PITTSBURGH’S PREMIER SPORTS PUBLICATION
Pittsburgh Sports Report
®
JUNE 2014
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
5
Time
Golden Quill Award
Winning Publication
Pittsburgh Sports Report PIRATES COVERAGE
THE FALLOUT
Ryan Shazier
FREE Expanded Coverage pittsburghsportsreport.com
U. S. Steel has been a part of Pennsylvania history for more than 100 years. We began making steel here in 1901 and remain committed to building our future in Pennsylvania, while striving to meet and set world-class standards in everything we do.
EDITOR’S DESK
Accountability Across the Board TONY DEFAZIO PSR EDITOR
Another day, another lawsuit. Life in today’s NFL. More than 600 former players are part of a class-action lawsuit that says the NFL administered addictive pain killers to players without proper prescriptions or medical supervision, and with little or no explanation of the risks. The complaint reads, “the NFL has intentionally, recklessly, and negligently developed a culture of drug misuse, substituting players’ health for profit.” The suit contends that players were given drugs by team trainers who lacked medical degrees, often handing out anti-inflammatories, pain killers and sleeping pills together. Players say they were pressured to take the medications in order to get back on the field as soon as possible. Now, years after their careers are over, many suffer severe medical conditions.
In essence, the suit contends that the players’ current medical ailments are a direct result of their drug abuse at the hands of the NFL. There are plenty of ex-players who feel differently, however. “I don’t see any personal responsibility,” said Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter, currently an ESPN analyst. “We’re educated people... I chose to say no. I was sore a lot of times, I had a lot of pain, but I chose to go home and put my body in a full tub of ice” rather than take pain killers. ESPN Radio morning host Mike Golic, a six-year NFL veteran, says that he was aware of the dangers. “When I signed up to play in the NFL, I knew of some of these risks that I was taking,” said Golic. The players are, after all, adults. They took these medications willingly. As Carter said, they all made choices. Choices have consequences. The willingness of ex-players like Carter, Golic—and the thousands of others who are not part of the suit—to
take personal responsibility for their decisions is commendable. So if you agree with the notion that adults are responsible for the consequences of their actions, then doesn’t that notion extend beyond the locker room? Shouldn’t that notion extend to the teams’ front office? Where is the personal responsibility on the part of the teams? On the part of the team doctors? Certainly, we could stand to see a little more personal responsibility in all of our lives. Forget about the NFL and this particular lawsuit, if more of us had higher levels of accountability, then our schools, workplaces and government would all be much better places. But personal responsibility is not a one-way street. It covers a lot of ground. In the NFL’s case, looking the other way while you see blatent abuses occuring within your own system is not being personally responsible. It’s the opposite. If the NFL demands it from their players, the league has to exercise it themselves.
June 2014 Vol. 18, No 5
DEPARTMENTS
PSR FOCUS The Fallout Has Begun Local Players in the NHL Closing in on History
12 PURE STEEL Local Draft Recap Steelers on the Hardwood Steelers Draft Profiles
16 NORTH SHORE NOTES Finding Dry Land Prospect Reese McGuire Q&A: Gregory Polanco Indiana PA’s Michael Ryan
20 ON CAMPUS
Draft Analysis
Karvel Anderson Eyes the NBA RMU Recruiting WPIAL Girls Basketball
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
412.469.9717 Fax 412.469.9847 1.800.945.SPORTS (7767) www.pittsburghsportsreport.com E-mail: tdefazio@psrpt.com
PUBLISHER Ellis G. Cannon
BUSINESS MANAGER Larry Appolonia
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Michael Betters
EDITOR Tony DeFazio tdefazio@psrpt.com
SENIOR MEDICAL ADVISER DJ Phillips, MD Sam Akhavan, MD Allegheny General Hospital
WEBMASTER Tom Ballas BNS Web Creations
BEAT WRITERS Nate Barnes, Scott Kromko, Anthony Jaskulski, John Krysinsky, Alex Nseir, Joel Peretic, Connor Whooley
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Contents 6 BLUE LINE
40 Lincoln Way Suite 301 North Huntingdon PA 15642-1887
3
EDITOR’S DESK No Accountability
4
UP CLOSE WITH PSR New Steeler Ryan Shazier
24 LOCAL SCENE PHOTO CREDITS Justin Berl 1, 7a, 10a, 10b, 10c, 16, 17b Charles LeClaire 6, 12a, 21a Ronald Vezzani Jr 12b Mark Alberti 13a, 13b, 20 William McBride 22a Vanderbilt Athletics 3; Ohio State Athletics 4a, 4b, 5; Pittsburgh Penguins 7b; Getty Images 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 9c; USA Today Sports Images 9d; Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics 12c; Notre Dame Athletics 14; Robin Black/West Virginia Power 17a, 19; Pittsburgh Pirates 18; Lisa Wise 21b; Tyler Palko 22b
Ryan Bertonaschi, Andrew Choynowski, Sam Fatula, Steve Flinn, Chris Galiszewski, Kurt Hackimer, Matthew Jacobs, Julia Kramer, Nate Marsh, Geoff Pfiel, Erika Schneider, Dan Sostek, Jeremy Tepper, Carley Thieret, Ken Torgent
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORS Taylor Sinclair, Emmiley Stern
CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHERS Charles LeClaire, Justin Berl
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Mark Alberti, Aaron Doster, William McBride, Michael Migliore, Kris Mellinger, Vincent Pugliese, Nick Susnjer, Ronald Vezzani Jr.
Pittsburgh Sports Report is published 12 times annually by Pittsburgh Sports Report, Inc. a Pennsylvania business corporation, Norwin Professional Building, 40 Lincoln Way, Suite 301, Irwin PA 15642-1887. Distribution at selected outlets. This and every issue of Pittsburgh Sports Report, and all contents therein, are subject to copyright protection held by Pittsburgh Sports Report, Inc. (“Corp. 2014 Pittsburgh Sports Report, Inc.”).
PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014 3
PSR INTERVIEW
UP CLOSE RYAN SHAZIER Steelers first-round pick Ryan Shazier met with the media during the team’s rookie camp last month. Shazier, from Fort Lauderdale, FL, was a two-year starter at outside linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The 6’1” 237-pound Shazier recorded 115 tackles and 5 sacks in 2012 to earn All-Big Ten accolades in his first full
season as a starter. As a junior in 2013, he started all 14 games, recording 144 tackles and 6 sacks en route to earning All-Big Ten and AllAmerican recognition. He decided in January to forego his senior season. Shazier—who ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL combine—will play inside linebacker for the Steelers.
“It was amazing just to see the trophies in person, seeing them right there by each other. The plan is to come here and get a seventh trophy.” Ryan Shazier Q: Were you at all surprised you were
taken by the Steelers? A: I was a little surprised. But I was surprised just to be drafted. You just never know who is going to draft you. My dad said that people were telling him that the Dallas Cowboys were talking about drafting me with the next pick. Honestly, I am happy that the Steelers drafted me. I can’t wait to go to Heinz Field and go out there and play in a Steelers’ jersey. Q: You were projected as a second-
round pick by many in the media. What was your reaction to going in the first round? A: Honestly, the whole time, I pretty much felt like I was a first-round pick. I knew at the end of the day that the tape was going to show it all. I felt like I put up enough tape to have the coaches believe in me and go in the first round.
