a 4th and 22, but the Steelers prevailed. Ben then directed the offense down the field but could not convert for a TD, but kicker Suisham nailed a 40 yard field goal to tie the game at 10.

The Bengals wide receiver AJ Green fumbled in the 4th quarter and the Steelers regained possession and once again did nothing with it as Roethlisberger got up very slowly after getting sacked hard. The Bengals then took over and Dalton threw a pass down the field and the ball was tipped by cornerback Josh Victorian and caught by Allen for his second interception. The play happened as Allen was falling out of bounds. And the Steelers failed to convert once again.

The Bengals then took the ball and was forced to punt it back to the Steelers with over 3:00 left to play. The Steelers then did nothing again and the Bengals tried a 56 yarder by Brown and missed which gave the Steelers which gave them good field position, but they did nothing and sent Suisham out for a 53 yard field goal, but missed. The Bengals then resumed possession and punted the ball back to the Steelers who got the ball with 44 seconds left to play.

Roethlisberger and the Steelers then got the ball and he threw a pass that was overthrown and intercepted by Bengals safety Reggie Nelson. Brown then nailed a winning 43 yard field goal and the Bengals win the game 13-10. They still have the final game of the season to play when they welcome the Cleveland Browns into town for a chance to finish the season 8-8.

Roethlisberger passes for 22 yards, one TD and those two costly interceptions, Mendenhall rushed for 50 yards and Brown had 97 yards and the TD. For the Bengals Dalton passes for 278 yards in spite of his two interceptions, and Green had 116 yards on 10 receptions.

Notes: Tight End Heath Miller sustained sprains to his PCL and MCL and running back Baron Batch sustained a broken arm vs. the Bengals. The Attendance at Heinz Field was 63,236.

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Pic courtesy of news.cincinnati.com

 1.      So here we go again, shaking our heads at another Pittsburgh Steelers loss, their 4th in 5 games. And it was against another team that they should’ve beaten.

2.      Not to take anything away from the Dallas Cowboys, who played one of their more impressive games, but let’s be honest: Once again the Steelers lost because they blew it.

3.      They had the lead and got the ball back in the middle of the 4th quarter, punt returner Antonio Brown returns the ball 30 yards (impressive right)-and then fumbles that same ball. Cowboys recover and eventually tie the game with a TD. Story of the 2012 Steelers buddy, do something dumb and lose the game because of it.

4.      And then there’s quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s postgame comments questioning the play calling and of course folks are thinking that he’s once again taking cheap shots at offensive coordinator Todd Haley. For one: I also question the play calling (especially on that final drive) but I do not think Big Ben was taking shots at Haley.

5.      To Big Ben’s credit, he apologized to Haley, team president Art Rooney II and Coach Mike Tomlin for all the attention that his comments made. I tip my hat to him for that.

6.      But I wish folks (especially media folks) would stop trying to make something out of nothing when it comes to him and Haley. Folks just want drama; just watch a soap opera or Jerry Springer.

7.      Then there’s former Steeler Jerome Bettis stating that hiring Haley was a mistake, but that it was bound to happen. Well, Jerome’s entitled to his opinion, but he’s wrong for saying that.

8.      I think Haley’s done a good job. He brought back balance to the offense after Bruce Arians tried to turn it into an air attack. Nobody was complaining about Haley when the team was 6-3. Folks are too ‘fair-weather’ sometimes.

9.      But they won’t tough defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau, who defense is hardly looking like the #1 ranked unit. Either get it together, or it’s finally time for a change in formation.

10.  Anyways, in spite of it all, the 7-7 Steelers are still in good position to get into the playoffs, they just need to win.

11.  If they beat the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, they’re in. If they win and the Baltimore Ravens lose their final two games, the Steelers get the AFC North Title. But if they keep playing foolish and lose Sunday, season’s over.

12.  My wife questioned the Steelers asking ‘How bad do they want it?’ I ask that question too, and these next two games will determine that. But I believe that the Steelers will prevail.

13.  And now folks are complaining about the Seattle Seahawks because they’ve been running up the score and doing fake punts-when they’re leading by 30. If I was Coach Pete Caroll, I would do it too until the NFL has a ‘Mercy Rule.’

14.  ESPN’s Rob Parker is a fortunate man, for his ill-advised comments about Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III-he gets only a 30-day suspension? If he wasn’t African-American, folks would’ve been calling for his termination.

15.  My congrats to Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim for winning his 900th career game, joining Bobby Knight and Mike Krzyewski as the only coaches to accomplishing that feat. Admit it; he’s one of the best.

16.  It bothers me that a lot of critics say that Pitt freshman center Steven Adams is not doing well, I mean really folks, is there no pleasing you? Give the kid some time; he’s doing well by the way.

17.  I heard that former Panther (for about 10 minutes) Khem Birch had 11 points in a game with his new team, UNLV. Well, he got what he wanted; I just hope he acts like a man when things don’t go his way-again.

18.  The NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats are at it again, losing. Their 7 wins have matched their total from last season. I’ll say it again: Michael Jordan, Hall-of Fame player, lousy owner. You don’t have to be good at everything.

19.  And the only reason why the Bobcats aren’t in last place, because Washington Wizards are 3-20. Maybe they should send them a ‘Thank You’ card.

20.  So the Pittsburgh Pirates are using their 1971 uniforms as alternates for 2013 eh? Well, at least they’ll be dressing like a winner.

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin wasted no time stating that this Sunday’s rematch vs. the Cincinnati Bengals is of extreme importance.

“Of course an enormous week for us here” Said Tomlin “With a big home game against out division opponent in the Cincinnati Bengals. Obviously there’s a lot of ramifications on this game for both teams, it’s really creating an exciting environment around here as we prepare, I’m sure it’s the same for them.” The Steelers find themselves at 7-7, one game behind the Bengals (8-6) for that final Wild Card spot in the AFC, a win would put the Steelers in front of the Bengals because they will have swept the season series, and a loss would give the Bengals that final playoff spot and of course, eliminate the Steelers from playoff contention.

Sunday’s 27-24 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys put the Steelers in this predicament, and here’s what Tomlin had to say about that game: “Obviously not enough of the significant plays in the waning moments to secure victory, a lot of positives things in the game obviously it was a hard fought football game in a hostile environment against a team who had things on the line as well.” Tomlin made it plain that the Steelers had plenty of opportunities in all three phases (offense, defense, special teams) to win the game “I thought it was a positive sign that we played virtually penalty-free football in that game. But again, we needed the significant plays especially when you’re in a hostile environment so secure victory.” Tomlin really thought that they had the opportunity to win this game, but he says that they now move onto the Bengals.

Tomlin then addressed the injury report “(Wide receiver) Emmanuel Sanders had a rib injury” Said Tomlin “he’ll be limited this in the early portions of this week “We’ll gage how he works, and we’ll determine if he’s going to participate.” Tomlin also said that cornerback Ike Taylor (ankle) will remain out. Defensive back DeMarcus Van Dyke (shoulder dislocation) will be placed on injured reserve, ending his season, and Tomlin announced that he will be replaced by Justin King, who is a Pittsburgh native. “The guy’s a veteran an NFL corner who has played time in this league.” Tomlin said of King.

Tomlin said that tackle Mike Adams (ankle) is able to practice but it will be monitored over the course of the week with no determination if he can play Sunday as is cornerback Cortez Allen (groin). Cornerback Keenan Lewis (hip) will be limited but Tomlin said that he expects him to play Sunday. “So largely some good news on the injury front.” Said Tomlin.

One of the main issues that took place after Sunday’s loss was comments that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made stating that they didn’t make enough plays and that more passes should’ve went to tight end Heath Miller. Tomlin had this to say about those comments “That was a tough hard football game and when you come up short, there’s natural frustrations associated with that and I’m sure if there was anything read into his comments, it was just that.”

When asked if Roethlisberger’s comments were directed at offensive coordinator Todd Haley Tomlin replied “I met with Ben yesterday, and he’s ready to move forward with the game plan.” On the comments about Miller, Tomlin replied “Obviously he was an eligible receiver on a number of pass routes; Heath is a big part of what we do.”

Tomlin also stated that the running back rotation will not change, Jonathan Dwyer will remain the starter with Isaac Redman backing him, and the now-reinstated Rashard Mendenhall will get a chance at some opportunities that could possibly be carved out for him.

Tomlin’s assessment on first round pick David DeCastro’s first start “I thought they (and tackle Kelvin Beachum) did a good job, they’re both intelligent guys who committed very few if any, mental errors, not only from David, but from Beachum. I like the way they represented themselves at this point, but they’ve got a ridiculous challenge this week.”

Notes: Steelers WR Mike Wallace (823 yards) needs only 177 to notch his 3rd consecutive 1,000 yard season, and Miller (771) needs 229 yards to notch the first 1,000 yard season for a tight end in franchise history. Miller also needs one more TD to pass WR Louis Lipps (39) for franchise history.

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There were a few elements missing when the Pitt Panthers took on the Delaware State Hornets at the Petersen Events Center. The student section known as the ‘Oakland Zoo’ looked more like an ‘Oakland Exhibit’ due to the fact that a lot of students went home for the holidays, backup center Dante Taylor was ruled out of this game because of a heel contusion, and finally the Panthers attention span, which was totally gone in the first half as they committed 8 turnovers and allowed the Hornets to stay in this game. But the Panthers got their resolve and used a 40-16 run in the second half to defeat the Hornets 71-43 in front of 9,522 fans.

The Panthers did start a 10-3 run, but the Hornets stormed back thanks to the 3-pointer. Hornets guards Casey Walker and Tahj Tate made those shots from beyond the arc to keep their team close; their 3-point shots were so impressive that the crowd let out a stunned response after those shots were made. Meanwhile, the Panthers were trying to hold onto the lead, but those turnovers and other mistakes (like overthrowing passes to teammates) negatively affected them.

Thanks to the Hornet’s surge, Pitt was now leading 12-11, and then 14-13. And while they were continuing to find themselves, the Hornets eventually took a 15-14 lead thanks to a layup by Tate. Then the Panthers showed signs of waking up as forward/center Talib Zanna drew a foul and made both free throws to give the Panthers a 16-15 lead. Zanna’s layup gave them an 18-15 lead until Walker’s crowd shocking 3-pointer tied the game at 18 with 7:06 left in the first half.

Pitt then responded with the slam dunk. Forward JJ Moore and Zanna both slammed it in and gave the Panthers a 22-18 lead, and then guard James Robinson’s layup and free throw helped give the Panthers 30-23 lead. But back came the Hornets as Tate’s jumper and layup closed the gap to 31-27 with the first half buzzer sounded. Pitt shot 68.4% but those 8 turnovers really hurt them and helped keep the Hornets (who shot 45.8%) in the game.

Pitt Coach Jaime Dixon must’ve really got on his team at halftime, because when the second half began, the Panthers truly had a new attitude, one that wanted to win. Zanna began the resurgence with 4 points off a dunk and layup and the Panthers were leading 35-27. Zanna and forward Lamar Patterson’s dunks then gave the Panthers a 39-27 lead. Center Steven Adams, who already had two blocks, entered the scoring party with 2 huge dunks and the Panthers were suddenly leading 43-29, and it started to look like the Panthers got their ‘mojo’ back and slowly began to run away with this game.

Adam’s layup gave the Panthers a 52-36 lead, and it was all Pitt from there as they wore out the Hornets and their thoughts of a potential comeback and the Panthers ended up winning 71-43.

Zanna led all scorers with 20, his 4th 20-point game this season. He also led all players with 9 rebounds and a block. Adams finished the game with 10 points, 8 rebounds and four blocks. Moore came off the bench and added 15 points and 3 rebounds, Patterson added 9 points 4 rebounds and 3 assists, and guard Tray Woodall had 4 points and lead the team with 9 assists (Robinson had 8) and Trey Ziegler added 8 points and the Panthers shot 85.7% in the second half. Tate led the Hornets with 19 points and as a team they only had 10 rebounds and 9 assists.

The Panthers are now 11-1, and will play Kennesaw State in their final non-conference game on Sunday before Big East Conference play starts New Year’s Eve vs. #11 Cincinnati. Whatever kinks that they need to work out, they need to get it straight now so they can prove that last year’s 5-13 Big East record was truly a fluke.

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There are a lot of critics out there who feel like the early stages of a college basketball team can be a smoke screen for some teams because of whom they play. For a team who’s recognized as a national power, the first few months of their schedule is usually filled with non-conference opponents who are usually below their lever of competition, and of course that leads to easy wins and a protection of their national rankings (kind of like a boxer who fights lesser-known opponents to ensure that their title is protected) but the concern is if this type of scheduling really helps the team or hurts the team before they begin conference play.

The Pitt Panthers basketball team is a perfect example. Many media persons continue to criticize coach Jaime Dixon for not scheduling tougher non-conference opponents and they feel like that it has hurt the Panthers because it does not properly prepare them for conference play in the Big East, or postseason play in the NCAA Tournament.

Well, with much respect to those media persons, the facts disagree with them. From 2003-2011, Coach Dixon’s teams were not affected by their non-conference schedule as they were either conference regular-season champions or conference tournament champions each season and the 2008-09 team was a bad defensive play away from the Final Four. When you make the NCAA Tournament and win your conference that many times, you’ve done something right.

Until last season when the Panthers lost non-conference games to Long Beach State and Wagner, and it shook and exposed the team that might not have been ready for conference play even if they beat those two teams. Of course you know the rest of the story; they had a very disappointing season in which they missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in 10 years.

But this season, the Panthers also have the type of non-conference schedule that one again had media types fuming, but they’re 10-1, with their loss against a very good #2 ranked Michigan team. Their only other challenge was against Oakland (Michigan) in which they trailed by 15 points before finally beating them in overtime.

The Panthers begin this week once again ranked #27 in both the AP and Coaches poll, so there’s proof that they’re not affected by their non-conference schedule, but it’s probably going to take them beating another good team to return to the top 25, which will come New Year’s Eve when they take on #11 Cincinnati in conference play, but before that they will complete their non-conference schedule which will be against Delaware State (5-6) on Wednesday and Kennesaw State (1-8) on Sunday. And a few days ago, the Panthers absolutely destroyed Bethune-Cookman 89-40, their most lopsided victory ever at the Petersen Event’s Center.

But the reality of it all is that non-conference schedule will not end, teams like #1 ranked Duke and others in the Top 10 also have that type of non-conference schedule that some label as ‘soft’, but they still go on to dominate.

The important thing about a non-conference schedule is the same when they play the conference schedule: Wins. No big celebration if they win shame on them if they lose.

Player of the week: Center Steven Adams-The ever improving freshman had his best game of the season so far, scoring 16 points, grabbing 10 rebounds (his first college Double-Double) 1, assist, a steal and a block in the victory vs. Bethune-Cookman.

Notes: The Panthers are currently 2nd in the country in assists (19.5/game) and 5th in field goal percentage (.518)

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Pic courtesy of heraldstandard.com

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback (and local product) Charlie Batch is known for giving back. The Homestead native always takes the time to give back to the youth in the city that has given a lot to him and he has done that through his ‘Batch Foundation’ and ‘The Best of the Batch’ program. And his latest initiative aims to provide the most impact to the local youth.

Batch has teamed with the Globetrotters Cheese Chisholm to present the Globetrotters newest school initiative ‘The ABC’s of Bullying Prevention.’ This seminar took place at Steel Valley Middle School in Munhall.

Batch, who went to Steel Valley, really believes that this message will affect and inspire the students, although it’s not a new message.

“I believe that we can make an impact because it comes from us.” Said Batch “They know me and to hear it from athletes does make a difference.”

Chisholm feels the same because he knows what it likes to be bullied, as he experienced that at a youth in the Bronx. “I was made fun of because I was skinny.” Said Chisholm “So I want to make sure that I reach out to the youth and to those who are affected because they’re skinny like me.” Chisholm also mentioned that speaking to the youth at school is very important to him because no one visited his school when he was a kid.

The assembly began with the introduction of the Globetrotter’s Chisholm who greeted the kids and recognized Batch as an honorary “Ambassador of Goodwill” for his work in the community, and gave him his own Globetrotters jersey (#16) he then began to speak to the youth about the importance of following their dreams and how to prevent bullying by speaking to them about how to demonstrate Action, Bravery and Compassion. He then had three students form an A, B and C.

Chisholm then had the students give their definitions of action, bravery and compassion and had those who answered join him and Batch at center court and he taught them some Globetrotter Moves.

The Globetrotters will donate 100 tickets in Batch’s name for underprivileged youth to see the Globetrotters live in Pittsburgh a Consol Energy Center on Wednesday Dec 26th at 7 p.m.

Known as the original “Ambassadors of Goodwill, The Globetrotters developed The ABC’s of Bullying Prevention. With the national campaign to stop violence. Globetrotter stars will present the program to over 300 students across the country this school year.

The Best of the Batch program uses the game of basketball through Project C.H.U.C.K- A free annual 6-week basketball league that stands for Continuously Helping Uplift Community Kids.

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1.      I feel like I’m just about over the disastrous Pittsburgh Steelers 34-24 loss to the San Diego Chargers, are you? But I have just a few more things to say before I bury that game with a shovel (And then bury the shovel).

2.      What in the world is their problem? How dare this veteran football team allow the 4-8 Chargers to roll up in their stadium and lead by as much as 27-3? That was a disgrace. It reminded me of those home losses to the Dallas Cowboys in ’94 and ’97.

3.      Yes, I understand that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was rusty after playing for the first time in 3 games, but the rest of the team also looked like they were playing for the first time in 3 weeks. Slow and unprepared compared to Philip Rivers and his mates.

4.      Did they think that all they had to do was to just show up and points would just appear on the scoreboard? Were they too high after their dramatic win vs. the Baltimore Ravens?

5.      To be honest, I think that was the case. The Raven’s win was carried into the game vs. the Chargers. Only thing is, the Ravens were in Washington, losing to the Redskins.

6.      Bottom line is, I think this season is teaching the Steelers a good lesson: It is true that a team’s record does not matter, what only matters are what happens on game day. And if you’re not prepared to play that team with a sad record, that team will beat you. End of story.

7.      Of course one of the Steelers wasn’t there to watch the loss to the Chargers, because he decided that he was going to stay home, and that person is running back Rashard Mendenhall.

8.      I mean, really Rashard. What is your problem? He was told that he was inactive for a third game and he decided that he was not going to come to Heinz Field and stand on the sideline with his teammates. Are you kidding me?

9.      His reason? He didn’t think that he had to come in. Are you really kidding me?

10.  He makes $41,000 a game. Most hard working persons are working hard just to get that salary. All he had to do was show up. The nerve of some of these players.

11.  Well, for his efforts, Mendenhall was awarded with a 1 game suspension. Meaning that he will not play (or suit up) for Sunday’s game vs. Dallas. And this time, he doesn’t have to come to the Stadium.

12.  Be careful what you ask for Rashard. No more ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ adventures okay.

13.  Anyhoo, the 7-6 Steelers are trying to hold off the Cincinnati Bengals who have a Thursday night game vs. Philadelphia. Here’s hoping Nick Foles can win again, because the Steelers could sure use the help.

14.  Congrats to Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, 2012 winner of the Heisman Trophy. Although I rooted for Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o, Manziel earned it, and his acceptance speech was very impressive. He’s a well grounded young man.

15.  And I’m glad that they did not use the fact that Manziel was a freshman and give it to someone else. That’s why Pitt’s Larry Fitzgerald should’ve won it in 2003. But he was a sophomore.

16.  I will stick with Notre Dame to win the National Championship. Alabama’s got enough rings.

17.  Glad to see that the Pittsburgh Pirates were able to keep relief pitcher Jason Grilli, who took less money to stay here. But they should not trade closer Joel Hanrahan.

18.  How ‘bout the Los Angeles Dodgers, signing pitcher Zack Grienke to a $147 million contract. They made the New York Yankees jealous, and they then signed infielder Kevin Youkilis to a 1 year $12 million dollar deal.

19.  I’m liking the New York Knicks/New Jersey Nets rivalry. It’s getting more and more intense as they keep playing. Plus, I’m sure it cuts down on the travel costs (but it still does not compare to the LA Lakers/LA Clippers Rivalry.

20.  So the NHL is starting to look like their serious now, it only took almost three months, the cancellations of the All-Star game and the Winter Classic.

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The reports were that the San Diego Chargers were an awful team, and at 4-8 they looked the part. It was also reported that they had a horrible offensive line, needing to get players off the practice squad and that they wouldn’t stand a chance against the revived Pittsburgh Steelers #1 ranked defense. Plus, they also had quarterback Ben Roethlisberger coming back, so that’s definitely a bonus for the Steelers.

Um, Yeah. You thought that too?

Well, the Chargers didn’t think that, nor did they play like it as they marched into Heinz Field and marched right out with a surprising 34-24 win vs. the Steelers. And if you didn’t watch the game, do not think the 10-point loss was not that bad. Especially considering the fact that the Steelers were at one point losing 27-3.

Roethlisberger’s day was not a good one, especially in the first half. He was rusty and couldn’t throw the ball to himself if he was open. And his wide receivers didn’t help either because they were also dropping passes as well, while the Chargers were playing like they were well, ‘Charged up.’

