BCS Preview

So it's New Year's, and that means two things: I've cheated death for another 365 days, and it's bowl season. This year, our idiot friends at the BCS have given us two games that have the potential to be classics, and two potential clunkers. Since I want to get to the bar soon, I'll give you a quick preview and prediction of the games.

Orange Bowl, Florida State vs. Penn State: This is one of the reasons I hate the BCS. Florida State had a bad year by their standards, especially during a dismal November, but thanks to a lucky victory in the first ever ACC title game, they get to play in one of the four biggest bowls. Penn State, on the other hand, deserved to be in this game, after having a surprisingly great season and winning the Big Ten. FSU is way outmatched here, and the only chance they have is if 388 year old Bobby Bowden can outcoach 433 year old Joe Paterno.
SCORE: PSU 30 - FSU 20.

Sugar Bowl, West Virginia vs. Georgia: WVU posted a 10-1 record en route to winning the Big East, which these days is a lot like winning the WPIAL Class A championship. It's hard to gauge how good they are because of the pitiful competition they faced. Georgia went 10-2 in a very good SEC and boasts a very talented roster. I think Georgia will beat the Mountaineers easily, and thus damage the Big East's already battered reputation.
SCORE: Georgia 37 - WVU 17

Fiesta Bowl, The Ohio State vs. Notre Dame: Can life get any better? My favorite team against my second least-favorite! Thank God I don't have to work on Monday, because this one should be good. Notre Dame has stunned everyone by going 9-2 in Charlie Weis's first year as coach, but they barely won their last game against a ho-hum Walt Harris-led Stanford team. My Buckeyes ended the game on a very impressive six-game winning streak, including a thrilling victory over Michigan in the last game of the season. I've said all year that OSU is in the nation's top two or three in terms of talent, and it's a damn shame they choked against Penn State and Texas, otherwise we'd see A.J. Hawk kill Matt Leinart in Pasadena. The Bucks are finally showing this talent, and I don't think Charlie Weis and Notre Dame have the horses to keep up with them.
SCORE: OSU 34 - Notre Dame 24

Rose Bowl, USC vs. Texas: This should be one for the ages. Two teams of almost equal talent that have been punishing opponents meeting for all the marbles. It's hard to pick against USC, especially the way Reggie Bush has played this year, but I'm going to anyway. As good as Bush is, and as much as he does for that team, he doesn't play defense. Fresno State put up 42 on the Trojans, so imagine what Vince Young and the Longhorns, whose two lowest point totals this year have been 25 and 42. Texas destroyed Colorado 70-3 in the Big 12 championship, and they will ride that momentum to the national championship in an offensive orgy.
SCORE: Texas 49 - USC 45

Happy New Year. I'd tell you my resolution, but I'm not making any. I think I'm perfect, and I wouldn't keep it anyway. Til next we meet, send us an email, even if it's about how much of a jagoff I am.

Kamo Claus is comin' to town...

I want to begin by saying Merry Christmas to all (or, more likely, any) IrishBuckeye readers. Kamo Claus is coming to town and here is what I hope to give...

Charlie Weis - A Rose Bowl victory with a top 3 recruiting class to cap off his fantastic first season at Notre Dame. What a wonderful man to lead this program back to the top.

Jim Tracy - A halfway decent 3rd baseman and an upgrade in the gaping hole in right field for the Buccos so that he can get us pointed in the right direction.

Bill Cowher - A playoff appearance and a run at finally getting, "One for the thumb."

Ben Roethlisberger - A tall wide receiver to take the place of Plaxico Burress (Never would have thought that to be true) and give him a legitimate deep threat.

Brett Favre - One more season with an entire healthy roster so that we can all see a living legend play for one... final... time.

Brady Quinn - A 400+ yard passing performance to springboard his Heisman Trophy campaign for 2006.

Mario Lemieux - A new arena for the Penguins and a big turnaround for a potential playoff run with young Sidney Crosby and Co.

LeBron James - A supporting cast that will eliminate the, "King James scored 50 and the Cavs lost... by 10" line on SportsCenter.

Zach Duke - A run at the Cy Young award and a chance to establish himself as the brightest star the Pirates have seen since a guy named Bonds roamed left field at Three Rivers.

New Orleans Saints - A return home in the latter part of the 2006 season and an overwhelming amount of support for them whenever they do.

Tulane Green Wave Athletics - A chance to find a new normal and to keep plugging away at the opportunity to put the athletic department back together.

Adam Morrison - More 40-point games and the National Player of the Year award to go along with a deep run into the NCAA Tournament. By the way- keep the mustache and Kamo Claus just might throw in a top-five pick next summer.

Rueben Droughns - Even though you are a Brownie, a Pro-Bowl selection and a trip to Hawaii.

David Carr - An offensive line who will give him a chance and a coach who will utilize his abundance of skills.

Chad Johnson - Some fresh ideas for endzone celebrations that will continue to make me laugh out loud.

Tony Dungy - The grace of God to be with you and your family to get you through your tragic loss on Thursday.

Kevin Pittsnogle - A "Best Name of the Year Award" and a first round selection in the NBA Draft next year.

Matt Leinart & Reggie Bush - Eternal bliss for all of the love you so openly show each other, both on the field and in the bedroom.

Johnny Damon - A soul because you undoubtedly showed that you indeed do not have one by signing with the Yankees. As a stocking stuffer, I give you a torn ACL in mid-April.

Bill Mueller - I give you a .200 batting average and an NL record in errors for snubbing my Pirates even though they gave you twice the money you were worth.

Tommy Maddox - An airplance ticket to Dallas and a plush corner office so he can go back to selling insurance and keep the Steelers from losing games.

Onterrio Smith - A new "whizzinator" to replace the one that the NFL took off of you.

Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Sammy Sosa, & Rafeal Palmeiro - Some clean needles for you to, uh, well, give the fans what they want and a "whizzinator" for each of you as well.

Jeff Samardzija - All-American status in baseball this spring for the Irish and then a return to form next fall for a run at the National Championship.

Ty Willingham - More losses next season and the season after that. In face, more losses for the rest of your career and a small unemployment check that will be your only means of income starting in 2008.

