PITTSBURGH’S PREMIER SPORTS PUBLICATION
Pittsburgh Sports Report
®
OCTOBER 2013
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The physical play and leadership of Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark will leave a lasting impact on the Steelers
Leaving a Mark
Pittsburgh Sports Report By Josh Carney
As the sun begins to set on the careers of Steelers safeties Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu, there is a familiar feeling. A Steelers generation before Clark and Polamalu also won multiple Super Bowls before fading into retirement on teams that barely resembled the ones that made them Hall of Famers. Although the 2013 Steelers have been a shell of their former selves, Clark and Polamalu are still playing at high levels. They may be at the tail ends of their careers, but when healthy, Clark and Polamalu as duo are still great football players. Who knows how long it will last? Injuries are always a major factor for both, as is age, and after this year the business side of football could get in the way. Clark is a free agent at the end of this season and Polamalu’s salary continues to grow. So don’t blink: You may never see such a dominant a safety duo in black and gold again. The two players arrived in Pittsburgh by very different means: Polamalu as a highly sought-after 16th overall pick in the 2003 draft out of Southern California; Clark as an un-
Troy Polamalu is likely headed to Canton someday, but right now he’s still making plays in Pittsburgh.
drafted free agent out of Louisiana State who caught on with the New York Giants in 2002, and eventually carved out a role with the Washington Redskins. Clark arrived in Pittsburgh in 2006 as a free agent and has emerged as a physical presence and team leader both in the locker room and on the playing field. see STEELERS, PAGE 6
INSIDE
October 2013 VOL. 17 NO. 9
NORTH SHORE NOTES
PIRATES IN THE PLAYOFFS! PAGE 20
PURE STEEL
Blast Furnace Index PAGE 5
BLUE LINE
NHL Preview PAGE 11
ON CAMPUS
High School Football PAGE 16
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.
PSR INTERVIEW
UP CLOSE DAN FOUTS
Former quarterback Dan Fouts spent 15 years with the San Diego Chargers, earning six Pro Bowl selections and the 1982 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. Fouts guided the vaunted “Air Coryell” offense under coach Dan Coryell, combining with John Jefferson, Charlie
Joiner and Kellen Winslow to put up remarkable offensive numbers throughout the eighties. Fouts was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Since his retirement, he’s been a broadcaster for CBS, ABC and ESPN. PSR’s Chris Galiszewski chatted with Fouts last month.
“I think Ben has potential to be a Hall of Famer. He’s won two Super Bowls, and I think that gets the attention of some of the voters right away.” - Dan Fouts Galiszewski: You retired from the NFL
in 1987 and became an analyst the following year. Describe the transition from a player to an analyst. Fouts: Well, it wasn’t that hard for me. I had done a lot of broadcast work prior to retiring from football. And my dad [Bob] was employed by the [San Francisco] 49ers for 20 years when I was growing up so I had a lot of time to be exposed to the industry at an early age. It was something that I wanted to do, and felt comfortable doing.
ers and coaches that do not make the Hall of Fame because they weren’t fortunate enough to get to the Super Bowl or a championship game. That’s just the way society is. There’s good things about it and other things that aren’t so good. Galiszewski: Is Ben Roethlisberger a
future Hall of Fame quarterback? Fouts: Yeah I think he’s got potential
to be a Hall of Famer. He’s won two Super Bowls, and I think that gets the attention of some of the voters right away.
Galiszewski: When a player’s Hall of
Fame candidacy is discussed, people talk a lot about accolades and Super Bowl victories. You had a Hall of Fame career without a Super Bowl ring. Why are Super Bowls associated with whether or not a quarterback deserves to be in the Hall? Fouts: Well that’s why we play the game, to get to the Super Bowl and win it, and I think that’s the way it should be. It’s fair at times, but other times there’s a lot of deserving play-
throw. But when you lose a star player like that so early in the game, psychologically I think it hurts the Steelers as much as anything.
success there because they had a great relationship, and I’m sure they’re hoping to build that same type of thing with Todd.
Galiszewski: Not only did the Steelers
Galiszewski: Are we finally seeing a
lose Pouncey, but linebacker Larry Foote was lost for the season as well in the Week 1 loss to the Titans. Is the loss of Foote as big for the defense as Pouncey is for the offense? Fouts: Well it certainly is a big blow to the defense because of his experience. They’ve changed a lot of guys on the defensive front seven so that’s another big loss, there’s no question.
Pittsburgh team that’s rebuilding? Fouts: Well, they are making plans. Drafting [Le’Veon] Bell was a big part of rebuilding if you want it. I don’t normally like to use that term because it has a negative connotation. Each team makes changes, especially with free agency now. You can almost say that each team each year is rebuilding because of who they have to replace and who they bring in. Whether it be the draft or free agency, each team is doing that type of thing.
Galiszewski: Is Roethlisberger the
Steelers’ only offensive weapon? If so, how well can they do with one legitimate offensive weapon? Fouts: Well you get Heath Miller back and that helps everybody. It’s unfortunate what happened to [center Maurkice] Pouncey. It always starts up front, and the Steelers are very optimistic that they’ve done enough on their offensive line to get the running game going and get Ben time to
Galiszewski: How important is the re-
lationship between Roethlisberger and coordinator Todd Haley? Fouts: Well I know they’re working toward that and I think that’s good. It is important that there’s a line of communication there and understanding between the quarterback and the coordinator. And I think that if you look at Ben’s relationship with Bruce Arians, they had great
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Steelers come December? Fighting for division, wildcard, or missing out on the postseason once again? Fouts: I don’t make predictions, man.
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EDITOR’S DESK 40 Lincoln Way Suite 301 North Huntingdon PA 15642-1887 412.469.9717 Fax 412.469.9847 1.800.945.SPORTS (7767) www.pittsburghsportsreport.com E-mail: tdefazio@psrpt.com
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BEAT WRITERS Nate Barnes, Adam Bittner, Scott Kromko, Anthony Jaskulski, John Krysinsky, Alex Nseir, Joel Peretic, Kenneth Torgent
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Paying the Price of Paying the Price TONY DEFAZIO PSR EDITOR
Like a fully-loaded semi that has lost its breaks careening down the mountain. Like a powerful locomotive surging down the tracks, its whistle screaming out a warning. Like a 10 ton meteor blistering through the earth’s atmosphere at the speed of sound, burning everything in its path. That’s the subtlety at which the 2013 Steelers’ struggles have arrived. It has been a decade since the Steelers had a losing season; 12 years since they’ve missed the playoffs in consecutive years. Both of those things are likely to happen this winter. This has not exactly been sneaking up on us. In fact, the Steelers themselves scheduled it. Following the 2008 and 2009 seasons—the first of which brought the team its sixth Super Bowl—Kevin Colbert and the front office signed
several veteran free agents to longterm contract extensions that did two things: 1) they kept the franchise’s championship window open for a few more seasons, and 2) they assured that the same window would begin to close immediately thereafter. The contracts the team passed out over that two-year period to James Farrior, Casey Hampton, James Harrison, Brett Keisel, Heath Miller and Hines Ward—all of whom were in or near their 30’s when they signed the deals—stretched the organization to their financial limit and promised to leave them cash-strapped eventually. The Steelers were willing to mortgage the future to attempt to win now. And it worked. The moves kept a winning team on a winning path. The Steelers won 24 games in 2010 and 2011. They returned to the Super Bowl after the 2010 season, losing by six points to Green Bay. They went 12-4 again in 2011 before losing a playoff game in overtime to the Broncos. They took their shots.