And the defense did their part, holding them to only 3 points for much of the first half. Those points were courtesy of a 51-yard Nick Novak field goal. Meanwhile, Roethlisberger and the Steelers continued to do nothing on offense and when they tried, let’s just say they couldn’t get the ball past the 50 yard line. Well, the Chargers weren’t doing anything either, at least until late in the first half when quarterback Philip Rivers threw an impressive 39-yard strike to wide receiver Danario Alexander for the first TD of the game. Alexander badly beat Steelers nickel back Curtis Brown and suddenly the Chargers were up 10-0.

And what did the Steelers do in response to the Chargers TD? Give the ball back to the Chargers who eventually got three points off another Novak field goal (39 yards) to improve their lead to 13-0. Roethlisberger and the Steelers found some life as they got the ball into field goal range and kicker Shaun Suisham rewarded them for it by kicking a 49 yard field goal to close the Chargers lead to 13-3 as the first half ended.

But in third quarter, the Chargers took over. Rivers took the opening drive and literally drove it down the Steelers throats first by converting all of their third down opportunities, and then he found wide receiver Malcolm Floyd in the corner of the end zone for a 3 yard touchdown and a 20-3 Charger lead.

The Steelers get the ball back and-basically turn it over. Roethlisberger’s non-forward pass bounced off the back of an offensive lineman and was ruled a fumble as it rolled into the end zone and Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer recovered it for the TD to give the Chargers a 27-6 lead.

Well the Steelers decided to show a pulse and score a TD. Roethlisberger’s 44 yard pass to Wallace gave the Steelers their first touchdown and closed the Charger’s lead to 27-10. But the Chargers would have none of that after Roethlisberger’s interception to Chargers linebacker Brent Bird, and Rivers kept inflicting the pain as he found Alexander again for a TD and the Chargers had a 34-10 lead.

Roethlisberger found Wallace and Antonio Brown for late TD’s but it was too late for the Steelers and they now continue their rough and tacky season by falling to 7-6. (All 6 losses coming in the AFC)

Roethlisberger rebounded from his awful start by passing for 285 yards, 3 TD’s and an INT. The running game was truly ineffective as Jonathan Dwyer rushed for 32 yards on 8 carries (Roethlisberger was right behind him with 31 yards) and when Wallace decided to catch the ball, he caught it 7 times for 112 yards and 2 TD’s.

Rivers passed for 200 yards and 3 TD’s, running back Ryan Matthews led all running backs with 65 yards rushing and Alexander had 88 yards on 7 catches and 2 TD’s.

The Steelers got some help with both the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals, but it never looks good for a team when they cannot beat teams that (based on their record) they’re supposed to. That’s why pre-game reports don’t matter come game time, because when a team is really ready to play, they usually do, and the Chargers proved that.

The Steelers simply need to win their final three games, beginning with the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday.

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1.      We start off with this news: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is cleared to start vs. the San Diego Chargers per Coach Mike Tomlin. Roethlisberger missed the last three games due to a shoulder SC sprain and the team went 1-2 during that span.

2.      Roethlisberger impressed Tomlin enough in Wednesday’s practice to name him the starter. With him back, it obviously makes the Steelers stronger. But let’s hope that he’s really ready to play

3.      Well, it’s nice to look back on a Steelers win isn’t it? Especially if it’s against the Baltimore Ravens. I’m so glad that they beat them; I didn’t want them to get swept by them again, and return home with a 6-6 record.

4.      Instead, the Steelers are 7-5, and are preparing to play the Chargers. I do not like how the Chargers do business, so I want the Steelers to quite frankly, beat them into the ground.

5.      Speaking of the 4-8 Chargers, I hear that they’re planning to fire coach Norv Turner and GM AJ Smith. I feel bad for Turner, but Smith is one of the most unprofessional men in his profession. (In my opinion)

6.      Quarterback Charlie Batch truly stole the show in the second half of Sunday’s game. Passing for 220 of his game high 276 yards and that incredible TD to tight end Heath Miller. It’s nice to see that he wasn’t shaken after throwing that interception to safety Ed Reed. It was also nice to see the Steelers defense force a turnover of their own to get the ball back in Raven’s territory.

7.      Speaking of that defense, it’s getting better and stronger. They’re truly living up to that #1 ranking. Look out NFL.

8.      Speaking of which, did you realize that the Steelers have had the top ranked defense since 2007? Go figure. Not to mention the top pass defense too. (no really, go figure)

9.      The tragic story of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher. I really feel for his and girlfriend’s families, and the Chiefs as well. This man truly had issues and it’s a shame that it had to end for him like this and his girlfriend as well.

10.  I feel like NBC’s Bob Costas has every right to voice his views about gun laws. This issue involved lives lost by a gun used by a football player, so that made it a football matter.

11.  I think that the New York Jets are a joke and all they care about are the headlines. With that being said, watch them try to sign dethroned Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mike Vick, because it would make headlines.

12.  Kudos to Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez for publicly announcing that he will not be pursuing Pitt’s Paul Chryst for the head coaching position. And I like how he explained that it made no sense to pursue him since he was the one who encouraged Pitt to hire Chryst in the first place. I’ve always like Alvarez, he’s a class act.

13.  Also Kudos to Paul Chryst for giving a statement about his loyalty to Pitt, and immediately talking to his players. That’s how you’re supposed to do things Todd Graham. (Yeah, I said it)

14.  And it irks me that folks were calling Wisconsin Chryst’s ‘dream job’ I think that phrase is truly a contradiction of terms. He never said that it was his dream job, and everybody’s not meant to go home and coach (see Dave Wannstedt)

15.  The Panthers get the BBVA Compass Bowl again? To be honest, I knew they would. They’re 6-6 record is the lowest in the Big East to receive a bowl bid. But why does it have to be January 5? Oh well…

16.  Congrats to Notre Dame Linebacker Manti Te’o for winning the Walter Camp (National Player of the Year) award the Chuck Beardnick award (Defensive Player of the Year) and the Maxwell Award (Most Outstanding Player) He’s really cleaning up.

17.  I really hope that Te’o wins the Heisman Trophy although it looks like Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will get it, In my opinion he’s put up impressive numbers, but he would need to throw for over 55 TD’s to get my vote. It gets very easy to give that award to a quarterback. (with the exception of RGIII and Cam Newton, who earned it)

18.  I’m still rooting for Notre Dame to win it all. Hey, Alabama won it last year.

19.  Congrats to Pitt basketball’s James Robinson for winning the Big East player of the week. He’s truly a treat to watch and is truly what the Panther’s need.

20.  Congrats to LA Lakers Kobe Bryant for becoming only the 5th player in NBA History to score 30,000 points. The other players: Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Michael Jordan and Karl Malone. Those 4 are in the Hall of Fame, they’ll be saving a seat for Kobe.

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There were several things that were different in this year’s City Game between the Pitt Panthers and Duquesne Dukes. For the Panthers, it was their new freshman class that included center Steven Adams, guard James Robinson and junior transfer Trey Zeigler. For the Dukes it was their new Head Coach Jim Ferry.

But one thing remained the same: Pitt winning this game. The Panthers extended their winning streak vs. the Dukes to 12 games as they defeated them 66-45 at a near sold-out Consol Energy Center crowd of 13,089. This was the third game played in Pittsburgh’s newest arena and Pitt has won every matchup.

Guard Tray Woodall led the way with 24 points (a game high 5 three-pointers) and Adams had an impressive 14 rebounds as the Panthers put on a clinic for their cross-city rivals. Robinson also had 7 assists for the winning team as they keep the Dapper Dan City Game trophy for the 12th year in a row. The trophy was presented to the Panthers at mid-court following the game.

Like a few games this season, it certainly didn’t start off as a dominating one for the Panthers as they immediately fell behind the 8-ball when Dukes guard Sean Johnson started the game off with a 3 pointer, then Robinson closed that lead to one with a layup. Then forward Lamar Patterson’s 3-pointer gave the Panthers a 5-3 lead. Patterson finished with 13 points and 3 three-pointers and his layup extended the Panther’s lead to 7-3.

Then the Dukes stormed back with two dunks by 7-1 Adele Martins to tie the game at 7, then Woodall started heating up as he hit a 3-pointer to give the Panthers a 10-7 lead. But then back came the Dukes with a 3-pointer of their own by forward Quevyn Winters and the game was tied at 10.

Adam’s dunk gave the lead back to Pitt and Woodall’s two baskets extended the lead to 15-10. But back came Dukes again as they proved that they could hang with Pitt for a while. They tied the game at 15, but that marked the last time that they would get that close to Pitt all game as Pitt began to tire of Duquesne for hanging around. Woodall’s two 3’s helped extend Pitt’s lead to 27-17 and he scored two free throws to end the first half with Pitt leading 29-17.

In the second half, it was basically all Pitt as they took complete control of the Dukes and this game. Woodall, Adams and Robinson helped extend Pitt’s lead to 41-27 and although the Dukes tried to come back, they could not keep up with the Panthers and they just basically ran out of gas. Adams scored 6 of his 8 points in the second half, and the team as a whole out-rebounded the Dukes 49-33 to seal the victory.

Robinson also added 9 points and Woodall added 5 assists. Forward Talib Zanna added 7 rebounds and forward JJ Moore added 6 as the Panthers improve to 8-1 of the season. For the Dukes (4-4), Johnson led his team with 13 points, forward Kadeem Pantophlet and guard Jeremiah Jones had 6 rebounds, and guard/forward PJ Torres had 5 assists.

Although he was disappointed in defeat, coach Ferry spoke very highly of Pitt and this series stating that the City Game deserves to go on for a long time and reiterated that Pitt is significantly better than Georgetown. He also said that they and West Virginia should be ashamed of themselves for not playing each other anymore due to the Mountaineers defection to the Big 12 Conference.

Woodall stated that he was glad that Pitt got the win because this was his last City Game. In the 5 games that he played in, he’s never lost one. Pitt will now move onto play North Florida on Saturday while the Dukes play New Orleans, also on Saturday.

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Ever since the first game against the Baltimore Ravens, it was pointed out that if the Pittsburgh Steelers played a complete game, scored more touchdowns and didn’t turn the ball over, they would beat the Ravens the second time around.  Well, two out of three isn’t bad, right?

 Although they did commit three more turnovers, the Steelers (7-5) refused to lose, and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as they overcame a 10 point deficit and beat the Ravens (9-3) 23-20 at M & T Bank Stadium. They also ended a 15 game home winning streak for the Ravens and also ended their 3 game losing streak to the Boys in Purple that dates back to last season.

Veteran quarterback Charlie Batch looked like the reliable veteran that he’s been over the years as he directed his team to victory. Although he had a costly interception early in the 4th quarter, and overthrew a very wide-open Mike Wallace in the end zone late in the 2nd quarter, what will be remembered about his performance are the plays that he did make, and that’s what enabled them to tie the game, and eventually set them up for the win. He passed for a game-high 276 yards, one TD and the interception. Kicker Shaun Suisham’s 42 yard field goal (3rd of the game) won it for the Steelers as they remain ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals for the final Wild Card playoff spot.

Like the first game at Heinz Field, the Steelers struck first as Batch drove his team down the field and got them to the point where Suisham kicked a 46 yard field goal and a 3-0 lead. But the Ravens eventually struck back but were also held to a field goal as kicker Justin Tucker kicked a 45 yard field goal to tie the game at 3.Tucker’s second field goal of the game, a 23 yarder gave the Ravens a 6-3 lead.

Batch and the Steelers then drove the ball again, mixing it with runs by new starter Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman. (Rashard Mendenhall was inactive for the game, a move made by Head Coach Mike Tomlin) Batch gave the ball to wide receiver Antonio Brown (playing in his first game since the win vs. the Giants) who took the option and threw the ball, and watched it sail into the hands of Ravens cornerback Corey Graham for the interception. The Ravens promptly responded as quarterback Joe Flacco (16/34 188 yards) threw a 28 yard pass to wide receiver Anquan Boldin for a TD and a 13-3 lead. Boldin would finish with 6 receptions for 81 yards.

But the Steelers did not appear shaken at all, as Batch once again drove the ball down the field. He also had a few great passes to tight end Heath Miller. But then the wide open pass to Wallace happened and the Steelers had to settle for Suisham’s second field goal of the night, a 41 yarder to close the gap to 13-6 before halftime.

In the second half, the Steelers received the ball and drove it right down the Ravens throats as Batch, Miller, Brown and Dwyer. And it was Dwyer again as he bounced off a few Raven defenders and raced into the end zone from 16 yards out to tie the game at 13. The Steelers seemed to be on their way to a lead when Batch found wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders wide open in the middle of the field on a 3rd and 11, but Sanders could not hold onto the ball and fumbled it away to the Ravens. Then they promptly gave the ball the running back Ray Rice who ran right around the Steelers defense for a 34 yard touchdown and a 20-13 Ravens lead. It was the only Ravens offensive TD given up by the Steelers this season. Rice would finish with 78 yards on 12 carries.

In the 4th quarter, the Steelers would not go away. Batch drove the ball down the field but was intercepted in the end zone by safety Ed Reed. But then the Steelers #1 defense had had enough. Linebacker James Harrison, who has played like himself the past few weeks, smacked into Flacco and stripped the ball which was recovered by defensive end Ziggy Hood and the Steelers got the ball back. Batch and Co. drove the ball down the field again and for the second time, they struck paydirt. Batch fired a pass to Miller, who dove to get the ball over the pylon for a 16 yard TD and the game was tied at 20. Miller would finish the game with 4 receptions for 97 yards.

The defense struck again as they forced the Ravens to punt, and then the Steelers went to work on what would turn out to be their final drive. Key passes by Batch and a penalty by the Ravens got them into field goal range, and Suisham thanked them for it as he nailed a 42 yarder as time expired to win the game.

Dwyer finished with 49 yards on 16 carries, and Redman finished with 43 yards on 9 carries and no running back turned the ball over. Safety Ryan Clark recorded his second interception of the season, and Hood and linebacker Larry Foote each recorded sacks.

The Steelers next opponent are the San Diego Chargers at Heinz Field and that could make the return of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. But whether he plays or not, it’s nice to see the Steelers show that they can win when injuries try to take their key players out.

Notes: Cornerback Ike Taylor left the game with ankle injury. He was seen on the sideline in a boot. Fullback Will Johnson possible had a concussion, Sanders had a joint shoulder sprain, but he returned to finish the game and Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs left the game with an injury late in the 4th quarter.

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Characteristic of a Mike Tomlin news conference, the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach began with a summary of their 23-20 victory vs. the Baltimore Ravens.

“Obviously a very necessary victory for us.” Said Tomlin “it was a great effort-not necessarily a great performance, but it was a great performance. It was a necessary effort for us; we made enough plays to win the game. I was really proud of the guys in terms of the way they displayed their mettle, their willingness to stick together through adverse circumstances to pursue victory.”

Tomlin said the turning point was after the Ravens scored their first touchdown. “Chris Rainey gave us a big jolt after their score by returning the ball to mid-field and we were able to get 3 points before the end of the half. Obviously we had a chance to get 7 there, we missed it but we were able to get some points and get some positive momentum before the half and then our ability to come out of halftime and put together a scoring drive at the start of the their quarter, I thought that put us back in the football game., not only in terms of the scoreboard, but an emotional lift for us that our guys were able to ride and make enough plays down the stretch.”

Tomlin then spoke of quarterback Charlie Batch “Obviously we’re happy for Charlie, he made all the necessary plays for us. Not only in terms of what he did physically, but emotionally. He was solid throughout and did an awesome job of communicating, and we’ve come to expect that from him. I’m not surprised but excited for him and proud of him for his contribution.”

Tomlin then spoke about the injuries and began with fullback Will Johnson who sustained a concussion during the game and that he’s done well on the battery of tests that one has to take to be cleared to play again. “We’re confident that he’ll be able to play in spite of.” Said Tomlin. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders suffered an AC sprain of his shoulder but Tomlin expects him to be a full participant, the same with fellow receiver Mike Wallace (knee inflammation).

Tomlin said that  linebacker Lamar Woodley (knee) is questionable at this point “But  we’ll give him some snaps and see how his body reacts, but he’s potentially in play as we work this week.” Wide receiver Antonio Brown (high ankle) may be limited in the early parts of this week “I thought it was a good start for him from a return standpoint.” Said Tomlin “but he’s still working his way back to health if there’s such a thing in the National Football League at this point.” Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (ribs) is expected to be a full participant this week.

Tomlin did say that rookie tackle Mike Adams (high ankle sprain) is still listed as out, and that safety Ryan Clark (hip contusion) may be limited and that guard Willie Colon (knee) is expected to come back but may also be limited. Safety Troy Polamalu (calf) who did play in Sunday’s game suffered no setbacks, “no steps backwards” said Tomlin “we expect for that to continue, but we still may preserve him in the early portions of the week.” Tomlin then spoke about cornerback Ike Taylor who suffered a right ankle fracture “He’ll miss a couple of weeks, obviously he’s not in play this week.”

Tomlin said that Cortez Allen will start in place of Taylor and he spoke well about his nickel back Curtis Brown’s’ performance on Sunday “I thought both guys did a really nice job, and proved that it was not too big a job for them.”

As for the quarterbacks, Tomlin started with Byron Leftwich (ribs) “He’s getting closer towards health, but he may not get an opportunity to show it this week, what we have is two known healthy quarterbacks (Charlie Batch and Brian Hoyer) so obviously we’ve got to prepare those guys. Ben is getting closer to health, he threw yesterday and I guess we can describe it as being successful. We’ll see what it looks like on the football field tomorrow he’ll get an opportunity to prove that he is healthy, but in the meantime Charlie is our guy.” He also said that Hoyer will get reps, but “there won’t be many opportunities for Byron to prove that he is healthy, even though he is.”

The Steelers next opponent are the San Diego Chargers (4-8) and Tomlin spoke well of them especially quarterback Philip Rivers “He’s obviously the center of what they do, and rightfully so.” And on defense, cornerback Quentin Jammer “He’s got good ball skills.” Said Tomlin. The team has struggled, but Tomlin says that they need to be ready for them.

Notes:  Tomlin also stated that running back Jonathan Dwyer will remain the starter and that Isaac Redman remains the backup and that although Rashard Mendenhall was benched on Sunday, he may get a chance to show that he’s ready.

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1.      I’m sure you’re still shaking your heads at that horrible Steelers loss on Sunday, a game in which they committed 8 turnovers and only lost 20-14. I’m with you. I couldn’t believe what I saw on the TV (Even my wife was not happy) but it was not the worst performance by the Steelers.

2.      Let’s go back to 1989 when the Chuck Noll led team opened the season against the Cleveland Browns in Three Rivers Stadium. During that time period, the Browns were a better team than the Steelers but the Browns didn’t have to do much as the Steelers also committed 8 turnovers-4 that turned into 21 points as the Browns destroyed the Steelers 51-0. Now that’s horrible.

3.      Then they travelled to Cincinnati to play the Bengals and lost 42-10. Ugh! Outscored 92-10 in their first two games. But the Steelers did recover to finish 9-7 and get the final Wild Card spot. They beat a very good Houston Oilers (Remember them?) team and almost beat eventual AFC Champion Denver in the next round. Now those are memories, folks.

4.      Now am I saying that this Steelers team who is sitting at 6-5 can do what that team can do? Absolutely. Provided that they can get over their injuries and of course, if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger comes back.

5.      Big Ben was limited in practice on Wednesday, and is trying his best to come back soon, perhaps Sunday’s rematch against Baltimore, but we’ll probably know for sure before 4:25 on Sunday. If not, then Charlie Batch will again get the nod to start.

6.      Make no mistake, this upcoming game is scary. The Ravens play better at home than on the road and at 9-2, have found ways to win and is pretty much the AFC North Division champion for the second straight season.

7.      The Steelers have to find their running game and find ways to score touchdowns in order to win this game. And of course the obvious fact is that they cannot turn the ball over.

8.      The defense did well in the first game, and could be even better with the return of safety Troy Polamalu (calf) who has been practicing this week. If he’s close to 100%, he’ll be a factor in this game.

9.      They also got good news that wide receiver Antonio Brown (knee) also practiced and is expected to play as well on Sunday. Him not being in the lineup proved just how valuable he is to this team.

10.  Speaking of teams, it looks like the Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons, who’re both 10-1 will get Home field throughout the NFL Playoffs. But we also know that the record does not matter, it’s based on whoever team is hot (ex: NY Giants Super Bowl champs at 9-7) so as long as a team gets into the playoffs, they have a chance. (But they gotta be healthy!)

11.  One more thing about the NFL, I didn’t realize that the Seattle Seahawks were 6-5. Well, I guess Pete Carroll can coach in the NFL.

12.  Then there’s the Pitt Panthers football team, who’s fresh off their stunning 27-6 win vs. then #21 Rutgers. They have a chance to get to a bowl by beating South Florida on Saturday, and I hope that they do it. Paul Chryst is a great coach and he and his team deserves it.

13.  Then there’s the National Championship picture. #1 ranked Notre Dame (12-0) is already in, but the SEC Championship (11-1 Alabama and Georgia) will determine their opponent. It would be funny if the Bulldogs won, but I think coach Saban’s crew will win.