To all of my family, friends, and anyone else who scans across this, I give you happiness and good fortune for 2006 and I wish nothing but the things I wish for myself for each of you. Merry Christmas... and God Bless Us... God Bless Us Everyone.

"...And on earth peace, goodwill toward men."

Ho! Ho! Ho! It's Christmas time in Hollis Queens once again, and time for that jolly fat man to come make us happy! No, I'm not talking about former Steeler OL Jamain Stephens; I'm talking about Santa Claus! The big guy and I went to Joe's a little while ago, and after downing a few beers and shots of Black Haus, he gave me a note, and on it were his messages and gifts for our friends in the world of sports. He loves this site so much, that he asked me to publish this list, so here goes:

Dave Wannstedt, I give you the realization that Pitt's offense will still not be ready for a power running scheme, and as such you should throw the hell out of the ball and score 50 points a game.

Greg Lee, I give you all the benefits that another year of college will bring you. Don't go pro yet. You are not ready.

Pitt basketball, I give you a non-conference schedule that's tougher than Saint Vincent's. Quit beating up on Coppin State and DeVry and play some real teams.

Mario Lemieux, I give you back your office as owner of the Penguins. You've beaten cancer, back problems, and countless other setbacks, but now I think it's time to hang up the skates.

Sidney Crosby, you get a spot in the rafters of the new Penguins arena. Your jersey will be next to Mario's in about 20 years.

Terrell Owens, I give you an early retirement, as no team should ever sign you. You're a creep, and your disappearance from civilization will make everyone happy. Oh, and take your dick of an agent with you.

Chad Johnson, I give you the gift of humility. You dance and yell and brag, but you play for a team that is going to the playoffs for the first time since 1990. Win something and then maybe you can get an ego.

Bud Selig, I give you a set. The players union dangles you like a marionette, and your cowardice is ruining baseball. But you don't care, because the Yankees and Red Sox are winning.

My friends at ESPN, I give you a map of our land that was made after 1720. Unbeknownst to you, our nation has expanded south and west of New York and Boston, and sports are played in these vast new lands.

Matt Millen, I'm not giving you anything, cause you'd just screw it up. You took one of the sorriest franchises in sports and made it even more pathetic.

America, I give you soccer. Your team will do well in the World Cup next year, and once you begin to appreciate how good soccer can really be, it will finally become big there.

Kevin McClatchy, Dave Littlefield, Jim Tracy, and Pirate fans everywhere, I give you a winning season. It's been way overdue, but I've been busy shutting those babies in Boston up.

Bill Cowher, I give you a win in a big game...eventually. I don't wanna say when and risk jinxing it.

Charlie Weis and Notre Dame, I give you all seat cushions. You're gonna need them after the Buckeyes kick your ass.

Texas, I give you the BCS championship in what will be one of the legendary games in the history of sports.

Ben Roethlisberger, I give you one full, injury-free season. We'd all love to see what you can do when you are healthy and at your best for 16 games.

Barry Bonds, like Matt Millen, will not be getting anything from me. It seems anyone that comes in contact with him ends up testifying before Congress.

Jerome Bettis, I give you a bust and 15 minute speech for Canton in 2011. Your plaque will say, "Greatest big back ever."

And to all you reading, I wish you a Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah/Happy Kwanzaa/Insert your holiday here. Be a good sport to one another, and send us an email at theirishbuckeye@hotmail.com . Peace.

The Greatest Moments in Pittsburgh Sports History

After depressing the hell out of yinz last week with the worst moments in our area's long and storied history, I return with much happier material. Today I'm gonna discuss the best moments in Pittsburgh sports. Writing this is going to be infinitely harder than my previous masterpiece, because there are so many great things from which to choose. But I think my list is good, and if you don't...go to hell. Straight to hell.

Honorable Mentions: The 1997 Pitt-WVU classic (Pete Gonzalez earned a spot on an NFL roster for that magical fourth quarter). Pitt destroys Allen Iverson and #5 Georgetown 75-56 in 1996 (I was there, it was awesome). Honus Wagner outshines Ty Cobb, and the Pirates defeat the Tigers in the 1909 World Series (I wasn't there, but it would be great to see the two best all around players ever battling for a title). Mario Lemieux scoring five goals in five different ways (only time in NHL history). The Steelers welcoming back the Browns by beating them 43-0 in 1999. The Steelers comeback against the Browns in the 2002 playoffs. Four Super Bowl rings. The Fam-a-Lee 1979 Pirates. And the list goes on and on...

5. Jerome Lane shatters the backboard. Back in the late 80s, Pitt basketball was just sick. Unlike the current team, their non-conference schedule was loaded with good teams. They didn't play cupcakes like Vermont, Robert Morris, or Burrell. They played Kansas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State, all teams that made the Final Four in that period. Even better, Pitt beat them. Pitt was ranked as high as #2 back then, and it was thanks in large part to two players. The first was Charles Smith, who is still Pitt's all-time leading scorer and enjoyed a 10+ year NBA career. The other was Jerome Lane, who is still considered by many to be one of the best rebounders in college hoops history. But what really made him famous was his dunk on the night of January 25, 1987. Pitt was playing Providence at the Fitzgerald Field House, and Lane drove in for a dunk. ESPN announcer Bill Rafferty yelled "Send it in, Jerome!", as Lane threw down a one-handed slam that shattered the backboard. Since the game wasn't on TV around here, ESPN had to cut in to show what had happened, and my God was it a sight. The glass falling, the fans going nuts, it was a play for the ages, and one that is still shown quite often. Pitt won that game 90-56, and a piece of that backboard is sitting in a little case on a shelf in my attic.

4. Pro football is born in Latrobe. When you watch the Super Bowl this year, remember that it all started about an hour east of the Steel City, and thank those simple folks in Westmoreland County.