Contents
October 2013 Vol. 17, No.9
DEPARTMENTS
PSR FOCUS
FILM CREW Shelby Cassesse, Andrew Havranek, Taylor Duncan, Nick Frost
1 TROY POLAMALU & RYAN CLARK The sun might be beginning to set on the careers of Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark, but the Steelers safeties are leaving a lasting impact.
CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHERS Charles LeClaire, Justin Berl
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Aaron Doster, William McBride, Kris Mellinger, Vincent Pugliese, Nick Susnjer, Ronald Vezzani Jr.
5 PURE STEEL Blast Furnace Index
11 BLUE LINE 2013-14 NHL Preview Pittsburgh Sports Report is published 12 times annually by Pittsburgh Sports Report, Inc. a Pennsylvania business corporation, 3 South Linden St, Duquesne, PA 15110 Subscription rates: 1 year, $22.95, 2 years $39.95. Additional 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. 2013 Pittsburgh Sports Report, Inc.”)
But then it was time to pay the piper, and the veterans who led the team to their championship runs fell in line and paraded out the door. First it was Aaron Smith and Hines Ward. Then James Farrior, Casey Hampton, James Harrison, Rashard Mendenhall, Max Starks and Mike Wallace were all shown the exit. The core of the roster was gutted and it was evident on the field, resulting in an 8-8 record a year ago and what appears to be something much worse this year. The team had no choice but to rebuild, having made a financial commitment that could only last so long. That’s the nature of the NFL in 2013. The Steelers proved they knew how to win as well as any team in the NFL through the first decade of the millennium. Now we get to find out how they handle the task of rebuilding. It may not be as much fun as winning playoff games, but it’s just as important and just as much a part of the process.
16 ON CAMPUS High school football
20 NORTH SHORE NOTES
Sept. 23, 2013 Wrigley Field
4 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • OCTOBER 2013
The 20-year drought is over.
3
UP CLOSE WITH PSR Hall of Famer Dan Fouts
4
EDITOR’S DESK Steelers struggles
PHOTO CREDITS Vincent Pugliese - 1a, 1b, 4, 7, 22c Charles LeClaire - 5b, 6, 11a, 12c, 16 Justin Berl - 8a, 13, 14, 15 Aaron Doster - 8b, 8c William McBride - 19a, 19b CBS Sports - 3; AP Photo/Bill Kostroun - 5a; AP Photo/Elaine Thompson - 5c; Pittsburgh Penguins - 11b; Getty Images - 12a, 12d; Steve Babineau NHLI via Getty Images - 12b; University of Pittsburgh - 17; Adam Bittner - 18; Pittsburgh Pirates - 20a; Todd Purifoy - 20b; AP - 22a; Heinz Kluetmeier/SI - 22b
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October Breakdowns
BY TAYLOR SKAGGS
Sunday, October 13 New York Jets, MetLife Stadium 1:00 PM, CBS NOTES: The Jets come in as a surprisingly tough
Sunday, October 20 Baltimore Ravens, Heinz Field 4:25 PM, CBS NOTES: After experiencing total demolition at
Sunday, October 27 Oakland Raiders, O.co Coliseum 4:05 PM, CBS NOTES: QB Terrelle Pryor won the starting job over
opponent. Many expected the offense to fall apart after the injury to QB Mark Sanchez, yet rookie QB Geno Smith has exceeded expectations. His performances have been up (a game-winning drive against the Buccaneers in Week 1) and down (3 interceptions and a 42.7 completion percentage against the Patriots in Week 2). With a typically stout Rex Ryan defense to back Smith up, the Jets have a knack for hanging around and giving Smith the chance to win the game.
the hands of QB Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, the Ravens’ defense returned to their traditional levels of performance in wins over the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans. The two teams combined to score 15 total points in Weeks 2 and 3. Baltimore always amps up the effort in the carnage that is the Steelers-Ravens rivalry, and the Ravens will be looking to bury the Steelers early on in the AFC North division race.
the incoming QB Matt Flynn, and Oakland has gleefully ridden the roller coaster ever since. Pryor can light up a defense with his legs or his arm, and the potential for a huge gain on every play lends each Raiders game added excitement. With the Raiders in full-on rebuilding mode, the Pryor-coaster has become the main (and really the only) game day attraction.
MATCH-UP: Pittsburgh’s running game versus the Jets’ run defense. New York has stifled some of the
best running backs in the game, including Doug Martin, C.J. Spiller and Stevan Ridley. The Steelers struggled running the ball in September. If the Steelers are bottled up on the ground, then QB Ben Roethlisberger will have a long day running away from the Jets’ pass rush. SECRET WEAPON: RB Le’Veon Bell. The Steelers’ running backs have been lackluster and injury prone. Bell, who had the Week 5 bye to fully recover from injury, will be given ample opportunity to take over the rushing attack. If the second round pick can capitalize on his potential, then Pittsburgh’s offense will have a reliable rushing weapon to ease the pressure on Roethlisberger.
MATCH-UP: The Steelers’ offense versus the Ravens’ defense. To be fair, every aspect of this game is an
intriguing match-up. The intensity, and quite possibly the hatred, that flows in this rivalry game adds a little heat to even the most mundane plays. That being said, Pittsburgh’s entire offense must step up their game. Baltimore’s defense will be out for blood, and a poor display from the offense will be punished twice as hard. SECRET WEAPON: WR Marlon Brown. The undrafted rookie free agent has a knack for finding the ball in the end zone. With WR Torrey Smith occupying the attention of the Steelers secondary, and the resurgent TE Dallas Clark slashing through the middle, watch out for Brown sneaking past the coverage and slipping in for a touchdown catch.
MATCH-UP: Pryor versus defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. The Hall-of-Famer loves to torment inexperi-
enced quarterbacks, and Pryor’s first season as a starter must have LeBeau salivating. Pryor is very mobile, supplying yards on the ground when in trouble in the pocket. If the Steelers defense can keep Pryor in the pocket, then LeBeau’s defensive schemes will force Pryor to air the ball out and throw into confusing coverages. Allowing Pryor to break down the defense with his legs will foil LeBeau’s carefully constructed plans. SECRET WEAPON: WR Rod Streater. The Raiders’ roster is thin on talent following years of poor drafts and the purging of large veteran contracts. The roster teardown opened up positions for previously overlooked talent. Streater has taken the opportunity and run with it. Using his height and lanky frame as a big target, Streater provides Pryor a large safety blanket in the passing game. Look for Pryor to throw at the tall receiver early and often.