14.  So LSU Les Miles is staying despite being lured to Arkansas? Smart move Miles. Leaving that storied program would’ve been the biggest mistake of your life.

15.  Louisville to the ACC too? That conference is about to become the new Big East after taking 6 former members (including Pitt)

16.  Oh, and I have one thing to say about Louisville b-ball coach Rick Pitino, who criticized Pitt and Syracuse for leaving the Big East for the ACC last year. Welcome aboard hypocrite.

17.  Pitt basketball is very close to being nationally ranked, but they cannot take any of their next opponents (Detroit, Duquesne, North Florida, and Bethune Cookman) lightly. They must beat them all before Big East play starts (and then they must beat them too.)

18.  It’s still had to believe that Pitt gave #3 Michigan a run for their money. I wish they would’ve beaten them, but like the football team you gotta learn to finish games.

19.  Despite the fact that they have Mike D’Antoni, the LA Lakes still look like an old joke. Those who think that they’re going to contend this season needs to get out of the past. This team needs as much help as the Steelers.

20.  So on this day of baseball moves, the Pirates made a few of their own: They acquired right hander Vin Mazarro and first baseman Clint Robinson from the Kansas City Royals and also added pitcher Ian Stewart from the Boston Red Sox. Ever heard of these guys? Me neither.

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Definition of  a Turnover (Wikipedia)-In American football occurs when the offense loses possession of the football because of a fumble, interception, or on downs. (For an example, Please see the Steelers vs. Browns on 11/25/12.)

Ok, we all know that example is not really in Wikipedia or any dictionary when it defines what a turnover is, but it could definitely be used because of the awful display that took place at Cleveland Browns Stadium Sunday afternoon.  The Steelers looking to avenge last Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens and the Browns were looking to avenge Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys. So both teams were looking to turn a new leaf and get a win right?

Well the Browns were serious about turning a new leaf; the Steelers were just interested in turning the ball over. And they loved it so much (excuse the sarcasm) that they decided to turn it over 8 times in an embarrassing and frustrating 20-14 loss to the Browns which now leaves them at 6-5, with all five of their losses happening in the AFC. Not good for a team who has postseason plans. If the season ended today, the Steelers would be out of the playoffs because the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals have a better overall and conference record. The Steelers do not play the Colts this season, but they’ve already beaten the Bengals once and will play them again on Dec 23.

As for the game itself, it actually began with a turnover-by the Browns. Rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden threw a pass that was intercepted by linebacker Lawrence Timmons who ran it back 53 yards for a TD and a 7-0 Steelers lead. Timmons leads the Steelers with 3 for the season.

After the Browns did nothing on the ensuing drive, quarterback Charlie Batch handed the ball to running back Rashard Mendenhall and the turnover party began. He fumbled deep in Steeler territory but the Browns were held to a field goal which closed the Steelers lead to 7-3. Mendenhall sits on the next drive and enters Isaac Redman, who fumbles to once again give the ball back to the Browns who successfully convert their next drive into a score. Weeden found tight end Jordan Cameron in the corner of the end zone for a 5 yard TD and their first lead at 10-7.

Batch then handed the ball to another running back, Jonathan Dwyer and of course he fumbled too, so that he wouldn’t be left out. The Browns Phil Dawson kicked a 32 yard field goal to extend their lead to 13-7.

Somewhere in the Steelers mess of turnovers and confusion they were able to get a successful drive. Batch proved that he could still throw the ball and he mastered a perfect drive which ended with a 1 yard TD by rookie running back Chris Rainey. The drive was aided by a pass interference call on wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who was signed Tuesday. The Steelers went into halftime with a 14-13 lead.

In the second half, the Steelers received the ball and Batch kept the turnover streak going with an interception of a pass that was intended for Burress. Of course the Browns made something out of it as their prize rookie running back Trent Richardson ran untouched into the end zone for a 15 yard TD and a 20-14 lead. That ended the scoring for the day, but it did not end the Steelers turnover streak.

Batch tried to start another impressive drive but when he tried to fire a pass to wide receiver Mike Wallace, he tipped it and it was, you guessed it-intercepted by the Browns. At that point it was their 5th turnover. The Browns did nothing with it but give the ball back to the Steelers who also did nothing with the ball.

Finally, late in the 4th quarter, Batch once again tried to drive the Steelers down the field when he threw a pass deep that was intended for Wallace-but was intercepted again. It was Batch’s 3rd interception of the game. Once again, the Browns did nothing and punted the ball back to the Steelers. And Batch handed the ball to Rainey who was hit a couple of times and yes, he fumbled too. Browns ball. They did nothing and the Steelers got the ball back with seconds left to play. They tried to lateral the ball and when it ended up in Redman’s hands, he-you guessed it, fumbled the ball to end the game. Horrible game, horrible loss by the Steelers.

The 8 turnover are the most in a game for the Steelers since they had 8 in a 51-0 loss against the Browns in 1989. That team, however still managed to make the playoffs. They’re also the first team to have 8 turnovers since the St. Louis Rams in 2001.

In spite of his unimpressive game, Batch passed for 199 yards, 75 went to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and 63 went to tight end Heath Miller. Richardson led all running backs with 85 yards and the TD.

It’s really do or die time for the Steelers as they now head to Baltimore to finish their series to the Ravens. The early reports are that Ben Roethlisberger may be availible for that game. Here’s hoping that he is because they’ve been through enough of a turnover at that position, and the Steelers obviously need him to win.

Notes: linebacker LaMarr Woodley and rookie tackle Mike Adams left the game with knee and ankle injuries, respectively. No other updates at this time.

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It was a special day at Heinz Field as the Panthers honored their 18 departing seniors in their final home game. Among those who’re graduating are running back Ray Graham, quarterback Tino Sunseri wide receivers Mike Shanahan and Cameron Saddler and safety Jarred Holley. And what a send-off it was as they helped Pitt beat a very good Rutgers team 27-6.

But both Pitt and Rutgers defense truly took control in the first quarter, matching 3 and out for 3 and out. The Panthers kept the pressure on the Scarlet Knights, especially linebacker Shayne Hale who knocked the lights out of quarterback Gary Nova. Pitt’s offense had some decent plays but were not able to convert as was the Scarlet Knight offense.

In the second quarter, Pitt finally got it together with key passes by quarterback Tino Sunseri to tight end JP Holtz for 28 yards and then in the red zone, Sunseri found wide receiver Mike Shanahan wide open in the corner of the end zone for a 16 yard TD that put Pitt on the board first with a 7-0 lead. That drive totaled 80 yards and 2 minutes and 56 seconds.

The Panthers shut the Scarlet Knights offense down on the ensuing drive which included an impressive tackle by junior defensive end Aaron Donald. On the next drive, Sunseri had a great screen pass to running back Ray Graham but they were not able to capitalize and had to punt.

The Scarlet Knights then took over and Nova was sacked by Donald and eventually forced Rutgers to another 3 and out. Pitt took over and had an impressive 21 yard run by Ruschel Schell who took it to the 19 yard line and just when things get good, Sunseri fumbled the ball at the two yard line and the Scarlet Knights recovered the ball.

Once again Pitt shut the Rutgers offense down and got an extra 15 yards thanks to a special teams penalty by the Scarlet Knights. Graham then had two impressive runs, one got Pitt to the two yard line and the other over the goal line for a 1 yard TD and a 14-0 Pitt lead.  The drive covered 3 plays and 28 yards. Pitt once again shut the Rutgers defense down and got the ball back. The Panthers went for broke and got into the end zone again, this time to wide receiver Ed Tinker 13 yard TD and a 21-0 lead to close out the first half.

In the second half, Rutgers had key passes to help them drive up the field, but a holding call killed their chances and they ended up punting back the Pitt. The Panthers then drove down the field and 13 plays and 58 yards later, Kevin Harper kicked a 39 yard field goal which gave the Panthers a 24-0 lead.

The Scarlet Knights then took the ball and drove down the field and were aided by a pass interference call. Nova then made two impressive passes to get his team to the Panthers goal line. Pitt held the offense until Nova found wide receiver Brandon Coleman for an 11 yard TD for their first points of the game. A failed two point conversion made it 24-6 Panthers.

Pitt went three and out to close out the 3rd quarter and punted the ball to Rutgers who had another start to an impressive drive until Nova tried to throw long and it ended up in the hands of Lafayette Pitts for the drive-killing interception. The Panthers went three and out and punted the ball back to the Scarlet knights with 9:57 left to play. The Scarlet Knights did nothing and punted the ball back to the Panthers with 9:17 left to play.

Pitt then took the ball and had two Graham runs that put him over the 100-yard mark and into the red zone with over 7 minutes to play. Harper’s 25 yard field goal gave Pitt a 27-6 lead. It concluded a 7 play 45 yard drive with 6:01 left to play. Graham now has surpassed Craig ‘Ironhead “Heyward for 3rd place on Pitt’s career rushing list. The game eventually concluded as the Panthers (5-6, 2-4 Big East) kept the bowl hopes alive.

Sunseri passed for 227 yards and two TD’s, Graham finished with 113 yards on 23 carries and the TD. Shanahan had 62 yards on 5 catches and the TD. For Rutgers, Nova passed for 157 yards and a TD and interception, and Tim Wright caught 6 passes for 66 yards. The Panthers will finish their regular season against South Florida.

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1.     Looking back a few days, I think the only thing that really bothered me about the Steelers 13-10 loss (other than losing) to the Baltimore Ravens was the fact that they should’ve ran the ball more.

2.      Quarterback Byron Leftwich throwing the ball 39 times (connecting for 18) if he was fully healthy. The poor man proved that point when he himself ran 31 yards for the opening TD, of course in normal Leftwich-like fashion, he hurt his shoulder, and then his ribs. I think it’s time to move on from ‘Ol Byron.

3.      Back to the running game. Jonathan Dryer ran 12 times for 56 yards (4.6 avg) that’s pretty impressive and they should’ve kept using him. The defense had Joe Flacco and Co. covered on the other side of the ball. Todd Haley and Co. should’ve taken advantage of that.

4.      And don’t even get me started on the team calling their final timeout with 2:04 left in the game. I mean really Mike Tomlin and Co. (Yes, I’m on a roll with that) get that clock management together.

5.      Oh well, it’s now water under the bridge, it’s Cleveland time now, and enter Mr. Charlie Batch, the 37-year old Wonder Man. I think that he’ll do well on Sunday.

6.      Batch is also a perfect fit (at least I think) for Haley’s ‘dink and dunk’ offense. He can throw screens, and get the ball to tight end Heath Miller, plus, he can throw it deep if need be.

7.      But more importantly, he can manage a good game. If the running game gets it done Sunday, Batch won’t do much.

8.      How about the return of Plaxico Burress? I applaud the Steelers for making that move. He’s what they need right now, and I don’t think Emmanuel Sanders and Mike Wallace can do it alone, especially after Jerricho Cotchery is now out.

9.      Burress can be an awesome red-zone threat. He sure was with the Jets last year when he scored 8 TD’s. I think he can be a good teacher to Wallace on how to keep his head in the game.

10.  Going back to the defense, in spite of the loss, they’re looking pretty good after not allowing the Ravens’ offense to score and only giving up one TD in the last 8 quarters. Keep it going boys.

11.  Hey, I just heard that first round draft pick David DeCastro (remember him?) is off the 8 week IR and could be cleared to practice. That’s good news.

12.  Speaking of practice, wide receiver Antonio Brown (ankle) was limited in practice on Wednesday, which is a good sign for him. Running back Isaac Redman (concussion) looks like he’s over his symptoms as he had a full day of practice.

13.  I have to agree that Ravens safety Ed Reed did not deserve to be suspended for a game after his hit on Sanders, and glad to hear that it was reversed after an appeal.

14.  In this age of college football, it’s becoming a common thing to see teams jumping conferences. This time it’s Maryland (ACC) and Rutgers (Big East) making the jump to the Big Ten Conference. I can see Rutgers there, but Maryland? They’re supposed to be Pitt’s new ‘backyard’ rival. (at least to me)

15.  Maryland’s reason for leaving the ACC? More money. But they had no problem paying that 50 million dollar exit fee did they? (Go figure)

16.  Now my pick (Don’t judge me) for winning the BCS championship is Notre Dame. But if they end up playing Alabama, Nick Saban and Co. might get the repeat.

17.  Pitt’s basketball team is truly looking good, especially after coming back from 18 down to Oakland and beating them on OT. We all know for a fact that last year’s team would’ve lost that game. Hopefully they’ll win the pre-season NIT.

18.  And then there’s Jack Taylor. Don’t know the name? Well you’ve been sleeping under a rock. Taylor is the young man from Division III’s Ginnell (Iowa) who scored an incredible 138 points on Monday vs. Faith Baptist Bible. The final score: 179-104.

19.  2 things that I ask of that game: 1. how does one player score 138 of his team’s 179 points? And 2. How does the opposing team allow it? Wow. Previous record? 89 just last season by a player-from Ginnell. What is in the water in that school?

20.  The New York Knicks currently have the NBA’s best record at 8-1. Surprised? You’re not the only one. And to think that fans were falling apart because they didn’t re-sign Jeremy Lin.

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There were a lot of things that you expected to see when the Steelers suited up to play the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night, no Ray Lewis, no Ben Roethlisberger or Troy Polamalu.  You also knew that it was going to be a very physical game as it has been in the last several years. The Steelers were hoping to snag this game at home because of the stats that suggest that the Ravens are horrible on the road, but are undefeated at home.

Well it proves that stats mean nothing as the Steelers lost to the Ravens 13-10, giving them 3 straight wins vs. the black and gold.

But the Steelers had a lot of momentum as they took the opening kickoff, and then quarterback Byron Leftwich, who is filling in for the injured Ben Roethlisberger, led his team down the field thanks to a defensive pass interference call. On the very next play, Leftwich ran to his right, and didn’t top running until he ended up in the end zone for a 31 yard TD and a 7-0 lead. That run was aided by incredible protection by the Steelers offensive line and it was easily the longest of Leftwich’s career.

The Ravens did nothing on the ensuing drive, and when the Steelers got the ball back, Leftwich fired a pass to wide receiver Mike Wallace, who fumbled after getting hit and Ravens safety Ed Reed recovered. The Steelers held the Ravens to a field goal by Justin Tucker and it closed the Steelers lead to 7-3. The Steelers did nothing and punted the ball to Jacoby Jones, (you know, the one who leads the NFL in returns?) and he promptly returned it 63 yards for the TD and a 10-7 Ravens lead.

In the second quarter, nothing much happened, The Ravens and Steelers basically went 3-and-out and the half ended with the Ravens leading 10-7.

In the second half, the Ravens took the opening kickoff and did nothing, then the Steelers drove the ball up the field and things started looking promising until Leftwich tried to fire a pass to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders but it instead landed in the hands of defensive back Corey Webster for the interception. The Ravens then ended up kicking another Tucker field goal and extending their lead to 13-7.

The Steelers then took the ball down the field and mixed the pass with the run, Jonathan Dwyer was able to get some good runs, and then Leftwich fired a strike to Sanders that was extended by a personal foul on the defense. But the Steelers failed to capitalize when Leftwich found Wallace in the corner of the end zone, but he was out of bounds. Suisham’s field goal closed out the 3rd quarter and the Ravens lead was trimmed to 13-10.

The Steelers and Ravens went through the 4th quarter exchanging drives which basically accomplished nothing. And although the defense tried and tried to give them opportunities when they kept shutting quarterback Joe Flacco and the Ravens down, (sacks by linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley) Leftwich and Co. couldn’t close the deal. The Steelers had the ball in the closing seconds and did….nothing. Running back Rashard Mendenhall failed to get out of bounds to stop the clock when he pulled in a pass, and the Steelers closed out the game with an attempted lateral that defined their performance on offense-sloppy. Steelers lose 13-10.

Leftwich passes for 201 yards (18/39) and the interception, Dwyer had another impressive game, rushing for 55 yards on 12 carries (and a 4.6 avg) and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders was Leftwich’s favorite target as he had 82 yards on only 3 catches. For the Ravens, Flacco passed for 164(20/32) running back Ray Rice rushed for 40 yards on 20 carries and wide receiver Anquan Boldin had an impressive game, hauling in 8 catches for 79 yards.

The 6-4 Steelers now have 4 losses in the AFC and can really not afford to lose any more as the NFL is going into its final weeks of the season. They certainly need to win next week at Cleveland, and win the following week in the rematch at Baltimore. This is the bed that they’ve made and they have to lie in it.

Notes: Running back Isaac Redman suffered a concussion late in the first half and did not return. Defensive end Ziggy Hood (back) and wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery were also injured. It appeared that Leftwich hurt his shoulder on the 31 yard TD run, but remained in the game. He is now 0-7 in his last 7 starts.

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1.      For the second straight year, I have a beef with a Pittsburgh Steelers/Kansas City Chiefs game. Last year, the Steelers played lousy but won 13-9, this year they played confused and lousy but won 16-13 in overtime.

2.      What gives? I can’t say that they have the Steelers number, because they didn’t win those games and of course just because they were 1-7 didn’t mean that they were a pushover, but they’ve looked totally out of it against them.

3.      Meanwhile, KC looked like they were trying to win as they took an early 10-0 lead. The fact that the Steelers took the lead back from them was an indication that they should’ve blown them away, but they looked clumsy and goofy in that rain and wind.

4.      The offensive line did not open holes for the running game, and the running backs looked like they were trying to remember what to do when they got the ball. Both Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer looked like they were on a ‘Slip and Slide.’

5.      And then there’s quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who looked confused and clumsy himself, and of course, ended up getting seriously hurt and leaving the game.

6.      Big Ben has a sprained shoulder and a dislocated rib, the latter more serious than the former. My prayers are to him as he could possibly need 6 weeks of healing time. His life is more important than his career.

7.      Veteran backup quarterback Byron Leftwich will be the starter when the Steelers play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. This will be his first start as a Steeler, and his first start overall since ’09 when he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

8.      He has cannon of an arm, which can probably knock a WR 5 yards because of his impact (LOL!) but he can overthrow at times and needs more control. Plus, he lacks the mobility that Roethlisberger has and you know that the Ravens are going to blitz him.

9.      The running game and the offensive line have to be error-free and the defense has to stop quarterback Joe Flacco for the Steelers to win. And Leftwich has to make zero mistakes.

10.  San Francisco 49ers QB Alex Smith and Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler are out with concussions; make this a very tough year for signal-callers.

11.  And then there’s baseball, congrats to all the postseason award winners: Angels OF Mike Trout and Nationals OF Bryce Harper (AL & NL Rookie of the Year), A’s and Nationals’ skippers Bob Melvin and Davey Johnson (AL & NL Manager of the Year)

12.  (cont) Rays and Mets pitchers David Price and 38-year old R.A Dickey (AL and NL Cy Young) and finally Tigers OF Miguel Cabrera and Giants catcher Buster Posey (AL and NL MVP) what an awesome year gentlemen!

13.  Cabrera is the first player to win the Triple Crown and MVP in the same season since Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. Dickey is the first knuckleballer to ever win the Cy Young.

14.  Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was third in MVP voting, congrats to him.

15.  I could criticize the Miami Marlins for spending all that money, hyping up a new stadium and then finishing last in the NL East Division. And then trading some of their top players to Toronto. But at least they tried. Something that the Pirates still have yet to do.

16.  I said this before and I mean it: the Pitt Panthers basketball team is back. I’ve watch all of their games so far and you can see it, I did not expect forward Talib Zanna to be one of the leading scorers but hey, keep it going.

17.  Robert Morris looks impressive as well. They started off slow, but like Pitt are on a mission to get back to the NCAA Tournament.

18.  Pitt football is frustrating. Once again they have to fight to finish 6-6, and be bowl eligible. Of course to do that, they have to beat a very good Rutgers team (oh boy) and South Florida. We shall see...

19.  And did I hear that Coach Paul Chryst started calling out his players? (in the general sense) I guess in some ways I don’t blame him, but he shouldn’t do it if he doesn’t want his players to do it.

20.  My new team to win it all in college football: Oregon.

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As he usually does during his weekly news conference, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin summarizes the previous game, which in this case was the 16-13 overtime victory vs. the Kansas City Chiefs:

“Obviously we’re pleased to get out of the stadium with a win.” Said Tomlin “It wasn’t a perfect body of work by any stretch, but that’s not our concern getting the win is. There were very few positives, but the positives were significant. We made significant plays to get us out of the stadium of course Lawrence Timmons play in overtime was big, Suisham has been big for us all year and a lot of smaller contributions from key people. But more than anything, it was just a gritty performance by our guys who made sufficient plays for us.”

Tomlin then spoke about the injury report which began with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “He has a shoulder sprain. It can be classified as a ‘SC’ Sprain. That’s all the information that I have for this time, He’s being evaluated. Obvious this injury puts his participation in the ‘questionable’ category for this week. I’ll have more information for you guys this week as I get it.” That news basically confirms that veteran Byron Leftwich will be the starter at quarterback on Sunday vs. the Baltimore Ravens.