3. Francisco Cordova and Ricardo Rincon combine for a no-no. I had just gotten home from a basketball game on the night of July 13, 1997. I turned on ESPN, and they were showing bonus coverage of the Pirates-Astros game. I was confused as to why they would be showing this, but I soon found out that it was the 8th inning, and the Astros had yet to get a hit off starter Francisco Cordova. Unfortunately, the Pirates hadn't scored, which was a problem in getting this no-hitter accomplished. The 8th inning ended, and then the 9th, and Houston still didn't have a hit, and the Pirates didn't have a run. Ricardo Rincon relieved Cordova in the top of the 10th, walked one, struck out one, and didn't allow a hit. Then, in the bottom of the 10th, pinch hitter Mark Smith belted a three-run homer to clinch the win and the only combined extra-inning no-hitter in Major League history. It was really a magical night, for a few reasons. It was fireworks night, and a large crowd of 44,119 filled Three Rivers Stadium, not knowing the real fireworks were to start 3 hours early. Also, the Pirates were in first place, and this extended their lead over the Astros by a game. Sure, it was an aberration because the NL Central sucked, and the Pirates ended up finishing second, but it was a fun season, and the no-hitter was the best thing that's happened to that team in quite a long time.

2. The Immaculate Reception. WHA!? The Immaculate Reception isn't #1 on my list? No, but what tops it is quite an incredible moment, so be patient. It was December 23, 1972. The Steelers were hosting the Raiders in the first home playoff game in the franchise's miserable then-40 year history. Down 7-6 with less than 20 seconds to play, Terry Bradshaw took the snap, and scrambled right, then left. Then, he threw it to FB Frenchy Fuqua, who was drilled by Raider S (and Ohio State great) Jack Tatum. The ball ricocheted off one of them, be it Tatum legally, or Fuqua illegally. Rookie HB Franco Harris scooped the ball up on his shoelaces to the amazement of the not-sellout crowd at Three Rivers, and took it 40 yards for the winning touchdown. It was the most incredible play in football history, and by far the most controversial and disputed. But the most significant thing about this play is the empire it started. The Steelers lost the next week to the Dolphins, who would go on to win the Super Bowl and finish and undefeated season. Over the next seven seasons, the Steelers would win four titles, and establish themselves as perhaps the greatest team in NFL history. You've heard all the stories about this play, about how Myron Cope and Art Rooney didn't see it, about who the refs supposedly really called, and everything else, but I don't think anything could compare to actually being there and witnessing such an awesome moment.

1. Maz's homer in the 1960 World Series. As great as the Immaculate Reception was, this is the stuff of dreams. Bottom of the 9th in game seven of the World Series; what kid hasn't imagined this situation in his backyard? Bill Mazeroski got to live it. Leading off the bottom of the 9th of a 9-9 game, Maz, a super 2B not known for his offense, hit Ralph Terry's 1-0 pitch over the left field wall at Forbes Field to win the game and the title for the Buccos. The homer ended a wild Series in which the three Yankee wins were blowouts and the first three Pirate wins were close, low scoring affairs. This may have been the most beloved Pirate team ever, and their victory whipped the town into a frenzy. It must have been nice to have had a baseball team worth caring about after September ended. We don't have that anymore, but can brag that the greatest home run ever was hit in Pittsburgh by a Pirate.


And so ends another remarkable piece of literature by me. Come back later this week when I give out my holiday wishes to various sports figures. Until then...EMAIL. Bye.

Ho Ho Ho Buccos Fans

It is the middle of December, the Steelers are in the midst of a playoff push, and the college football bowl season is upon us but the team that keeps stealing all the Steel City headlines doesn't play their first game until April. The Pittsburgh Pirates, with Dave Littlefield in particular, have been wheelin' and dealin' at Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings and in the process have made themselves a better team. From signing Jim Tracy as manager to trading for Sean Casey, the Buccos have been busy. In case you have been living in a cave for past week or so, here is a recap and analysis of all that has happened:

- The biggest move came in the form of the The Mayor returning to his native Pittsburgh as Sean Casey was acquired from the Reds for southpaw starter Dave Williams. This move was outstanding because the Pirates were able to fill a big need in a veteran 1st Baseman while giving up only their 5th starter, one who was probably on the way out of the rotation this season with the emergence of some of the Pirates' younger arms. Williams was consistent if nothing else, however, getting a player with Casey's talent and leadership can never be considered a bad move. Grade: A.

- Littlefield wasted little time in trading away southpaw starter #2 as Mark Redman was shipped to the Royals for pitchers Jonah Bayliss and Chad Blackwell. Redman probably began last season as the best pitcher on the Pirate staff, however a lack of run support in the last few months dropped his season record to a career worst 5-15. His record was really not a reflection of how well he pitched because Redman could be arguably seen as the Pirates most consistent pitcher night in and night out. The only reason I like this trade is because Bayliss throws strikes and could be a capable set-up man for whomever the closer turns out to be- something Buccos sorely lacked last season. Losing Redman might hurt a little bit unless Littlefield is able to get another starter in return for, say, Kip Wells or Josh Fogg. Blackwell was the dreaded "player to be named later" in the deal and will probably be sent to AA Altoona to start the season. Grade: C+.

- In the third major deal for the Pirates, lefthanded reliever Damaso Marte was acquired from the World Champion Chicago White Sox for long time utility man Rob Mackowiak. First off, this deal is a win-win for a guy like Mackowiak because he will finally get to play for a winner. Add that to the fact that he grew up idolizing the White Sox and you have a match made in heaven. I always liked Mackowiak and thought he got a raw deal from Lloyd McClendon for his lack of major playing time. It seemed like he was never the bride, but always the bridesmaid so hopefully he will get a chance to start and finally win some games. On the Pirates' side of things, Marte is a nightmare for lefty hitters and he throws hard. This deal made it possible for the Littlefield to shop any one one of their three young lefties (Marte, Mike Gonzalez, and John Grabow) for some offensive firepower. Look for one of those three to be dealt- possibly to an American League team for an outfielder- before the season begins. Grade: B.

- The Pirates also made some other moves, the most interesting of which was giving Ty Wiggington his walking papers. Wiggington came to Pittsburgh from the Mets in the Kris Benson deal but he never lived up to the billing of being the Pirates long-term solution for their gaping hole at 3rd Base. He struggled mightily for a season and a half and the only thing I think about this move is that it took too long. The same goes for trading Tike Redman for cash, trading Bobby Hill for a PTBNL, and releasing Rick White. These moves cut some dead weight and opens up roster spots for some youngsters who have the potential to produce- something those three never really did. In addition to those moves, the Pirates also signed veteran righty Roberto Hernandez to give them some right-handed help in their bullpen- yet another thing that sorely lacked last season. Joe Roa was also signed to a minor league contract and he will hopefully return to his past form and become a contributor to the Pirate 'pen. Grade: B+.