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STEELERS, from PAGE 1 Cornerback Ike Taylor, who came to Pittsburgh in the same draft class as Polamalu, knows just how important his teammates are to the Steelers past, present and future success. “They make plays,” Taylor said. “You’re talking about two Pro Bowl safeties who are in the discussion of best at their position. We’re fortunate enough to play together.” When the Steelers have Clark, Polamalu and Taylor healthy and on the field, they have been among the best secondaries in the NFL. Over the past eight years that they have played together, they have helped the Steelers rank in the top ten of total defense nearly every year, including No.1 rankings in 2007, 2008, and 2011. Not only is it the in-game disruptions that Clark and Polamalu cause for opposing offenses, it’s the pregame headaches in game planning that gives opposing quarterbacks, receivers and coaches fits. Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman in his own right, has high praise for Polamalu, who also appears headed to Canton. “You don’t know what Troy is going to do...” Munchak said. “When things aren’t going well, he’s a guy that can all of a sudden turn the game because he’ll make a play. I love watching guys like that.” Munchak is probably happy he doesn’t have to play against the duo. “They’re two guys that you have to absolutely be aware of,” said injured Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress, who faced the duo numerous
Ryan Clark has played the best football of his career with the Steelers.
times in his career while with the Giants and Jets. “They are both leaders of the defense, outspoken and will knock your top off. I don’t think I’ve ever been around a more physical pair of safeties.” Clark and Polamalu, however, play different styles of football. Polamalu is more of a freelance safety making plays based on instinct, while Clark goes by the book and is as sound fundamentally as any safety in the game. What they do share is a pride in their physical style. “It’s not about what people argue or consider us as. It’s about the ef-
fect it has on games when you run to the ball,” Clark said. “We play a brand of football that breeds confidence in the defense and intimidates the offense and we enjoy playing; we want to win. Part of playing safety is being physical and impacting both the pass and run.” Jerricho Cotchery, who also faced Clark and Polamalu while playing with the Jets, knows all too well the impact both players have on the opposing teams passing game. “You have to find them,” Cotchery said. “Usually going into a game you have one safety that likes to be around the ball, but with Troy and
Ryan you have two guys who love to be around the ball, so that makes it very tough to put a plan together. “You definitely think twice going across the middle,” Cotchery admitted. “They like to hit, so you need to know how to protect yourself.” Playing together for the past eight years has given Clark a feel for what he needs to do based on what Polamalu is capable of. “I let Troy do whatever he wants,” Clark laughed. “I just make sure I have his back no matter what.” Flying around at breakneck speed see STEELERS, PAGE 7
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Polamalu was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010.
STEELERS from PAGE 6
is a trademark of Polamalu’s game. Most observers assume that defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau has special packages designed to take full advantage of No. 43’s instinct and athleticism, but that isn’t always the case. “Believe it or not, we only have a few defenses that we consider ‘Troy’ defenses,” LeBeau said. “It’s just the defense that we call, but they are a little bit better when Troy is out there. I’d like to say that we do some kind of mastermind scheme, but it’s
just Troy’s presence.” Not only are Clark and Polamalu well-respected between the lines, they’re held to a high regard in the locker room by teammates, coaches and even opposing coaches. Recently named a captain for the 2013-14 season, Clark got a bit emotional when speaking about what it meant to him. “It’s extremely flattering and very humbling,” he said. “The men in this locker room are different than the men in other locker rooms, so for them to vote me captain is a huge honor to me. “I think you have to show com-
passion for your teammates, you have to show a genuine care and concern for the guys in the locker room. I feel like I do that, but for them to acknowledge how much I care about them is big for me.” Taylor says that respect extends beyond the field and the locker room. “We’re brothers, man,” Taylor said. “We know each other’s family; our kids have grown up together. It’s just a family bond.” It’s the same way for Clark and Polamalu. “He’s my best friend here,” Clark said. “We spend a lot of time to-
gether. He’s Uncle Troy to my kids and I’m Uncle Ryan to his kids. That’s our relationship. I think that allows you to play together better. It allows you to be genuinely happy when he makes a play, genuinely happy when he succeeds. That is our relationship.” Though they’re in a race against father time in a football sense, Clark and Polamalu have not hesitated to share their experience with the players who could ultimately take their spots on the Heinz Field turf. Rookie safety Shamarko Thomas, who came to the Steelers with a lot of buzz surrounding his physicality and speed, knows how important Clark and Polamalu are not only to the team, but to his personal development. “It’s a blessing to be under them,” Thomas said. “They’ve taken me under their wing and it’s a blessing to have this opportunity with them. I’m trying to take everything I can from them. They’re great athletes and great playmakers.” As the sun slowly sets on their careers, Clark and Polamalu, best friends on and off the field, can ride into the sunset together knowing what a lasting impact they have left not only on the game of football from a safety’s perspective, but an indelible impact on the Steelers organization. For now, though, they’re happy to continue striking fear into the minds of opposing players and coaches. Because that is just what they do.
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PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • OCTOBER 2013 7
Blast Furnace Index WHO’S HOT
WHO’S NOT
OLB Jarvis Jones: It’s difficult to
QB Ben Roethlisberger: Perhaps the
pick out “hot” players on a team that has struggled early, but Jones’ stock has been climbing as one of the promising long-term pieces of Pittsburgh’s defense. The first-round draft pick is making an impact early and will probably get more playing time as the season goes on. Jones has made major strides week after week and figures to have a key impact on the defensive side of the ball for the remainder of the season.
biggest weakness on this year’s Steelers team is the offensive line, which has been battered by injuries and struggled against pressure. The biggest victim of the poor line play has been Roethlisberger. The veteran QB had no time in the opening game of the season against Tennessee, but even against the Bengals in Week 2, with new center Fernando Velasco playing well, Roethlisberger appeared antsy in the pocket. While his play-making mentality has often paid off, Roethlisberger might now be better off trying to protect himself. There is a long season ahead, but unless Roethlisberger’s play improves, the offense will continue to struggle.
BY CODY BENJAMIN RB Felix Jones: Like Roethlisberger,
Jones doesn’t deserve all the blame for his performances because of the Steelers’ shaky offensive line. But Jones clearly fits the bill of a player who is not hot. It’s important to remember that Jones is still relatively new to the team, coming over in a trade with the Eagles just before the season, but the former Cowboys starter has had trouble making any kind of impact. With neither Isaac Redman nor Jonathan Dwyer forcing the issue, however, Jones could receive more opportunities.
TIME TO SHINE WR Antonio Brown: Unless Brown
plays a vital role, the Steelers won’t turn their season around. A few separate things need to happen for Brown to get going – the offensive line needs to play better, Roethlisberger needs to return to his Super Bowl form and some threat of a running game must emerge. The return of tight end Heath Miller and rookie running back Le’Veon Bell will help. If Brown is able to become a constant scoring threat, the amount of pressure on the offense as a whole will dwindle.
Xfinity High School Football Game of the Week Schedule 2013 August 30 – Mt. Lebanon at North Allegheny September 6 – Central Valley at Montour September 13 – Greensburg Salem at Hampton September 20 – Yough at Washington September 27 – Seton-LaSalle at South Fayette October 4 – North Catholic at Avonworth October 11 – Bethel Park at Upper St. Clair October 18 – New Castle at Moon October 25 – Woodland Hills at Penn Hills November 1 – First Round WPIAL Playoffs November 8 – WPIAL Quarterfinals November 15 – WPIAL Semifinals
Xfinity TV subscribers with Digital Starter and above packages get free access to the XFINITY High School Sports Game of the Week through the “Get Local” and “Sports” folders on their On Demand menu beginning the day after the game. Join Comcast’s high school sports team, including play-by-play man Chris Shovlin, color analyst and PSR Publisher Ellis Cannon and sideline reporter Kati Lightholder. Former Steelers’ quarterback Charlie Batch joins the team for the playoffs.
