Hey Kids!

So it's been a long time since anyone has posted anything on the blog so i figured what the hell why not post some stuff. So a few things have been going on recently in the news and sports and my personal world. Lets review...

1. The Pirates are just the worst ever. I can't say much else, my frustration with the organization is just billowing over into the realm of pure disgust. The only starters left from the beginning of the year are andy laroche, moss and doumit not counting pitchers. I'm annoyed with the whole situation and don't want to get into it any further.

2. I got promoted so I'm not with Hollister at South Hills Village anymore, so if I have any fun work stories they will come as Store Manager at Ross Park abercrombie kids. I already have had some interesting things happen none needing a story but I'm sure I'll have one soon enough. If you are ever in Ross Park mall come in and say hello.

3. Steelers season kicks off with pre season game one on Thursday. Who gives a shit about pre season? I know I don't. It's nice sometimes to see some of the guys who will never play a snap in a regular season game fighting for their jobs. Still, for the most part games are sloppy, boring, and risk the big name players on the team getting injured. The big story from training camp is obviously Big Ben's rape allegation. I just have a tough time believing that the QB of the reigning super bowl champs needs to rape someone to get some booty. Plus, did you see the chick? I'm not saying Ben is a stud, but he is a multi-millionaire QB of the best football team in the world. I think he could do better. So, we'll see how it all plays out. Regardless of pre-season or not, I'm just glad I have something to watch other than the Succo's.

4. OK so I am a member of the LA fitness that the fellow decided to shoot up. It literally is a minute up the road from my house. I have been going for a year or so and I was going 3 or 4 times a week up until I got my promotion to Ross Park. It has been hard to get into the gym when I have to drive 45 minutes there, work 9 hours and drive all the way back home. So, luckily I had just worked a 9 hour day and drove 45 minutes home so I was not about to go to the gym that night. A few friends from high school however were there. One of them was one who got shot in the knee, the other 2 got out of the class safely. So I wish Melina a speedy recovery, and I'm glad Jen and Lisa got out safe. My dad who is a paramedic and volunteer fireman was at the scene as a staging manager directing all of the emergency response vehicles and keeping things organized, he also was at the Fire Department after he left the scene helping families who didn't know if their relatives were involved. He and all the other police, paramedics and emergency responders and doctors and nurses at the hospitals should always be treated with a great deal of respect as they dedicate their lives to helping others and making the world around us a little more safe. It's a pretty screwed up world sometimes. It seems like things like this are just the most horrible thing that can happen, innocent people being shot is just awful. With how many crazy people there are in the world, I'm just glad stuff like this doesn't happen more often. It's just surreal to have it happen to people you know at a place you go to every week right up the road from your house.

So, that's what is going on in the world today. Sorry to leave on a such a depressing note but I have to get ready for my 45 minute trek to work. Until next time bitches.

Let's bash the Buzzsaw known as the AZ Cards, so the Steelers get the Six-Pack Weekend Links

It's Super Bowl XLIII Weekend, and it's a case of a team expected to be there each season (Steelers) vs. a team that plays in a Championship Game say every 60-some years (Cardinals), and here's a variety of links to get you through the weekend to the big game Sunday night at 6:20 on NBC (pregame MUCH earlier in the day).


-Oh, there are so many betting scenarios during the Super Bowl.

-Speaking of bets, here's the traditional bet between politicians from the areas of the Super Bowl participants.

-Remember Duck Hunt on old school Nintendo? How about Cardinal Hunt?

-God's crying because he can't believe the Cardinals are in the Super Bowl either.

-You know the economy's gone to crap when Playboy cancels it's Super Bowl party.

-The PGH Trib plays What if? Coach Cheese-whiz coached the Steelers.

-At least they're being honest about the delay.

-The Steelers could complete the Six-pack this weekend, and find out if they get any more players enshrined in Canton.

-I know some people just watch for the commericals, but here's extra incentive for Steelers fans to watch the commercials. (and here's the original for comparison to your extra incentive.)

-PETA's Vegetables=Better sex commerical, will NOT be seen this Super Bowl. (NSFW)

-Well, disrespecting the Towel has put a hex on other teams in the past, and now the Cardinals can thank the mayor of Phoenix if they lose.

-Chris Berman= Character, integrity, and leadership... well the last parts true, I guess, since he works for the World Wide Leader??? (video that accompanies NSFW)

-Required reading for any TRUE Steelers fan.

-It truly is a Steeler Nation.

-Dick LeBeau IS The Terminator, "I'll Be Back..."

-Hope you didn't plan on eating dinner at Eat'N'Park right before kickoff Sunday.

-ESPN: The Magazine has a short piece on MLB and NFL teams that still haven't won the big one.

-Are young coaches the Flavor of the Week in the NFL?

PREDICTION TIME:

-Tecmo Bowl PHX 28 PIT 24

-Rod Woodson says it'll be close, and Coach Mariucci says the last QB with the ball wins.

-The East Valley (Phoenix East Suburbs) Tribune says the Cards need at least 20 to win.

-Bill Cowher has a tough decision to make. But it shouldn't be that damn hard, just go with the team you won the ring with, screw Coach Cheese-whiz.

-President BHO picks the Steelers.

-An ESPN.com breakdown.

-Steelers fans have another reason to hate Terry Bradshaw again.

-And, for my prediction, I'm gonna go with the Steelers 27-21 victors completing their first six-pack of Super Bowl victories. Fitzgerald will get 1 TD, and James Harrison and Troy Polamalu will each have a play that makes you go WOW!


