theblackandgoldblog

Here's Hoping The Flyers Sign Martin Biron To A Lifetime Contract Extension

2009-02-21T19:09:00.000-08:00

You know, if the Flyers had a decent goalie, that team would really accomplish some things. With that group of forwards and a tough, mobile defense, they're a goaltender away from being a dominant force in the NHL.

As it stands, they have Martin Biron doing shit like this.

Hilarious.

Fire Dan Blysma!

2009-02-16T16:47:00.000-08:00

Okay, no, not really, but dropping games to Toronto and the Islanders isn't going to get you in the playoffs. One of a possible four points against the Leafs and Islanders. Yikes.

Penguins return home on Thursday to take on a Montreal team that is fading as fast as they are.

Get Used To This, Penguins

2009-02-14T21:33:00.000-08:00

So maybe Sergei Gonchar won't fix everything.

Pirates Miss Out On Adam Dunn Because They're Dumb

2009-02-11T15:35:00.000-08:00

So, here are the Pirates, just a couple of days away from spring training and still lacking anything that resembles a legitimate Major League power hitter. Former Cincinnati Reds/Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Adam Dunn was still on the market, until he inked a two-year deal with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.

The Pirates couldn't have done better? Of course, it's also possible that Dunn, a solid bet for 40 home runs and 100 walks every season, wouldn't have considered signing with the Pirates. Given their recent history, it's doubtful they even tried.

Honestly, PNC Park was built with Adam Dunn in mind.

Ah well, who else is looking forward to a fun season with Brandon Moss and Steve Pearce manning the corner outfield spots?

Time For Penguins To Dump The Powder Blue Look

2009-02-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

What is this now, 0-400 in those things? Am I the only one that doesn't care for them?

Hossa returns, gets booed, scores goal, Pens lose.

Meet Your Newest Pittsburgh Steeler: Stefan Logan

2009-02-06T12:35:00.000-08:00

Nothing like getting a quick start on the offseason. The Vancouver Sun reports the Steelers have signed former B.C. Lions running back Stefan Logan to a two-year deal. He was supposedly one of the most exciting players in the CFL.

If he can return kicks better than Carey Davis and Gary Russell, it's worth a shot. Low risk, high reward.

Here's video.

That Other Pittsburgh Team

2009-02-05T22:40:00.000-08:00

Right around the time the Pirates signed Ramon Vazquez to a multi-year deal (if there's one thing the Pirates need to turn this shit around, it's more utility infielders) I swore off the Pirates for the remainder of the offseason. No joke. I've completely shut myself off from their moves. I've ignored everything that might remind me of the Pirates.

Up until about, a week ago, I had absolutely no idea if they added or (hopefully) subtracted from the roster.

Earlier this week, I decided to check in and see what I may have missed, holding out some sort of faint hope that they pulled off a blockbuster, franchise-changing trade. Something that would get me interested in the fact spring training is roughly two weeks away.

I noticed only one new name on the roster from the most recent time I checked.

Eric Hinske.

Yeah. That pretty much sums it up.

Oh, they also have new uniforms.

Actually, I like them. The sleeveless look just didn't do it for me. Eric Hinske and Ramon Vazquez are going to look awesome in these new ones.

Hindsight: Was This The Worst Column In The History Of Pittsburgh Sports?

2009-02-04T23:49:00.000-08:00

As we continue to take part in the revelry, laughter, self-touching, and general insanity that is taking place following the Pittsburgh Steelers sixth Super Bowl title (and for the record, my unofficial rule for this is we use the rest of this week to celebrate, and then get into offseason mode and talk about mock drafts, who stays -- Bryant McFadden -- and who goes -- Larry Foote) let's jump in the way-back machine and go back to Sunday, April 25, 2004 and take a look at this column by Mike Prisuta.

To begin, I don't mind Prisuta. As far as Pittsburgh columnists go, he's probably one of the least objectionable, but this ... this. This is just fun to look back at.

Some of my favorite lines:

In the days leading up to Saturday and in the minutes immediately following the No. 11 overall selection, Bill Cowher kept insisting the Steelers didn't expect to be drafting this high very often.
But in the wake of taking Ben Roethlisberger in the first round, you have to wonder if picking in the vicinity of the top 10 isn't about to become habit forming.
Same time next year, fellas?