8 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • OCTOBER 2013
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Penguins Keep Marching BY TAYLOR SKAGGS
The Penguins entered the off-season coming off a disheartening sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals at the hands of the Boston Bruins. Rather than panic, the organization tweaked an offensive juggernaut in the hopes of bringing home another Stanley Cup.
Strengths With a veritable cornucopia of talent at the center and wing positions, the Penguins strength is evident. With two Hart Memorial winners in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin playing alongside the prolific trio of James Neal, Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis, the Penguins’ first and second lines are the envy of the league. Filling in behind the star-studded top lines are solid twoway center Brandon Sutter, veterans like Jussi Jokinen and Tanner Glass, and ex-
citing youngster Beau Bennett. This confluence of talent allowed Pittsburgh to finish with 3.4 goals per game last season, the highest in the league. By extension, the Pens’ power play unit was deadly, finishing with a 24.7 percent conversion rate. Every measurement and analysis shows that the Penguins, from top to bottom, have an unmatched stable of forwards and a truly dominant offensive unit.
Weaknesses Weakness is a relative term for the Penguins. For the most part, Pittsburgh’s blue line was above-average. They allowed 2.5 goals against per game, 12th in the league. The adjusted and advanced statistics placed the Pens in the top half of the league in any given measurement. When compared to the top offense in the NHL, the numbers seem
The Penguins were Additions pressed up against the salary cap this off-seaCraig Adams (36), RW, Re-signed son, yet they managed Robert Bortuzzo (24), D, Re-signed to turn what room they Chris Connor (29), RW, from Phoenix had into a nine-man Matt D'Agostini (26), RW, group comprised of usefrom New Jersey ful veterans and inPascal Dupuis (34), RW, Re-signed triguing prospects. Andrew Ebbet (30), C, from Vancouver They retained Dupuis Eric Hartzell (24), G, Re-signed after he posted one of Dustin Jeffrey (25), C/W, Re-signed the best seasons of his Rob Scuderi (34), D, From Los Angeles career and snapping up Scuderi from the Kings brought back a member of the 2009 Stanley Cup champions. Their biggest offseason moves were the long-term extensions given to stars Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.
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pedestrian, especially after the loss to the defensively dominant Bruins. That said, the defense is incredibly skilled and proficient, as evidenced by Kris Letang and his league-leading points for a defenseman. With the addition of the burly Scuderi and the continued development of Simon DesprÊs, the Pens’ defense could potentially rise to the level of the prolific offense. The penalty kill unit needs some serious improvement. Pittsburgh allowed an abysmal 79.6 percent conversion rate, 25th in the league. Even marginal improvement on the defensive special teams unit would significantly improve the Penguins’ performance both in the regular season and in the playoffs.
Areas of Concern Being swept by the Boston Bruins in the conference finals was the impetus for serious evaluation of the current roster. On one hand, GM Ray Shero put
together a team that has the potential to win the Stanley Cup. However, the fiasco that was Marc-Andre Fleury’s playoff performance is a major area of concern and a massive wild-card in the Pens’ Stanley Cup aspirations. Though Tomas Vokoun stepped in and performed well, the 37-year old goalie is out indefinitely after a procedure to dissolve a blood clot in his pelvis. Does management really want Vokoun to have to save the day in consecutive seasons? Simply put, Marc-Andre Fleury must play like the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion rather than the porous, timid goalie of the last three postseasons. In order to see the necessary improvements from Fleury, Pittsburgh promoted Mike Bales to goaltending coach. Bales was the goaltender developmental coach for the entire Penguins organization, working with goalies at all stages and levels. Perhaps his coaching will coax out the best Fleury.
The losses of Iginla and Murray in free agency were unsurprising. Both veterans Matt Cooke, LW, to Minnesota found better contracts on Mark Eaton, D, Unsigned teams with more cap space Jarome Iginla, RW, to Boston and money to offer. Cooke’s Tyler Kennedy, RW, to San Jose Brenden Morrow, LW, to St. Louis contract with the Wild was only slightly larger than his Douglas Murray, D, to Montreal previous contract with the Penguins. The trade of Tyler Kennedy was a smart move by management given the current situation. Kennedy’s potential has always been limited by his inconsistency, and the talent-laden offensive rotations would have afforded him very little ice time. The Pens dealt from their position of strength to free up the extra cap space necessary to re-sign Dupuis.
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BY TYLER PECYNA
NHL POWER RATINGS 1 Chicago Blackhawks Last year’s Stanley Cup champs lost very little talent in the off-season. Are they a budding dynasty?
11 Detroit Red Wings Realignment means less travel time, helping aging core. How much gas does Daniel Alfredsson have left?
21 New Jersey Devils Strange offseason could take team in any direction. Departure of Ilya Kovalchuk is a major blow.
2 Boston Bruins Replacing Rich Peverly, Nathan Horton and Tyler Seguin with Jarome Iginla and Loui Eriksson could help the Bruins finish the job this year.
12 New York Rangers Blue Shirts’ hope rests on Henrik Lundqvist’s pads. Can a new coach get the rest of the squad to deliver?
22 Columbus Blue Jackets Progress comes slowly, but it is coming. Jackets need newly-acquired Marian Gaborik to deliver.
13 Washington Capitals Mikhail Grabovski is a big boost for second line, but the Caps can’t afford another slow start from Alexander Ovechkin.
23 Philadelphia Flyers Poor system thwarts quietly strong offseason. Goaltending must hold up.
3 Los Angeles Kings L.A. dealt backup keeper Jonathan Bernier for forward Matt Frattin, making a deep squad even deeper. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins Signed Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz to lock up a core led by Sidney Crosby. But is Marc-Andre Fleury capable? 5 St. Louis Blues The only weakness of Ken Hitchcock’s defense-oriented team? Running into red-hot L.A.. 6 San Jose Sharks San Jose’s aging core has the firepower to make one more run for the Cup. Can they finally get there? 7 Ottawa Senators If Bobby Ryan can mimic a prime Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa will soar up the ranks. Their young defense could be the league’s best. 8 Vancouver Canucks John Tortorella and a resolved goalie situation put the Canucks back into legitimate Cup conversation. 9 Anaheim Ducks Dustin Penner takes Bobby Ryan’s spot on a talented line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. 10 Montreal Canadians Defense must improve while stars are peaking. Adding Daniel Murray brings a scary physical presence.
14 New York Islanders Tons of talent up top; can Evgeni Nabokov contribute in net? A good team that’s getting better. 15 Toronto Maple Leafs David Clarkson, Jonathan Bernier additions help erase a disappointing end to last season. 16 Edmonton Oilers Finally poised to leave rebuild mode, the Oilers and Islanders are starting to envision a return to the heady days of the 80’s. 17 Minnesota Wild Last year: ousted in first playoff series. This year: likely a similar story. Salary might be top-heavy. 18 Dallas Stars Big offseason deals can’t break playoff drought. Organization seems in search of an identity. 19 Nashville Predators Solid group of forwards lacks a star or a young player to build around. Not quite ready for prime time. 20 Carolina Hurricanes Can Carolina avoid the injury bug this year? If the Canes get a full, healthy season from Cam Ward, they can slide up the ladder.