Finally, fear not Steelers fans that also enjoy The Office. WPXI-TV WILL show the post-Super Bowl episode, but it won't be seen until Midnight, because of the obvious Steeler Super Bowl coverage. (Warning: Link contains potential spoilers)

Time For a Super Prediction

The big game is coming up and I can hardly wait, just like the rest of Steeler nation. This is going to be a somewhat short post...quick and to the point.

I think that this game is going one of two ways. It's either going to be a blowout or a close game. I am sure you all think right now, "gee stein, a browns fan could have told me that" but most think that it will be a blowout in favor of the steelers. Here is my prediction on the game.

First, the steelers look like a solid team right now. They beat the chargers and got past a tough ravens team. Willie Parker looks to be healthy and back on track, while Hines Ward looks to be healthy as well. Big Ben hasn't turned over the ball in the playoffs which is a great sign. The O-line ran into some trouble against the ravens, but they had a tough defense so I can't say I was suprised. The Steelers D, however, looks great. They got turnovers when they needed them in the AFC title game, and with the exception of the ravens getting some good runs on us, I think the steelers shut them down for the most part. I'd say the steelers have an edge with having been to Super Bowl XL a few seasons ago.

Arizona on the other hand looks tough too. They may have the toughest offense we will see all year. Kurt Warner is a very solid QB with super bowl experience. Larry Fitzgerald is the best WR in the league right now. The cards got their running game going against the eagles in the NFC title game. I'd say they are most deadly through the air however with Steve Breaston and Anquan Boldin to compliment Fitz. On defense I can only think of a couple of guys though that are "stars" for them. They obviously have a solid D or they wouldn't be in the super bowl.

Here is where it gets tough. The Steelers have a great defense but haven't seen an offense like Arizona's all season. The cards have a great offense but haven't seen a defense like Pittsburgh's all year. Arizona was 9-7, just making the playoffs in a weak division. Pittsburgh was 12-4 winning their division with arguably the toughest schedule in the NFL. But like I said Pittsburgh has a bit of an edge with their experience.

I expect this to be a close game to a point. I think that Arizona will manage to get some big plays from their WR's, but I think the Steelers will shut down the run. Pittsburgh should have success running the ball, and if Ben is smart with the ball, he should make some big plays as well. I expect the Steelers D to come up with big plays too however and that will be the difference in this game. Overall though, it will be close until the final quarter or so.

Pittsburgh 24-17

My brother, Jacob, loves the Eagles

Hopefully McNabb gets traded to a team where fans will appreciate him

My brother Jacob loves the Philadelphia Eagles but he often poses as a Steelers fan when they are doing well, which is always. Anyways, he wrote up his take on yesterday's NFC Championship and its not one-sided or biased at all. Enjoy....

I think the philly-zona game was awful. The refs did a terrible game. Donny Mcnabb played terrible. Brian Westbrook played terrible like all postseason. The defense was terrible. But the worst thing of all was when the refs blew the game for philly. It was 4th down and mcnabb threw to kevin curtis and a zona playa pushed curtis and he missed the catch. Turnover. and the refs ignored it. if you look back to the week before during the baltimore tennessee game the play clock went down to zero for like 2 secs and the refs dint call it. during the regular season jay cutler threw a pass and it went behind him but the refs dint call a shouldve been fumble. i think the refs or umps in all sports are terrible. i say fire all of em and rehire some better ones. but thats not up to me. i say philly needs to gett rid of andy reid and donny mcnabb. trade philly and carolinas ( u got them last yr in a trade on draft day ) 1st round draft picks for a top ten draft pick and draft michael crabtree or jeremy maclin. then sign a qb or trade donny mcnabb and kevin kolb for a above average qb. Then make john gruden your head coach. i would say thts just about how my off season would go.

A Tale Of Two Cities

This is one of the most exciting things that can happen to any team or city. That the team you follow, the team you live and die with, has a chance to play for a world championship. It's a great feeling. In Pittsburgh we are very lucky as fans to watch our Steelers head to another Super Bowl. It will be Arizona and Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII.

There is somthing that I want to examine however. Everyone that follows football knows about the history of these two teams. Arizona has had to wait practically their entire lifetime to accomplish anything of this magnitude. Pittsburgh on the other hand was in this exact same boat during the 1974 season when they were pretty much losers their entire existence and headed to their first Super Bowl.

But yesterday somthing just seemed very different about these two teams. Yeah, one is going to their 7th Super Bowl and the other is going to their 1st. But it was just the way these two teams handled themselves. In Arizona confetti was raining down on the Cardinals as they celebrated their first trip to the Super Bowl. I am glad for Arizona. I couldn't imagine not feeling excited if my team was going to it's first championship game ever. I am also glad for Larry Fitzgerald, a former Pitt star and Reggie Wells, who is a former Clarion University player. But the way people were acting and the way they were celebrating kind of made me laugh. In Pittsburgh, it seemed like business as usual. No confetti. Celebration, but not overdoing it. We were acting like we have been there before. Simply put, Arizona was acting like they had won the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh was acting like they were going to the Super Bowl.

I'm not saying that Arizona is destined to lose. Anything can happen in games like these. Think back to last year. Think back to 2001 when New England beat a favored St. Louis team. That's why I don't like to get too cocky. I don't like to jinx things. But i definately looked to me like Pittsburgh realized that they had one more step. Arizona looked like they had already completed it. The two teams are opposites in that sense. Pittsburgh is pretty much the same from their last Super Bowl. Arizona is being lead by Kurt Warner a former MVP of the big game. Arizona just looks a little bit inexperienced I guess.

But regardless it's still exciting. It's special. Arizona will be looking for their 1st championship in their history. Pittsburgh will be looking for their record 6th Super Bowl.

This is gonna be fun. HERE WE GO BABY!!!!