So what does it all mean for the Pirates? Well, for now it means that Littlefield and Co. are somewhat committed to making this team better. I would hope that they are far from being finished and that some more bats are going to be brought in because no matter how much pitching you have, if you can't score you can't win. As of this second, if I were Jim Tracy, the Buccos lineup and rotation would look something like this:

CF: Chris Duffy
LF: Jason Bay
RF: Craig Wilson
1B: Sean Casey
2B: Jose Castillo
SS: Jack Wilson
3B: Freddy Sanchez
C: Ryan Doumit

#1 SP: Zach Duke
#2 SP: Oliver Perez
#3 SP: Kip Wells
#4 SP: Josh Fogg
#5 SP: Sean Burnett, Bryan Bullington, Paul Maholm

Let's start with the lineup because honestly, Craig Wilson isn't going to be in right and Freddy Sanchez isn't going to be at third. In my humble opinion Wilson belongs in the American League because he doesn't field well and he strikes out too much to be a position player. He has DH written all over him and he could definitely be dangled as trade bait to bring in a power hitting RF or 3rd baseman. I think that Sanchez could be a player but needs some time to mature at the Major League level and he will provide some depth to a thin bench. With that said, it appears that at least five of the 8 position players seem the be set in stone with Casey, Castillo, Bay, Duffy, and Doumit all being solid at their respective positions. The wild card here is Jack Wilson because he needs to return to his form of 2004 for the Pirates to have a chance. Wilson is the tablesetter for guys like Casey, Bay, and Castillo and he has the ability to hit .340 or better- something he must do or else he might be on his way out next season.

The starting rotation seems to be pretty solid because Duke, Perez, and Burnett all have star potential. Fogg can eat some innings for them and if he can pitch at .500 or better throughout the season he could be a dynamite #4 starter. To me, the bottom line with the staff is that Kip Wells needs to go because he is inconsistent and there are nights whenever he just fails to throw strikes- an ill that a major leaguer should have cured long ago. As if that weren't enough, guys like Paul Maholm and Brian Bullington are waiting in the wings and could easily take a spot in the rotation with a strong spring. All these signs lead to Wells being shipped out but this is not a foregone conclusion because of the simple fact that he may not bring back much in return. To trade a guy like Kip Wells you would at least have to get back someone with some potential, which may not be possible. What Littlefield must understand is that they do have enough pitching, both starters and relievers, and that this overabundance is his biggest bargaining chip. Where they are lacking is obviously at third and right field and so here is what this guy would like to see happen:

The two most expendable players the Pirates have are Wells and Craig Wilson and so they have to find a team that needs a decent starter and a decent hitter while also being able to get what they need in return. While a 2-for-1 deal would seemingly bring the most in return, it may not be the best option. There is an offer on the table for free agent Bill Mueller, one in which some are saying he will sign as soon as this week, and even if he does sign, there is still a pressing need in right field because as I said earler, Wilson is a terrible fielder who strikes out a lot. So, what they have is Kip Wells, Craig Wilson, and probably John Grabow to offer to any number of teams. Looking around the league, the name that kept popping up is Milton Bradley, but he was traded to Oakland this evening so that option is out. Who I would trade for would be Aubrey Huff of the Devil Rays because he is versatile (he can play RF and 1st), young (age 29), and is a power-hitting lefty who could take aim at the short left porch at PNC Park. What you could give up would be a combination of either Craig Wilson and Kip Wells or Craig Wilson and John Grabow. If you give up Wells, Maholm goes into the starting rotation and then you use Grabow to add depth to the bench, say in the form of Bobby Kielty from Oakland. The ideal situation is to deal Wilson and Wells because by keeping Grabow you have three young lefties who throw in the upper 90's and you could use one of them in a mid-season trade. So, after all this, the lineup and rotation looks like this:

CF: Chris Duffy
LF: Jason Bay
RF: Aubrey Huff
1B: Sean Casey
2B: Jose Castillo
SS: Jack Wilson
3B: Bill Mueller
C: Ryan Doumit

#1 SP: Zach Duke
#2 SP: Oliver Perez
#3 SP: Josh Fogg
#4 SP: Sean Burnett
#5 SP: Paul Maholm

Not a bad lineup considering every starter, with the exception of Doumit and Duffy, has hit double digits in homers at least once in their career. Doumit and Duffy who were both rookies who played 115 games combined last season and both showed tremendous promise. The issue is depth which is where they probably need to part ways with one of their young relievers and possibly Fogg as well. The rotation is pretty young but has some proven winners with Duke, Perez, and Burnett all pitching well in previous situations. Maholm went 3-1 in six starts last season while Fogg usually gets to 10 wins- which is something the Pirates will need if they expect to contend. If the "Fab Four" of Duke, Perez, Burnett, and Maholm pitch to their potential and Fogg turns in a decent season, you could have one of the better starting pitching staffs in the National League. This team is reminiscent of the 2003 Marlins: Great young pitching, good speed and defense, and just enough hitters. There are a lot of ifs, but for it being December and talking about Pirates baseball it is better than a lot of, "we suck."

The Worst Moments in Pittsburgh Sports History

Contrary to popular opinion around here, a Steeler loss is not the end of the world. The sun does come up on Monday, locusts and fire do not rain from the sky, and our first-born will survive the week. There have been some rather crappy moments these past couple of months, but in the grand scheme of things, they aren't really that bad. This town has had some truly great moments in sports. Indeed, some of the greatest plays and games ever have either taken place here or involved one of our teams. However, I'm saving those for my next article. Today, I'm going to write about the darker moments, and there have been quite a few. But, since it is the holiday season, I'll mention the positives that came out of each of these moments.