It’s just amazing to be in a great city like this with the greatest franchise. I know a little bit about the history but I still have a lot to learn. Q: Can you talk about the influence
your dad has had on you: A: My dad, I feel like he and my mom are my two best friends. I can talk to them about anything, especially with my dad. I can talk to him about anything, spiritually, or even football, because he coached a little bit as a high school coach. As a father, as a friend, he just always leads me the right way. Pretty much with every decision I make, I talk it over with my dad before I make the decision. I just feel like my dad is never going to lead me in the wrong direction. I feel like he is one of the greatest influences I’ve ever had in my life.
my dad. It was tough for him to get to some of the games. But I’d get to hear him talk to the team, and I’d get the feedback from all the guys saying how great the chapels were. It was amazing just to hear what guys thought when he was preaching to us. Q: What were the conversations like
with the Steelers leading up to the draft? What was the phone call like when the team said they were going to draft you? A: I first talked to the Steelers at the combine and we had a good time.
They just told me what they saw in my abilities and how they felt I fit and then we did some board (work) at the combine. Then the phone call was just amazing to see the 412 area code on my cell phone and just words can’t even describe it. Just to hear Coach Tomlin’s voice and Kevin Colbert’s voice on the phone and everybody’s voice it was amazing just to know I’m going to be here for the rest of my life. Q: Were you surprised the Steelers
called you? A: Yeah, I was a little surprised just be-
Q: Did he ever make speeches to your
team? Q: How much do you know about the
A: Yeah, sometimes when he came to
Steelers’ history? And when you visited here, what was your reaction to seeing the six Lombardi trophies? A: It was amazing just to see the trophies in person, seeing them right there by each other. The plan is to come here and get a seventh trophy.
watch us play he would deliver an inspirational speech. Q: What was that like for you to have
your dad doing that? A: It was amazing, because I used to
love going to church and listening to
4 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
PSR INTERVIEW
cause it’s just such a great franchise and the history of the linebacker (position) that they have and just to know that I’m going to be in the (Steelers) history books now. Q: What did you discuss while doing
A: Yeah, I see a lot of similarities espe-
Q: You wore different jersey numbers
cially when [Ohio State Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers] Coach [Luke] Fickell comes here a lot and learns from these guys so I feel some of the stuff that he taught me there will help me progress to this level.
throughout your Ohio State career. A: My sophomore year I wore number 48 because one of my close friends had died from muscular dystrophy and I just wanted to (honor him) because he really had never got to play so I just wanted to play through him and let people understand what the disease is about and everything. Christian Bryant had got hurt this year and he was the leader of our defense. We had about eight captains and I was one of the captains but he was the main guy. He was the guy who could get everybody going and a rah rah guy, and just to see him hurt it just was deep in my heart. I feel like I had to do something about it. I talked to him about it, talked to Coach Meyer about it and we all felt that it would be great for me to have his number and just feel like he’s still out there on the field.
board work with the team? A: They were just asking me some of
the stuff from my base defense (at Ohio State) and then they’ll teach me some of the stuff (that they do).
Q: Will you wear No. 50? A: Yes sir. Q: What has the influence of your par-
ents been on you? Q: Did you draw stuff up on the board? A: Yeah, drawing it up on the board
and they just asked me to show my base defense, some of my sub-packages and then they showed me some of the things that they do and then see if I can remember it. Q: Did you see a lot of similarities be-
tween what you did at Ohio State and what the Steelers do defensively?
A: Yeah they really help me a lot be-
cause a lot of kids don’t even have both of their parents and it’s a blessing to have both your parents, and then some kids don’t even talk to their parents like I do. I could talk to my parents every day. Sometimes I talk to them three or four times a day so just to have them in my life they helped me through all the decisions in my life. It’s just an amazing feeling.
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
Q: Do you suffer from Alopecia? A: Yeah, I have Alopecia. Q: How has it been to deal with? A: When I was younger it was kind of
difficult because I got it when I was about five years old. I was probably the only little kid walking around with a bald head and it was kind of tough because kids are mean. Kids pick on you and say things that will hurt your feelings but I just embraced it. I feel like if you didn’t like me for who I am then there’s a problem with you and I feel like it’s my signature now. I love having Alopecia and I feel like having a bald head actually saves me a lot of money. Q: Being bald now is being fashionable: A: Yeah. [Laughs]
PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014 5
SPONSORED BY:
BLUE LINE
THE
The Fallout BY MATT JACOBS
When Sidney Crosby became the youngest captain ever to hoist hockey’s Holy Grail in June of 2009, the only problem facing the Penguins seemed to be a lack of available space in the trophy case. How many Stanley Cups will Crosby’s Penguins pile up? Is this the NHL’s next dynasty? These were legitimate questions pondered by hockey pundits. Fast-forward five years. Expectations have been dialed back a bit. Not only have the Penguins failed to raise another Stanley Cup, they’ve produced just four series victories in the interim. They did manage to reach the Eastern Conference finals once, but even that ended in monumental failure – an embarrassing fourgame sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins. At the time, Penguins fans may have thought the franchise had bottomed out in the Crosby era. They were wrong. Blowing a 3-1 lead to the New York Rangers in the second round of this year’s playoffs clearly holds that distinction. And with that epic collapse—the fifth straight postseason in which the Penguins have fallen to a lower seed—came the realization that major changes were imminent. So what went wrong? “I don’t know. That’s a good ques-
Five consecutive postseasons without any hardware has resulted in a shake-up.
tion,” said a shell-shocked Chris Kunitz as the Penguins cleaned out their lockers just two days after losing Game 7. “I wish we could figure that out.” “I’m not going to try to bring in a new system or try to find ways to make us a Stanley Cup team,” said Kris Letang. “It’s not my job to do that.” It was Ray Shero’s job, however, and the axe fell on the Penguins’ general manager just a day after the team packed up the pucks and went home.
Coach Dan Bylsma and his assistants are not expected to survive the purge. Their fates will be decided by the incoming GM. There have been rumblings that Bylsma lost the locker room and the support of Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Those rumors were exacerbated when NBC cameras caught a brief, heated exchange between Crosby and Bylsma on the bench during Game 7. “That stuff… you’re going to hear a lot of negativity and a lot of different
PLAY 210 Racetrack Road • Washington, PA • meadowsgaming.com
6 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014
rumors. That’s normal. When you lose, there’s always people looking for reasons,” Crosby offered when asked about a potential rift with Bylsma. “There wasn’t (a disconnect). We win (Game 7), we’re not even having to answer these questions.” Unquestionably, Bylsma’s up-tempo coaching style produced highly successful and entertaining regular seasons. It was also an abysmal failure
250 ON US!
$
See Players Club for Details
SEE PENGUINS, PAGE 7
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL (800) 848-1880
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
SPONSORED BY:
BLUE LINE
THE
THE FIRST MOVE Pens President David Morehouse on Ray Shero’s firing.
PENGUINS, from PAGE 6 in the postseason. And remember, Bylsma inherited Michel Therrien’s team late in 2008-09. By most accounts, he changed little en route to winning the Cup. In the aftermath of Shero’s ouster, ownership stressed that the new GM will be tasked with making the Penguins (insert favorite hockey buzz words here) younger and faster while adding elements of character and grit. And it won’t be easy. Here are some issues the next GM faces as the Penguins’ once cavernous window of opportunity as a perennial Cup favorite continues to diminish. The Penguins might lose one of their best younger players to free agency.
Defenseman Matt Niskanen, 27, had a career year, putting up 10 goals and
46 points. In fact, more than half the team’s roster is composed of players whose contracts are set to expire July 1. The Penguins have 17 pending free agents, 14 of which are unrestricted. Key free agents include defenseman Brooks Orpik, who turns 34 in September, and forwards Jussi Jokinen (21 goals, 57 points) and Brian Gibbons, who were arguably the team’s most consistent postseason performers. Center Brandon Sutter is the team’s top restricted free agent. What to do with right wing James Neal and Letang? Both will be the sub-
ject of trade rumors. Only four players (Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, Corey Perry and Phil Kessel) have more goals than Neal over the last three regular seasons. But Neal has been a postseason enigma and is the only high-priced player on the roster without a full or
limited no-movement clause. Letang, a Norris Trophy finalist a season ago, suffered a stroke during the regular season, making his trade-market value impossible to quantify. While management may have erred by not pulling the trigger on this restructuring a season ago, the Penguins’ outlook isn’t as grim as it may appear. Not as long as they have guys named Crosby and Malkin on the roster. Perhaps the Penguins won’t coast to another ultimately meaningless 100-point regular season. And that’s OK. A team built for regular-season success only gets you so far. And that’s not nearly far enough.