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12 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • OCTOBER 2013
24 Phoenix Coyotes Phoenix can’t be as disappointing this year. Right? Coyotes can’t seem to gain any traction. 25 Winnipeg Jets Just wait for Jacob Trouba and Mark Scheifele to join Evander Kane. The Jets could develop into this season’s version of the 2013 Islanders. 26 Buffalo Sabres Sabres hope for strong seasons from Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek to boost trade value. Buffalo is a ways away from contending. 27 Tampa Bay Lightning Poor Steven Stamkos‌ Help is on the way, but it may not be enough to matter this season. Team ignored defense for too long. 28 Colorado Avalanche Patrick Roy inherits stacked core, just too young to compete for now. How he deals with the frustrations of a young team will be a key. 29 Florida Panthers Aleksander Barkov watch. The 18-year old Russian is recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and the Panthers want to be patient with him. 30 Calgary Flames Fire-sold Flames are in rebuild mode. Hard to gauge how far-along they are.
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Bigger Ice BY ALEX NSEIR
Playing well away from home. “It’s not a great history,� Team USA head coach Dan Bylsma said at the Olympic Orientation camp. He was referring to USA Hockey’s record in Olympics outside of North America since the NHL became involved in 1998. “And taking into account the ice surface, the big ice, there are certainly things we talk about.� Coaches and management are doing their best to address the issue and make players aware of the pitfalls the United States hockey team has encountered in the past. “Vancouver probably seemed like a cakewalk compared to what it could be in Russia, where everything is going to be a little unfamiliar,� 2010 Team USA goalie and tournament MVP Ryan Miller said. “We’re going to have to lean on each other quite a bit, the guys that make the team, and we’re going to have to have a plan in place.� New Jersey goaltender Cory Schneider echoed those sentiments and talked about the message given by coaches and management. “I think the message was just we need to be better overseas and kind of suck it up,� he said. “It’s going to be different, there’s going to be language barriers and differences in the food, the accommodations I’m sure, but the message is kind of everyone else is going to be doing the same thing. So there’s no excuse for (not performing well outside of the U.S.).
I think we feel that we should be able to compete anywhere in the world, not just on North American soil.� While the prospect of going to a different country may seem nervewracking for some players, by all accounts the Olympic village and other facilities are going to be spectacular. In addition, some Olympic veterans Pens coach Dan Bylsma will lead Team USA into Russia in 2014. feel that being farther away from home will have. After orientation ends, the ferent environment. bring their team closer together. “We watched a little video today “The distractions from the family next time Team USA meets will be and I got excited to maybe have the 36 hours before the tournament and trying to accommodate (peoopportunity to be on the big ice,� starts. ple), it’s just not going to be there Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle USA Hockey coaches and manbecause it’s more difficult to get people over there, more expensive,� Los agement play down the issue since said. “I’d say probably my best Angeles Kings captain Dustin every country will be dealing with strength is my skating and being Brown said. “I’m looking forward to the change in ice size, but this seems able to skate out of trouble. With a the opportunity, if I’m selected. It’s like false equivalency. Alexander big rink, you can do that. “ While USA Hockey is publicly going to be a lot of time with your Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin are going to be more comfortable on in- saying that the ice issue will not teammates.� That brings the issue back to the ternational ice than Patrick Kane make or break their tournament, it 15 extra feet of ice on an interna- and Zach Parise. Their transition was the hottest topic during the tional rink. Angling, positioning and will be made even easier by the pres- summer Olympic camp. “In North American (it’s) aggresthe pace of the game will be drasti- ence of KHL stars like Ilya Kosive, go, go, go is how we like to play cally different for players accus- valchuk and Alexander Radulov. This makes the selection process here,� Bylsma said. “There has to be tomed to playing on a rink that is narrower than the ice surface in facing the management team, which some aspect of patience and smart, Sochi. It could take time for NHL includes Penguins GM Ray Shero, intelligent hockey (when you’re) players to adjust. Unfortunately, even more daunting. They need to going over on a bigger surface.� time is the one thing no team made choose players who will thrive in up primarily of NHL players will and are maybe even excited by a dif-
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Fixing Fleury BY KURT HACKIMER
When Penguins fans last saw MarcAndre Fleury make a start, against the New York Islanders in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, it resembled the violent end of a Hollywood boxing movie more closely than it did a hockey game. Kyle Okposo’s tally at the end of the second period was a straight left that broke Fleury’s nose. John Tavares’ rebound goal was a right cross that left the punch-drunk goaltender reeling. Casey Cizikas’ fluky breakaway, which would’ve harmlessly fluttered to the corner if it wouldn’t have caromed off of Fleury’s blocker, was the slow motion right hook that jacked the once Stanley Cup-winning goaltender’s jaw and sent him crashing to the canvas in a heap. Fleury was left defeated, eyes swollen and purple, spitting blood into a metal bucket. Two days later, Tomas Vokoun would take the starting job and wouldn’t relinquish it for the rest of the postseason. End scene. So here we are: It’s been months since Fleury’s most recent postseason collapse and months since the Pens were swept by the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Finals. It’s a new season and, while many Penguins fans have already begun lighting their torches and sharpening their pitchforks in anticipation of Fleury’s next postseason collapse, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ support of Fleury has been steadfast.
General manager Ray Shero expressed his vote of confidence by not cutting Fleury loose this offseason. Dan Bylsma affirmed that Fleury is going to be the starting goalie at the beginning of this season and told the Pittsburgh Trib-
“With your starting goalie, you have to ask ‘Can they play on the biggest stage?’ Fleury’s done it before.� The Cup argument has been used countless times before to defend Fleury’s gaffes, and it is true that he has proven on numerous occasions that he can win big games. The Penguins are apparently convinced that, with the proper training, he still can. “He is too good,� former Calgary
une-Review that the Pens had the “best [goaltending] tandem in the league.� How can the front office maintain such confidence in a goaltender that has given up 60 goals in his last 18 playoff hockey games? The answer to that question can be found in Fleury’s trophy cabinet. “He was the only goaltender in the Eastern Conference playoffs who had a Stanley Cup ring as a starter,� NHL Network broadcaster Steve Mears said.
Flames’ GM and current hockey analyst Craig Button said. “Too talented and too competitive. Now it’s the Penguins’ job to make sure he stays focused.� “I think he’s just coming into his prime,� Mears said. “Fleury has played well, but is prone to mental lapses. Unfortunately, those mental lapses have come in the playoffs.� To help Fleury deal with his mental lapses, the Penguins have made several organizational changes. First, with the
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14 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • OCTOBER 2013
retirement of goalie coach Gilles Meloche, the team promoted goaltending coach Mike Bales from WilkesBarre/Scranton to work with Fleury. Bales, 42, is 21 years younger than Meloche and will allow Fleury to learn from a different perspective. “I think replacing Meloche with Bales is the typical ‘new voice’ way of seeking improvement,� Puck Daddy blogger Sean Leahy said. “Bales is younger and will [make] Fleury better in different ways.� “Every coach brings something different,� Button said. “When you look at something through the same lens long enough, colors start to show. Bales is a new lens.� Fleury has also been visiting a sports psychologist, a method that helped former Penguins forward Matt Cooke regain focus on the ice. “Bringing in a sports psychologist to build a relationship with MarcAndre is a great idea,� said Button. “You’re going to give up goals. At the end of the day, it’s more about making sure you don’t capsize.� Additionally, the Penguins brought back shutdown defenseman Rob Scuderi and added defensive guru Jacques Martin as an assistant coach to help reinforce the defense in front of Fleury. However, Fleury knows that the responsibility will ultimately be his to bear. Another playoff collapse could mark the end of his Penguins career. “I don't think [a psychologist is] going to stop the pucks for me, you know? I still have to do that,� Fleury said after a September scrimmage. In the end, that’s what it all comes down to: stopping pucks.
