Odds and Ends

So where to begin. The Pens are on to round two of the playoffs, The Pirates are doing their usual disappearing act (you know, the one where they disappear after the first week of the season and don't reappear until they're close to 100 losses), and the Steelers are in the papers for anything but football. I think we all know where I gotta start...

Big Ben, what the hell were you thinking fella? I know this topic has been beaten into the ground, so I'll keep it short for ya. But basically Ben reminds me of that old creepy guy who shows up at your fraternity house and gets way too drunk for his own good and ends up creeping out every girl there. He acts like he's still in college, getting hammered with the youngin's, which in and of itself isn't a crime.

But it certainly shows that some people will be jackasses regardless of their station in life. He can have anything money can buy, and can probably get away with murder in Pittsburgh, and yet this moron has to go and raise some hell in a little backwoods Georgia town who would love nothing more then the pin his rich pelt up on their wall.

So yea, I think the suspension was warranted, if for nothing else then to teach him that you can't act like a drunken frat boy all the time, especially when you're in such a high profile position. So grow up jagoff, and be thankful that wasn't a Pittsburgh girl you tried that with or someone woulda kicked your ass already.

Santonio's situation was different, just because I think he was sent away not because of how horrid his actions were but because someone needed to go to save face. Even IF he did what that woman is accusing him off, while not acceptable or condoned, is much less of a crime then a sexual assault. Hell, I've been hit in the face with liquor glasses more then once, and I never sued anyone (although in hindsight...lol). All said, he probably deserves the third or fourth chance more then Ben, but we all know football is about winning and we can win without Holmes, not without Ben.

The other big story for the Steelers, besides the draft (which I'll cover in a later post) is the return of several former Steelers to the happy hunting grounds of Heinz Field. Antwaan Randle El is back, as is Bryant McFadden and Larry Foote, all parts of previous Super Bowl winning teams. Obviously this move serves two purposes; first, it brings much needed depth to positions of need, and secondly, I think it's a way to bring some of that old Steeler swagger back.

Those three players exemplify what the Steelers have always stood for, which is toughness, skill and a certain confidence in themselves. Even though McFadden is the only one expected to start, I really think these additions will help calm the seas in the locker room, and look for Randle El to be a big addition in the passing game. He was out of place in Washington, and I think being the number 3 receiver here will do wonders for his career.

And even though I wouldn't hold my breath, there's rumors of a return by Alan Faneca. I don't really see this happening as our scouts and evaluators thought he was washed up two years ago, but if we're truly returning to a run-first offense then he would be a very welcome addition, especially with Baltimore adding Terrance "Mount" Cody to their defensive line. Jeff Hartings, while definitely serviceable, has shown that he has trouble blocking the big noseguards of the AFC North, and have an interior line of Faneca, Chris Kemoeatu and newly drafted Maurkice Pouncey sounds alot better then what we have now.

The Penguins on the other hand are riding high right now. They just finished beating Ottawa in a hard fought six game series, and are waiting on the results of the Washington/Montreal series to see who they play next. The really good news for the Pens is that New Jersey has already been eliminated, and because of Buffalo's loss to Boston we have zero chance of seeing Washington and their snaggle-toothed superstar Alex Ovechkin until the Conference Semifinals.

We haven't necessarily played our best hockey yet in the playoffs, which is either a really good thing or really bad thing. Time will tell, but with Sidney Crosby absolutely dominating and the Pens getting key goals from the likes of Pascal Dupuis I definitely like the way this is unfolding. And having two of the three teams seeded higher then you eliminated (with Washington in real trouble, having to play a game 7 versus Montreal tomorrow) is definitely a good sign.

I'll have more on the Pens as we get closer to the start of round two, so definitely stay tuned....

As for the Bucco's, they're currently getting their tails whipped by Milwaukee so we're just not even gonna discuss them until Pedro Alvarez and Brad Lincoln come up, because let's be honest, this team we have right now is nothing more then a glorified AAA team who is running out of arms to use at an alarming rate. There's certainly hope for the future, but until the future is the now, I'll pass on boring you with that stuff.

Hope ya like the new format, and if you have any ideas or comments you want to send my way, shoot me a message at my old email, pierogisnat@gmail.com...Yea, I'm too lazy to check two emails...what of it?

Until later tonite...