Honorable Mentions: The 1980 Pitt team (4 College Football Hall of Famers, 29 draft picks, Dan Marino, Hugh Green) losing to Florida State, thus falling out of the national title race and finishing #2 (although they are still regarded as one of the best teams ever, and arguably the most talented team in Pitt history). The Penguins losing to the Islanders in game 7 of the 2nd round of the 1993 playoffs (best team in Pens history, should have won 3rd straight Cup and been regarded as the best team ever...oops). The 76 Steelers losing both Rocky Bleier and Franco Harris in the first playoff game and missing the chance to win a 3rd straight Super Bowl (that was the best defense in NFL history. 28 points in 9 games? Incredible). The Steelers losing at home to the expansion Browns in 1999 (Cleveland won two games that year).

5. 51-0. The Steelers opened the 1989 season at home against their bitter rivals, so the pressure was on to make a good first impression. What ensued was the most lopsided loss in team history. The Browns scored three defensive touchdowns and forced eight (eight!) turnovers. The Steelers set new lows in total yards (53) and first downs (5), and were subject to ridicule by the media, both local and national, for the entire week. Things were made even worse the following Sunday when defending AFC champion Cincinnati waxed the Black and Gold 41-10.
Bright spot: The Steelers did manage to turn the season around after that dreadful start and finish 9-7. They clinched the wild card berth and faced division rival Houston in the first round. Gary Anderson kicked a 50-yard field goal in overtime, and the Steelers won 26-23 (I remember this night fondly. It was New Year's Eve, I was sick, and my mother bought me a little Christmas tree. Why do I remember this stuff?). The next week they lost a heartbreaker to eventual AFC champ Denver, 24-23. This was probably a good thing, as the Broncos went on to get pounded by San Francisco 55-10 in the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history.

4. The Pittsburgh Drug Trial. In this era of lousy baseball, it's always good to think about the times when Pittsburgh was actually the focal point of the sport. This wasn't one of those times. A cocaine scandal exploded in baseball in 1985, and it all went back to the Steel City. This wasn't just a one or two player deal. No one was safe. Two MVPs-Dave Parker and Keith Hernandez-admitted to abusing cocaine, as were several other players. No player, past or present, seemed to be safe, as legends Willie Stargell and Willie Mays were called to testify about amphetamine distribution. Hell, even the Pirate Parrot was indicted for referring players to his drug dealer! This trial and the subsequent suspensions left a huge black eye on Pittsburgh and baseball, similar to what steroids are doing to the game today.
Bright spot: The trials showed that nobody is perfect, even the athletes we idolize. Other than that, nothing good seemed to have come of it. Baseball still has a drug problem, but now it's a different drug, and in fact it is hurting the game more than coke did.

3. The 1994 AFC Championship. The '89 game against the Browns may have been the Steelers most embarassing loss, but the loss to the Chargers in the '94 title game may be the most painful. The day started off beautifully. It was warm, sunny, and the Steelers, at 12-4 the #1 seed in the AFC and coming off a 28-9 thumping over Cleveland in the first round, were favored by 9 1/2 points. The Chargers, despite an 11-5 record and AFC West title, were given no chance, especially after their win over Miami the previous week was considered an upset. The Steelers had made a Super Bowl rap video during the week, and in the first half it seemed like it was going to be needed, as they outgained the Chargers 229-46 and led 10-0 at the half. Then, the weather turned cold, the skies turned gray, the rain fell, and so did the Steelers. The Chargers came back, and were down 13-10 when the most horrific play I had ever witnessed in person occurred. Charger receiver Tony Martin torched Steeler CB Tim McKyer and scored what proved to be the winning touchdown. The Steelers had one last drive, but Dennis Gibson batted down a Neil O'Donnell pass to Barry Foster in the endzone to clinch the game. If you think the mood after a Steeler loss is bad now, you should have been outside Three Rivers Stadium after this game. Nobody in the record crowd spoke as they left the stadium; they just stared straight ahead in a state of shock as the rain further dampened their dreams. I got sick from the two mile walk to the car and from being underdressed (fooled by the weather). It still hurts to think about that game, and writing this is not easy.
Bright spot: The Steelers once again avoided a thrashing at the hands of the 49ers, who racked up 49 points on San Diego en route to their fifth Super Bowl title. In 1995 the Steelers managed to win the AFC title in a classic game against the Colts where they once again were heavy favorites and once again nearly blew it. However, Neil O'Donnell threw two hideous interceptions to Larry "One Good Game = Undeserved $" Brown, and the Steelers lost 27-17. The worst part about Super Bowl XXX was that in the second half the Steelers dominated Dallas, and should have won.

2. Roberto Clemente Dies in a Plane Crash. Clemente played for 18 stellar seasons, racking up four batting titles, two World Series rings, and an MVP. In 1972, he finally got his 3000th hit, a double in a late-September game at Three Rivers. At the time, nobody could have imagined that would be his last hit. An earthquake hit Nicaragua in December of that year, and on New Year's Eve he boarded a supply plane in Puerto Rico to go down and help the victims. The plane was overloaded, and crashed into the Caribbean shortly after takeoff. The greatest Puerto Rican baseball player, and one of the greatest Pirates ever, was dead at 38. His body was never found. That may have been a good thing, since everyone thought of Clemente as a man who was always in motion, be it hitting doubles, stealing bases, or making superhuman throws to third to get a runner out. Pittsburgh and Puerto Rico were devastated, and replacing him in 1973 was a painful ordeal.
Bright spot: Not much good can come out of such a tragic death, but Clemente's legacy, both on and off the field, lived on. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1973, and Major League Baseball named their sportsmanship and community service award after him. In Pittsburgh, a statue was erected in 1994 and is now outside PNC Park, where the right field wall is 21 feet high in honor of his jersey number. In Puerto Rico there are several sporting venues and other memorials named in his honor. Clemente's name will live forever, in Pittsburgh, in his homeland, and indeed in all of sports.