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Martin Searching for Olympic Chance Pens defenseman missed 2010 Games due to injury
BY ALEX NSEIR
This summer’s USA Hockey Olympic Orientation was not Paul Martin’s first Olympic experience. In 2006, Martin made the threeman “taxi squad� in Turin, Italy, which meant he would have only played in the event of an injury and couldn’t stay in the athlete’s village. “In 2006, I’m just coming into the league, (so) you obviously think you’re going to have that opportu-
nity (again) down the road,� he said. For Martin, it seemed “down the road� would be 2010, in Vancouver. At that point, Martin was established as a top-end talent and one of the best American defensemen in the league. He seemed to be a lock for Team USA. Six games into the 2009-10 season, an errant shot from former Pittsburgh Penguin Bill Guerin broke the then-New Jersey Devils defenseman’s left forearm. “They said it would be eight weeks
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and it ended up being about 10 or 11 and the doctor said it wasn’t healing correctly,� Martin said. “That was when I started to worry.� Over two months after the initial injury, Martin went to see another specialist who told him that he would need surgery. “The door slowly shut as the weeks went by,� he said of his Olympic hopes. While the injury didn’t keep USA Hockey from naming Martin to their 2010 squad, he had to withdraw 15 days before the tournament started anyway. “It was really hard in Vancouver, the whole process, the way that it went down,� he said, noting that the entire episode was the biggest disappointment of his career. The ordeal definitely left a mark on the slick-skating blueliner, who was lauded by the Penguins as their best defenseman last year. “Missing it in Vancouver was tough, so now, you know what, I’m not getting any younger,� Martin said. “ So (I need to) take advantage of this opportunity.� Redemption and second chances are nothing new to Martin. After a disappointing year in 2011-12, Penguins General Manager and USA
Hockey Associate General Manager Ray Shero asked Martin if he wanted to stay in Pittsburgh. The 32-year-old Minnesota native decided he would remain a Penguin and ended up having one of the best seasons of his career. Though he sustained a severe ankle injury in the Pens Eastern Conference Final series against Boston, Martin said he has recovered and will have no limitations when the season starts in October. "I think it started a long time ago in his mind of getting ready and proving to everybody that he wanted to be on this team," Penguins and Team USA assistant coach Tony Granato said. While Martin knows from experience that there are no guarantees when it comes to Sochi, he hopes that his skating and puck-moving abilities will make him an asset for a team that needs to adjust to playing on a larger ice surface. “I’m very confident in my abilities and where I’m at,� he said. “But that being said, anything can happen and I can only control how I prepare and how hard I work.�
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PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • OCTOBER 2013 15
Headed West BY DEVON MOORE
It was one of those unforgettable Sweet Sixteen moments. The gamewinning 3-pointer with two seconds left to lift the team to the Elite Eight. The problem for Sean Miller’s Arizona Wildcats was it was not point guard Mark Lyons who tied it with a spectacular shot just 18 seconds earlier. It was Ohio State reserve LaQuinton Ross. The last-second basket sent the Wildcats packing from the Staples Center with a heartbreaking loss, and Lyons off to the NBA Developmental League. With the big shoes of a senior floor general to fill, Duquesne junior transfer T.J. McConnell—who had yet to play a game for his new team—forced his feet in and started running almost immediately. The next week, it was McConnell who called a team meeting to discuss what the Wildcats could do in the offseason to improve. “I thought that was a great sign of leadership,” said Arizona play-by-play announcer Brian Jeffries. “To take it upon himself and the fact that he really hasn’t played in an Arizona uniform...obviously he felt comfortable doing it.” That Pittsburgh native T.J. McConnell is a leader on and off the court might not be obvious to some. He’s a smaller guy coming from a rather unheralded program at Duquesne. But that didn’t stop Miller from calling him “one of the best point guards in the country” before a matchup with Duquesne in November 2011. The Dukes gave a heavily-favored Wildcats squad a run for their money in that game, and Arizona needed a
second-half surge to slip by 67-59. “It’s been kind of an interesting story since that game,” said Jeffries. “Then here a year later T.J. makes the transfer. It certainly made some headlines here and I think people have been anxiously awaiting his eligibility.” No one might be more excited than father and high school basketball coach Tim McConnell. “If he’d have gone away as a freshman, I think it might have been different,” he said. “But having two years under his belt, I knew he was mature and could handle it.” Maturity can also leave someone wanting more when they are stuck in the wrong place, particularly if there is a small window of opportunity to achieve that goal. Basketball success and the relative unknown after graduation were the driving forces behind McConnell’s transfer from Duquesne to Arizona. “He knew (Arizona) was a good program and a great coach,” said Tim McConnell. “He always knew his goal was to get to the (NCAA Tournament), and he knew the best chance to do that was in Arizona. It’s definitely a different mentality. It’s expected that they have a far run and not just make it there. But he likes that, that’s what he thrives on.” It probably didn’t hurt that Lyons was leaving the program. “I think that Sean was able to sell T.J. that there was a vacancy,” said Mike DeCourcey, Sporting News writer and studio analyst for the Big Ten Network. “He will play with high-level players, and he will be coached by someone who knows the position extraordinarily well.” DeCourcey also explained that while ball distribution is always the primary
16 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • OCTOBER 2013
T.J. McConnell Ready for Higher Expectations at Arizona objective of a true point guard, McConnell could have a chance to showcase his perimeter shooting game. “They don’t have a great deal of outside shooting,” said DeCourcey. “It’s going to be important for him to make outside shots, to be a willing shooter. He didn’t shoot over a hundred 3pointers either of his other years. I think he’s going to have to top 100. They need that threat.” Jeffries agrees. “Based on the practices I was seeing last year, T.J. is going to have a green light,” he said. “If he’s comfortable taking his shot, that’s fine. The strength of this team is down low and on the wings, so they are going to need that kind of balance.” Showcasing his talents on a national stage with top-level talent could provide a window to McConnell’s future plans to play professionally. There are plenty of hoops to be shot overseas, but according to DeCourcey, the NBA is
not out of the realm of possibility. “I’ve seen guys with his size and skill set that have made it,” he said. “You have to see a guy in a particular venue to know for sure. T.J. is a very creative offensive player. He can shoot, he can pass and he can handle it. He’s not big, but he’s not undersized. Playing with these kinds of players, (blue-chip freshman) Aaron Gordon is going to play in the NBA, he’s going to be a lottery pick, so if you play with these guys and you fit, that increases your chances that you will be an NBA player.” The elder McConnell is taking the more reserved approach. “He doesn’t talk about the NBA,” he said. “I think he’s good enough to go overseas and play. He’d like to continue his career, but really not sure about the NBA, it’s a big step.” One shoe at a time.