PLAY 210 Racetrack Road • Washington, PA • meadowsgaming.com
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
“Our ownership group, led by Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle, felt that it was time to move the franchise in a new direction. Like our fans, they’ve been very disappointed with our early exits from the playoffs. They made this decision because we believe new leadership can help us get back on track and achieve our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.” “The new GM will be charged with overseeing and revamping our hockey operations with the goal of returning to the team to championship form. Part of his initial duties will be to evaluate our entire hockey operations department, including the coaching staff, and make decisions in the best interest of the franchise moving forward.” “It’s not just about this season. We’ve had five consecutive years of underachievement in the playoffs.” “We look at the players too. That’s going to be part of the evaluation process. We look at everything. There is not one answer to getting us to the next level.”
250 ON US!
$
See Players Club for Details
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL (800) 848-1880
PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014 7
SPONSORED BY:
BLUE LINE
THE
Native Sons Making Mark Western Pennsylvania natives are making major impacts in the NHL BY ANDREW CHOYNOWSKI
Western Pennsylvania continued its relative assault on the NHL in 2013-14. Two youngsters made their debuts, joining a small group of rising stars and established veterans already sailing through the league. Let’s catch up with Pittsburgh’s top puckmovers. Matt Bartkowski, D, Boston: Bartkowski
attended Mt. Lebanon High School before getting drafted by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round in 2008. He was eventually traded to the Boston Bruins, where he made his NHL debut in 2011 against his hometown Penguins. Bartkowski began the 2013-14 season as Boston’s seventh defenseman, but after a spate of injuries he found himself as a top four defenseman. He played 64 games, registering 18 assists and a plus-minus of 22. Bartkowski played 8 of Boston’s 12 playoff games and registered one assist. The Bruins will be in the market for a veteran defenseman this offseason and Bartkowski has been mentioned as a trade piece.
PLAY 210 Racetrack Road • Washington, PA • meadowsgaming.com
8 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014
R.J. Umberger, C, Columbus: A Plum Mustangs alum, Umberger became the highest-drafted western Pennsylvanian in NHL history when he went 16th overall to the Vancouver Canucks in 2001. After a stint in Philly, Umberger was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2008, where he was already popular after a three-year career at Ohio State. He put up four 20 goal seasons for the Jackets, but was plagued by a shoulder injury this season and played in just four first round games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Penguins. He has not been shy about his frustration with Columbus making him a healthy scratch late in the season and has reportedly requested a trade. Ryan Malone, LW, Tampa Bay: The son
of former Penguins forward Greg Malone, the Upper St. Clair High School product was drafted 115th overall by the Penguins. Malone broke into the league with Penguins in 2003 and was a key piece on the 2008 team that lost to Detroit in the Stanley Cup Finals. Malone joined the Tampa Bay Lightning the following season. A six-time 20
250 ON US!
$
See Players Club for Details
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL (800) 848-1880
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
SPONSORED BY:
BLUE LINE
THE
geles Kings and Gibson did not disappoint. His 28-save shutout kept the Ducks alive and he stated the remainder of the series, posting a 2.70 goals against average and a .919 save percentage Vincent Trocheck, C, Florida: The Upper St. Clair native joined the ranks of the NHL this season, three years after being drafted 64th overall by the Florida Panthers. Trocheck spent a lot of time playing junior hockey in the OHL playing for the Saginaw Spirit and then the Plymouth Whalers before making his way to the AHL, where he scored 16 goals in 55 games for the San Antonio Rampage this year. He was called up by the Panthers and finished the season with 5 goals and 3 assists in 20 NHL games. He is considered a top forward prospect and projects as a top six forward if he continues to develop.
goal scorer, injuries limited the 34-yearold to just 81 games and 11 goals over the past two years. Malone unfortunately ran into some legal trouble in April and is currently facing DUI and drug possession charges. He is being evaluated by the NHL and the NHL Players Union. Brandon Saad, LW, Chicago: Saad attended Pine-Richland High School before being drafted 43rd overall by the Blackhawks in 2011. He made his NHL debut the same year against the Dallas Stars. He went on to win the
Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks just two years after his debut. Saad has been a top six forward for the defending champions the past two seasons and tallied 16 points (6 G, 10 A) in 19 playoff games, good enough for seventh in the NHL after the conference finals. His current contract runs out after the 2014-15 season, which also happens to be when the contracts of Blackhawks’ stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane expire. While some believe the team will do its best to retain Saad, it will be an interesting offseason story to watch.
John Gibson, G, Anaheim: The 39th overall pick by the Anaheim Ducks in 2011, Gibson—a Whitehall native— rocketed to NHL notoriety this spring. In April, Ducks starter Frederik Anderson was sidelined by an injury and Gibson found himself making his NHL debut at just 20 years old. He put up an 18-save shutout against the Vancouver Canucks, becoming the youngest player to do so in nearly three decades. The Ducks took a gamble and started Gibson in Game 3 in the second round of their playoff series against the Los An-
PLAY 210 Racetrack Road • Washington, PA • meadowsgaming.com
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
JT Miller, C, New York Rangers: Miller spent his teenage years in Coraopolis, playing for the Pittsburgh Hornets. A 2011 first-round draft pick by the New York Rangers, Miller has spent three seasons in the AHL playing for the Connecticut Whale. Miller played a total of 30 games for the Rangers this season, registering 3 goals and 3 assists. He played in three games over the first two rounds of the playoffs this year for the Rangers, notching a pair of assists in two games against the Flyers in the first round. A bright young prospect, Miller has plenty of time to develop.
250 ON US!
$
See Players Club for Details
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL (800) 848-1880
PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014 9
SPONSORED BY:
BLUE LINE
THE
Closing in on History BY JEREMY TEPPER
As the Penguins continue their earlier than anticipated exits from the playoffs, it’s common belief that the team isn’t the sum of its parts. A quick look at where current players sit in the organizational record books furthers that notion, as Sidney Crosby, Evegni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleruy sit close to or at the top on numerous lists. Here’s a look at where current Penguins are located in the record books.
Goals
Mario Lemieux Jaromir Jagr Jean Pronovost Rick Kehoe Sidney Crosby Kevin Stevens Evgeni Malkin
Games Played
690 439 316 312 274 260 240
With 36 goals this past season, Crosby was able to move past Kevin Stevens on this list. Health willing, both Crosby and Malkin have a quality
Assists
Mario Lemieux Jaromir Jagr Sidney Crosby Ron Francis Evgeni Malkin
Power-Play Goals
1,723 1,079 769 636 632
Once again, Lemieux and Jagr sit atop the list. Crosby sat at third on this list before the season, and he won’t move up for at least three more seasons. If Crosby is to pass Lemieux, he’ll have to amass 955 more points, or 95.5 point per season if he plays through to the end of his current contract.
Mario Lemieux Jaromir Jagr Kevin Stevens Rick Kehoe Evgeni Malkin Sidney Crosby
236 110 110 95 88 81
Malkin could slide into second on this list in as little as three seasons if he stays healthy. As far as first place goes, there’s simply no chance. Lemieux sits at 7th all-time on this list, only 38 behind leader Dave Andreychuk, despite playing 724 fewer games.