1. Francisco Cabrera. For Pittsburghers of this generation, this is our JFK assassination. We all know where we were the evening of October 14, 1992, when the Atlanta Braves defeated the Pirates in game 7 of the National League Championship Series. True, Atlanta was probably the better team, and they had beaten the Pirates in seven games they previous year, but this was different. This was to be the last chance for the Buccos, who were losing money and couldn't afford to keep any of their top players beyond this season. A rebuilding would have to take place, and it was anyone's guess how long it would take (and it still is!). So this night was their last chance at a championship, and for eight innings the Pirates played like it. They had a 2-0 lead after eight, thanks in large part to superb pitching by ace Doug Drabek. Then in the 9th, everything fell apart. Jose Lind, the best fielding second baseman in baseball, committed an uncharacteristic error. Atlanta then scored a run, and reliable closer Stan Belinda was brought in. With two outs, a 2-1 lead, David Justice on third, and Sid "Three Bad Knees" Bream on second, seldom-used pinch hitter Francisco Cabrera came to the plate. He had like two hits that year, and wasn't exactly known as a slugger. CF Andy Van Slyke knew this, and told LF and 1990 and 1992 NL MVP Barry Bonds to play up a little bit. Bonds ignored him, staying fairly deep in left. Sure enough, Cabrera hit a blooper to shallow left, and Bonds had to charge the ball. Justice scored to tie it, and Bream rounded third, running so slow you had to measure his time with a sundial. Bonds, again from shallow left, made a two hop throw that went a little left of the plate. Catcher Mike LaValliere caught it and had to stretch to make the tag on Bream. He was a millionth of a second too late, and Bream was called safe. The fans at Fulton County Stadium went nuts, the players went nuts, and in what may be the most enduring image for Pirate fans, Andy Van Slyke just sat down in center and watched it all, with a look on his face similar to one you have when you just got shot in the stomach. CBS had a camera in the Clark Bar just outside Three Rivers, and going into the 9th the customers were jubilant over what was about to happen. Now it was like a funeral in there. The next day was even worse, as people went to work and school and joined others in the misery. We all realized it was going to be over, and we had come to terms with that, but we never realized that the ending would be so painful.
Bright spot: The Braves have now made the postseason fourteen straight years, and the Pirates are still rebuilding. After that game Bonds went to San Francisco and has since put up huge numbers and taken a lot of steroids. Drabek went to Houston, Lind to Kansas City, and vastly inferoir players replaced them. The economics of baseball have gotten way out of hand, in large part to some of the players that left the near-dynasty in Pittsburgh in the 90s, and the Pirates are one of the biggest victims. They have not had a winning season since 1992, and in most of these past 13 seasons they haven't come close. I guess there really is no bright spot to this moment. It was a heartbreaking loss, and the effects of it are still being felt today. For that reason, this is the worst moment in Pittsburgh sports history.

Tune in next week, when I discuss the five greatest moments in our history. Until then, send us an email. Shit, sign us up for a porno email list. We'll take anything in our inbox at this point. Have a good week, and take the Buckeyes with the points.

Notre Dame vs. Ohio State: Tradition vs. Tarnish?

The BCS lineup was recently announced and much to my delight, Notre Dame will be playing Ohio State on January 2nd in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Why am I delighted to be seeing my team going up against a tough Ohio State team? Well, besides the fact that it will provide the Irish with a prominent opponent and the opportunity to shut a lot of people up, it gives me an opportunity to reflect on why I root for Notre Dame and no one else.

It is true that Notre Dame has not had an abundance of on-field success in recent years. As a matter of fact, take away the Dome and the lore of Notre Dame and what you have is a team like, say, Clemson: They have won some big games, but have lost more than they should have and really haven't played to their potential. While I am the first to admit that Davieham was the most terrifying 8 years of my life and this year seems different, the appeal of rooting for the Irish never wavers. Why? Because of their commitment to being a class act off the field. Now, in recent days and months, some people (more notably, some Ohio State fans) have claimed Notre Dame to be an inferior college football factory. They claim Notre Dame is a school and a team whose glory left them years ago. Maybe they are right... or maybe they are simply still huffing the fumes from the 2002 National Championship game. You see, Notre Dame's record as of late has not been great but lets not forget one thing: this is college football. These kids are student-athletes who are supposed to uphold the values of their respective institution no matter what the circumstance. With that said, lets look at the "incidents" and arrests since the hiring of Jim Tressel.

