The Pittsburgh Yinzider

Oh Canada...... Oh Canada......

2010-02-23T18:17:00.000-08:00

Team USA entered the GM place Sunday night, donning their 1960 replica sweaters in hopes of capturing some of the magic that led them to their last victory over their North American rivals fifty years ago. Facing a star studded Canadian roster and a crowd that looked more like the Red Sea, team USA did what most thought to be improbable if not impossible and toppled the hockey giant 5-3.

The looks on the faces of the Canadian hopeful when Kesler extended to tap in the empty netter in the waning seconds of the game, says it all. This team, this game are what Canada is all about and as you can imagine there are a lot of uneasy canucks in Vancouver analyzing what went wrong and what they can do to improve from here. Hey Einsteins! here's a thought...there just happens to be a guy sitting on your bench who within the past two nhl seasons has been a key element in seven, count em seven playoff series victories complimented by two game seven wins that featured stoning Alex Ovechkin on a clean break away and denying Lidstrom in the final seconds of the Stanley Cup Finals. You want to talk about big game ability, Luongo is not a name that comes to mind, on the other hand Fleury has made winning big games a hobby of his, and no one should no that better than Canadian coach Mike Babcock. regardless of the daunting argument for Fleury, team Canada will opt to go with Luongo who hasn't won a big game in....well his entire career he is 11-11 in playoff appearances with only two series victories.

Whatever Canada decides to do they will remain a force in this tournament, and whoever they go with between the pipes, he will still be better off than his opponent who will have the responsibility of taming Sidney Crosby and Canada's potent offensive attack. Canada's loss Sunday is a minor setback and nothing more, look for Canada to eliminate Russia en route to the gold medal game...Perhaps a rematch with team USA...USA...USA!

Raise The Jolly Rog.......er how bout the Stanley Cup Banner Instead!

2009-10-06T19:24:00.000-07:00

Friday night, at a sold out Mellon Arena, surrounded by fans who gathered around her as she got ready to host her final season opener, we all watched as a third Stanley Cup Championship banner was raised into her historic rafters. It was truly a night to be remembered, (almost as fun as watching Sid raise the Cup and skate around Joe Louis arena, while those octopi throwing bastards watched in angst.) Not only was it such a meaningful night for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, but it also saw your Penguins kick off their defense of the cup in impressive fashion.

What better way to start off the season then to have the Penguins, and arguably the world's two best, tickle the twine. Evgeni Malkin redirected one by Rangers net minder Ryan Lundqvist in the early going, and Sir Sidney found the crease at the 12:25 mark of the second period. Tyler Kennedy added what proved to be the game winner only a minute and eight seconds after Sid struck, but the game could have swung the Rangers direction at the 16:44 mark of the second period if not for the robbery, no felony, Marc -Andre Fleury committed when he went from post to post to snag what looked to be the tying tally flashing the glove we've all come to know in love in the steel tahn.

The Penguins big three all showed up on the score sheet that night, but more importantly the whole unit looked as if last seasons work was not done. The Penguins continued their fine efforts in Saturdays 4-3 OT win in the Island lifting the Penguins record to 2-0 and shaping the beginnings of another successful campaign.

All in all the boys in black and gold have looked good out of the gate. Can they repeat? Winning the Cup twice in a row is quite a task for any team, but if anyone out there thinks it's a stretch for the Penguins, I would advise you look into the eyes of the man wearing the C.

The Steelers fly out of the gate 3-0

2009-09-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

Wait, what? You're telling me the Steelers blew two fourth quarter leads, allowing inferior offenses to shred through last year's #1 overall defense, in the games waning seconds? No way Jeff Reed misses two lead changing field goals, right? Hard as it may be to believe, the defending champions have started out their super bowl defense with a disappointing effort, landing them in 3rd place in the AFC North with a record of 1-2.

As rough as it has been on the Steeler faithful these past two weeks, there is absolutely no reason for any one to panic unless, of course you're one of the teams on the Steelers' remaining schedule. Listen, I've heard it all in the past two weeks; The Steelers have no run game, the defense isn't making big plays, Tomlin and Arians have been making careless decisions, Holmes is dropping passes , Reed has lost his edge oh and my personal favorite; the O-line is weak! OK, everybody calm down now A: Didn't the Steelers win the Super Bowl with no offensive line and a below average run game? B: Anyone who doesn't trust that this defense will work out the kinks should consider picking up a new hobby, because clearly football is not you're forte. C: The return of troy Polamalu lingers and D: Big Ben "nuff said."

There is no excuse for dropping games to the Chicago Bears and the Cincinnati Bengals in consecutive weeks, but there is good news. During this flat stretch, 'flat' has been the only issue. This is a group loaded with talent that has won two of the last four super bowls. Time to panic? No. Time to buckle down? Yes. As for now the Steelers will be focusing on evening their record at 2-2 with a win over the also struggling Chargers, after which they will get Detroit and Cleveland back to back. If the Steelers keep making the little mistakes and failing to finish, it will be a long season, but the chances of that are about as slim as Brady Quinn winning MVP. To wrap things up; if it makes you feel better to panic, by all means, panic away as for me I'm going to trust the Champs.

The time is now for the Pirates

2009-09-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

The time is now for the Pittsburgh Pirates, no it's not what you think, in fact it's time for the Pirates to do what they do best...lose. For the major league teams who have been out of the playoff picture since the 233rd anniversary of our nation's birth it has become a race for the worst record in baseball, which this year comes along with the drafting rights to who SI has already deemed baseball's "chosen one," Bryce Harper.

This is my first post and yes it is about the pirates, but I look at it like this; we only have to endure it for another 2 weeks and then it'll be all Steelers and Penguins. Back to Mr. Bryce Harper, or do you have to wait until a boy has turned eighteen in order to address him as Mr. That's right, this kid is only sixteen years old yet he stands at 6'3" and weighs 205 lbs. Not only is his size impressive but try these numbers on for size; in 2008 harper batted .690 with 21 homers and 77 RBIs in just 38 games for Las Vegas High School and in 2009 he batted .756 along with 28 homers and 85 RBIs. This guy is the first sure bet in a long time and has often been compared to the man who was last considered a sure bet, Alex Rodriguez, and as we all know, he worked out pretty well for a number of years. (Lets hope that Harper can stay away from the needle ehem.)

Harper is a catcher by trade but also excels at shortstop, third base and as a pitcher, now all this sounds pretty promising but there is one thing standing in the buccos way; the Washington Nationals. As good as the Pirates have been at losing in the past decade and a half, since the addition of the Nationals the Pirates have been bested in their own game including this year. Currently the Pirates sit securely in last place of the National League Central with a record of 56-91, but the Nationals are leading the race with a record of 51-98. This will certainly be a race to remember. Lets Go Bu.... wait scratch that.