Games Played By a Goaltender
10 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014
With Orpik becoming a free agent, it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to move up this list unless he takes a pay cut.
531 460 290 212 196
Marc-Andre Fleury 288 Tom Barrasso 226 Ken Wregget 104 Denis Heron 88 Jean-Sebastien Aubin 63 The Penguins haven’t had many quality goaltenders throughout their history, evidenced by Aubin at five with only 63 wins. In years that he plays 60 games, Fleury averages 38 wins per year Shutouts
Marc-Andre Fleury Tom Barrasso Les Binkley Johan Hedberg Ken Wregget
Throughout his career, Fleury has been pretty consistent in playing somewhere between 60 and 70 games a season. Obviously, it will take a long- tenured starter to pass Fleury in the future.
PLAY 210 Racetrack Road • Washington, PA • meadowsgaming.com
78 74 42 40 34
Our first list that Le Magnifique doesn’t sit atop. Unlike the others, first place is attainable for either Crosby or Malkin – provided they remain Penguins long enough. On a five game-winning goal per year pace, Malkin would pass Jagr in eight seasons. Marc-Andre Fleury Tom Barrasso Denis Heron Ken Wregget Les Binkley
250 ON US!
$
See Players Club for Details
915 806 753 722 703
Victories
Jaromir Jagr Mario Lemieux Jean Pronovost Evgeni Malkin Sidney Crosby
Crosby will in all likelihood pass Jagr on this list over the next few years. Malkin could too, although it’ll take him two or three years longer. Mario Lemieux Jaromir Jagr Sidney Crosby Rick Kehoe Evgeni Malkin
shot of reaching Jagr. It’s highly unlikely that they’ll be able to come close to Lemieux’s ranks, though. Game-Winning Goals
1,033 640 495 449 392
Points
Mario Lemieux Jaromir Jagr Jean Pronovost Rick Kehoe Brooks Orpik
28 22 11 7 6
This past season, Fleury matched his season best with five shutouts, a mark which ranked 4th in the NHL.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL (800) 848-1880
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
THE BIGGEST CAR GIVEAWAY IN PITTSBURGH Win a Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, and other great rides Every Thursday, Friday, & Saturday in June
E X I T 41 O F F I -7 9 • M E A D O W S G A M I N G . C O M
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL (800) 848-1880
SPONSORED BY:
Landing Spots
Pitt and Penn State were fairly wellrepresented in last month’s NFL Draft, with each school sending three players into the league via the annual draft. The western Pennsylvania region also saw three players selected. The first local player taken was no surprise, as Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald went 13th overall to the St. Louis Rams. Following one of the most dominant seasons by a defensive tackle in college football history, Donald—a Penn Hills product—became Pitt’s highest drafted defensive lineman
since Aliquippa’s Sean Gilbert went third overall to the Los Angeles Rams in 1992. Penn State wide receiver Allen Robinson was the first Penn State player off the board, as the junior was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round. Robinson, the 2012 and ‘13 Big Ten Receiver of the Year, left Penn State ranked second in career receptions with 177 and third in career receiving yardage with 2,474 yards. West Virginia saw a pair of players drafted in the third round, as running back Charles Sims went to Tampa Bay early in the round, while defensive end Will Clarke was selected by Cincinnati near the end of the third. A transfer from Houston to WVU, Sims ranked second in the Big 12 with 1,549 all-purpose yards last season. Clarke, who played at Allderdice in the Pittsburgh City League, started all 12 games for the Mountaineers at defensive tackle in 2013 and recorded six sacks. Two more players with local connec-
tions were drafted in the fourth round. Penn State defensive tackle Daquan Jones, a first-team All-Big Ten selection, was selected with the 12th pick of the round by the Tennessee Titans. Pitt quarterback Tom Savage was drafted late in the fourth round by the Houston Texans. The Cardinal O’Hara High School graduate began his career at Rutgers, before transferring to Arizona and then Pitt. Savage threw for 2,958 yards, 21 touchdowns and 9 interceptions last season, completing 61.2 percent of his passes. Bloomsburg also had a player drafted in the fourth round. Defensive end Larry Webster, a former basketball player who also played tight end, went to the Detroit Lions. Pitt and Penn State were also represented in the fifth-round. Panthers wideout Devin Street, also a Pennsylvania high school product, was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys with the sixth pick of the fifth round. Street’s 202 career receptions are the most in Pitt history. Penn State guard John Urschel, who was selected first-team All-Big Ten by
FIRST ROUND
13th - Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt (Penn Hills) - St. Louis Rams SECOND ROUND
Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State - Jacksonville Jaguars THIRD ROUND
Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia Tampa Bay Buccaneers Will Clarke, DE, West Virginia (Allderdice) - Cincinnati Bengals
the league’s coaches for the second consecutive season, went to the Baltimore Ravens late in the fifth round. In the seventh round, the San Francisco 49ers selected Boston College defensive lineman Kaleb Ramsey, a graduate of Laurel Highlands High School who was one of the strongest players at the NFL Combine in April. Several local players also signed free agent contracts or were invited to mini-camps for tryouts as well. The complete list of local players drafted is below.
FOURTH ROUND
Daquan Jones, DT, Penn State - Tennessee Titans Tom Savage, QB, Pitt - Houston Texans FIFTH ROUND
Devin Street, WR, Pitt - Dallas Cowboys John Urschel, OL, Penn State - Baltimore Ravens SEVENTH ROUND
Kaleb Ramsey, DT, Boston College (Laurel Highlands) San Francisco 49ers
www.eqt.com 12 12 PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH SPORTS SPORTS REPORT REPORT •• JUNE JUNE 2014 2014
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
SPONSORED BY:
Steelers Take One from the Charity Stripe BY SAM FATULA
From the front office to the gridiron, no term personifies the Pittsburgh Steelers better than tradition. And although Steelers traditions can generate a large sense of pride for fans, the organization and the surrounding Pittsburgh community have also developed a great interpersonal relationship through various charities and events in past years as well. One charity in particular, the Steelers offseason basketball team, has been a staple for the players and local areas since the 1950s. Every year from the first of March through the middle of May, a number of players from the Steelers’ roster trade in their cleats and pads for a pair of sneakers to matchup against different faculties, alumni and local organizations in order to raise publicity and money for multiple foundations and scholarships. Thomas O’Malley Jr., manager and coach of the team, has been involved since 1970 when he was only 13-years-old. Now, just finishing his “46th year” as a member of the team, O’Malley has played and coached alongside the presence of Steelers legends like Franco Harris,
Terry Bradshaw, Jack Lambert, Hines Ward and so on. Yet according to O’Malley, the only thing that has changed through his tenure with the basketball team is the amount of time it takes for pictures and the commute to games. “Our standard procedure back then was to drive to a town, find a gas station that was open and ask where the high school was,” O’Malley said. “That was pretty much our GPS back then.” Despite minor changes in logistics though, O’Malley said that his experience has not been much different than it was 30 years ago. “It’s still the same thing; just a bunch of guys going out, playing some hoops, having some fun and getting to see some people and their fans,” O’Malley said. Beyond just having fun, the Steelers also manage to place charitable causes at the forefront of the games as well. Recently, the team traveled to Wheeling Park High School in West Virginia to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, and following that they played at Thiel College in Ohio to distribute scholarships for higher education. This year’s roster included approximately 32 players from the likes of re-
cently acquired running back LeGarrette Blount, defensive end Cameron Heyward, former quarterback Charlie Batch, and wide receiver Antonio Brown, a personal favorite for O’Malley. “He (Brown) has never seen a shot that he didn’t like,” O’Malley chuckled. “They don’t always go in but he takes good shots.” Besides Brown being a favorite for O’Malley, the coach also mentioned that some of the linemen have been the biggest surprises on the court, specifically defensive end Brett Kiesel. “Keisel was probably the best player that’s played in the last few years,” O’Malley said. “Actually Doug West,
(former NBA guard/forward)--we had a game one night and he (West) came over and said, “Tom, where did you get that Kiesel kid? He could play in the NBA!”“ According to O’Malley though, the best thing about the basketball team is the Steelers’ organization with the community. “Being involved with the community is a very important thing, too,” O’Malley said. “And I think that all the guys realize that, and that’s part of their job—not one of the job requirements or descriptions, but that is part of the deal to be here in Pittsburgh.”