Tomlin also stated that wide receiver Antoino Brown (high ankle sprain) is also listed as questionable, as well as tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle) the same with linebacker Stevenson Sylvester (hamstring). Listed as doubtful is safety Troy Polamalu (calf) Safety Ryan Clark appears to be fine (concussion like-symptoms) “we’ll continue to evaluate him through the course of the week. Running back Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) started to work, but is also listed as questionable.

Now onto the Ravens: “It’s an awesome game, always is” Says Tomlin “Talented group, they’re a very good football team.” Baltimore (7-2) leads the 6-3 Steelers buy a full game in the AFC North Division. The two teams play each other in two of the past 3 weeks, with the Cleveland Browns in between. They come to Pittsburgh this Sunday at 8:20pm (NBC) and the Steelers then travel to Baltimore for the ‘rubber match’ Sunday Dec 2 at 4:25pm. (CBS)

“They distinguish themselves as situational-type football” said Tomlin on the Ravens “which makes them a difficult team to beat. They’re #1 in red-zone defense, #5 in red-zone offense, obviously that weighs heavily in their favor. We gotta be better than we’ve been that area, we’ve got to make sure that they’re not going to be better in that area.” Tomlin said that as a defense, the Steelers are 0 in the turnover margin, but the Ravens are plus-9. “They do a nice job at taking care of the ball,” Said Tomlin “a nice job at getting the ball as they always have. But more than anything, we understand what this matchup is about; it’s about physicality it’s about playing good hard-nosed football which we expect them to do, and we better be prepared to do it.”

Last season, the Steelers were swept by the Ravens for the first time since 2006, which hurt the Steelers chances at the AFC North title. It’s safe to say that these two games vs. the Ravens will also decide who gets the crown as well with the Cincinnati Bengals (4-5) and Cleveland Browns (2-7) being non-factors at this point.

The Steelers lead the overall series 10-6 and they’ve been playing each other since the Ravens inaugural season in 1996. The Steelers are 8-3 vs. the Ravens at Heinz Field and are 8-8 in Baltimore. Although it does not count in the stats, the Steelers lead the Ravens 3-0 in the playoff matchups, which have all taken place at Heinz Field.

Of course most of the questions were about Roethlisberger and his injury. When he was asked if he could still play Sunday if he isn’t able to practice all week, Tomlin replied “I have before.” When asked if QB preparation is different because it is the Ravens, Tomlin replied “I don’t care about the opponent.” Tomlin said “They’re just nameless grey-faces to me.”

Notes: Tomlin also spoke well about defensive Brett Kiesel who had 8 tackles and 2 sacks “It was a timely performance, kudos to him but he was one of the many guys who delivered timely plays for us in the football game.” The Steelers will once again wear their throwback uniforms from 1934 against the Ravens. It will be the final time this season that they wear those uniforms.

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It’s pretty obvious that the Pitt Panthers was invited to the pre-season NIT Tournament because of their history at Madison Square Garden, and even though it took them playing two rounds at the Petersen Events Center (no complaints there) The Panthers officially punched their ticket to the Big Apple after taking care of Lehigh 78-53 before 7,225 at their home arena.

Guard Travon Woodall led the Panthers with 23 points, and forward Talib Zanna posted his second 20 point game as the Panthers continue to incinerate any reminders of their dreadful 2011-12 season with very aggressive play and good old fashioned dominance.

It didn’t start out that way as Lehigh hung with Pitt for most of the first half, not letting the Panthers lead by no more than 5 points. Like other teams that they have faced, Lehigh had excellent shooters, and they were very impressive beyond the 3 point mark. Guard C.J McCollum is clearly the star of this team and he showed it as he made 3 of his 4 three point attempts and kept his team in the game. Guard Gabe Kunston (15 points) also kept it close with accurate shooting in the first half, but the Panthers slowly but surely took the lead, and the game. After trailing by 3 points late in the first half, Pitt lever trailed again as Zanna, Woodall and center Steven Adams took charge. Adams in particular, grabbed key rebounds and scored 4 of his 6 points in the first half, 2 coming right before the buzzer to give the Panthers a 35-30 lead.

In the second half, it was basically all Panthers. Each player on the team contributed in a mighty way as they scored key baskets on offense, JJ Moore began to wake up and score 8 points, and Durand Johnson continued to be a pleasant surprise as he came off the bench to score 9 points, including a key 3-pointer. He also had 7 rebounds. Center Dante Taylor shook off first-half errors and had led all players with 10 rebounds, Zanna had 6, Moore had 5 and Adams had 4. The freshman from New Zealand also had two blocks; one was an incredible swat late in the first half. Woodall led all players with 8 assists.

Leigh’s hot shooting cooled off as the Panthers really put the clamps on them by forcing 15 turnovers and selfless play. The Aggressive defense that was missing a season ago was very present in this game. Pitt went on huge scoring streaks in the second half and left their opponents in the dust, and when the dust had cleared, the Panthers were leading by 20 midway in the second half.

One area that the Panthers need to continue to work on is the free throw shooting. Although the finished 16-22 which isn’t bad, they missed key shots at certain times. Now is that time to get that straight because the schedule will eventually get tougher and the Big East conference play will be on its way.

The Panthers opponent in the NIT Tip-Off Round will be the #5 ranked Michigan Wolverines, who easily defeated Cleveland State 77-47. This game will truly be the Panthers first true test and the timing of it may benefit them.

But that game will be on Wednesday, the Panthers next opponent will be this Saturday vs. Oakland at the Petersen Events Center.

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For the second straight season, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs played a strange game. Why do you ask? Because it looked like both teams were in each other’s bodies (remember the movie ‘Freaky Friday’ when a freak accident put the mother in the daughter’s body and vice versa?) with the 1-7 Chiefs looking very charged and pumped up and the 6-3 Steelers looking like they lost their minds.

At least that is what it looked like in the first quarter as quarterback Matt Cassel and the Chiefs when they took their second drive-and drove it right down the Steelers throats. Running back Jamaal Charles’ 12 yard TD run put the Chiefs up 7-0 for the first time all season and it totally stunned everybody-the Steelers, the Heinz Field crowd, probably even the Chiefs.

Anyway, the Steelers took the next drive and basically threw it away. Guard Willie Colon was flagged for a holding call and then he was flagged for using explicit language-because he had a problem with the holding call. As a result, the Steelers were in a 2nd and 29. So what do they do? A handoff to running back Isaac Redman, who promptly fumbles and the Chiefs recover at the 20 yard line. The Steelers did keep them out of the end zone, but Chiefs placekicker Ryan Succop’s 22 yard field goal gave them a 10-0 lead.

No worries when you have Ben Roethlisberger right? Exactly. Although he looked very jittery at times, the Steelers quarterback endured to wind and rain and got his team right back in the game with two impressive drives. The first one ending with a 35 yard field goal from kicker Shaun Suisham, which put the Steelers on the board, and then they drove down the field again thanks to some timely running by Jonathan Dwyer and Roethlisberger which set up the Steelers first TD, an amazing corner end-zone catch by wide receiver Mike Wallace which tied the game at 10, and it stayed that way through halftime.

In the second half, the Steelers continued to do nothing on their first drive and the Chiefs were playing like, well the Chiefs. But on the Steelers second drive, problems arose. Remember when it was proven that the Steelers should never worry with Big Ben as quarterback? Well that theory was tested when he was hit squarely in his shoulder as he was sacked by KC linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. He then left the game, and then (reportedly) the stadium to make it obvious that his night was over.

Enter veteran Byron Leftwich who became very important because the other QB, Charlie Batch was inactive and out of uniform for this game. Leftwich, who hasn’t take any snaps since training camp at Latrobe, certainly looked like it but finished 7-14 for 73 yards and no turnovers. But he overthrew some players, which included an overthrown deep pass to a wide-open Wallace. The other problem was that the running game was not doing much to help Leftwich. Dwyer rushed for 56 yards, and Redman 21 as they could not find a dent in the Chief’s defense.

But eventually Leftwich got the Steelers close enough for another Shusiam field goal, this one a 23 yarder to give the Steelers a lead for the first time, 13-10.

It stayed that way until the final seconds of the 4th quarter, when Cassel converted a 4th and 15 pass and setting up a 46 yard field goal by Succop to tie the game and send them to overtime.

Of course you remember the last time the Steelers were in OT right? (Not to bring up old wounds) Vs. the Denver Broncos in the AFC Wild Card – playoff game. Denver got the Ball first, Tebow to Thomas for an 80 yard TD, game over Steelers lose.

Not this time pal. Cassel’s only mistake happened when he threw a pass that was snatched out of the air by linebacker Lawrence Timmons who returned it 23 yards. Tomlin wasted no time in sending out Suisham for the winning field goal-and he did just that as he kicked a 23 yarder to get the victory, 16-13.  Steelers improve to 6-3.

Before he was injured, Roethlisberger passed for 84 yards (9/18) and the TD. Tight End Heath Miller led the Steelers with 47 yards on 4 catches. For the Chiefs, Cassel passed for 154 yards (11/26) and threw the one interception. Charles had a great game as he led all running backs with 100 yards and the TD.

But as we know, the big concern is about Roethlisberger and his shoulder. Early reports from media outlets suggest that he has a sprained shoulder, but nothing’s confirmed yet. This could not happen at a worse time as the Baltimore Ravens are preparing to come to Pittsburgh for their next game.

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At his weekly news conference, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin began by speaking about his team’s very impressive 24-20 victory vs. the New York Giants.

“Obviously for us it was a good performance for us in all 3 phases (offense, defense, special teams)” Said Tomlin “good contributions from all people involved. Some big themed things that we’ve been focused on the last several weeks we’re starting to see developed in our play which is a good sign for us. We’ve talked openly about improving our yards per carry and I think we’ve been doing that and becoming more balanced, making it tougher to defend. In the team game, we’ve proven that we have dangerous return men when we’re not shooting ourselves in the foot and I think largely we were able to do that on Sunday. But I like the quality depth as far as Emmanuel (Sanders) was able to provide was helpful to us, much appreciated. But we’ll take these lessons learned and our ability to battle through obscure circumstances hopefully it will strengthen us as we move forward and that will be our intentions as we prepare for the next opportunity.”

Tomlin then addressed the injury report: “(wide receiver) Antonio Brown (ankle sprain) which leaves his participation very much in doubt this week, we’ll see where this week takes us.” Tomlin said that they’ll leave the door ‘ajar’ but usually those are not positive things particular the way Brown earns a living with his short area quickness and change in direction. Tomlin also said that running back Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) will get some work this week but he’s listed as questionable. Tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle) and safety Troy Polamalu (calf) are a week away, and that they’ll participate in a short capacity “But less optimism about them.” Said Tomlin. He said that linebacker Stevenson Sylvester (hamstring) is questionable, Jonathan Dwyer (quad) has a strong chance to make it-depending on how the week goes and Isaac Redman and Doug Legursky were none the worse for wear “There were no setbacks for any of those guys.” Said Tomlin. He also said that running back Chris Rainey (ribs) will be uncomfortable but he has an opportunity to play and that “we’ll see where it takes us.”

He then spoke about their next opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs: “Of course we’re excited about playing the Kansas City Chiefs, we’re excited about playing on Monday Night Football.” Said Tomlin “we don’t take that lightly. Getting a chance to play our peers in front of the nation. KC has gone through some tough things and advantages at this point. But that’s not our concern; our concern is preparing to be on our level of play.”

Tomlin spoke about their running game which is lead by Jamaal Charles. “He’s one of those one-hit guys; he’s capable of scoring from long distances. They picked up Peyton Hillis, one that we’re used to defending, he’s a contrasting runner to Jamaal, but he’s a great complement to him. He’s a powerful runner one-cut downhill runner. He supplements him well.”

Tomlin said that at the quarterback position there’s some ‘unrest’ With Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn. “We’ll follow the reports like you do this week. We’ll watch and study them both to see what they do different and systematically when they’re in there to the best of our ability to defend either.”

At the wide receiver position, Tomlin spoke about Dwayne Bowe “he’s a big strong combative guy.” Said Tomlin “He’s strong at the catch point and tough to get on the ground.” He also said the same about former Pitt star Jonathan Baldwin “I know he’s not unfamiliar with Heinz Field, he’s a big guy, and he’s tough to deal with down the field.”

On defense, Tomlin spoke about their linebacking core, led by Tamba Ali “He’s relentless.” Said Tomlin.

Tomlin commented on why the Chiefs are 1-7? “They’ve significantly lost the turnover battle. I’d like to think that’s a comfort to us, but to be honest with you,  we haven’t been a juggernaut in getting turnovers, we’ve done better in terms of getting off the field but we haven’t done a good job at getting turnovers, probably one of the worst in the league in that area. So we’re excited about the opportunity and excited about doing it.”

Tomlin said that he’s not concerned about the return game with the probable absence of Brown and Rainey and that he’s comfortable with Sanders returning punts and kickoffs.

He also praised the play of safety Will Allen “Will’s done a nice job for us playing in place of Troy in the last several weeks. He’s consistently physical.”

When asked about if the positive results of the running game is a result of the unity and synergy of the offensive line, Tomlin replied “I like what the group has done at this point. I think that we’re finding good group cohesion, we’re developing consistent personality and demeanor but more than anything I think the guys are growing and working over the course of this season and getting good and solid leadership from Maurkise (Pouncey) and Willie. (Colon)”

When asked about what running back he will use when all are healthy, Tomlin replied “Whoever’s being healthy is going to get the start.”

The Steelers are now 5-3, and have a chance to get move closer to Baltimore with a win vs. the Chiefs on Monday. (Provided the Ravens lose) they know that this is not an ‘easy win’ against a 1-7 team and they will not overlook them and focus on the Ravens whom they play the following week.

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1.      I think one of the things that I liked about the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-20 win vs. the New York Giants was how the Steelers were determined to win. They showed a lot of heart.

2.      So many obstacles were against them and they overcame them all. Especially the questionable (read: Bad) officiating.

3.      Usually a lot of bad calls can frustrate a team, and of course the conspiracy started about the refs wanting the Giants to win because they were at home and this was the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Personally, I do not believe in that nonsense.

4.      This game could’ve been played at Heinz Field and the refs could’ve still could’ve made those calls. The Steelers overcame them, plus the injury bug to wide receiver Antonio Brown to get the win.

5.      And congrats to cornerback Ike Taylor for winning the AFC Defensive player of the Week. He played well Sunday, and even got (gasp!) an interception. Good for him.

6.      The 1-7 Kansas City Chiefs are next and I immediately began to think about when they played them last season, and almost dropped a bomb and lost that game.

7.      Sure they won 13-9, and the defense had 4 turnovers but the offensive game plan was horrible. I think former offensive coordinator Bruce Arians underestimated them and had no game plan. They underestimated former coach (and current o-coordinator) Todd Haley and quarterback Tyler Palko-and almost paid for it. But they won anyway.

8.      I believe that Haley will have an excellent game plan when they face KC on Monday. And it will begin with establishing the run game. Last week, it was Isaac Redman (147 yards) and the week before it was Jonathan Dwyer (107 yards) both of them might be ready next week, and having an improved offensive line also helps.

9.      Speaking of the line, I really like how they’re playing together. The sky’s the limit when you have a good one. Hopefully they’ll keep it going.

10.  Notice it took getting rid of Jonathan Scott and Trai Essex for the O-line to emerge.

11.  In other NFL news, I gotta admire the Indianapolis Colts. They have overcome a lot of adversity of their own. And of course, the easy challenge was adapting to rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, who’s having a superb season, but the fight of Coach Chuck Pagno, who is on leave after being diagnosed with a form of leukemia.

12.  After their win on Sunday, Pagno addressed the team with a very emotional and touching speech. And now some of the players have offered to shave their heads (including Luck) in his honor.

13.  By the way, the interim coach is Arians and he’s 4-1. I’m happy for him because the Colts are a better fir for him than the Steelers ever were.

14.  In baseball news, I Know I was hard on Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, only because he had the potential to dominate this season by winning the batting title. But nevertheless, he still had an awesome season and MLB has begun sending him awards.

15.  McCutchen was awarded a Gold Glove for his superb defense, and was awarded the NL Most Outstanding Player, an award chosen by his peers. He also is in the top 10 for the NL Most Valuable Player award. He may not get that one, but it’s an honor to be nominated. He’ll get the Silver Slugger Award to for his superb hitting.

16.  I just read on ESPN that the New York Mets have bought out outfielder Jason Bay’s contract, making him a free agent. I bet you anything that the Pirates are the first ones ringing his phone. (it’s what they do)

17.  How can the Pitt Panthers rebound after losing a disappointing game vs. Notre Dame? By taking it out on their final 3 opponents: UConn, Rutgers and South Florida. Rutgers (7-1) will be the toughest one, but you have to guess that the Fighting Irish is better than them.

18.  I hope Pitt gets into a Bowl (please, not the BBVA Compass Bowl) Coach Paul Chryst deserves it.

19.  If I had an early pick to win the NBA championship, it would be the defending champs, the Miami Heat. Adding veteran Ray Allen certainly made them stronger.

20.  Speaking of Allen, I admire him going to the Boston Celtics bench (his former team) to greet the coaches and players, and I do not admire Kevin Garnett’s ignoring Allen’s greeting. Grow up Garnett; you had all summer to get over Allen’s departure.

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At his weekly news conference, Pitt head coach Paul Chryst wasted no time in addressing his team’s 29-26 three-overtime loss to #3 ranked Notre Dame:

“Awfully proud of the guys, players and coaches.” Chryst said “for the preparation that went into it and more importantly, how they attacked the day. You know, we made enough plays to make it a good game, but didn’t make enough plays to finish it off. And every time you play, you have a chance to learn from it and I feel hopeful and confident that we will grow from it and I think we have another great challenge Friday night against UConn and certainly offensively, we’re going against another great defense that’s top 10 in the country and deservedly so, and offensively they’ve got enough weapons that can be dangerous, so that’s another great challenge and opportunity for the team, we’ve got to build on what we’ve learned all year and play winning football.”

As Chryst stated, the Panthers (4-5, 1-3 Big East) did a lot to prove that they were capable of beating the Irish (9-0) but fell apart in the end with questionable play calling on offense, and of course the Irish offense eventually overcoming a very weary defense to finally win in 3 overtimes.

Since Notre Dame was Pitt’s toughest opponent in 2012, that means they should be able to handle the Connecticut Huskies (3-6, 0-4 Big East) at least on paper. Pitt already has a stinging loss (Syracuse) to remind them to never take a team for granted because they have a poor record. The Huskies defense are only giving up 290.22 yards per game which makes them #1 in the Big East in that category. The defense is officially ranked #9 in the nation, and the Panthers had a good game against the Irish’s top defense as well.

As for his Panthers, Chryst was asked how his team has responded 48 hours after the loss to the Irish: “You know I thought it really hurt them, and it was an appropriate response. The guys were in yesterday, I think they can be proud of their effort-and they should give that kind of effort every time. We can see areas where hopefully those who needed confidence can gain confidence. We didn’t go in expecting to play a perfect game, but to play 60 minutes of football and there were times that we did and there were times that we did things that we can be better at, so I think they’re all right.”

When asked what was the key to getting the team emotionally prepared after a draining defeat, Chryst replied “To get them focused on the next opportunity, and the guys will come back and what do we do with that choice? UConn’s a good football team and maybe a shorter week is a good thing and turn the page, you have to.”

Pitt quarterback Tino Sunseri made a comment that they lost the game because of the missed Kevin Harper Field Goal in overtime, when asked if he was aware of what he said, Chryst replied “ I don’t agree with the comment, a lot of players put us in position to win the game and a lot of us did some things that caused us to not win the game. It doesn’t fall on one guy.” When asked if he will have a conversation with Sunseri about that comment, Chryst replied “Yeah, I will.”

The Panther have 3 games remaining in the 2012 season and must at least win two to qualify for a bowl. Winning 3 would be a one game improvement on last year’s 6-6 regular season record, but they have to be ready to take on a very impressive Rutgers team (7-1, 4-0 Big East) after Friday’s game at UConn.

Notes: Running back Ray Graham had 174 yards and a TD in the loss to Notre Dame and he currently had 794 yards and is on pace for his first 1,000 yard season. He was one of the best running backs in 2011 before his season ended because of a knee injury against UConn. He finished that year with 958 yards. Wide Receiver Devin Street leads the Big East in receptions (53) and yards (730) fellow receiver Mike Shanahan is 4th in yards. (669) Sunseri is second in the conference in Pass Efficiency (160.3) and third in avg/game (262.6)

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Ineptitude is defined as ‘The quality or state of being inept; especially incompetence. To be fair, this definition did not describe the University of Pittsburgh football team in the first 3 quarters of their nationally televised matchup vs. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish, in fact it truly defined the Fighting Irish as they looked completely stunned that Pitt was dominating them. If you want a more specific example, you should’ve watched Notre Dame’s coach Brian Kelly, he looked like his head was going to explode.

But alas, in the 4th quarter, Pitt began to show all signs of ineptitude and it eventually caused them to have to face overtime, and then eventually lose to #3 ranked Notre Dame 29-26. In fact it took 3 overtimes for them to finally lose a game that they let slip through their fingers.

As if anybody would want to relive this again, here’s what happened:

Pitt came into the game as 17 point underdogs; nobody gave them a chance to win this game, especially since it was in South Bend. On paper, a #3 ranked team should beat an unranked team, it’s an unofficial rule right?