Not exactly.

Since this column was written five seasons have been played, and in those five seasons the Steelers have made the playoffs four times, played in three AFC Championship games, two Super Bowls and, oh yeah, they won both.

Immediate help at a position where the Steelers desperately needed it was there for the taking Saturday in the mountainous person of Arkansas offensive tackle Shawn Andrews. But rather than plug an obvious hole, as had been their habit since the Jamain Stephens disaster in 1996, the Steelers instead chose to look down the road.

Coming off a six-win season and having missed the playoffs in four of the last six years, the Steelers are in a rebuilding mode rather than a retooling one.
Roethlisberger, from Miami (Ohio) and second-round pick Ricardo Colclough, from Tusculum College, are upside guys who won't have much of an immediate impact provided they make any at all as rookies.
You'd expect more from No. 11 overall.

Actually, what the Steelers received from No. 11 overall -- in hindsight, of course -- may be one of the biggest steals in the history of the NFL selection process. Expecting more would be criminal. And, really now, where would this team be with Shawn Andrews instead of Roethlisberger? Here's a hint: they wouldn't have been riding around in convertibles down Grant Street on Tuesday afternoon.

They also haven't been to a Super Bowl since the 1995 campaign.

They've made up for this. In a big way.

As for the short term, the Steelers have lost ground to the likes of the Patriots, the Bengals and even the Browns (who sacrificed a No. 2 pick to get impact tight end Kellen Winslow), Tommy Maddox has become Jon Kitna, and the current collection of offensive tackles (Josh Burr, Morgan Pears, Todd Fordham, Barrett Brooks, Marvel Smith and Oliver Ross) wasn't bolstered until the third round (the hobbled Max Starks, of Florida).

Nothing needs to be said about this.

If Big Ben plays in a hurry, he had better be as mobile as he suggests, and as accurate throwing on the run as he maintains.

Check.

If he is, if all the physical skills and the tantalizing potential that has the Steelers so intoxicated turn Roethlisberger into the second coming of Drew Bledsoe, the pick will be recognized years from now for its brilliance.

Drew Bledsoe?

Recent history suggests Roethlisberger is as likely to turn into the next Tim Couch as he is the next Bledsoe, but the Steelers decided to swing for the fences, anyway, rather than to continue simply moving the runners.

Drew Bledsoe? Tim Couch?

Oh, Mike, I enjoy you on 'DVE during the Steelers' pregame show, but man. I'm glad you were were wrong on this one.

Rest Of The Country Finds Out What We Already Knew: Ben Roethlisberger Rules

2009-02-04T21:43:00.000-08:00

Kind of funny hearing the sudden praise for Ben Roethlisberger following what was, perhaps, the single greatest drive in Super Bowl history (okay, top three, at worst). Suddenly, our little "game manager" has blossomed into the real deal. Of course, it's quite obvious there's still some room for improvement.

After all, if Tom Brady or one of the Mannings (or, God help us, Brett Favre) made that drive they not only would have been the game MVP, they probably would have been inducted into Canton as the first active members of the Hall of Fame.

Not that I'm complaining about Santonio Holmes getting the award, he was certainly a worthy choice (as was James Harrison). Speaking of Holmes, thank goodness the Steelers selected him instead of Chad Jackson. I mean, hell, what a disaster that would have been. Is that guy still in the league? Did he ever catch a pass? (Actually, he caught 14 in three years)

Anyway, back to Ben for a second, it's awesome to hear the rave reviews he's getting for putting the team on his back when it was needed and leading them to victory, etc. etc. etc. ... when he's basically been doing that ever since he came into the league. Better late than never.

I guess all it took for him to get a little recognition was doing it in the Super Bowl in the final two minutes.

This Doesn't Seem To Be Any More Controversial (or Conclusive) Than Kurt Warner's Fumble

2009-02-03T23:30:00.000-08:00

That's Larry Fitzgerald's first touchdown catch. And that's what appears to be the football hitting the ground.

Let's take one more look at it, just for shits and giggles.

Suck it, conspiracy theorists.

WWWWWWOOOOOO!!!!!!

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