www.eqt.com www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH SPORTS SPORTS REPORT REPORT••JUNE MAY 2014 13
SPONSORED BY:
2014 Draft Analysis ROUND 1 RYAN SHAZIER, LB, 6-1, 237
Ohio State / Pompano Beach, FL • POSITIVES: 4.36 speed. Drops into
coverage with ease, rushes passer with intensity. • NEGATIVES: Undersized. Questionable whether Steelers DL will provide him with space he needs to utilize his speed. • THE WORD: “What we needed was a defensive playmaker. He fits the bill in that regard.” - Mike Tomlin ROUND 2 STEPHON TUITT, DL, 6-5, 303
Notre Dame / Monroe, GA
Second-round pick Stephon Tuitt
• POSITIVES: Rushes passer with speed
and strength. Stacks blockers, sheds blocks and pursues against the run. • NEGATIVES: Gained over 30 pounds after sophomore year and was not same player as junior. Must keep weight off and regain stamina. • THE WORD: “He can push the pocket. He can play the run. He can get off blocks, and he can get to the ball.” DL coach John Mitchell
ROUND 4 MARTAVIS BRYANT, WR, 6-4, 211
Clemson / Calhoun Falls, SC • POSITIVES: Great size, stretches the
ROUND 3 DRI ARCHER, RB/WR, 5-8, 173
Kent State / Laurel, FL • POSITIVES: Carries the football, work slot as receiver and catches out of backfield. Sub 4.2 40 speed. • NEGATIVES: Slight build will test his durability, especially going over the middle as slot receiver. • THE WORD: “He’s as tough as any of the kids I’ve been around.” - Running back coach James Saxon.
field, tracks ball well on deep throws. Potential deadly red zone. • NEGATIVES: Work ethic questioned; dropped a lot of passes due to poor technique. • THE WORD: “We feel like we got a guy to put opposite of Antonio Brown.” WR coach Richard Mann. ROUND 5 SHAQUILLE RICHARDSON, CB, 6-0, 194
Arizona / Carson, CA
• POSITIVES: Makes splash-plays in big
situations. Battles physical receivers. • NEGATIVES: Dismissed from UCLA before freshman year after an arrest. • THE WORD: “Smart, young corner that can come in and contribute.” Secondary coach Carnell Lake.
• NEGATIVES: Can get tied up in traffic. DANIEL McCULLERS, DL, 6-7, 352
Tennessee / Raleigh, NC • POSITIVES: Ties up blockers and cre-
ates space for linebackers. • NEGATIVES: Relies on raw strength.
WESLEY JOHNSON, OL. 6-5, 297
Vanderbilt / Nashville, TN • POSITIVES: Can play all five spots. • NEGATIVES: Lacks bulk and explosion. ROUND 6 JORDAN ZUMWALT, LB, 6-4, 235
ROUND 7 ROB BLANCHFLOWER, TE. 6-4, 256
UMass / Leominster, MA • POSITIVES: Competitive run blocker. • NEGATIVES: Played against weaker
competition.
UCLA/Huntington Beach, CA • POSITIVES: Plays outside or inside.
www.eqt.com 14 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
EQT is one of the leading energy companies in the country, and we are serious about creating jobs, operating safely and securely, and showing a deep respect for the land and the people who share it with us. With integrity, accountability and transparency EQT and its employees are fueling the growth of our country as a source for clean, abundant and environmentally responsible energy, and helping our local communities reap the rewards.
SPONSORED BY:
SHIPWRECKED 105 Losses in 2010
Only the 1890 Alleghenys and 1952 Pirates lost more. The '10 club lost 12 in a row and 18 of 20 during one stretch. They also lost a series in Milwaukee by a combined score of 36-1. Epic Collapse of 2012
On Aug. 8, the Bucs were 63-47 and battling for division crown. They went 16-36 to close it out. The freefall included a sevengame losing streak and three stretches of 1-6. They were shutout four times over their final 16 games and finished 79-83. Pitchers Wanted
The 2000 club scored 793 runs, the club's highest total in the postWWII era. Only the '71 World Series champs, who scored 788, came close. Six players hit 13 or more homers; three had at least 88 RBI. Brian Giles hit .315 with 35 HR and 123 RBI. Jason Kendall hit .320. The worst bat in the line-up? Shortstop Pat Meares, who hit .240 with 13 homers and 47 RBI. Yet they lost 93 times and finished 26 games out of first place. They allowed 888 runs, fourthworst in team history and the worst since 1930. Of the eight pitchers that started 10 games, only Kris Benson had an ERA under 4.81. Four had numbers north of 5.21. The best ERA and WHIP among pitchers with 10 or more appearances belonged to Chris Peters, at 2.86/1.306 in 18 games.
Finding Dry Land BY KURT HACKIMER
It’s tough being a Pirates fan. For twenty straight years, the Pirates failed to attain relevance, or even mediocrity, within the scope of popular American sports. And yet, when everything clicked and the losing streak finally ended, the fans returned in droves. Some of them had never even left. In his book “Dry Land,” Bucs Dugout owner Charlie Wilmoth explains why fans continue to support their favorite sports teams even when they consistently lose. “People complain about how hard it is to be a Cubs or Red Sox fan and my feeling was, ‘Quit whining,’” Wilmoth said. “But it’s really not that simple. When a team loses, especially for 20 straight years, it takes a toll.” In “Dry Land,” Wilmoth details the Pirates worst moments during the lean years: Derek Bell’s “Operation: Shutdown;” the lopsided Aramis Ramirez trade with the Cubs; or Randall Simon assaulting a young woman wearing a sausage costume. “I almost gave up after the Matt Morris trade,” Wilmoth said, referencing the mindboggling 2007 trade where a destitute Pirates squad traded for the overpaid, over-the-hill pitcher. Wilmoth said that he tried to follow other teams, but could not feel the same connection. “But I didn’t feel the investment in those teams that I felt in the Pirates. Coming through the tunnel to see the
16 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014
city skyline was such a big part of growing up to me, I just couldn’t let it go.” Like Wilmoth, who grew up in Wheeling, WV, many people simply cannot escape the pull of rooting for their hometown team no matter how poorly they perform. Psychologically, as one Pirates fan is cited in “Dry Land,” it’s masochistic. In the book, Wilmoth’s research explains scientifically why sports fans exist and why fans relate so personally to the players. “When we watch a player strike out the same stuff happens in our brain as if we are striking out,” Wilmoth said, describing mirror neurons in the brain. “So, if you can imagine, we’re watching ourselves fail over and over again.” Pirates fans deal with their team’s consistent failures in a variety of ways. Some attempt to analyze and use statistics to reason with themselves, some
prefer ironic punditry, and others prefer to chastise the team owner as if he were a super-villain or genocidal dictator. Wilmoth cites that these are all coping mechanisms designed to prepare oneself for the imminent future disappointment associated with following a losing ball club. “It matters more for Pirates fans than fans of, say, the Tampa Bay Rays because the Pirates are such an important part of the rhythm of summer life in Pittsburgh,” Wilmoth said. “The Pirates are equally rooted in the city of Pittsburgh, so losing is more difficult. “I’m interested to see how it will work if the Pirates continue to struggle. We’re starting to see the same grievances with ownership that kind of faded into the background last year.” “Dry Land” is available through CreateSpace.com.