Pitt surely didn’t think so as they kept the Irish out of the end zone and only trailed them 6-3 at the end of the first quarter. Pitt, led by quarterback Tino Sunseri then took control and directed his team down the field with key passes to wide receivers Mike Shanahan and Devin Street, and when he gave the ball to running back Ray Graham, he ran 16 yards into the end zone and Pitt suddenly had a 10-6 lead.

The Irish continued to go nowhere for a couple of series and so did Pitt, but then the Irish found life and drove down the field while the second quarter was about to end but Irish kicker Kyle Brindza missed from over 30 yards and Pitt maintained their 10-6 advantage.

In the second half, Pitt did nothing and gave the ball back to the Irish; Then Irish quarterback Everett Golson gave the ball right back to the Panthers when he was chased and threw the ball right at Pitt linebacker Eric Williams and suddenly Pitt was back in business again. Sunseri then did his best Mozart imitation as he conducted his team right down the field, courtesy of a 43-yard screen pass to tight end JP Holtz that put the Panthers in the Red Zone. Sunseri then found Holtz again for a 9 yard TD pass and Pitt had a 17-6 lead.

The Irish again went nowhere and then the Panthers got the ball back and Graham exploded for a 55 yard run and you had to have been thinking that Pitt was going to score again right? Nope. It did not happen mostly because of mistakes by Sunseri and they had to settle for 21 yard Kevin Harper field goal and a 20-6 Panther lead.

Late in the 4th quarter, the Irish came on strong, going almost 90 yards, but Golson threw another interception-this time to cornerback K’wuan Williams and with over 3:00 left to play, the Panthers were in good shape to kill the clock.

Only thing is, Pitt didn’t get the memo, and they did absolutely nothing on that drive. So the punted the ball back to the Irish and Golson and crew went to work as he threw a deep pass that was caught at the Panther 10 yard line, then Golson found  running back Theo Riddick for a 5 yard TD. Then the lined up for the 2 point conversion in which Golson ran it in to tie the game at 20.

If you were wondering what happened to Pitt’s offense after that, you’re not the only one. They went nowhere and punted the ball back to the Irish, who also did nothing and Pitt had the ball again. Guess what they did? Nothing and then they were headed to overtime.

Pitt got the ball first at the Irish 25 yard line, once again did nothing but Harper’s field goal gave the Panthers a 23-20 lead. Then it was Notre Dame’s turn who also did nothing but they also settled for a field goal and the game was once again tied at 23. After Notre Dame fumbled in the end zone, Pitt then had the chance to win this game provided Harper gets the field goal. But Harper’s kick sailed wide right. Notre Dame then promptly took the ball downfield and Golson ran into the end zone with the football and a 2926 lead.

Pitt running back Ray Graham ran for 172 yards and a TD, Sunseri passed for 164 yards. For the Irish, Golson passed for 227 yards and Riddick ran for 85 yards. Pitt is now 4-5 (1-3 Big East) and must recover quickly because their next game is Friday against Uconn.

Notes: Three Pitt players were charged with assault on Friday. Graham, wide receiver Devin Street and defensive back Lafayette Pitts were accused by a Pitt student for striking him. The school’s athletic department issued this statement: “The University Of Pittsburgh Athletic Department was recently made aware of a police report relating to an incident allegedly involving three of our football student-athletes on October 21. Those individuals have denied any involvement with the situation and have offered to speak with authorities; although to date they have not been questioned or received any court documents. We take matters of player discipline very seriously and will continue to cooperate with any investigation. However, we will not, and hope others will not, rush to judgment on these misdemeanor allegations. All three players will remain active members of our program while we gain more clarity on this situation.” All three played Saturday.

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has always said that there will never be an excuse that will keep his team from performing up to standard, whether it’s injuries, bad officiating or any other king of hindrance. He states that it falls on those who are on the field to perform, and they’re expected to perform well.

Tomlin’s statement was really put to the test when the Steelers traveled to MetLife Stadium to face the defending champion New York Giants. The day started when they decided to travel to New Jersey on Sunday so they would not take any hotel rooms from those who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Then, it was a very emotional tribute for the Sandy victims and the entire New York/New Jersey and East Coast areas in which a large American Flag covered the field and it was held by the armed forces, both the Steelers and Giants and others, (By the way, those were the good points)

Then the game started. The Steelers shut down Eli Manning and the Giants offense, even though Manning came out swinging. Both defenses handled the opposing offenses in the first quarter as the score remained 0-0. Manning threw a pass that he would’ve liked to get back as it landed in the hands of cornerback Ike Taylor for the interception. Then in the second quarter the Steelers got the ball and marched straight down the field. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Isaac Redman both paved the way with help from the offensive line. Roethlisberger then found wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders in the back of the end zone for a 4 yard TD and a 7-0 lead. Since Sanders wears #88, the way he leaped for that pass looked like another #88-Hall of Famer Lynn Swann.

The Giants got the ball and with the help of the officials, got the ball into Steeler territory. Manning threw a pass that was intended for his receiver, but a flag was thrown on cornerback Keenan Lewis. Then the Steelers shut down Manning and the Giants on a 3rd down near the goal line but safety Ryan Clark was flagged for a personal foul on WR Victor Cruz. Replays clearly showed that Clark hit him with his elbow, and not his helmet like the official said. Eventually, the Giants scored when running back Andre Brown barely crossed to goal line for a 1 yard TD and tied the game at 7.

The next controversial call came when the Steelers had the ball and Roethlisberger got hit by Giants lineman Jason Pierre-Paul, the ball popped loose and linebacker Michael Boley scooped it up and sprinted it back 70 yards for the TD, but hold on. Roethlisberger’s arm clearly went forward before the ball came out, which meant it was an incomplete pass. But the officials called it a fumble and the TD scored, the Giants led 14-7.

The Steelers shook those calls off and ended the first half with a Shaun Suisham 30 yard field goal to trail the Giants 14-10.

In the second half, the officials appeared to behave and the injury bug bit the Steelers. First wide receiver Antonio Brown left the game with a slight high ankle sprain. Then running back Chris Rainey, who had two awesome kick returns, left the game with injuries to the ribs. It looked so serious that both players were seen praying on the field.

But Redman kept getting the yards that the Steelers needed but scored 0 points in the 3rd quarter, meanwhile Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes kicked two field goals to give them a 20-10 lead at the end of the 3rd quarter.

In the 4th, the Steelers came back to life. Roethlisberger threw a pass to WR Mike Wallace who turned it into an electrifying 55 yard TD to bring the Steelers to within 3 of the Giants 20-17. That TD pass was another example of how fast Wallace truly is. The Giants then went nowhere and punted the ball to return man Sanders, who broke away from the Giants and took it 60 yards before being tackled. The Steelers could not capitalize and they lined up for a field goal on 4th down. But it turned out to be a fake as Suisham took the snap and ran right and got tackled just before he hit the first down marker. Giants then took over and did nothing, which gave the ball back to the Steelers.

Roethlisberger and Redman (26 carries 147 yards) drove down the field and Redman took it in for a 1 yard TD and the Steelers regained the lead 24-20. Once again the Giants did nothing on their drive and the Steelers defense made sure of it. The Steelers got the ball again with over 2:00 left and used Redman to kill the clock, which he did. Game over, Steelers win.

Roethlisberger passed for 216 yards, 2 TD’s and one Int. Wallace had 66 yards on 3 receptions. For the Giants, Manning was held to only 125 yards, 0 TD’s and the interception. Ahmad Bradshaw was held to 48 yards, and Cruz had 67 yards on 5 catches.

Now the Steelers are 5-3, trailing the 6-2 Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North Division. It was their second straight road win after starting the season 0-3. They have 1-7 Kansas City next Monday, and then the showdown against Baltimore after that. They did not use injuries and officiating affect them from beating the Giants.

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1.      As we know, the Pittsburgh Steelers will face their toughest test when they play the New York Giants on Sunday. They will be traveling to MetLife stadium for this matchup.

2.      What makes it tough is that the Giants are not only the defending world champions, but they’re in a ‘repeat’ state of mind with a 6-2 record and 4 straight wins.

3.      In a conference interview, Giants quarterback Eli Manning said that they’re not focused on the repeat, but he has to say that after 8 games. Ask him again come playoff time.

4.      At his weekly news conference Steelers coach Mike Tomlin joked that Giants coach Tom Coughlin calls him ‘Little Mikey’ Of course at age 66, Coughlin probably calls everybody in the NFL ‘Little.’ (see, I just told a joke of my own)

5.      Anyhoo as for the Steelers, if they are able to beat the Giants, it will definitely prove that they’ve turned the corner. It still irks me that they could lose to teams like Oakland and Tennessee, but that’s in the past. All they can do is keep moving forward.

6.      They haven’t played in New Jersey (Hey! That’s where the Giants really play) since 2004. Do you remember that game? It was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s rookie season, and he would outduel Manning by passing for 316 yards and 1 TD as the Steelers would win 33-30. Manning would pass for 182 yards, but threw for 2 TD’s.

7.      What about the 2008 game at Heinz Field? Manning won that one, but his stats were similar to Roethlisberger’s as he would pass for 199 yards and a TD, while Big Ben would pass for 189 yards and a TD. The difference? Big Ben’s 4 interceptions, plus other Steeler mistakes (like losing their long snapper and having James Harrison sub-and snapping the ball out the back of the end zone for a safety) as the Steelers lost 21-14.

8.      So that’s the recent Steelers/Giants history. We’ll see what Sunday brings.

9.      As you also know, the Steelers have decided to reinstate rookie defensive tackle Alameda Ta’amu and not release him. Instead, they decided to release safety Damon Cromartie-Smith. Shrewd move for a team who’s hurting at safety.

10.  With the NFL trade deadline on Thursday, might the Steelers be thinking about trading for a safety? Highly unlikely.

11.  I still shake my head at how Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall acted toward the officials during the Steelers/Redskins game. He was truly disrespectful and offensive, and he set a bad example for the younger players. Whatever the consequence is, he deserves it.

12.  Hey, here’s some Pirates news for you. Congratulations to outfielder Andrew McCutchen for winning his first Gold Glove which is given to the top defensive players in baseball. What an awesome honor.

13.  McCutchen should also get the Silver Slugger award, given the top offensive players in baseball. It goes to show that in spite of what he didn’t accomplish; McCutchen truly did have a good 2012 season.

14.  The Pirates also announced that former shortstop Jay Bell will be their next hitting coach. Bell was a decent hitter for the Pirates, and hopefully he’ll help them cut down on those foolish strikeouts. (a category in which they lead MLB)

15.  They also picked up the $700,000 option on third baseman Pedro Alvarez. This was a no-brainer. Alvarez is a youngster and is only going to get better, plus he had a good 2012 as well. However, they did not pick up the $3 million dollar option on catcher Rod Barajas. Smart move Buccos.

16.  Well, the Pitt Panthers are back to .500 at 4-4, and they have 8-0 Notre Dame waiting for them.  No question this is going to be a tough game for Paul Chryst’s crew. Their best chance at winning is to score TDs as often as they can, and making no foolish mistakes.

17.  As for the Basketball team, they’re still in the exhibition season but after seeing freshman center Steven Adams play for the first time, he’s truly the real deal.

18.  The NBA season has begun, and I saw the Miami Heat’s championship rings, they look pretty sweet, and much better than the 2005-06 teams’ rings.

19.  Speaking of the Heat, it was very classy for Ray Allen (the newest member) to go over to the Boston Celtics bench and shake hands, but it was very immature for Kevin Garnett to ignore Allen’s greeting. C’mon Kevin, you had all summer to get over Allen’s departure. Please move on.

20.  I still can’t believe that the Oklahoma City Thunder traded their Sixth Man of the Year, James Harden to the Houston Rockets because they couldn’t agree to a deal. They should’ve kept him for his final season, who knows what might’ve happened after that.

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At his weekly news conference, Pitt head coach Paul Chryst was still relishing in their 47-17 victory against the Temple Owls:

“Obviously it was a good win to get Saturday.” Said Chryst who got his first Big East victory and saw his team’s record improve to 4-4 “a lot of players impacted it and that was fun to see. Shayne Hale came in and did some nice things, in fact special teams are the only thing that impacted us negatively, but I like the way we came out. I didn’t like the way we approached the third quarter, but I like the way we rallied. It was good to get a win, and obviously we have a good challenge this week and that means it’s a great opportunity.”

That ‘opportunity’ that Chryst was referring to is their next opponent, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who are having an incredible season with an 8-0 record and are ranked #3 in the polls. “The guys are excited about it.” Said Chryst “Notre Dame’s a great team, they’ve got some big name players, but it’s a lot more than that. So it will be a great challenge.”

The Fighting Irish are obviously off to their best start since 1989 when they won their last National Championship, and some media outlets are already speaking about them and Alabama meeting in the BCS title game in January. So obviously, this is Pitt’s biggest challenge since they faced a very high ranked West Virginia team in 2007, and they promptly beat them 13-9. That Pitt victory is still considered the greatest upset win in school history.

This historic series began in 1909 with the Irish leading 46-20-1. The Irish has won the past two meetings, and Pitt’s last victory was a 27-22 win in 2009. Pitt has also won 2 out of the last three at South Bend. The Irish have beaten Purdue, Michigan State, Michigan and Stanford en route to their 8-0 record.

But as they prepare for the Irish, Pitt will be doing so without some of their players as Chryst revealed that linebacker Dan Mason (Internal organ), offensive lineman Ryan Schlieper (foot) and linebacker Manny Williams (ACL) will miss the remainder of the season due to injuries.

Chryst said they’re all in good spirits, especially Mason “He said he felt pretty good, and he sure didn’t sound like a ‘woe is me’ I would think that you don’t overcome his previous injury with that kind of attitude.” Chryst also said that Mason’s injury does not need surgery and that it will heal on its own.

The fact that Mason was playing at all is truly a miracle after seriously injuring his knee in the 2010 season and missed the ’11 season due to rehab. Unlike that injury, Chryst says that Mason’s current injury is not life or career-threatening.

Although he never gave a true reason as to why his players names were not on the back of their jerseys, Chryst said that as a result of beating Temple, the player’s names will be on the back of their jerseys for Saturday’s game. “Yep, they’ll be back on there.” Said Chryst.

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It’s been said that when a rookie comes to the NFL, they’re in school (like anything in life) whether they do well or not, the rookie will never forget what he experienced in his first year in the NFL.

Such is the case with Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (or RGIII) he’s had a lot of memorable moments in his rookie season thus far, and he’s also had some forgettable moments, like this game as he faced a rejuvenated Steeler defense that stayed on his tail all afternoon as the Steelers defeated him and the Redskins 27-12 before a packed house at Heinz Field.

But to be honest, Griffin didn’t do too bad, but he completed 16 of 34 passes for 177 yards and a TD, plus a bunch of dropped passes (13) by his wide receivers which will always make for a very frustrating day.

The Steelers on the other hand have won two games for the first time this season and are also over .500 for the first time in 2012. They did the right thing against the Redskins when this game began: They punched them in the mouth.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took the opening drive and drove it right down the Redskins defense’s throats. Mixing passes with key runs by Jonathan Dwyer, who made his second straight start, and another 100 yard performance. Plus, they did something that you would never expect them to do, they went for it and Roethlisberger tossed a 1 yard TD pass to tight end Leonard Pope for an early 7-0 lead. It was Pope’s first TD as a Steeler.

The Steelers defense shut the ‘Skins offense down and when they got the ball back, they had another impressive drive, and a key 34 yard run by Dwyer, who rushed for 107 yards on 16 carries, his second straight 100-yard performance this season (3rd in his career) but the Steelers had to settle for a 48-yard field goal by Shaun Suisham which game the Steelers a 10-0 lead.

Then RGIII and the Redskins came to life, by driving 80 yards and scoring their only TD of the game, a 2 yard pass by RGIII to wide receiver Santana Moss which closed the Steelers lead to 10-6 because kicker Billy Cundiff’s extra point attempt was blocked. The Steelers then had another impressive drives, going 74 yards on 10 plays and ending with Roethlisberger tossing a 7 yard TD to Heath Miller for a 17-6 lead. It was Miller’s 6th TD of the season. After the Redskins did nothing on their next drive, Suisham closed out the first half with a 27 yard field goal and a 20-6 Steelers lead.

In the third quarter, the Redskins had another impressive drive but the Steelers kept them from the end zone and it resulted with another field goal (48 yards) by Kai Forbath. But the Steelers completed the ‘Coup-De-Grace with an 80 yard drive that finished with another Roethlisberger TD, this time to fullback Will Johnson and a 27-9 lead. This was Johnson’s first career NFL TD.

The Steelers almost had another TD with punt returner Antonio Brown ran right up the middle for a TD, but it was negated as a result of an illegal block by cornerback Curtis Brown. Forbath hit a 45 yard field goal for the Redskins, but it did not matter, because the Steelers shut the Redskins down on the next drive and killed the clock which sealed the victory.

Roethlisberger passed for 222 yards and 3 TD’s he was not sacked nor did he throw an interception. The offensive line also did a superb job, protecting Roethlisberger and opening holes for the running backs. Wide receiver Mike Wallace led all receivers with 62 yards on 7 receptions. On defense, Safety Will Allen led the team with 12 tackles and linebacker Larry Foote had a huge sack on RGIII. Great win by the Steelers, but the defending Super Bowl Champs are next as they will travel to New Jersey to take on the Giants.

Notes: Safety Ryan Clark left the game with a concussion. The Steelers game against the Giants will start at 4:25. The Steelers honored their 80th Anniversary by wearing throwback uniforms from 1934.

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When Pitt played Temple in the earlier days of the Big East, you could pretty much guarantee that it would be an automatic Pitt victory and that includes the close matchups like the 27-22 win in 2004, which was the last time both teams played. As we know, the Owls were kicked out of the Big East and returned this year to help offset the many teams who are about to depart like the Panthers. Well, it seemed like old times in this game as Pitt delivered a classic whipping on the Owls 47-17 in front of a sparse Heinz Field crowd.

Pitt’s scoring began on their first drive. After a three-and-out, they punted the ball and it hit a Temple player and defensive back Eric Williams recovered. Quarterback Tino Sunseri then directed his team with two passes to wide receiver Mike Shanahan and running back Ray Graham had key runs. Fellow running back Ruschel Shell then took the handoff into the end zone for the 7-0 lead.

After the defense shut the Owls down, Pitt scored again. Runs by Graham, which included a 33 yard pass to the Temple 40. Sunseri then found JP Holtz on a slant and he took it into the end zone for the TD and a 14-0 Panther lead. But the Owls struck back with an impressive kick return by Matt Brown that covered 63 yards. He was tackled by Brandon Ifill. Temple quarterback Chris Coyer then passed to tight end Cody Booth for a 9 yard TD and they closed Pitt’s lead to 14-7.

But in the words of ESPN’s Lee Corso: “Not so fast my friend.” Pitt kept the scoring going. Shell had an impressive run for 33 yards to the Temple 18, and kicker Kevin Harper’s 32 yard field goal to extend their lead to 17-7. It became 24-7 when Graham punched it in from 1 yard. Temple once again failed to convert, and once again the Panthers did convert. Sunseri completed an impressive 35 yard pass to wide receiver Devin Street to the Temple 14, then he passed the ball twice to Graham, and the second pass resulted in a 4 yard TD to give the Panthers a 31-7 halftime lead.

In the second half, Pitt had a 3-and out-but an off-sides penalty kept the drive alive. Coyer then drove the Owls down the field and with the aid of two more Pitt penalties, they got into end zone courtesy of a Montel Harris 14 yard run and it was now 31-14 Pitt.

Pitt then drove the ball down the field with key runs by Graham and an end around by wide receiver Cameron Saddler. A personal foul gave them a first and goal, but the Panthers could not capitalize and the drive ended with a 38 yard field goal by Harper to extend the lead to 34-14.

Temple then had another impressive drive that was capped by a 45 yard field goal by Brandon McManus and Pitt now led 34-17. Pitt went 3-and-out to close out the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Pitt cornerback Lafayette Pitts snatched the ball out of an Owls receiver and got the ball back for the Panthers, an impressive run by Graham in which he shook several Owls out of their jerseys and then he scored his second 1-yard TD to give the Panthers a 40-17 lead.

Temple then drove the ball down the field thanks to an impressive run by but the Panthers then held new quarterback Clinton Granger and the Owls when they tried to go for it on 4th and goal. No hard done, Pitt ball.

Pitt once again had an impressive drive that was aided by impressive runs by Shell and a Sunseri-Street 58 yard TD that gave the Panthers a 47-17 lead. That drive was an impressive 98 yards. That closed the scoring for the day, as Pitt improved to 4-4 and earned their first Big East win for the 2012 season.

Sunseri passed for 321 yards and 3 touchdowns, Graham had 19 carries for 109 yards and 3 TD’s, and Shell had 79 yards on 12 carries and a TD. Street had 140 yards receiving on 6 catches and a TD. Shanahan also added 6 catches for 67 yards, and Graham had 71 yards.