Jan 18, 2001 is when St. Tressel was hired. In that same time frame, the following OSU players have been arrested:
• December 21, 2004: Albert Dukes, a freshman WR was arrested 12/21 in Palm Beach County, FL for felonious lewd and lascivious battery involving a 13 year old girl.
• October 23, 2004: Lydell Ross is arrested at Pure Platinum gentlemen's club on Bethel Road in Columbus for attempting to pass fake money to a 24-year-old woman at the club. Ross was suspended for two games and the charges were later dropped.
• June 7, 2004: Ohio State University police arrested tight end Louis Irizarry and charged him with Criminal Trespassing at Neil and Tuttle Park Place.
• May 17, 2004: Freshman Punter A.J. Traspasso is arrested again for underaged drinking. This time, it was by Perkins Township police near Sandusky, Oh.
• May 5, 2004: Freshman Punter A.J. Traspasso is charged with underage drinking. The all-state punter was cited after the Spring Game along East 15th Avenue near campus, authorities said.
• May 1, 2004: Sophomore backups Louis Irizarry and Ira Guilford are arrested and charged with robbery after a student is assaulted and his wallet is stolen at 3 a.m. They are held in Franklin County jail through the weekend. Both plead innocent to the robbery charge, with Guilford released after paying a $25,000 bond. Irizarry is held pending a hearing to determine if he had violated his probation from an earlier assault conviction.
• April 29, 2004: Ohio State fullback Branden Joe was cited for an alleged misdemeanor open container violation, according to Columbus police.
• Nov. 16, 2003: At 3 a.m. after a win over Purdue and six days before the Michigan game, wide receiver Santonio Holmes and quarterback Troy Smith are charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct after a fight in a parking lot on campus. A window in a car is kicked out and one woman reported her jaw was broken. Holmes is held out of the starting lineup at Michigan but returns to play most of the game. Holmes also started in the Buckeyes' Fiesta Bowl game. He pleads innocent to the disorderly conduct after the team returns to Columbus. The disorderly conduct charge is dismissed against Holmes on March 30, 2004. Smith is found guilty of the charge.
• Oct. 27, 2003: Louis Irizarry is charged with three counts of first-degree misdemeanor assault after three people sustain minor injuries during a fight in a Park Hall dorm room. Irizarry is suspended two days later. He is found guilty of one charge each of assault, negligent assault and disorderly conduct and pays $404 court costs and is put on probation. He is later reinstated to the team and is listed as the second-team tight end on the 2004 spring depth chart before he is suspended indefinitely after the May 1, 2004, arrest.
• June 2003: Sophomore tight end Redgie Arden of Ohio State pleaded innocent Monday to his second drunken driving charge in 15 months. Arden, 21, was arrested at 5:54 a.m. Sunday on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence, the Ironton Police Department said. In March 2002, Arden pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge in Ironton. He was sentenced to three days in jail and fined.
• April 2003: Running back Maurice Clarett reports that a car he has borrowed from a local used-car dealer was broken into and thousands of dollars in cash, CDs, stereo equipment and clothing was stolen. The car was in the parking lot at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and Clarett calls police from a telephone in Tressel's office. Clarett was later charged with lying to police about the value of the stolen items and is charged with misdemeanor falsification of the police report on the theft. Clarett pleads guilty on Jan. 14, 2004, to the reduced charge of failure to aid a law enforcement officer. He is ordered to pay the maximum fine of $100 and serves no jail time.
• Oct. 13, 2002: Linebacker Fred Pagac Jr. is charged with persistent disorderly conduct. Pagac was arrested at 3:45 a.m. after police said he was intoxicated and had a role in a fight involving two women outside a campus-area bar about 12 hours after the Buckeyes' homecoming victory over San Jose State. The police report said an officer told Pagac to stop but he continued to fight. Pagac was suspended for the team's next game at Wisconsin. Pagac pleaded innocent. In December, before the team's national championship game against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, Pagac was acquitted in a jury trial.
• Aug. 17, 2002: Defensive lineman Quinn Pitcock is charged with underage drinking in his hometown of Piqua. He is suspended from the team for the three weeks of preseason workouts, then
• July 29, 2002: Wide receiver Angelo Chattams is investigated for the alleged theft of a set of golf clubs from a sport utility vehicle in West Carrollton. Prosecutors approve but do not file a theft charge, permitting Chattams to enroll in a program for nonviolent, first-time offenders and avoid a charge. He was excused from the team to deal with the legal matter, then reinstated and played in the season-opener. He does not play again for the Buckeyes.
• July 26, 2002: Police find Branden Joe, a sophomore fullback, asleep in a car on a highway ramp near campus. The police report says he refused to take a Breathalyzer test. He was suspended for the three weeks of preseason camp and the team's season opener against Texas Tech, then returns to the team although his playing time is limited by injuries.
• April 27, 2002: Linebacker Marco Cooper is arrested hours after the Buckeyes' annual intrasquad scrimmage and charged with felony drug abuse and carrying a concealed weapon in his sports-utility vehicle. Cooper pleads guilty to two charges in November and is put on probation.
• March 2, 2002: Tight end Redgie Arden is arrested on a charge of drunken driving in his hometown of Ironton. The redshirt freshman is found guilty and is sentenced to three days in jail and fined. Suspended indefinitely from the team, he does not participate in summer workouts before the 2002 season but is reinstated before the start of the 2002 season and played in 11 games.
• Nov. 15, 2001: Quarterback Steve Bellisari is arrested two days before the Illinois game for drunken driving. Tressel suspends the Buckeyes' three-year starter indefinitely and then reinstates him to the team three days later. A senior, he practiced with the team for the Michigan game but did not play, then came off the bench to play most of the team's Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina. He later served a weekend in jail.
• March 21, 2001: Cornerback Derek Ross is arrested on charges of driving without a license and providing false information to police, giving an incorrect name when pulled over for speeding. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail. He is suspended from Ohio State's 2001 spring practices, then played most of the 2001 season, leading the Big Ten in interceptions and earning second-team all-conference honors. Left team to make himself available for the NFL draft a year early.

Note that the above list does NOT include the other “incidents” that have happened while on Tressel’s watch:
- May, 2003: Chris Gamble and 9 other players are ruled ineligible by the university for signing autographs at a health care group's convention. The players were paid an hourly salary for working at a booth operated by a central Ohio health care company at the Ohio Health Care Association's convention May 5-8 in Columbus.
- October 11, 2003: Robert Reynolds chokes Wisconsin QB, Jim Sorgi, knocking him out of the Badgers' 17-10 win over the Buckeyes.
- Fall 2003: NCAA investigates Ohio State players for possible academic ineligibility. Maurice Clarett is the focus of the investigation. Chris Gamble’s name was mentioned a few times at the beginning, but either nothing was found against him or the entire investigation was turned against Maurice when a teacher admitted that Clarett got preferential treatment. She was then was later fired by the university. Clarett was guilty of 14 violations of the ethical-conduct bylaw and two violations of receiving preferential treatment or benefits because he is an athlete. Clarett was suspended for the entire 2003 season.
- Fall 2004: Maurice Clarett blows the whistle on tOSU.
- December 20, 2004: Troy Smith is suspended from playing in the Alamo Bowl for "violating team and NCAA rules and standards."

Quite an impressive list- drunk driving, beating up women, assualt, forgery, filing a false police report, carrying a concealed weapon, and cheating in the classroom. Oh, and before all you jump up and cry foul, lets now recap how Notre Dame handled a student-athlete who was pulled over for DUI. Rashon Powers-Neal was suspended from the team way back in October for what was termed at the time as, "a violation of team rules." Powers-Neal is still currently under suspension from the program and has not seen action in a game in over 2 months. If he were at Ohio State, Powers-Neal would start against Michigan and nothing would be said. I mean, forget the fact that these guys are beating people (and women, cowards) up and trying to tip strippers with monopoly money, they can't even pass their classes without the help of professors and teachers alike. Of course, how can you blame them? Consistently getting owned (save for '02) by the better half of the Big Ten does that to a man. Or, in Ohio State's case- a boy.

That 70s Team

"The Steelers are not built for 3rd and 11." - John Madden, during the Steelers' 26-7 loss to the Colts.