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
SPONSORED BY:
In the Dugout REESE MCGUIRE Nineteen year old catcher Reese McGuire was drafted by the Pirates with the 14th selection of the 1st round in the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Kentwood High School in Covington, Washington. One of the youngest players in the single-A South At-
lantic League, McGuire has thrown out 19 base stealers in just 22 games this season, cutting down runners at a 29 percent clip for the West Virginia Power. PSR Editor Tony DeFazio chatted with McGuire before a game last month.
“That's the awesome thing about baseball, whether you go 4-for-4 or 0-for-4, you're still going to be playing the next game the very next day, and still be challenged.“ - REESE McGUIRE DeFazio: This is your first year in a full-
season league. It's early but have noticed any differences from your first year as a pro? McGuire: It's hard to tell, maybe a little bit. I know that at every level the game continues to get a little bit faster, the players get better. Throughout the whole professional leagues, everyone has got talent everyone plays hard. For me, it's really similar. It's the same game. It's still baseball. DeFazio: This is your first time catching
non-English speaking pitchers. Has that been more of a transition than you expected? McGuire: The language barrier was one of the things to focus on in the GCL (Gulf Coast League). I think it got me a little bit stronger as a person as well as a player, being able to bond with some different cultures and things like that. So it was a little bit of a challenge, but I had fun with it. I met a lot of good guys and got better as a person. Just learned
a little bit of Spanish here and there, and did a little teaching them English as well. DeFazio: How do you feel you are pro-
gressing as far as working with the pitching staff? McGuire: Everyone has their own style of pitching. We pitch to their strengths, but we're working on the things that they need to get stronger on as well. So that's the main focus with the organization, take the things that aren't as strong and get them up to speed, and make the strengths even stronger. The whole pitching staff is hard working, so it's going to be fun to see toward the middle of the season and even toward the end, how good these guys can be. DeFazio: What are some of your goals as
you prepare for the long season?
you've kind of got to pace yourself and not get too upset about anything because you're playing the next day. That's the awesome thing about baseball, whether you go 4-for-4 or 0-for-4, you're still going to be playing the next game the very next day, and still be challenged.
McGuire: I'm a competitor and I hate
getting out, I hate losing, and things like that, but for me I just have to remember the big picture. It's a long season and
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
DeFazio: Is it ever overwhelming to
McGuire: It's not overwhelming. It's re-
ally more a reminder of how much there is to learn and accomplish. It's more just about making sure you keep improving day to day and game by game. Just about getting on the field and remembering that it's baseball, the same game we've been playing all our lives. As much as I have to learn and improve on, it's still the same game.
know that there are still so many steps ahead of you before the major leagues?
PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014 17
SPONSORED BY:
“They’re some of the best in the field — and they help keep us on it.” — Neil Walker
In the GREGORY Dugout POLANCO GP: In the winter I faced a lot of vet-
eran pitchers who really play to win and pitch to win, and I think that helped me a lot. The pitchers throw a lot of their best pitches, a lot of good breaking balls and stuff like that and I really think facing that has helped me a lot. TD: Is your confidence level pretty
high right now? GP: Yeah I went into it with a lot of
There’s nothing like being on a great team.
confidence but I have to keep it up, keep playing hard and do everything I need to do to make it where I want to make it. TD: Do you feel like you’re ready for
that next level? We’re proud to take the field with Neil Walker as the OfficialMedical Provider of the Pittsburgh Pirates. All year long, we’ll be there with the best in sports medicine care — including physical therapy, speed and agility training, surgery and rehab, exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, sports psychology, concussion prevention and more. All from doctors and specialists who utilize the most modern techniques, treatments and technology. We’re there for the Pirates, and we’re here for you, too. With the same nationally renowned care that’s designed to keep you at the top of your game.
Sports Medicine
412.DOCTORS
AHN.org
GP: Well you always have to say that
you’re ready. You never know when they’re going to call you, so when they call you, you have to be ready to play.
Pirates top prospect Gregory Polanco spoke with PSR Editor Tony DeFazio last month.
TD: Are you frustrated that you’re still
TD: Did you feel like you had some-
GP: No, no, I think it’s fine. The tim-
thing to prove this season? GP: You always have something to
prove. You’re never the best and you have to prove it every day, no matter what you’re hitting or what you’re doing. You always have to work on something. Like now I’m working on my defense every day and trying to get better. And my hitting has to get more consistent. TD: You had such a great winter
league season and it’s continued into the regular season here. Is there something specific that clicked for you that your offense has exploded like it has?
in the minors? ing is perfect. You never have to worry or anything like that. The time will come when I deserve it and I have to be ready. TD: Have you thought about what it
will be like the first time you walk out into PNC Park? GP: Sometimes (smiles). I try not to think too much about that, I’m not sure I want to get ahead of myself (laughs), but I have thought about it maybe a little bit. I just have to do what I’m doing here and I think I’m going to be alright.
OFFICIAL MEDICAL PROVIDER OF THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES
18 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
SPONSORED BY:
Training Ground
BY TONY DEFAZIO
Mike Ryan has seen it all. Nearly two decades ago, Ryan was an 18-year old Indiana High School student, hoping to play college ball. After a huge senior season, Ryan’s draft stock soared and he was drafted in the fifthround by the Minnesota Twins. Ryan paid his minor league dues, steadily climbing the organization’s ladder, before exploding in 2002 with 31 homers and 101 RBI for the Edmonton Trappers, the Twins Triple-A affiliate. On Sept. 20 of that year, Ryan found himself playing left field and leading off for a Twins line-up that also included Torii Hunter and David Ortiz. He appeared in 127 games for the Twins for part of four seasons before being released. He spent minor league time with Atlanta, Pittsburgh and
Florida—not to mention a brief stint for the Somerset Patriots in the Independent Atlantic League in 2008, as well as a few winters in Venezuela—before finally getting another shot in the majors with the Los Angeles Angels in 2010. Fifteen years, 16 teams, six positions and 149 major league games later, Ryan accepting a coaching position in the Pirates organization that effectively ended his career as a baseball player. Today, the 36-year-old is in his element as the manager of the Pirates Single-A affiliate West Virginia Power. “Just teaching the game,” Ryan says with a smile as he leans back in his chair in the visitors’ clubhouse in Kannapolis, NC, one of the many stops in a typical South Atlantic League road trip. “We get to teach these players what it's like to play in their first full season and what the grind is like,” Ryan said.
MMXPR3 G GXPV¡]≤t`t»» www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
Indiana’s Mike Ryan Key in Pirates Development
“Teach them how to pace themselves.” Pacing is an odd characteristic for a guy whose professional career was a frenetic succession of call-ups and demotions, releases and new starts. After his roller coaster playing career ended, Ryan spent 2012 as the first base coach for the Double-A Altoona Curve. Following a quick tutorial as a minor league coach, Ryan was named manager of the Power in January 2013. He’s still just four years removed from his final major league game, so Ryan relates to what his players go through. He’s not sure how much his players are able to take in so early in their careers, however. “They don't realize what they are in for yet, to be honest with you,” he said. Ryan fit into just about every mold during his minor league career. As a fifth-round pick, he was a priority prospect in the Twins organization when he signed in 1996. As he made the long journey up the organizational ladder, he became just another big league hopeful. “The business side of the game, who needs to play where and for what reason. Those are a lot of things that go on behind closed doors that I didn't really realize when I was playing,” he recalls. A year after he broke into the majors, he found himself back in Triple-A for the majority of the season. He made the best of his big league chances, though, clubbing 5 homers, 7 doubles and driving in 13 runs in just 61 at bats. Ryan’s Twins
career was spotty after that, however, and he never made more than 131 plate appearances during his four seasons with the club. Soon, he became thought of as a “Four-A player” – a veteran with nothing left to prove at Triple-A but often gets pushed aside for prospects with perceived “higher ceilings.” “It's a challenge to try to hide that at times, especially when a guy is doing well but he's not a priority guy to play,” Ryan said. “To have to explain to him, ‘you're not in the lineup today but it doesn't have anything to do with your performance... Sometimes that's hard.” Teaching remains the focus for Ryan. Most of his players at West Virginia are experiencing a six-month, 142-game schedule for the first time. “The challenge is, ‘can you bring it every day?’” Ryan explains. “The players need to do that. Mentally, physically – they need to find a way to play all nine innings each day” As Ryan talks about the challenges of a long, hot summer—strikeouts, errors, the frustrations and the losses—his eyes light up. He wears the look of a guy who has been through all baseball has to offer and emerged on the other side, ready to share his experience. “Every guy is a different player. They all have different things that they need to get better at, but that's what makes it fun,” Ryan said. “It’s not like Groundhog Day around here, it's a different thing for each guy every day.
PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014 19
AGAINST THE BIG BOYS A look at some of Karvel Anderson's performances against top competion at Robert Morris
Anderson Eyes NBA Long odds no stranger to Robert Morris Star
3/18/2014 NIT First Round at St. John's
RMU 89 - St. John's 78 38 points on 12-20 shooting, 9-15 from 3-point range 1/4/2014 at Alabama
Alabama 64 - RMU 56 16 points on 6-8 shooting, 34 from 3-point range 12/30/2013 at Oklahoma State
OK ST 92 - RMU 66 16 points on 7-14 shooting, 2-7 from 3-point range 12/14/2013 at Duquesne
RMU 67 - DUQ 63 17 points on 5-11 shooting, 5-10 from 3-point range 11/17/2013 at Kentucky
KY 87 - RMU 49 16 points on 5-17 shooting, 4-9 from 3-point range 3/25/2013 NIT Second Round
at Providence PROV 77 - RMU 68 18 points on 6-11 shooting, 4-7 from 3-point range 3/19/2013 NIT First Round vs Kentucky
RMU 59 - KY 57 2 points on 0-5 shooting, 0-3 from 3-point range 12/20/2012 at Arkansas
ARK 79 - RMU 74 17 points on 4-13 shooting, 4-11 from 3-point range 12/15/2012 vs Duquesne
RMU 91 - DUQ 69 8 points on 3-6 shooting, 2-5 from 3-point range 11/17/2012 at Xavier
XAV 61 - RMU 59 17 points on 7-13 shooting, 3-8 from 3-point range
BY GEOFF PFIEL
Karvel Anderson is almost certainly good enough to play professional basketball. But will it be in the NBA? Anderson has faced adversity his entire life. Perhaps “faced” isn’t the right word. Anderson has, throughout his entire existence, conquered adversity. He has dominated adversity. He has dragged adversity to the woodshed by its neck scruff, with a proverbial shotgun slung over his shoulder. Here’s a quick refresher, for those not in the know: Born bow-legged and pigeon-toed to a 14-year-old mother and a father whom he never met, Anderson grew up in poverty-stricken Elkhart, Indiana. Just before Anderson’s freshman year of high school, his mother was incarcerated for cocaine trafficking. Not long after that, Anderson spent “a couple of months” homeless, and would have continued to do so for even longer if his basketball coach hadn’t taken him in. Despite being a prolific scorer in high school, Anderson’s grades forced
20 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014
him to bounce around several junior colleges before he finally got a shot at Robert Morris. During his senior season at RMU, Anderson averaged just under 20 points per game, shooting 56.3 percent from the field, including 46.3 percent from 3-point range. That was good enough to win him the NEC Player of the Year Award as well as a selection as First Team All-NEC and an honorable mention AP All-American. And now, after all that, Anderson finds himself in a familiar situation. Can he manage to embarrass adversity, just once more, for old times’ sake? Does he have what it takes to make the NBA? There are a few crucial details that hurt Anderson’s chances. He’s undersized for the NBA at 6’2”and 190 pounds. He did a lot of his damage against lower quality NCAA opponents, playing in a weaker conference on a team that doesn’t get a lot of national attention. His game isn’t as wellrounded as NBA scouts would like. One thing Anderson has going for him, however, is his NBA caliber shot. “Karvel is an elite level shooter who,
when he gets it going, is capable of getting 35-40 in a game,” said Ray Mernagh, part-owner of NBEbasketball.com and analyst for Panther Lair. “The toughest part for a kid in his situation is just getting an opportunity or look.... If he gets one, he needs to blow their doors off with his shot-making ability.” Anderson isn’t the first player to be spoken of in such a way. He compares most favorably to Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, who is listed at 6’3” and 185 pounds and is the current NBA record-holder for most 3-pointers made in a season. Curry is also a great passer who averaged 8.5 assists per game over the 2013-14 season. Anderson averaged just 1.4 assists as a senior. More realistically, Anderson compares to former Duke star J.J. Redick, who is listed at 6’4” and 190 pounds, and is primarily known as a 3-point shooter and an efficient scoring option. Redick spent more than six seasons with the Orlando Magic before bouncing from Milwaukee to the Los Angeles Clippers the last two seasons. Although Redick was an elite college talent, many questioned his defensive abilities and whether he was athletic or big enough to create his own shots in the NBA. Anderson is likely tired of hearing similar concerns about himself. “He will make a really good living in Europe if he wants,” said Mernagh. “The NBA will be tough for him to crack.” But his history makes it unwise to bet against him. Karvel Anderson has a different definition of “tough”.
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
Adding Pieces Lincoln Park’s Minnie Leads New RMU Recruiting Class Robert Morris men’s basketball coach Andy Toole announced the program’s 2014-15 recruiting class Tuesday, which includes four freshmen, two junior college transfers and one transfer. Joining RMU for the 2014-15 campaign are freshman forwards Andre Frederick (Detroit, Mich./Daniel Hand) and Elijah Minnie (Monessen, Pa./Lincoln Park), freshman guards Jafar Kinsey (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville-Dewitt) and Marcquise Reed (Laurel, Md./Capitol Christian), junior forward Lionel Gomis (Dakar, Senegal/Cloud County Community College), junior guard Rodney Pryor (Evanston, Ill./Cloud County Community College) and sophomore guard Jairus Lyles (Washington, D.C./DeMatha Catholic/VCU). “We’re extremely excited about the group of student-athletes we’ve brought into the program,” Toole said. “We’ve identified and addressed our needs for not only next season but beyond with our latest class, and I think we’ve attracted high quality athletes and individuals to Robert Morris.” Frederick and Kinsey signed National Letters of Intent (NLI) with the Colonials in the early signing period of November 2013, while Minnie, Reed, Pryor and Gomis signed NLI’s with RMU in the spring. “I’m really excited about the balance our freshman class presents,” Toole said. “There’s good versatility with the group, as well. We have guys that can play multiple positions, and I think we were able to
help shore up our frontcourt depth with the size we’ve brought in. Rodney and Leo, meanwhile, are both physically and mentally mature and ready to contribute at the Division I level. Both of them will have the ability to contribute right away.” Lyles announced his decision to transfer from Virginia Commonwealth to Robert Morris in May of 2014 and will sit out the 2014-15 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules. He will have three years of eligibility with Robert Morris beginning in 2015-16. “Jairus is one of the more highly rated high school recruits we’ve got-
ten, and he’ll fit in perfectly with our system,” Toole said. “I’m confident he’ll use the next year to improve his game, whether it’s through practice or through his routine off the court,
and he’ll be ready to step in and contribute in 2015-16.” Minnie, who helped lead Lincoln Park to both WPILA and Pennsylvania state class A championships in 2014, will be the lone homegrown product on the Colonials roster. The Monessen native contributed eight points, eight rebounds and nine blocks in Lincoln Park’s 70-66 victory over Math, Civics & Sciences to claim the state title. As a senior in 201314 averaged 15.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per contest.