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Mon Valley Football: Talking Dawkins BY TYLER PECYNA
It’s understandable how Monessen wide receiver Julius Dawkins could haul in two touchdowns and a twopoint conversion during the Greyhounds’ 1977 conference title game and not stand out. For one, Thomas Jefferson’s Jaguar Stadium was packed with 10,000 fans despite a capacity of 7,000. Newspapers that every parking spot within three miles of the stadium was filled. Furthermore, Dawkins’ robust offensive output was a microcosm of both Monessen’s and Thomas Jefferson’s performances. The game featured 79 combined points and 824 total yards. Dawkins was even outperformed by his kin. His cousin, quarterback Reggie
Allen, led Monessen with 298 passing yards and four TDs in the Greyhounds’ 44-35 win. But Dawkins would have plenty of other shining moments, as he rose from a well-distinguished figure in the local ranks of Mon-Valley football, to a prominently recognized national star. After his career at Monessen, Dawkins moved on to play football for Pitt in 1979. As a split end he compiled just 16 catches for 253 yards and no touchdowns over his freshman and sophomores seasons. Dawkins’ progress was slowed when he broke the thumb on his left hand the August before enrolling at Pitt. The injury occurred during a high school AllStar game, but he injured it again playing basketball and had several pins
inserted. His injury, coupled with established veteran receivers ahead of him on the depth chart, resulted in a slow at Pitt. Then Dawkins absolutely blew up the scene, putting the frustrating couple years in his past with a dominant junior year. Thanks in part to quarterback Dan Marino, Dawkins amassed a team-leading 767 yards on 46 catches and 16 touchdowns. The 16 scores were a school record at the time and led the NCAA, earning All-America honors for Dawkins. “I knew the opportunity was right in the palms of my hands,” Dawkins told Andy Nuzzo and the Beaver County Times in 1982. “So I figured I wouldn’t let the chance get away.” Throughout Dawkins’ four years at
Julius Dawkins
Pitt, the Panthers finished 11-1 from 1979-1981 and 9-3 in ’82. His football career continued into the NFL, spending two seasons in Buffalo, where he made five starts and caught 32 passes for the Bills in 1983 and 1984.
Upcoming Games Friday Aug. 30 Uniontown at Belle Vernon Saturday Sept. 7 Woodland Hills at McKeesport Friday Sept. 13 Laurel Highlands at Elizabeth Forward
Friday Sept. 20 Monessen at Clairton Friday Sept. 27 Bishop Canevin at Monessen Friday Oct. 4 Baldwin at Woodland Hills
Friday Oct. 11 Elizabeth Forward at Ringgold
REGIONAL Friday Oct. 18 HIGH SCHOOL Uniontown at Thomas Jefferson
FOOTBALL
Friday Oct. 25 Thomas Jefferson at West Mifflin
TOUR
Catch the best high school action across the Mon-Val-
well as providing pregame coverage and postgame
ley with the US Steel High School Football Game of the
highlights. See the highlights every weekend at
Week. For the second consecutive year, US Steel makes
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a generous monetary donation to the host teams, as
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PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • OCTOBER 2013 17
Presenting the Dan Rooney Trophy
t en itm m m co
co mm un ity
res ult s
co m fo
qu al ity
e nc rie e p ex rt
on cti e nn co
life
in no va ti
on
This is where it all comes together. A focus on you. A search for better ideas. A promise to the places we call home. This is Allegheny Health Network.
Call 412.DOCTORS Â? AHN.org
18 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • OCTOBER 2013
BY ADAM BITTNER
When Croke Park Classic officials approached Dan Rooney about naming the event's trophy after him, the former U.S. ambassador to Ireland and Steelers chairman was characteristically humble. "I said 'I don't deserve that. You should get some Irishman,'" Rooney said last month at Beaver Stadium before Penn State and Central Florida kicked off a two-year series that will end at the Classic in Dublin, Ireland to open next season on Aug. 30, 2014. But Paraic Duffy, the director General of the host Gaelic Athletic Association, had none of it. "We were very persistent and insistent," Duffy said. "Eventually, we persuaded him to agree." And so, the Dan Rooney Trophy, crafted from Irish bog yew and
melted-down steel from the remains of Three Rivers Stadium, was born. It will go to the winning team of each meeting in the series. Penn State fans responded warmly to the Rooney, Duffy and the trophy during a pregame ceremony, giving a loud cheer for the Pennsylvania football icon. Duffy hopes to see many of those fans next season, when he said he expects a "full house" at the hurling and soccer venue that opened in 1913 and has a capacity of 82,300. But for now, Rooney had to settle for watching the Nittany Lions and Knights meet for the trophy that bears his name in the nation that her served his country. "It's a real honor for me," Rooney said.
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TOP5
BY CODY BENJAMIN
WPIAL RECORD HOLDERS
Rushing Yards
Rushel Shell, Hopewell,
2008-2011, 9,078 yards Mike Vernillo,
Fort Cherry, 1996-1999, 7,646 yards Matt Gavrish, Penn-Trafford, 1997, 6,512 yards
Passing Yards Christian
Rodney Wilson,
West Greene, 1990-1993, 6,304 yards Tyler Boyd, Clairton, 2009-2012, 5,755 yards
Montour, 3,192 yards
Rob Kalkstein, Gateway,
2006-2009, 6,491 yards Lenny Williams, Sto-Rox,
2010-present, yards
6,196 Devin Wilson
Receptions
Receiving Yards Devin Wilson, 2009-2012,
Brumbaugh,
South Fayette, 20072010, 7,162 yards Adam DiMichele, Sto-Rox, 2000-2003, 6,741 yards Andrew DiDonato, South Fayette, 2003-3005, 6,573 yards
Carmen Connolly, 2001-
Devin Wilson, 2009-2012,
Carmen Connolly, Seton La
2004, Seton La Salle, 3,120 yards
Montour, 230 receptions
Salle, 2001-2004, 221 receptions Rushel Shell
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Sponsored By:
COGO’ S
Schedule Aug. 30 Greensburg Central Catholic at Washington Sept. 6 Norwin at Penn Trafford
H.
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Sept. 13 Seton LaSalle at Keystone Oaks Sept. 20 Beaver at Beaver Falls
Any Size
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CoGo’s sponsors the best in WPIAL High School Football action all season, featuring games across the region every Friday night. Local CoGo’s stores will make a generous monetary donation to the athletic departments of the host schools, as well as donate cups and iced tea to the concession stands. The Pittsburgh Sports Report high school writers break down the games beforehand, and the PSR video crew documents the highlights online after the games.
