Froth Slosh B'Gosh

Is This About His Ego?

Frankly, I can not for the life of me figure out why Governor-Bought-And-Paid-For is suing the NCAA over the sanctions against Penn State.  The university agreed to the penalties, and while Corbett sat on the board of trustees, the Commonwealth itself doesn't run Penn State.  So why are the reasources of Pennsylvania going into a lawsuit to benefit what is essentially, an independent entity that itself accepted the sanctions, and plans to abide by them?

What possible legal standing does Corbett have in this case, if other than his overly inflated sense of importance?  How much tax money will be wasted in this appeal to the governor's ego?  Or is this just an attempt by an unpopular governor to pander to Penn State fans as he prepares to try for reelection?

I'll Take "Get A Clue" for $500 Alex

I find it mind boggling that the NFLPA is suing over the penalties handed out in the New Orleans Saints bounty controversy.  Is anyone over there paying attention to what just happened with Junior Seau?  How about the other former players who've recently committed suicide?  What about Mike Webster and Justin Strzelczyk?  Many former players are dying young, and repeated brain trauma is suspected in many of those cases. 

With the NFL facing lawsuits from former players over the effects of concussions, is it any wonder that Goodell is cracking down, if not over concern for the players' future health then for the maintenance of the NFL's bottom line?

Ward Retires

Class act.

Ward arrived at the Steelers' South Side practice facility wearing an all-black suit and a gold tie, which made it pretty clear what decision he had come to about his future.

"Today, I'm officially retiring a Pittsburgh Steeler," Ward said. "And as much as I will miss football, my teammates, coaches and everything about the game, I don't want to play it in any other uniform. The black and gold runs deep in me, and I will remain a Steeler for life."

Union Busting

Looks like the entire roster of the Pittsburgh Power arena football team was fired this week in an effort to break the player's union.

One of the team's owners is former Pittsburgh Steelers star receiver Lynn Swann.  During Swann's playing days, he was represented and protected by a union that looked after his interests, in an era where professional football players didn't make the kind of money that they do today, and injury could (and still can) end a career before it ever gets started.  Thanks to Swann's union, he enjoys a comfortable pension.  I guess it makes a big difference though when you're writing a check of $400 dollars per player per game!  How DARE those ingrates ask to be paid as much as $1600 a game! (that, sports fans, works out to less than $30,000 per player for an 18 game season, compared to the $7,200 the players were making).  They should feel lucky that their Galtian masters allow them to get the snot beat out of them for 400 bucks a game while charging from $20 to $170 a ticket!

Steelers Drop Ward

Its always sad when a aged but beloved veteran is let go, but football is a business, and if the Steelers think they can win more games without Ward than with Ward, well, then, its bye-bye Hines.  I'm sad to see him leave, but thank you for the memories.

UPDATE:  Add Aaron  Smith and Chris Kemoeatu to the list.

UPDATE II:  P-G is reporting that James Farrior is also gone.

Half-Staff? More Like Half-Assed!

You must be kidding.

To honor the life of former Penn State University head football coach Joe Paterno, who died Sunday at 85, Gov. Tom Corbett ordered Pennsylvania flags across the commonwealth to half-staff until the funeral.

For a college football coach.  Unbelievable.

Tebowned

I hate to say it, but Denver deserved to win that game.  They played much, much better than the Steelers did, in my opinion. 

Pitchers and catchers report next month!

Playoffs!

Its the Steelers at Denver today! We've got black and gold chips, guacamole, salsa, hummus, chicken wings with Quaker Steak and Lube hot sauce, and a big pot of haluski. The Terrible Towel shrine is draped over the teevee, and I'm ready for some hard core football watching.

Here's some Steelerbation thread to Steelerbate to!

Steelerbation!

Final game of the regular season, the playoffs beckon, and there's still a chance at a first round bye.  Here's some thread for everyone to Steelerbate on!