Local Girls Dominate State Honors It was quite a season for high school basketball players in western Pennsylvania, as several local athletes captured the Pennsylvania State Player of the Year honors across all four classifications. 2014 was the Year of the Ladies, in particular. The WPIAL girls made a clean sweep of player of the year honors, capturing the title all the way from Single-A to Quad-A. Fox Chapel senior Erin Mathias, a 6-4 forward, earned Quad-A Player of the Yeah honors after leading Foxes to a 20-6 record and to the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs. Mathias, who will play for Duke this fall, averaged 16.6 points, 12.8 rebounds,
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
and 4.8 blocked shots per game. At the Triple-A level the Player of the Year was junior Chassidy Omogrosso, who led Blackhawk to their third PIAA title with 26 points as the Cougars beat Archbishop Wood 51-43. Omogrosso, who is verbally committed to Duquesne, scored 21.6 points per game as a junior. Another junior captured DoubleA Player of the Year honors, as Cassidy Walsh of state champion Seton-LaSalle earned the award. Walsh, a 5-9 point guard, averaged 11.1 points per game and will play for former Seton-LaSalle star Suzie
McConnell-Serio at Pitt when she finishes her high school career a year from now. The third junior girl to win Player of Year was Vincentian’s Brenna Wise, whose 24-point, 11-rebound performance led Vincentian to the Single-A state title. The 6-1 Wise has scholarship offers from Dayton, Pitt, Villanova and Virginia Tech. On the boys’ side, Hampton senior Ryan Luther, a 6-8 Pitt-bound power forward, averaged 22.1 points per game en route to capturing the Quad-A Player of the Year award. Another Pitt committ, sophomore Maverick Rowan, earned the SingleA Player of the Year honor after averaging 24.3 points per game while leading Lincoln Park to the state title.
PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014 21
Still Leading Former star quarterback moves on after football
BY JULIA KRAMER
Tyler Palko was a leader from the moment he picked up a football while watching his father coach at West Allegheny High School. His prowess only grew during a career at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was arguably one of the program’s best quarterbacks not named Dan Marino. Now, after a pro football career that saw him suit up for six teams in five years, his leadership abilities continue in his profession as a coach for an executive management firm in Arizona. Through it all, Palko says the world of sports has always been the basis for
his success. “When you play sports, you have a leg up on people. There’s no better training tool for life.” Palko said. Growing up with a football coaching dad certainly fostered young Tyler's interest in sports. Bob Palko realized his son’s potential, but let him pursue his own calling. “I could tell early on Tyler had a true joy for competition and easily expressed himself athletically,” said Bob Palko. Tyler admits that his dad’s discipline molded him to set himself apart from the crowd at a young age. “Dad had me contact every recruiter and personally decline their scholarship offer,” Palko recalled. “That really
22 22PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGHSPORTS SPORTSREPORT REPORT • JUNE • JUNE MAY2014 2014 2014
showed me the importance of respect and appreciativeness.” One of the most difficult calls was to then-Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley. “He displayed an uncanny poise when presented with difficult game scenarios in high school,” recalled Bradley. “His knowledge and overall feel for the game was impressive, and most importantly he was committed to playing the game of football.” Bradley hoped to recruit Palko to play safety for the Nittany Lions. “The position of strong safety calls for athletic flexibility, linebacker toughness, and an exceptional physical and mental skill set, which Tyler more than clearly demonstrated,” Bradley said. Palko wound up at Pitt, where he made 35 consecutive starts and twice earned All-Big East accolades. “As a quarterback, I always saw Tyler as the perfect field general: confident, knowledgeable and, at the right times, fiery,” said Pitt associate athletic director E.J. Borghetti. “He is in my opinion, an ‘all-timer’ at Pitt as both a quarterback and a person.” Palko signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent after his Pitt career ended. He spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, made a brief trek north to the Canadian Football League, played in his hometown for the Steelers and finally started a few games for the Kansas City Chiefs before being released in 2011.
“One day you can go into work and there is a pink slip in your locker,” Palko said. “There is absolutely no better training tool for life than football. It teaches you that nothing is ever a surprise, and nothing is ever guaranteed.” Palko’s dedication to community service and giving back left a strong impression on the football culture at Pitt and throughout the entire region. “His name still continues to positively resonate in western Pennsylvania, even though his playing career is done,” said Borghetti. Leaving football behind, Palko has taken up residence with his fiancé and two-year-old daughter in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Football showed me that I had to earn everything that comes to me,” said Palko when asked if there was one particular word that best describes his personality. “The one word that I would be proud to be known and remembered by is passionate.”
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
LOCAL SCENE
Dog’s Best Friend BY ALEXANDER STUMPF
Whenever K-9 Rocco died in the line of duty in January, Chris Benson of Benstonium.com created a design to pay tribute to the fallen officer. Whenever The Black N Gold Girls, a group dedicated to female Pittsburgh sports fans, shared his design on Facebook, their followers wanted to know what they could do to help. “People were asking if we could print a t-shirt with that design on it. He called me and said ‘do you want to do [a t-shirt sale]?’…And we were all in,” cofounder of the Black N Gold Girls, and vicepresident of marketing, Cassandra Buncie said. The sale was able to raise over $47,000 for the Officer Rocco K-9 Memorial fund, $20,000 of which was earmarked to be used immediately for the K-9 program. The rest of the amount was put into a trust fund that will help fund the program for future years, according to Officer Dan Tice. Tice said that to his knowledge, the Black N Gold Girl’s donation was the largest individual gift to the fund. “We were blown away,” Buncie said. “Pittsburghers in general rally for their community, and when there is a tragedy, there is a feeling of wanting to help your neighbor. The Black N Gold Girls were just happy to provide an outlet.” Providing an outlet for community service has been a goal of the Black N Gold Girls since its 2009 founding. On its Facebook page, the word “activate” is capitalized, emphasizing that it is just as important as providing a public
Black n Gold Girls Raise $47,000 for Local Police forum for sports fans to talk. Although the t-shirt sale is no longer going on, part of the proceeds from purchases on the Black N Gold Girls’ online store also support local charities such as Glimmer of Hope, which helps women under 40 receive mammograms for early breast cancer detection. They have also been involved in toy drives and donate sports themed gift baskets to different causes to raffle off. The group has also done charity work with multiple professional athletes from the Pittsburgh sports scene over the past few years, including for-
24 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014
mer Steelers linebacker Stevenson Sylvester, who donated his game used cleats and gloves to them, and fellow ex-Steelers linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley. But the Black N Gold Girls are not just philanthropists, but also fans. In addition to posting to Facebook in order to encourage a conversation amongst its 110,000 fan community, they also are getting ready to host their first networking event in June to have their fans connect with one another. “What we wanted to do was give women a chance a chance to interact
with one another and with players and the teams themselves,” Buncie said. While their work is being recognized now, Buncie said that their involvement in the Officer Rocco project should prove to be beneficial in the future, both for the Police Department and the girls. “It solidified our community. It gave our girls something to feel good about,” Buncie said. “We took the risk and took the lead and said ‘we’ll find a home for this money.’”
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com
for being your money’s MVP' Create a budget. Save on the fly. Grow your money. And make the most of it. pncvirtualwallet.com
The Official Bank of the
GEN-10353 ©2013 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC
26 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • JUNE 2014
www.pittsburghsportsreport.com