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1. Anybody who wasn’t happy about the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals needs to get their pulse checked.
2. Yes, it improved their record to .500, but they could’ve also lost and been 2-4 and 0-4 on the road. And if you looked at the standings, wins have been hard to get in the AFC, with only two teams above .500 and  five teams at .500 (including the Steelers)
3. This is a chance for the Steelers to keep it going, especially since the Bengals and Baltimore Ravens are off this upcoming Sunday. Plus, the Steelers still have five AFC North Division games left; they need to just win, Baby!
4. I was very impressed with the performance of running back Jonathan Dwyer, who steamrolled the Bengals for 122 yards Sunday. Regardless of the status of Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman, Dwyer should be the one starting vs. Washington.
5. I also appreciated the efforts on guard Willie Colon, center Doug Legursky and rookie tackle Mike Adams, they did well Sunday and it’ll make a difference if they can keep it going.
6. As for wide receiver Mike Wallace, you need to ‘get your head in the game young man.’ Although he did catch 8 passes, 15 were thrown to him.
7. And let’s get his straight: Whether he does well this year or not, Wallace will not get Larry Fitzgerald money.
8. But I do hear from Steelers camp that starting center Maurkise Pouncey had a full day of practice and is expected to play Sunday. Excellent news, but Redman and Mendenhall were limited in practice, so it might be Dwyer again after all.
9. I did not realize how well the Chicago Bears were playing. At 5-1, only Atlanta (6-0) and Houston (6-1) have a better record. Coach Lovie Smith is looking like the NFL Coach of the Year.
10. Some folks will say that the Ravens are not the same without linebacker Ray Lewis. Even though they were destroyed by Houston, one loss cannot draw that conclusion.
11. Ah, the World Series, I’m very happy that the Detroit Tigers are in the World Series, I’m happy for manager Jim Leyland as well. I am surprised that the San Francisco Giants are back in it, I just knew that the St. Louis Cardinals were going to make their return.
12. I’ve been with the Tigers the entire playoffs, and that won’t change now. Tigers in 6.
13. These reports about the Pittsburgh Pirates training their minor league players like Navy Seals is honestly the dumbest thing that I’ve ever heard. No successful team has ever done such a thing. I do not understand this organization.
14. The logic makes no sense, after 20 consecutive losing seasons, the Pirates continue to make themselves look even more foolish to the rest of baseball (if that were even possible)
15. Am I too hard on the Pirates? Yes and I don’t care. They’re a mess on and off the field, and the only way that will change is if the front office changes and spends some money.
16. The Pitt Panthers can get back to .500 when they play Temple on Saturday. They know not to overlook this team who’s 2-1 in the Big East. They’re clearly not the same team that was kicked out of the conference after the 2004 season.
17. On paper, quarterback Tino Sunseri has drastically improved, but he still needs to make better decisions in doing the ‘little’ things. And games against Temple and Notre Dame will prove whether he can really do it.
18. Did I just hear that the NHL’s New York Islanders are moving to Brooklyn in 2015? Wow. NHL teams in Newark (the Devils) and Brooklyn.
19. If the Miami Heat’s Lebron James feels on top of the world after his team won the NBA title, wait until that opening game when they raise the championship banner and when he gets his ring, it will blow him away.
20. Sad news about former 7 time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong. These athletes are making it easy for folks to think that accomplishments can’t be made without cheating.

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In college or in the pros, exhibition games are basically glorified sparring sessions (A quote from the movie ‘Rocky Balboa’) the team does in fact, play ball but it’s still a time for coaches to evaluate their teams and it’s also a time for the team to iron out their ‘wrinkles’ as they get ready for the regular season.  And let’s be honest: 9 times out of 10, it’s going to be against a lesser-known opponent.

Well, the Pitt basketball team did play a ‘lesser’ opponent of sorts, the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Crimson Hawks were scheduled to be their first victim, but they hardly played like one. IUP is Division II, which means that Pitt is supposed to beat them (on paper that is) but it does not always guarantee that’s going to happen when they play right? Just look at the football team when they opened the season against Division I AA Youngstown State. On paper, it looked like the football team was supposed to beat them too, but Youngstown St. begged to differ as they knocked Pitt all over the Heinz Field grass in a 31-17 upset victory.

IUP is ranked #10 in the Division II pre-season rankings so that should be proof that they’re not a pushover right? Exactly, and they proved that when they took an early 9-7 lead. It’s fair to say that Pitt was a little rusty, missing jumpers, foul shots and looking very rusty. It almost looked like there was an invisible lid on Pitt’s basket. Meanwhile IUP looked like a worthy underdog with nothing to lose.  Pitt eventually tied the game at 9 when forward Dante Taylor (Yes, that one) made a key layup for two of his 9 points. He also showed great hustle and looks like he’s on a mission to bury last season’s dreadful performance. Taylor also had 10 rebounds as well.

Pitt took the lead on a foul shot by guard Cameron Wright, and although IUP tied the game two more times, Pitt never trailed again the rest of the game. It just took them a minute to distance themselves from the Crimson Hawks because they continued to hang with key baskets by forward Marcel Souberbielle and guard Anthony Wells. Baskets by guard Tray Woodall and freshman center Steven Adams gave the Panthers a 21-16 halftime lead.

In the second half, forward Devon Cotrell closed Pitt’s lead to 21-20 as they continued to show some hustle, but you knew that it was just a matter of time before Pitt found an opening to run away, and the surely did. Baskets by forward Talib Zanna, forward Lamar Patterson and freshman James Robinson extended Pitt’s lead to 34-27. Then Taylor and forward JJ Moore added baskets and suddenly it was a 42-27 Pitt lead. Gonzaga transfer Mathis Keita did his best to get IUP back in the game when he began to score many of his game high 17 points, but they could not catch Pitt as they put enough distance to run away with a 69-54 victory, their first since winning the College Basketball Invitational championship on that same Petersen Events Center floor back in late March.

Woodall led all Panthers with 16 points which included 2 three-pointers and a game-high 7 assists. He did this is spite of playing at the shooting guard position. Robinson took the point guard spot and had 4 points and 2 assists. Moore emerged off the bench and provided an awesome spark: 14 points and 3 three-pointers in 21 minutes, and Adams finished his debut with 6 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks and a steal.

Notes: Pitt has one more exhibition game to play when they face Hawaii-Hilo on November 2. Their first regular season game will be Nov. 9 vs. Mount St. Mary’s. Both games will be at the Petersen Events Center.
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1.      The Pittsburgh Steelers are still trying to ‘get their groove back’ as they attempt to return to .500 when they open AFC North Division play against the 3-3 Cincinnati Bengals.

2.      It’s very rare that the Steelers have gone this long without having a record over .500. I was going to mention 2003, but as bad as that season was (6-10) at least that team stated 1-0. As much as a historian that I claim to be (and after looking it up), I would say that the 1976 team was the last team to go this long without going over .500

3.      The ’76 team started at 1-4 and did not lose another game after that and made it to the AFC Championship Game in which they lost to eventual Super Bowl champ Oakland 24-7.

4.      Can the 2012 Steelers perform the same feat? Hard to say. The ’76 team had its share of injuries (Terry Bradshaw) but the defense was outstanding to the point that they only gave up 28 points the final nine games of the season. Plus, the offensive line was so good that RB’s Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier rushed for 1000 yards each.

5.      So why didn’t that team make the Super Bowl? Same reason why this year’s team has struggled: Injuries. Bleier and Harris both were out for the game vs. the Raiders, apparently Bradshaw wasn’t able to win the game with his arm, and let’s face it: it was the Raiders’ year.

6.      This year’s team is having lots of problems on defense. No pass rush or secondary, plus injuries have contributed to a 2-3 start. If this defense was performing up to standard, they would be (at least) 4-1.

7.      But we can’t dwell on the ‘what if’s’ coach Mike Tomlin will never use injury as an excuse on why his team can’t perform on Game day.  But he also knows that how they perform has a chance to eliminate those excuses.

8.      The offensive line is another issue. Injuries to tackle Marcus Gilbert and center Maurkise Pouncey does hurt, but they will press on.

9.      The way things look right now, Dour Legursky will start at center in place of Pouncey, and rookie Mike Adams will start in place of Gilbert, who’s expected to miss several weeks.

10.  Running back Rashard Mendenhall is listed as questionable (Achilles) so it looks like he may not be playing, Isaac Redman (ankle) is listed as the same, and so it looks like Jonathan Dwyer may get the start with Baron Batch and rookie Chris Rainey as backups. (but we’ll see)

11.  How ‘bout that Monday night game? The Broncos down 31-24 and they came back to win 35-24. Hats off to Broncos QB Peyton Manning who shook off that rusty start. My conclusion to all of these comeback wins? No lead is safe.

12.  I was stunned to hear about Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis missing the rest of the season with a torn triceps. He’s one of the best at his position and this may be it for the 37 year old future Hall of Famer.

13.  What’s going on in the AFC? Only two teams over .500? (Texans and Ravens) it means that the Steelers have a better chance than they think when it comes to making the playoffs. Just win baby!

14.  Hopefully the Pitt Panthers football team is on the rebound as they travel to Buffalo this weekend to take on the 1-5 Bulls. No, I am not focused on their record, because Syracuse was 1-4 before they beat Pitt. I just want Pitt to play a complete game and improve to 3-4.

15.  I was hoping that the West Virginia Mountaineers would beat Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders had other plans as they spanked WVU 42-7. Oh well, 6-0 Kansas State is next.

16.  The Big East (basketball) Conference has predicted the Louisville Cardinals to win it all, with Pitt finishing 6th. No insult here, this is the time for Pitt to work their way back to the top.

17.  However the Big East did name Pitt freshman center Steven Adams as the preseason Rookie of the Year.

18.  As for the national polls, the Indiana Hoosiers are ranked #1, followed by Louisville, last year’s champ Kentucky, Ohio State and Michigan to round out the top 5. Syracuse (#9) and Notre Dame (#23) are the other ranked teams from the Big East.

19.  Glad to see that the Detroit Tigers are doing well in the postseason. Hopefully they’ll keep it going until they raise the World Series trophy.

20.  The NHL Owners are offering a 50/50 split of all revenue with the players for a new CBA. Do me a favor NHL players, take the deal and play some hockey.

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When a team plays sports, the one obstacle that they obviously have to face is the other team, because that’s what it’s going to take for them to win. (Obviously) but if the team is the Pittsburgh Steelers, they have a few things to face along with their upcoming opponent: The Cincinnati Bengals.

The 3-4 Steelers are also trying to avoid going to 3-5, something that they haven’t been in several years, plus they’re trying to get their first road win of the season (they’re currently 0-3) they’re playing their first opponent in the AFC North, and they’re going to do it without a few of their starters. (Is that enough for you?)

The missing Steelers are as follows: Running back Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) running back Isaac Redman (Ankle) and tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle) and although center Maurkise Pouncey (knee) did practice Friday, he remains questionable for Sunday’s game.

So who starts in their place? At running back, Jonathan Dwyer will get the nod. He had not played since the disappointing 34-31 loss to the Oakland Raiders, a game in which he committed a costly fumble. You should also expect to see second year man Baron Batch, who showed lots of heart and scored his first NFL touchdown in the 26-23 loss to the Tennessee Titans, and rookie Chris Rainey get some carries as well as fullback Will Johnson in short yardage situations. At tackle, Rookie Mike Adams will get his first NFL start in place of Gilbert and may remain there because Gilbert is expected to be out for some time. Adams has not made much of an impression so far, but this will truly be his chance to reverse those fortunes. If Pouncey does not indeed play, veteran Doug Legursky will be the starting center. Legursky is very reliable and is truly the right man to back up Pouncey.

And of course, you can add All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu to that list as he was already listed as out because of his injured calf, but it will be veteran Safety Will Allen and not Ryan Mundy who will be starting in Polamalu’s place.

Of course there’s concern in Steelers Nation, but coach Mike Tomlin will not allow the injuries to be an excuse as to why they can’t beat the Bengals (3-3) who’re smarting from a couple of bad losses, first to the Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns. They respect who the Steelers are by also calling this a huge game, but they’re also hoping to get back to contending for first place in the AFC North, which is currently held by the 5-1 Baltimore Ravens.



The Bengals have no significant injuries but running back Brian Leonard (ribs) and linebacker Dontay Moch (not injury related) did not practice. Like the Steelers, the Bengals running game is having its problems, seems like they’ve not been the same since letting veteran running back Cederic Benson go in free agency. But they boast a strong offense led by quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver AJ Green, who probably cannot wait to line up opposite Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor, who has been struggling as of late. Green is among the league leaders with 628 yards and 6 touchdowns. Also like the Steelers, they’ve had some problems in the secondary, having had to move veteran cornerback Nate Clements to strong safety.

As you already know, the Steelers have already proven that it does not matter what the opposing team’s record is or how bad their rankings are, because they managed to lose to them anyway. What matters is who’s ready to play at 8:20 Sunday night and who’s ready to play their ‘A’ Game.

Can the Steelers win? I think they can. What’s hurt them is beating themselves with bad defense and poor decisions on offense. Ben Roethlisberger and Co. need to score more touchdowns than field goals and the defense needs to play very inspired against this young Bengals team. But I still have a feeling that it will be a close game. Final score: Steelers 20, Bengals 13.


written by Ray Porter, Jr for UrbanMediaToday.com

At his weekly news conference, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin immediately addressed matters surrounding rookie defensive tackle Alameda Ta’amu, who was arrested for disorderly conduct and driving under the influence on Saturday. His actions caused damage to several cars and almost hit several persons, including policemen who were trying to get him to stop. He was eventually arrested and released on Sunday.

“Due to his actions this past weekend, we have decided to suspend him for two weeks.” Tomlin said “This suspension will be without pay, he will not participate in any organized team activities, he will not participate in any meetings, he won’t be on the practice field and obviously he will not be at our facility. We deem his actions a detriment to our efforts and we’re treating it as such. We thought it was very important to act quickly in addressing this so we can focus on the men who are here and ready for this week’s challenge.” Tomlin also stated that it’s a very disturbing incident.

And that challenge would be the Cincinnati Bengals, who will welcome the Steelers to Paul Brown Stadium for an 8:20 Sunday night matchup. The 3-3 Bengals are recovering from a surprising 34-24 loss to the last-place Cleveland Browns. But before that, Tomlin went over the injury list.

“Chris Carter will be out with a hamstring injury.” Said Tomlin “Troy will still be out with his calf injury.” Marcus Gilbert was flown to Charlotte and it was revealed that a tendon injury in his ankle, it does not require surgery he is week to week-and he will be out this week.” Tomlin then listed his questionable “Rashard Mendenhall with his Achilles situation, Maurkise Pouncey with his knee, and Isaac Redman with his right ankle. All of those guys we’re going to deal with day to day, and engage their availability in practice and workouts.”

Tomlin then turned his attention to the Bengals: “This is a big game for us and them, this is our first venture into Division play, and it should make it entertaining for our fans.”

Tomin spoke about their offense, led by second year quarterback Andy Dalton “Andy’s got a great rapport with those guys” He was referring to wide receiver AJ Green “Pro-Bowl caliber receiver with a unique skill set.”

He also spoke highly about 5-7 Andy Hawkins and how he has emerged this season, he also called tight end Jermaine Gresham who “Is a wide receiver in a tight end’s body” Said Tomlin. He also said some great things about running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis who seems to be settling in after several seasons in New England.

He mentioned the defense, which runs a 4-3 unit, who’s led by defensive end Robert Geathers and linebacker Ray Maualuga and defensive end Geno Atkins has 7 sacks so far this season.

And the defensive backs including Terrance Newman and Leon Hall. The safeties are Reggie Nelson and former cornerback Nate Clements.

“We’re excited about the opportunity.” Said Tomlin “Obviously there’s some urgency within our group and theirs; we’re going to live it day by day. Excited about it, we know what we are; we’re a 2-3 football team who obviously hasn’t won one on the road. Obviously this is the chance to change that and that’s out mentality. But mentality is one thing, acting is another, and we’ll be looking forward to showing action on Sunday.

Notes: Tomlin did say that linebacker LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) will play Sunday; he also spoke well about running back Baron Batch, who scored his first NFL touchdown last Thursday “I’ve been equally impressed with his growth as a special teams player.” Said Tomlin about Batch “he represented us at the coin toss last week as a special teams captain. His play has merited that. His solid play from the production standpoint in that area too and of course, we hold that in high regard.”

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It’s a new year, and that means an honest ‘Do-Over’ for the Pittsburgh Panthers, whose goal is to get back to getting recognized as a ‘national power’ that they were known for being from 2001-2011. As you know, that included 10 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, several Sweet 16 and one Elite Eight appearance, and a #1 ranking for the first time in school history.

And then last year happened. Early season losses to Long Beach State and Wagner paved the way to a very disappointing season, especially in the Big East Conference in which they finished 5-13. And they obviously missed Tournament, but instead of doing nothing in the offseason, the Panther accepted an invitation to the College Basketball Insider (CBI) Tournament and ran the table by winning the championship and finishing the season 22-17, their 11th straight season in which they won at least 20 games.

Now it’s a new season and the Panthers also have new players, a freshman class that’s expected to pay big dividends for them and catapult them back to the top, especially since this is their last game in the Big East Conference.

Pitt welcomes freshman guards James Robinson, Chris Jones, junior transfer Trey Zeigler and their top rated recruit-center Steven Adams to fix a team that was truly lacking some of their toughness that they’ve displayed in years past.

“We’re going to get out best players on the floor.” Coach Jaime Dixon said at the media news conference who also stated that he’s pretty pleased with his freshman class-especially Adams.

Well he’s got good size and good strength.” Dixon said about his 7 foot, 250 pound center “and obviously physically more ready than any big kid that we’ve brought in. As you know, we’ve also had Aaron Gray and DeJuan Blair start as freshmen, but strength wise, Adams is probably a little farther ahead of those guys.”

Adams himself does come with huge upside, but is not one for much conversation. When he was asked what he expects out of his freshman year, he politely responded “To to whatever coach Dixon wants me to do. He knows what to do.”

In addition to the newcomers, the Panthers also have their returning players in senior Tray Woodall, who spent most of last season injured, CBI MVP Lamar Patterson, who will be a junior, and junior forward JJ Moore who also had some excellent games last year.

“It feels real good” Said Moore when asked about how it feels to play again “I just felt good getting back on the court.” Moore had offseason surgery and is expected to not show any ill-effects from it. When asked about how the team looked after the annual ‘Blue-Gold scrimmage, Moore replied “The look real good, we’ve got the new guys now and they’re playing really well, Chris Jones, James Robinson and especially Steven Adams.

Moore also stated that the rest of the team continued to stay together from the start of the CBI and through the summer “as a family, and we’re just playing well together right now.”

When Woodall was asked if he was 100% he replied “When I say 100%, I say 100%. I feel just as fast and ready to go. It was frustrating obviously being hurt last year, but I feel great.” As for this year’s Panthers “I think this team can be very good. We’re all ready to go; we just have to go out there to put the work in.”

Notes: Adams had 14 points and 11 rebounds and junior forward Talib Zanna had 20 points as they led the Blue team to a 65-55 over the Gold in the annual ‘Blue Gold game at the Petersen Events Center. Robinson had 15 points and 5 assists as well. For the Gold team, Woodall had 16 points and 5 assists, Patterson had 15 points and senior forward Dante Taylor had 11 rebounds. Pitt’s first exhibition game is Friday October 26 vs. IUP at the Petersen Events Center.

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RICHARD S. CALIGUIRI CITY OF PITTSBURGH GREAT RACE ATTRACTS RECORD FIELD OF 15,000

A record field of 15,000 runners and walkers took to the streets of Pittsburgh today for the 35th running of the Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. A total of 10,075 registered for the 10K run, while 4,925 registered for the 5K run/fitness walk.

“This 2012 field of 15,000 runners and walkers sets a new record in the race’s 35-year history,” said Race Director Mike Radley. “Until today, The Great Race registration record stood at 14,500 set last year.”

In the 10K open division, Trent Binford-Walsh, 23, of Pittsburgh, was the winner in the men’s competition with a time of 30:46. Sara Raschiatore, 32, of Leechburg, was the winner in the women’s competition with a time of 34:46.

In the 5K competition, Justin Taylor, 22, of North Hills, won the male division with a time of 15:09. Kristen Leslie, 26, of Pittsburgh, won the female division with a time of 17:56.

 We begin by congratulating Pittsburgh Steelers place-kicker Shaun Suisham on being named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his 3 field goals and the 34-yarder as time expired to give the Steelers a 16-14 win vs. the Philadelphia Eagles. Much deserved.