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Oct. 4 Knoch at Franklin Regional Oct. 11 Fox Chapel at Baldwin Oct. 18 Butler at Fox Chapel Oct. 25 Hampton at Mars
Catch the highlights at www.cogos.com
PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • OCTOBER 2013 19
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America’s Favorite Pastime A Song About Dock Ellis and His Infamous No-Hitter Dock Ellis is a deceased former Major League baseball player who passed away nearly five years ago. Todd Snider is a 46-year-old singer-songwriter from Portland, Oregon who plays country-tinged rock-n-roll. What are these two doing in the same article in a sports publication? Snider’s 2009 song “America’s Favorite Pastime” chronicles the day in 1970 that Ellis threw a no-hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates… while under the influence of LSD. Ellis, who forgot he was pitching that afternoon, took LSD early in the day yet still managed to pitch the game of his life, despite—in Ellis’s own words—not being able to feel the ball or see the batters, or even his own catcher, clearly. PSR Editor Tony DeFazio spoke with Snider about the song.
“America’s Favorite Pastime” BY
TODD SNIDER
Dock Ellis didn’t think he would pitch that day back in 1970 When he and his wife took a trip to the ballpark a little bit differently So by the time he hit the bullpen half the world had melted away That’s about the time Coach Murtaugh said. “Hey Dock you’re pitching today.” Taking the ground the mound turned into the icing on a birthday cake The lead-off man came up and
Tony: What was it about Dock’s story
that made you want to write a song about it? Todd: I just always like it when a screwball delivers. I like it when unprepared people have luck. The idea for that song came about at a festival over the summer, and there were about seven bands playing outside, and that’s where everybody gets to meet each other. We were all in this tent, a bunch of different bands, and one of the younger bands had taken acid to go do their show. And we were joking about how our
20 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • OCTOBER 2013
turned into a dancing rattle snake The crowd tracked back and forth in waves of color under the sun The ball turned into a silver bullet, his arm into a gun… Three up, three down for three straight innings in a zero-zero tie As all those batters names came ringing from some voice out of the sky Hallucinating Halloween scenes each new swing of the bat His sinker looked like it was falling off a table but nobody was hallucinating that… By the top of the fifth he was up one to nothing and giving the Padres fits By the top of the seventh he was up
job was probably the only job where you could do that and get away with it, and somebody brought up that a pitcher had done it. I was fascinated immediately and thought maybe I could make up a song about it. So then I found the box score and wrote the song that way, just looking at the box score. Tony: You’ve written about other ath-
letes who have kind of walked a blurry line with the law – Mike Tyson and others. Is that what drew you to Dock Ellis?
two to nothing and they still hadn’t got any hits With one out left to go in the game the batter looked like a little child The birthday caking was shaking and those waves of color were going wild When he finally mowed the last man down he was high as he had ever been Laughing to the sound of the world going around completely unaware of the win And while the papers would say he was scattered that day, he was pretty as a pitcher could be The day Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates threw a no hitter on LSD…
Todd: I really do like people like that,
in sports the people like Tonya Harding, Dennis Rodman, the tennis players who go nuts. Mike Tyson is probably my favorite athlete because I just like the show. I’m there for the show. I like hockey but when the fight breaks out it’s great. When the car wreck happens it’s great and I don’t see why we should act like it isn’t. I like it when they’re different. But now a tattoo means you’re probably bland and from the suburbs. The scariest bikers now don’t have any tattoos.
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Buctober!
Oct. 13, 1960: Bill
Mazeroski’s n i n t h - i n n i n g, walk-off homerun against the Yankees wins Pittsburgh its third World Series title. The Game 7 series- clinching homer is still the only of its kind in World Series history.
burgh trailed 3-1 in the series before storming back to capture the franchise’s second championship. Oct. 16, 1909: Babe Adams, a 27-
year-old rookie, leads Pittsburgh to its first World Series title by throwing a complete game shutout against the Detroit Tigers in Game 7. In a matchup of Pittsburgh’s Honus Wagner and Detroit’s Ty Cobb, the Pirates star tripled and drove in two runs; Cobb finished the game 0-for-4.
BY TYLER PECYNA
Oct. 13, 1971: The
Oct. 16, 1979: Pittsburgh wins the
World Series is played as a night game for the first time. The Pirates won 4-3 over the Orioles at Three Rivers Stadium. Milt May’s pinchhit single in the seventh scores Bob Robertson and Pittsburgh ties the series at 2-2.
World Series over Baltimore in seven games. Steve Blass goes the distance, allowing just one run, while Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell both homer in the 4-1 victory.
The Pirates finally played a meaningful game in October. It’s been a month that has historically been pretty good to the Buccos. Oct. 1, 1903: The Pirates capture the
Oct. 10, 1986: Current Pirates center
first World Series game ever played, beating Cy Young and the Boston Red Sox 7-3.
sweep of the Reds in the NLCS, Willie Stargell clubs a homerun and is named series MVP.
fielder and three-time All-Star Andrew McCutchen is born. The former first round pick has led Pittsburgh in Wins Above Replacement in each season since his first full year in 2010, and is the focal point of the first Pirates team to reach the postseason since 1992.
Oct. 6, 1971: The Pirates win the N.L.
Oct. 11, 1979: With the scored at 2-2
pennant after beating the Giants 9-5.
entering the ninth inning of the World Series, Pirates catcher Manny Sanguillen pinch hits with two outs and drives in Ed Ott for the winning run. Kent Tekulve retires the Orioles in order in the bottom-half to tie the Series at one game apiece.
Oct. 5, 1979: En route to capping a
Oct. 8, 1917: Danny Murtaugh, who
spent 2,068 games as Pirates manager, is born. Murtaugh won World Series titles in 1960 and 1971. Oct. 9, 1947: Former Pirates pitcher Bob
Moose is born. Moose spent his entire 10-year career with Pittsburgh, winning 76 games. In September 1969, the Pirate hurler tossed a nohitter against the Mets at Shea Stadium. His career ended abruptly when he died in a car crash, on his 29th birthday, after the 1976 season.
Oct. 13, 1903: The Pirates lose the
eighth game of the first ever World Series to the Boston Americans, 3-0. Deacon Phillippe started his fifth contest of the nine-game series, hurling eight innings and yielding three runs on eight hits and no walks.
22 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • OCTOBER 2013
Oct. 14, 1971: Pittsburgh takes a 3-2
World Series lead over Baltimore, due in large part to pitcher Nellie Briles. Then 28, Briles tossed a twohit shutout while striking out two Orioles in a game at Three Rivers Stadium that lasted just 2:16. Oct. 14, 1979: Pittsburgh’s Jim Rooker,
at 36, staves off a Baltimore World Series victory by pitching five innings and allowing just one run. Bert Blyleven followed Rooker by throwing four shutout innings as the Pirates win 7-1.
Oct. 21, 1969: Pittsburgh acquires
pitcher Dave Giusti and catcher Dave Ricketts for catcher Carl Taylor and outfielder Frank Vanzin. Giusti went on to pitch 618 innings with the Pirates, saving 133 games, the fourth most in franchise history. Oct. 25, 1955: Branch Rickey, who is
most famous for signing Roberto Clemente to a contract with the Dodgers and later drafting him for the Pirates in 1954, leaves his general manager position to Joe L. Brown. Oct. 27, 1922: Hall of Famer Ralph
Kiner, second in Pirates history with 301 homeruns, is born.
Oct. 15, 1925: The Pirates are victori-
ous in Game 7 of the World Series, defeating Walter Johnson and the Washington Senators, 9-7. Pitts-
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