You know what the best thing about Michael Jordan was? It wasn't the dunks, or the title-clinching shots, or the Nikes. It was the way he showed how good the other teams, specifically the coaches, really were. If you were an opposing team's coach, the first thing you had to factor in when making a game plan against the Bulls was the fact that Jordan was going to score 35 points. There's no getting around it; unless you shoot him in the leg, he was gonna score...a lot (and even if you did shoot him he'd probably be good for 15-20). If your team was built around low-scoring offense and a stifling defense, you needed to change your way of playing. The key to beating Chicago was not stopping Jordan and keeping the team from scoring 100; it was conceding that much and finding a way to score 101.

The 2005 Indianapolis Colts are a lot like Jordan and the Bulls of the 90s. With a couple exceptions, their offense has been beyond unstoppable. No team has defeated them, and the few that have come close have had to put up a bunch of points. The Steelers played them two Mondays ago, and their game plan was the same one they always had: run the ball, kill the clock, keep them off the field so they can't score as much. Well, that plan was quickly shown to be worthless, as the Peyton Manning threw an 80-yard TD pass to Marvin Harrison on the Colts' first play from scrimmage. Time of possession: about ten seconds. So much for minimizing the amount of time they had to score. The Colts minimized the amount of time they needed to score.

It's not fair to blame it all on the offensive game plan. The o-line was makeshift and got owned, Willie Parker has been struggling, the special teams coverage has been awful, and the defense isn't as good as it was last year (although they did a pretty good job against Indy, score notwithstanding). But in recent years this run-heavy offense, and Cowher's refusal to stray from it, has hurt the Steelers in big games. Sure, in 2003 they tried to be more pass-oriented, but there were many other problems with that. Maddox had no mobility and couldn't make plays (he still had the second highest single-season yardage total in team history), the defense was porous, and there was virtually no running game to complement the pass (Amos Zereoue, anyone?). Now, the personnel on offense is more talented, and although they aren't the Colts, there is some talent there to make a move towards a more high-octane squad.

So why doesn't Cowher do it?

We may (hopefully) have seen the seeds of this planted this past Sunday against the Bengals. Once again our boys played a high-scoring offense, and once again they lost, but this time it was a lot closer, thanks to the Steelers scoring 31 points. Ben Roethlisberger threw for over 380 yards on 41 attempts, both career highs by a lot. Did I mention he has a bad knee and a right thumb that is so injured it hurts him to hand the ball off? Imagine what he could do when he's completely healthy and has more than just one deep threat at his disposal.

I'm not saying that the Steelers should be a pass-only offense, but the days of smashmouth football are gone. The recent Super Bowl champs, with the exception of Baltimore in 2000, have been capable of putting up big numbers on a consistent basis, not as flukes. Hell, look at college football. This past weekend, USC scored 66 points on a then one-loss team, and Texas scored 70 in the Big 12 championship against a team that mathematically was the second best in the conference. The fact that these two teams score at will and are now going to play for the national title makes Wannstedt's decision to have Pitt go to the power running game (especially with the QB and WRs they have coming back...argh) all the more baffling.

This is no longer the 1970s, where all you needed to win was a strong running back and a defense that would literally blast the offensive players in the mouth. The rules have changed, the players have changed, and now the emphasis is on scoring points. Roughing the passer, horse collar tackles, and many other penalties are in place to give the offense the best chance to make big plays. Cowher needs to adapt to these changes and assemble and offense that can and will score 30 a game, not just have a defense that can hold a mediocre team under that. He has a big, mobile quarterback that can throw the ball deep and create plays on his own if need be. He has a good running back corps (well, on the few occasions they're healthy) that would further benefit from a passing game that would keep the defense honest. All he needs is a healthy offensive line that plays up to their potential (and when they are unmatched in the NFL), and a big play receiver. Hines Ward has dependable hands, but he lacks the size and speed needed to make big gains regularly. Cedric Wilson...no. Randle El is too small, and he tends to try to do too much. Quincy Morgan is an interesting player. He has decent size, good speed, but we haven't seen enough of him here to know if he could be a good #2 for us. If he isn't the one, then the Steelers need to go out and sign a WR. There are going to be plenty of free agents, and drafting a receiver is too risky for a team this close to contending for a Super Bowl (cough cough Fred Gibson cough).

There's really no reason the Steelers should not do this. It seems to be the only way to compete and succeed in the NFL today. The only thing that may keep this from happening is Cowher and his ego. He holds firm to his "run the first two downs, then hope they can convert with a six yard out pattern" system and rarely changes it, even in the middle of a game when it is obvious it's not working. Cowher has taken a lot of criticism lately, and some of it is merited. He doesn't seem to be the same fiery guy that came here in 1992. He doesn't seem to get too pissed when his players...oh, I don't know, give up a 94 yard kickoff return in a close game. The reason for this? His wife told him he looked silly screaming and swearing at players on TV. First of all, he's a football coach, not a sitcom actor, and he shouldn't care what he looks like on TV as long as he's getting the job done. Second, why the hell is he letting his wife tell him how to act on the sidelines? I'm worried that Cowher has grown complacent with his job here, and I fear a change may need to be made down the line.

Finally, what really bothers me about this whole thing is when people say, "But that's not Steeler football", or "This is Pittsburgh, we don't do flashy stuff like that." That's a bunch of crap. News flash, folks: Franco Harris, Jack Lambert, and Mel Blount are gone, as are almost all the blue collar steel mills. You can't score 20 points and expect to beat a good team anymore. Hell, the Steelers' last two Super Bowl wins were high-scoring affairs. We're a younger city, and we don't appreciate tough, grind-it-out games. Look at the Penguins. Of the top 25 scorers in NHL history, five of them played for the Pens during their two Stanley Cup seasons. Of all the men that have played pro hockey, 20% of the greatest offensive players were on one team at one time. Were people here pissed when the Pens won their first Cup with an 8-0 whooping over the North Stars? Were they pissed the year after they won their second one when they ended the season with 17 straight wins and made things look easy? Pro sports have evolved into high-scoring, high-flying, high-profit entertainment, and it's about time the Steelers joined the party.