1. I had also mentioned that the final drive that led to that field goal was smoothly conducted by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as if he were Mozart at Carnegie Hall and I stand by it. Big Ben was flawless on that drive.
2. Of course we could also say that if the Steelers defense would’ve kept the Eagles from scoring that go-ahead TD on the previous drive, that they would not have been in that situation. But you ‘play the hand that’s dealt’ to you.
3. As you know, the Tennessee Titans are next on the Steelers schedule and I respect the fact that they’re not fazed by their 1-4 record. When I was younger, (many years ago) it was easy to think that the team with the worst record would easily fall, and it seemed like it happened more back then, but not now.
4. But one thing that my father always said was that ‘any given Sunday’ a team can win. In this case it would be Thursday when the Steelers and Titans play.
5. The Steelers have not played at LP Field (home of the Titans) since 2008 when they honestly laid an egg in their 31-14 loss. It only kept the Steelers from securing Home field advantage in the AFC Playoffs, but you remember how that season ended, right?
6. The Steelers have not beaten the Titans at LP Field since 2001 when quarterback Kordell Stewart and running back Amos Zereoue ran all over the Titans in a 34-24 win. Other than that, they’ve not been too successful there.
7. And as you know, they will be doing that without the services of safety Troy Polamalu and Linebacker LaMarr Woodley who were injured in Sunday’s win. Woodley will be back soon, Polamalu is another story because he re-aggravated his strained calf.
8. Whether you want to admit it or not, Polamalu’s days are truly numbered with the Steelers.
9. Sad to hear about the passing of former Detroit Lions defender Alex Karras, who passed away from kidney failure. He was truly one of the best players in Lions history and in the NFL during the 60’s. He was also a great actor, best known as Emmanuel Lewis father in the 80’s sitcom ‘Webster.’ Prayers and condolences to his family.
10. Now that the Pirates season is done, the waiting game begins. Will Owner Bob Nutting actually show that he’s truly interested in making this team better in 2013, or is he going to continue being Scrooge?
11. I hope the Pirates are watching the MLB playoffs, so it will truly serve are motivation for next season, and a reminder of where they should’ve been.
12. Since I will always be a Jim Leyland fan, the Detroit Tigers (and Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera) will be my pick to win it all this year.
13. The St. Louis Cardinals could very well end up back in the World Series because they’re getting hot at the right time. And they’re doing this without Albert Pujos and Lance Berkman. Their secret to success: Pitching.
14. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny should get NL Manager of the Year (but the Nationals’ Davey Johnson will get it) and Baltimore Orioles Mike Hargrove should be unanimous for AL Manager of the Year.
15. NL MVP? Brewers OF Ryan Braun (folks won’t like that) AL? Cabrera of course. NL CY Young? The Mets R.A Dickey. AL? Tampa Bay’s David Price should get it. (but the Angels Jared Weaver will get it)
16. Then there’s the Pitt Panthers, who had a disappointing loss vs. Syracuse and will now play nationally ranked Louisville on Saturday. Hopefully the real Panthers will show up.
17. Gotta love the West Virginia Mountaineers who’re now ranked #5 in the nation. I’m loving it, and I hope the ACC is shaking their heads for rejecting them for membership.
18. I also tip my hat at Penn State coach Jim O’Brien for leading Penn State to a 4-2 record. So what if they’re banned from the postseason, it doesn’t mean that they cannot be winners, and the 95,000 who were at Beaver Stadium agree.
19. Pitt’s basketball season is rapidly approaching, and the spotlight will be on their new center-Steven Adams. Can’t wait.

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After this game ended you probably did two things: Turned off the TV, or kept it on and stared in disbelief and asked this question: “Did the Pittsburgh Steelers really lose to the 1-4 Tennessee Titans? Yes they did. And they lost the same way that they beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday: With a last-second field goal.

Remember Rocky II? Apollo Creed’s problem was that he wanted to fight Rocky because although he won a split decision against Balboa, he didn’t knock him out. “Man, I won but I didn’t beat him!” He said. His pride was shot and he was embarrassed because Rocky went the distance against him-something that no other boxer had ever done.

As we speak, the Steelers should be feeling like Apollo Creed. They lost to a Titans team that did not beat them, nor were they underestimated. Once again, they beat themselves.  And when a team does that, it’s a sure bet that they aren’t going to win too many football games.

So who takes the blame for this debacle? The offsene? Defense? Nope, the whole team on this one. On offense, Ben Roethlisberger threw for 363 yards (which included an 82 yard TD pass to WR Mike Wallace) but he did not have one of his best games, as he made poor decisions on several drives that either produced nothing, resulted on one turnover or field goals. Rothlisberger was sloppy on most drives, overthrowing wide receivers who were usually wide open.

Wallace did finish with 94 yards receiving, but it was running back Isaac Redman who led all players with 105 yards receiving, becoming the first non-WR in Steelers history have over 100 yards since-Frenchy Fuqua in 1970. Speaking of running backs, the Steelers had another horrible game at that position. Running back Rashard Mendenhall basically did nothing before injuring his Achillies. He finished with only 6 yards. Redman had 14 yards before he was also injured. Second year man Baron Batch led the team with only 22 yards. But he did have only the second TD of the game scoring early in the 4th quarter.

Injuries also took its toll as the Steelers lost center Maurkise Pouncey, Mendenhall and Redman, safety Ryan Clark safety Will Allen and guard Ramon Foster who did return to the game. Plus, they were already without safety Troy Polamalu and linebacker LaMarr Woodley.

But it was the defense that played awful. Giving up 26 points to a team who had troubles scoring points. The main culprit was cornerback Ike Taylor, who had a horrible game with several pass-interference penalties and then getting beat on several plays that just made Steeler Nation wonder what is wrong with him?

Then there were the special teams who did well on coverage plays and even kicker Shaun Suisham missed a 54 yarder that could’ve given them the win,  He did the best he could to keep the Steeler sin the game, but the coverage teams put a pain. On their first punt of the game, Drew Butler’s punt was blocked setting the Titan up at the 2 yard line.

Although Titans kicker Rod Bironas opened the scoring with a 22 yard field goal, the Steelers ended up getting their own field goal which tied the game at 3. The Steelers then took a 10-3 lead with Roethlisberger’s TD to Wallace, but the Steelers defense allowed the Titans to kick another field goal to close the score to 10-6.

After the blocked punt, Titans fullback Jaime Harper’s 1-yard score gave them a 13-10 lead. It was extended to 16-10 lead at halftime partly because the Steelers and Roethlisberger blew several drives. In the second half, the Steelers played inspired ball and it resulted in a Suisham field goal to close the lead to 16-13. Then running back Baron Batch scored the first TD for the  lead of the day. Suisham’s field goal added 3 more points for the Steelers, but the Titans did not blink. Quarterback Matt Hasselback (290 yards, TD) gather his team and took them down the field, ending with a 5 yard TD to WR Kenny Britt.

The Steelers did try to win the game as they drove down the field and set up shop for a 54 yard field goal by Suisham, but unfortunately his kick went for 53, and the Titans got the ball back.

They made an impression as they drove effortless down the field past a tired looking Steelers defense, and eventually Bironas was called to kick a 40 yard field goal to give the Titans the win.

A horrible loss that has left the Steelers at 2-3. At this point, they should not be worried about catching the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North Division, they should be focusing on the next best thing that will see people victorious-winning.

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Fresh off their 16-14 victory vs. the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin spoke met with the media to discuss that victory and prepare for their next opponent, the Tennessee Titans.

“I like what I saw in that our guys did what was necessary” said Tomlin “in all three phases (Offense, defense, special teams) to secure the victory in the midst of a sub-par performance in some instances. I think to highlight some of the negatives in the areas that we need to improve, obviously we were highly penalized in the game.” Tomlin was referring to the 4 holding calls that were committed by guard Willie Colon. “In game penalties is one thing.” Said Tomlin “that’s usually ironed out, what needs to disappear is the pre-snaps things, the false-starts, illegal formations, those are self-inflicted wounds. We cannot tolerate that, I cannot tolerate that. It’s my job to get it fixed, and we’ll work on that this week, obviously.” Tomlin also spoke on how those types of penalties can hurt a team in a lot of ways.

Tomlin said that he liked the kind of contribution that they got from the run game “The offensive line, I thought they did a nice job in protecting Ben.” Said Tomlin “He wasn’t sacked in the football game. It was good to have Rashard back, he produced some plays for us, but overall just a good general effort.” Tomlin also spoke about how successful the Steelers third down offense has been and how they were successful in Sunday’s win.

On defense, Tomlin had this to say “We had to get after those guys and try to contain Mike Vick and those guys. I thought we had success early, creating turnovers for us and helping us when the self infected wounds hurt us. But largely a great general effort, Shaun Suisham was big for us, going 3-3 including kicking the winning field goal for us in the closing seconds of the game.” Tomlin stated that they have a lot to build upon, but they will temper that excitement with the understanding that they have much to improve on as they have a short week and get ready for Thursday night’s game vs. the Titans.

“We’re not concerned about that, it’s a short week for them as well” Said Tomlin “but what we are concerned about is how we utilize our time in order to prepare.”

As for injuries, Tomlin stated that safety Troy Polamalu re-injured his right calf, and will probably be out vs. the Titans, and linebacker LaMarr Woodley sustained a mild hamstring injury “There’s more optimism regarding him” Said Tomlin “It’s still a hamstring injury, we’re going to have to be smart with how we deal with that, being a short week it minimizes his chances to play, but we’ll leave the door ajar for him.”

Tomlin said that linebacker James Harrison finished the game fine “A little swelling” Said Tomlin “but nothing major, we’ll watch him this week.” He also said that Mendenhall finished the game relatively fine as well. “We need to work smart this week,” Said Tomlin “we’ll try to use the delicate balancing act of preparing the guys and preserving them at the same time. The good thing is that we’ve been in quite a few of these Thursday night games probably as many as anybody in the league. It’s nothing new for us, but we’ll respect the process that it is preparing for it and hopefully play some great football on Thursday.”

Tomlin said that he’s not fazed by the Titans 1-4 record “Obviously they’re off to a slow start, from my perspective that makes them dangerous.” Tomlin stated that they had a big win vs. Detroit, but since the Steelers are 0-2 on the road, it’s a big game for them. “The last time we played them on the road, we got a big win, and if we’re to be the great team that we aspire to be we have to play well in those hostile environments, and we haven’t done that.”

Tomin spoke about the Titans defense and how they’ve played well, and they have a great rotation system with a good rush and coverage. On offense, veteran Matt Hasselback has been playing and their targets include former Steeler Nate Washington, and running back Chris Johnson, who is capable of a long run anytime he touches it “He’s that type of guy.” Tomlin said about Johnson “We’ve got to hustle, we’ve got to tackle. This guy’s is fast as anybody in football.”

Notes: As expected, Polamalu and Woodley did not practice on Monday and Harrison, Mendenhall and linebacker Stevenson Sylvester were limited in practice with knee issues.

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 Steelers practice at their headquarters on the South Side and to no surprise; they have the Tennessee Titans on their minds. Plus, this is the only practice that they have before leaving for Nashville to play the Titans on Thursday. It’s almost like trying to put a weeks’ worth of work into a day, but like Head coach Mike Tomlin stated in Monday’s news conference, Thursday night games are nothing new to the Steelers, because they’ve been on Thursday for the past several years-with the only exception that it’s earlier in the season, instead of November of December.

“We’re 0-2 on the road.” Linebacker Larry Foote said to me in the locker room “We need to prove to ourselves that we can win on the road, we gotta win.” Foote also said that it’s truly a big game for the Steelers as they’re aiming to go over .500 for the first time this season against a 1-4 Titans team that has a record that fazes no one. The Steelers agree that what matters is the game

“I think they played some pretty good competition.” Offensive coordinator Todd Haley said after practice when asked about the Titans’ struggles “I think they’re a young team that’s working hard to get better each week, but they’ve also faced some stiff competition, and they did beat a good Detroit team a few weeks ago, but I think they’re like all of us, they’re trying to get better.”

Linebacker James Harrison had this to say about the Titans: “They’ve got great talent, but they’ve just haven’t put it together for 4 quarters and continue to do it. They’re a dangerous team and their record does not speak for how good they are.”  Harrison also mentioned that Titans veteran quarterback Matt Hasselback is doing well, and throwing the ball deep. So it’s pretty clear that they’re expecting a slugfest against the Titans on Thursday.

I also spoke to rookie tight end David Paulson, who saw a lot of action in Sunday’s win vs. the Eagles. Paulson caught his first pass for 8 yards, and also saw some time at fullback-especially on the winning drive. “I was good.” Paulson said about getting his first catch “It was nice to get, especially in a win.” When asked if he kept the ball, Paulson laughed and said no. When asked about his duties at fullback, Paulson said “I’m kind of learning everything right now, the wide position the second tight end position and fullback so that way whenever something comes up I can jump right in.” And about the Titans “They’re going to play us tough and they’ve got some good guys up front, but if our offense can go out there and do our thing and limit our penalties, it shows that we limit those, then we can move the ball.”

On a conference call, Titans coach Mike Munchack said that the Steelers “are a team that stays with what they believe in and what works for them and they do a great job of drafting guys that fits their system and believe and buy in what they do for a long period of time and they do it well. It’s a great matchup and a big game for anybody that plays them.”

The Steelers have been labeled as a ‘third down team’ because of their ability to convert on that critical down, and when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was asked about their success, here’s what he had to say: “We want to keep trying to be successful on third downs, because that’s the ‘money down’ if you will, but if we have to be in it then we will convert it.” Roethlisberger himself was called by the FOX broadcasters as the best ‘3rd down’ QB in the NFL because he’s been making those conversions, and none was more greater than the 3rd and 12 that he was able to turn into a remarkable 20 yard pass to wide receiver Antonio Brown that helped set up the winning drive on Sunday.

So with that being said, the Steelers then excused themselves to attend meetings and will be getting ready to depart to Nashville on Wednesday. Hopefully when we tune in next week, we will be talking about a 3-2 Steelers team who will be getting ready for a huge AFC North matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Notes: Safety Troy Polamalu (calf) and linebacker LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) did not practice and will be out against the Titans. Harrison, running back Rashard Mendenhall and linebacker Stevenson Sylvester (all with knee problems) were limited in practice.

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The good thing about the National Football League is that no matter how ugly a win is it’s still a win. There are no asterisks or explanations, just one more victory in the win column. And for the teams trying to win a championship, they need these types of wins, because losing them usually hurts them in the long run. The problem with these types of wins? The fact that they may have to play another team soon, and whatever problems that they may have, cannot be looked with proper time.

Such is the case with the Pittsburgh Steelers as they literally overcame themselves and produced a 16-14 win vs. their cross-state rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles at Heinz Field. Kicker Shaun Suisham’s 34 yard field goal with seconds left sealed the win for the Steelers as they improved their record to 2-2, thereby avoiding going 1-3 for the first time since 2002.

Unlike the 34-31 loss to the Oakland Raiders, scoring was a little hard to come by in this game. In most cases, a low scoring affair is because of how good the defenses on both teams have fared. In this game, it was in spite of how they played, especially the Steelers.

Ok, let’s give them credit for keeping the Eagle’s out of the end zone for the first half, but some of that was the result of poor Quarterback play from Eagle’s quarterback Mike Vick (20/30, 175 yards, 2 TD’s), who had two costly fumbles in the first half, one of them at the Steelers 3 yard line. Just when you thought the Eagles would score first, the Steelers got the ball back-and basically did nothing with it.

But late in the second quarter, the Steelers began to click. As quarterback Ben Roethlisberger drove his team down the field and was aided by an old friend, running back Rashard Mendenhall returned for his first game since their final regular season game vs. Cleveland and played like he was hungry. He gave the Steelers first downs on key runs, and scored the Steelers only touchdown of the game when he ran it in for 17 yards, and gave the Steelers a 7-0 lead.

The Steelers second drive was pretty good as well, and it looked as if they were going to close the first half with a 14-0 lead, except that they forgot to notify the wide receivers. Jerricho Cotchery had an easy TD, except he slipped and fell down at the 2 yard line, and Mike Wallace missed a pass that was almost intercepted. (Ok, that may have not been all his fault) But nevertheless, Shisham kicked a 20 yard field goal to give the Steelers a 10-0 halftime lead.

In the second half, Roethlisberger (21-37, 207 yards) and the Steelers continued to do nothing as they started impressive drives, only to see them fizzle out because of bad decisions, and drops by Wallace, one of them that would’ve surely went for a long TD if he would’ve held onto it.

Then Vick and the Eagles woke up, but not without help. Two personal fouls on safeties Ryan Mundy and Ryan Clark, gave the Eagles excellent field position, and they eventually took advantage of it when running back Lesean McCoy caught a pass from Vick, slid by a slow moving Larry Foote into the end zone to put the Eagles on the board and close the Steelers lead to 10-7.

Steeler’s ball. Once again they had a very impressive start to the drive, easily taking it into Eagles territory, and once again watching a potential TD fizzle when Roethlisberger’s pass to a wide-open Heath Miller was too close to the sideline. The tight end had problems holding onto it as it went out of bounds. Suisham’s second field goal of the day gave the Steelers a 13-7 lead.

You know those type of leads are not safe, especially when your defense is not playing well. Vick and the offense basically ran on a Steelers defense that looked like they were sleepwalking. They converted two 4th downs and eventually found themselves in the end zone as Vick connected with tight end Brent Celek for a 5 yard TD to give the Eagles the lead for the first time, 14-13.

Now let’s be honest, are you seeing Pitt vs. Syracuse all over again? At that point, the score was the same, and the Steelers were certainly looking very lethargic, but the good news was that it was only 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter and the Steelers had the ball. Roethlisberger conducted his team down the field as if he was Mozart, converting a huge third down pass to WR Antonio Brown (7 catches, 89 yards) and then Mendenhall, and Isaac Redman struck again to push the Steelers into field goal range-and a win. WR Emmanuel Sanders also caught a huge pass to get the Steelers closer, and when the Eagles called their final timeout, the Steelers knew they were in control. Eventually Suisham’s field goal gave the Steelers the win and left the Eagles shaking their heads.

In 4 days, the Steelers travel to Nashville to play the Tennessee Titans, and they have to quickly figure out how to fix their defense, who may be looking to be without linebacker LaMarr Woodley (Hamstring) and once again, safety Troy Polamalu (calf) when all else failed with the Steelers, the defense would always give them the boost that they needed. It’s not been looking that way in 3 of the past 4 games.

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1.      Ok, its official: The Pittsburgh Pirates now have 20 consecutive losing seasons, extending a record that is the worst in North American history. A season that had so much promise has now turned into utter disappointment. Final Game score Atlanta 4-Pittsburgh 0.

2.      So who’s to blame? Everybody that’s who. The players because they could not get it done, the manager, because he made some questionable calls during some games, and the general manager and owner, for not spending money at the trade deadline.

3.      To be 16 games over .500 in early August, and then fall flat on their faces the rest of the way is pretty deplorable, and the Pirates front office has to admit that it’s a total embarrassment to the organization.

4.      James McDonald failed them the most on the mound; he dominated in the first half and was dominated in the second half. What’s interesting is that he still finished the season with 12 wins.

5.      Andrew McCutchen was red-hot in the first half (.370) but he failed his team in the second half. Plus, he had numerous chances to win the NL batting title, and he will be finishing second to San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey. Yes, he’s only human, but if he’s going to hang with the big boys, he can’t go through slumps like this.

6.      I hear that owner Bob Nutting will net $20 million this year, makes you wonder what he’s going to do with that money?  Making the current team better is an idea don’t you think Bob?

7.      I’m very proud of the Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics, who overcame many struggles to make the post season. Congrats.

8.      I’m also pretty shocked at the Boston Red Sox. Wow, what a decline, about to end the season with over 90 losses. Sorry Bobby Valentine, but you are not it.

9.      Going back to Nutting, I can’t wait to hear the excuse that he will make about his team at the end of the season, I will not believe him if he says that he was disappointed. Nutting has to truly put his money where his mouth is in the offseason if I’m to take him seriously.

10.  With that being said, see you in 2013 Pirates.

11.  Then there are the Steelers who’re fresh off their bye week and will be facing the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. They’re hoping that linebacker James Harrison and safety Troy Polamalu will be ready for Michael Vick and Co. Running back Rashard Mendenhall is expected to be ready.

12.  Hopefully, the defense will be ready for this game. Every good Steelers team had an excellent defense, and let’s be honest, it still does win championships. Hopefully that Oakland loss was a fluke.

13.  When wide receiver Mike Wallace was asked who was faster between him and Eagles WR Desean Jackson, he replied “I am.” Can you really argue with him?

14.  The key to the Steelers beating Philly is by scoring early and often and forcing Vick into mistakes. Hey the Browns did the latter in week one, (although they lost) right?

15.  Sand news about Jets WR Santonio Holmes who will now be missing the rest of the season with a lisfranic foot injury. Seems like the Jets are suddenly falling apart.

16.  And how ‘bout the 4-0 Arizona Cardinals? Not bad coach Ken Wisenhunt and co. And the 0-4 New Orleans Saints? Wow.

17.  Pitt is trying to go over .500 when they take on Syracuse on Friday. This will certainly be what they need before they take on 5-0 Louisville (at 11am??) but the Orange is no pushover at all.

18.  Anybody still have any doubts about West Virginia? They beat a very good Baylor team, and QB Geno Smith passed for 8 TDs. Now let’s see what they will do against Texas.

19.  So the NBA is going to have rules for flopping. Really? I know flopping is wrong, but for them to have a rule on it is kinda weird.

20.  I hear that the New York Knicks signed Rasheed Wallace. Rasheed Wallace? I didn’t even know he was still in the league.

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Pitt hopes to continue it’s turnaround from a 0-2 start as they travel to the middle of New York State to face the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on Friday at 7pm on ESPN.

Winners of two straight, which included an amazing 35-17 upset victory vs. then #13 Virginia Tech, the Panthers are now a respectable 2-2 (0-1 Big East) and looking for more, and that also includes getting their first Big East win of the season, which will also be the first conference win for Head Coach Paul Chryst.

What’s also impressive is the fact that Pitt has a 7 game winning streak vs. the Orange in which their last loss against them was a 38-31 double-overtime thriller. Pitt beat the Orange 33-20 at Heinz Field last season. That win earned them a second consecutive post season invite to the BBVA Compass Bowl.

The Orange 1-3 (0-0 Big East) begins conference play vs. the Panthers. Their losses came against Northwestern, USC and Minnesota. Their only victory came against Stony Brook. Their strengths are on offense beginning with their quarterback. Senior Ryan Nassib leads all conference QB’s in passing average with 341 per game and total offense with 360 yards per game. And he has some excellent weapons at the wide receiver position beginning with senior Marcus Sales who leads all Big East WR’s with 6.8 receptions per game, and 95.5 yards per game. Senior Alec Lemon ranks right behind him with 5.3 receptions per game. The Orange also leads the Big East in total offense with 487.5 yards per game.

On defense, the Orange ranked #5 in the conference allowing 357.5 yards per game. Their strengths are the linebackers in which they have 3 (Soph. Dyshawn Davis, Jr Siriki Diabate and Sr Marquis Spurill) that average at least 6 tackles per game. Sophomore linebacker Cameron Lynch and senior defensive end Brandon Sharpe each has 4 sacks and sophomore defensive back Brandon Reddish has 3 interceptions.

Pitt also has their ranks among Big East leaders ranking #2 in total offense (486.8) and #4 in total defense. (324.0) Senior QB Tino Sunseri leads the conference with passing efficiency with 168.8/game, and senior Ray Graham is 4th in rushing with 90.5 yards/game. Freshman phenom Rushel Shell is 7th in rushing with 76.3 yards/game. Senior WR Mike Shanahan is 3rd with 5.2 rec/game and second with 92.0 yards/game, and junior Devin Street is 5th in receptions (4.5) and 3rd in yards (68.2)

Junior defensive end Shane Gordon averages 7.0 tackles a game, with senior end Jarred Holley right behind him with 6.5. Gordon also has 4 sacks, and junior safety Jason Hendricks leads with 3 interceptions.

Prediction-Pitt is just like the other sports teams in this city, the fewer mistakes that they make in a game the better chances that they have at winning. Sunseri has to continue to manage a good game, making wise decisions and playing mistake-free. The running game has to set the tone which includes excellent blocking by the offensive line.

But this could be a trap game for the Panthers if they try to overlook this team with #19 Louisville looming. They cannot allow the Orange’s 1-3 record to be a distraction. This offense can put points on the board and Pitt’s defense will need to be ready.

Pitt needs to score early and often, while keeping the pressure on Nassib on defense.

Final score: Pitt wins 27-13

 

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“We have to find a way to honor the old while we bring in the new,” says Dr. Kimberly Ellis, speaking in her role as project historian for the Hill District’s Dinwiddie Street Housing Project.

            “We have to conserve what we have, while we preserve what we can,” Ellis says, and as Trek Development and other partners announced the beginning of the third phase of the project,  William J. Gatti, Jr., President of Trek, made it clear that the planning included the concerns of neighbors about preserving the Miller School through renovations, rather than demolishing the building.

            According to Ellis, the school served the community beginning in 1906 as one of the first public schools to serve African American children, many of whose parents arrived with the Great Migration from the southern United States. It was also the first school in Western Pennsylvania to have an African American principal at the helm.

            “A school involves community,” says Ellis, “a compilation of dreams and hopes and vision.” She points out that Miller Street was also home to a variety of other cultural and social landmarks, including a synagogue and labor hall.  “This street, this neighborhood, was a bastion of progressive responsibility.”

            “Our original plan was to demolish this, but we fell in love with it,” says Gatti. “The neighbors asked us to find a way to push harder, and find a way to reuse it,” and so the planners will now repurpose the school as housing, divided into eight loft apartments to join 18 new townhome units on Heldman Street.

            “Our journey began in 2009 when we took title of Reed-Roberts and began dismantling it. We got final approval from HUD [Monday] to clear the site,” says Gatti. “We are thrilled to announce the renovation and conversion of Miller School.”

            “Over the last six years, the city of Pittsburgh and its partners have invested over $120 million to create 41 single-family and 490 multi-family units in the Hill District,” says Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. “We are dedicated to revitalizing the community, and continue to work with the leaders within this community. We are committed to the grocery store, to developing the 28-acre site across from Consol Energy…”

            Ravenstahl emphasized the importance of revitalizing the Hill District, which serves as a link between Downtown and Oakland. “These investments are community-driven solutions which provide affordable and quality housing options for residents, while revitalizing more areas of this up and coming neighborhood.”

            City Council Representative R. Daniel Lavelle, whose district includes the Hill District, thanked all of those involved in the multi-phase Dinwiddie Street Housing Project.

            “Developments like this cannot occur without good partners with resources who are willing to engage a community,” says Lavelle. “Trek hears the concerns of the community and tries to embrace its goals.”

            “It would be easy for the mayor to send limited resources to communities already on the move,” says Lavelle, “but he continues to support projects here in the Hill.”

            Hill District activist Carl Redwood speaks highly of Trek’s involvement with areas residents. They “postponed zoning hearing because of community concerns, worked with [One Hill Neighborhood] committee to resolve things, and move things forward in a good way.”

            “Trek is helping to preserve the history of this community, and make affordable homes for people to live here.”

            Housing units are built to meet Energy Star standards, incorporating high-efficiency ad alternative energy strategies which are expected to provide utility savings for residents. Units will be offered to households at or below 60 percent of the area’s median income.

            Designed by Rothschild Doyno Collaborative and constructed by general contractor Mistick Construction, Phase III, expected to be completed  in June 2013, is supported with a $1.5 million loan from the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, with total project costs estimated at $9.4 million. Private financing is being provided through PNC, which has invested $20 million in Phases I, II and III, including the Miller School renovation. Additional funding for the project is provided by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and Commonwealth Financing Agency, who also praise Trek’s record in revitalizing neighborhoods.

            “Trek,” says one, “is one of the best affordable housing developers in the US. Their projects are completed on time or earlier, and on budget or less, creating assets for generations to come.”

            In addition to new construction on Dinwiddie Street, many of the original neighboring homes have been rehabilitated, and the URA, Trek and the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh are working on a façade enhancement program for other existing homes.

            “We will say goodbye to Miller School in its current form,” says Gatti, “and say welcome to its new form.”

By Nancy Hart

nancy@urbamediatoday.com

1. Ok, several sources (like ESPN) are reporting that the NFL and the NFLRA (Referee’s Union) have reached a ‘tentative deal’ and that the regular refs’ could be back as early as this weekend. See updated story on new agreement. (See story above for late
2. If you’re happy, imagine how happy the NFL players are as the replacement refs’ have truly made a mess of things in this young NFL season.
3. Of course they’re doing the best that they can, but they have made some costly mistakes that have cost some teams plays, and wins.
4. For example, the final play of the Packers/Seahawks game, Seattle’s QB Russell Wilson launched a last-second pass into the end zone and it was clearly evident that Packers safety M.D Jennings had his hand on the ball first, and as he fell to the ground, Seahawks WR Golden Tate got his hands on it too and they wrestled as the referees ran to the play. On ref said interception, the other ref said TD. (It was ruled a TD, Seahawks win)
5. What was also evident was Tate pushing off on another Packers defender while the ball was in the air. That should’ve resulted in offensive pass interference and a Packers win. Those Refs missed it and made the Packers very angry.
6. The NFL did admit the refs’ error for not calling pass interference on Tate, but upheld the refs’ call on the TD. Wrong, just wrong.
7. And what made me shake my head is the fact that Seahawks coach Pete Carroll celebrated and laughed about it all. Show some class Carroll, you would’ve been angry too if your team was in the same boat.
8. In the Steelers-Raiders game, the refs did not ‘see’ defensive end Ziggy Hood get chop-blocked by a Raiders offensive lineman, resulting Hood leaving the game. Here’s hoping the league offices catch it.
9. Of course, they did catch Steelers safety Ryan Mundy’s flagrant hit on Raiders WR Darius Heyward-Bey, and they fined him $21,000 for it. Intentional or not, you can’t do that in today’s NFL.
10. Speaking of the Steelers, is the defense going to get it together after their awful showing vs. the Raiders? They have another full week to work it out.
11. I heard that linebacker James Harrison did not practice, as his knee is still facing challenges. Not good news at all. But safety Troy Polamalu did practice.
12. Classy move by New England Patriots coach Bill Belichik publicly apologizing for grabbing a ref at the close of the Pats-Ravens game. He was fined $50,000 as well.
13. Now to the Pirates. They’re trying their best to get back over .500, but they do not have much room for error. The season ends next week and they cannot lose any more games.
14. I know it’s against what I’ve been saying all season, but if the Pirates can finish 82-80 (or 81-81) that will be a successful season. But it’s gotta hurt to see the Atlanta Braves, and eventually the St. Louis Cardinals earn playoff spots, because both of those spots were theirs at one point.
15. Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez baffles me. He did hit his 30th home run, but I still say imagine if he had more plate discipline? That’s why it was smart for the Pirates to not give up on him.
16. Now that suspended San Francisco Giants OF Melky Cabrera is ineligible for the batting title, Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen had better win the NL batting title.
17. Like the Steelers, the Pitt Panthers also get the weekend off, and then they get ready for another Big East opponent in Syracuse Oct 7th. Hopefully Coach Paul Chryst’s troops can keep it going.
18. I’m hoping that the Pitt running game continues so that QB Tino Sunseri can just manage the game and throw the ball when needed.
19. I was shocked that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish decided to end their series vs. Michigan. Hey, since they have to play 5 ACC games soon, they have to adjust their schedule.
20. Alabama, Oregon, LSU, Florida State and Georgia make up the top 5 in the AP and USA Today polls. Where’s preseason favorite USC? Ranked 13 in both polls.

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

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Steelers head coach was just as pleased as anybody over the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-10 win over the New York Jets: “Obviously it was a victorious one.” But he also said “Obviously it wasn’t perfect.” What he did point out was how well they executed in the second half (4-4 on 3rd downs) and how the defense did not allow any points, and was 6-7 in getting off the field on third downs in the second half “So it was a winning edge for us.” Said Tomlin “And we’d like to keep that trend moving.”

But what Tomlin was concerned about was the running game “We haven’t run the ball as well as we’d like.” Said Tomlin I’m interested in assigning blame in that regard, I’ll take responsibility for it. In reality, that we’ve got room for growth; we’ve got to tighten up our menu, and lean on the things that we’re doing well, we need to block better, we need to put the ball where it needs to be more consistently so we all have a hand of where the run game is and I hope we have a hand in correcting it in the near future. I know it needs to be an asset for us as we move forward-particularly as we head into the hostile environment against the Oakland Raiders.”

The Steelers run game had a total of 66 yards, with Jonathan Dwyer leading with 28, although they did do better in the second half on key plays (especially Isaac Redman, who scored the final touchdown) but the goal with offensive coordinator Todd Haley was to run the ball more effectively, and Sunday’s game was not a good indicator of that.

Tomlin also addressed the injury report stating that linebacker James Harrison and safety Troy Polamalu obviously were not able to play on Sunday and that they will take the same approach that they did a week ago with how they practice and see how it goes. “Obviously they’re potential assets to us.” Said Tomlin “But as you know, we like to focus on the guys who are healthy and preparing.” He also mentioned that Dwyer has turf toe, tackle Marcus Gilbert has a groin strain and tight end Heath Miller has rib cartilage separation and Tomlin all each of these players could be limited in the early part of the week. He did say that linebacker Stevenson Sylvester is almost game-ready and he will probably be put in the same category as Harrison and Polamalu, and that running back Rashard Mendenhall could get more work as well as he continues to recuperate from the torn ACL that he suffered last season.

In regards of their next opponent, the Oakland Raiders, Tomlin had this to say: “In preparing for them, it all starts with quarterback Carson Palmer. This guy’s a veteran.” Of course the Steelers know him well from his days with the Cincinnati Bengals. Tomlin also spoke well of their running backs, led by Darren McFadden “All of their backs are capable of making house calls. They all have long speed.” He also spoke well of wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey and the defense, which is lead by veteran defensive end Richard Seymour. “He’s a perennial All-Pro and has been for a long time.” Said Tomlin. He also spoke highly of kicker Sebastian Janikowski “Janikowski is Janikowski” Said Tomlin.

He stated that their preparation for the Raiders starts with them “We’re excited about facing this work and getting started.”

Notes: Tomlin also pointed out how well that safety Ryan Mundy and linebacker Chris Carter has played in the absence of Harrison, Polamalu and safety Ryan Clark.
ray@urbanmediatoday.com   Photo: news.daylife.com

There’s a phrase that’s often said in sports: ‘Any given day, a team can win.’ And that regardless of record or history, if a team shows up and are ready to play, they usually leave with the victory. Such is the case with the Pitt Panthers, who started the season 0-2 after a disappointing opening game loss to Youngstown State and a blowout loss in their Big East opener in Cincinnati.

Well, Pitt knew what they were up against with their next opponent, Virginia Tech as they welcomed them into Heinz Field. The Hokies were ranked #13 in the nation and are about to become Pitt’s rivalry as they start ACC play next season. In the past, when Virginia Tech was ranked high in the polls, Pitt was usually the team who knocked them down to earth with an upset. Well, this year’s Panthers made sure that they played a part of that history as they once again beat up on the Hokies 35-17 in front of 48,032 charged-up fans and a national audience who had to pick their mouths off the ground.

Freshman running back Ruschel Shell had his ‘breakout party’ game by leading all backs with 159 yards rushing, and senior back Ray Graham added 94 with 3 TD’s as the Panthers used the ground game to punch the Hokies in the mouth. Senior quarterback Tino Sunseri also had an amazing game, throwing for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns and he was only sacked once as the offensive line provided some excellent protection for him. Senior wide receiver Mike Shanahan had 111 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers embraced the underdog role as if they were Rocky Balboa.

Sunseri and the Panthers jumped on the Hokies on their first drive as he hit junior WR Devin Street with a 33 yard pass, and then Graham ran untouched into the end zone for a 7-0 lead. That drive covered 6 plays, and 75 yards. The Hokies then drove up the field on the Panthers just like the previous two teams did, but the Panthers defense provided pressure on Hokies junior quarterback Logan Thomas as he threw a pass that was tipped and intercepted by safety Jason Hendricks. The Panthers then stormed down the field again thanks to a 40 yard bomb by Sunseri to Shanahan. Sunseri then found Street in the end zone for a 14-0 lead. Street had 73 yards receiving.

Hendricks intercepted another Thomas pass and although Pitt’s senior kicker Kevin Harper missed a 35 yard field goal, the Panthers defense kept the pressure, getting the Hokies running back Michael Holmes fumbled and Pit recovered and promptly scored on another Graham TD and it was 21-0 Panthers. The Hokies then finally got on the board as they drove 21 yards and their kicker Cody Journell hit a 32 yard field goal and Pitt led 21-3 at halftime.

In the second half, the Hokies scored their first touchdown as Kyshoen Jarrett ran a punt return for 94 yards and suddenly it was a 21-10 Pitt lead. But Pitt did not blink. They once again drove down the field and killed the clock in the process thanks to some powerful running by Shell and the drive ended with a crafty 13 yard TD pass from Sunseri to Graham and it was now a 28-10 Pitt lead.

But the Hokies then struck again on a third down as Thomas found WR Marcus Davis, who eluded a tackle and ran 85 yards for the touchdown and it was now a 28-17 Pitt lead. Each team switched changed possessions at the start of the 4th quarter, then the Pitt defense began to shut the door on the Hokes with a very critical 4th down stand and then they used Shell again to wear down the defense and they got into the end zone again with a 6 yard pass from Sunseri to Shanahan for a 35-17 lead, which was the final score.

When asked about his first win as a Pitt coach, Paul Chryst said that he was ‘very proud of his team and very proud of how they handled themselves.’ But he did make a point to say that it was not a perfect game. He also spoke well of the defense stating that they did an excellent job putting themselves in position with getting interceptions and forcing 4 turnovers.

WR Devin Street: “I think it’s a good win, but we still have a lot of work to do. I think it gives us some momentum for Gardner-Webb, but I think we still have some work to do.”

Quarterback Tino Sunseri: “Those guys did a heck of a job in the backfield being able to be a receiver and also carry the ball. You have to give credit to the offensive line; they battled all day, opened up holes, gave protection and gave me time. I think the player of the game is those guys up front.”

With this huge win, Pitt will then now prepare to play at team which will now wear the ‘underdog’ title, the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs. After what they’ve experienced, Pitt knows better than to underestimate this team.

Notes: Although he finished the game, Sunseri was hurt when he threw his only interception of the game, and he spoke to the media on crutches. He insists that he’s not injured.

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

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1.      Ok, raise your hands if you are disappointed in the Pittsburgh Pirates. I will be the first one. (hands raised)

2.      As a writer, I have to keep my objectivity but as a fan, I am just about through with this team as I (and you) watched them go from being 16 games above .500, to a team that’s lost 6 straight (the most this season) and are now  just 2 games above .500. Just awful.

3.      All season I had been encouraging everyone to ‘enjoy the moment’ when it came to the Pirates as they were doing so well. Not just with a winning record, but contending for the NL Central Division and both Wild Card spots. Now it’s to the point of just making sure that they can end their North American record-consecutive losing streak at 19 years.

4.      Be honest. Did you think that they would collapse like they did last year? I didn’t. Neither did Jim Leyland. The former Pirates manager said that they would not collapse like they did last year and a lot of other folks said that too.

5.      Then there are those who were just waiting all season just for the Pirates to fall and say ‘I told you so’ Shame on you, because that was a waste of a lot of energy, and you weren’t 100% certain that they would fall either.

6.      Can they turn it around? (shrugs) You gotta ask them. After all of their struggles, they’re still only 2.5 games behind the Cardinals for the second Wild Card. It’s up to you Pirates, and it will start vs. the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

1. "I haven’t given up...I hope u haven’t...push forward...we have to finish what we started. Let’s finish strong. That’s what it’s all about."-Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen (via twitter @TheCUTCH22) prove it, Andrew.

8.      And please watch out! The Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies are now a game above .500 and are breathing down the Pirates necks. It’ll be a tough sprint until the end for that Wild Card spot.

9.       I think it kind of surprises me that the LA Dodgers aren’t doing any better-especially taking on over $200 million in salary after trading for 3 Boston Red Sox players. Proof that money isn’t everything, eh?(But I do like their initiative)

10.  Then there’s the Pittsburgh Steelers, who’re getting ready for their home opener against the New York Jets. They look to be in better physical shape as both of their offensive lineman who were hurt (T Marcus Gilbert and G Ramon Foster) practiced on Thursday. They will play on Sunday.

11.  The same with linebacker Jason Worilds, who did play vs. the Broncos and got an earth-shattering sack on Bronco QB Peyton Manning. He’s going to be needed because it’s not certain that James Harrison will play Sunday. (although he says that he is)

12.  Speaking of Harrison, kudos to him for donating $100,000 to his alma mater‘s (Kent State) football program. They money will go toward the ‘James Harrison Strength and Conditioning center’ and the football Enhancement fund. Classy move by Harrison.

13.  Jets QB Tim Tebow paid Steelers center Maurkise Pouncey a heavy compliment, saying that he was one of the ‘two best Centers’ in the NFL. Pouncey received the compliment stating that ‘he’s not there yet.’

14.  I think that running back Jonathan Dwyer deserves to start. He’s 46 yards on only 9 carries speaks for itself. He’s truly a power back. And hopefully we’ll see more of rookie running back Chris Rainey.

15.  Awesome performance by Washington Redskins rookie QB Robert Griffin III. I was not impressed with him at first, but my mind is slowly changing.

16.  The thing that gets me is when folks will predict Super Bowl for 1-0 teams, and ‘the end’ for 0-1 teams. They need to remember the 2008 Carolina Panthers who started 1-0 and finished 1-15. End of story.

17.  It’s pretty sad to hear that UConn coach Jim Calhoun is calling it quits. He built the men’s basketball program with his bare hands and has 3 NCAA championships. But his health problems suggest that it’s time. Next stop: Hall of Fame.

18.  Hopefully Pitt can put up a fight against Virginia Tech. Make no mistake, they’re much more of a challenge than Youngstown State and Cincinnati, but it would be a mess if they started 0-3.

19.  I had to shake my head as I was watching Todd Graham’s Arizona State Sun Devils drive down the field with ease against Illinois. Apparently his offense finally did more talking than he usually does.

20.  West Virginia QB Geno Smith for the Heisman Trophy. ‘Nuff Said!

Please e-mail me at ray@urbanmediatoday.com

Follow me at Ray Porter Jr @urbanmediaRay on twitter     Photo: bronxbaseballdaily.com