Steelers Take down the Patriots!

Yesterday the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New England Patriots and I am not sure why they even bothered to play the game. Watching the Pre-game shows the, so called experts, with the exception of former Steeler coach Bill Cowher, stated the Steelers could not contain Tom Brady and would loose. Well guess what, the "Steel Curtain" held Brady to a season low 198 yards and their lowest point production in over a year. I will give Bill Belichick and the Patriots their due. They are a great football organization, but the Steelers are second to none in the last forty years. The black and gold have been a team that is always in the hunt for a title and yet they seem to be pushed into the background whenever the "experts" talk about great franchises. All the Steelers do is win and I have news for the rest of the NFL. The Steelers will continue to win.

Congratulations to Joe Pa!

Let me start first and state I am not and have never been a Penn State fan. Growing up in the Pittsburgh area I have always been a fan of the University of Pittsburgh. I also, this will show my age, remember when Joe Paterno was not the coach at Penn State. Rip Engle was the coach and Paterno was his assistant. That being said, I wanted to congratulate Joe Paterno for his 409th victory and becoming the all time leader in Division 1 football. Paterno deserves this. He is not only the number one coach, he is also an example of how to have and maintain a winning program, without compromising principles. Joe has not had as much as a whiff of scandal during his 46 year reign in "Happy Valley". He has contributed over four million dollars to Penn State University and has a library wing named after him. So, Joe, congratulations and may you continue to set an example of how to succeed and continued success on the field for your Nittany Lions, except when playing Pitt.

I Love Basketball, But Could End Up Hating The NBA!

Well, David Stern and the billionaire owners are letting fans know how little they care about us. The millionaire players are also showing appreciation for the fans that snatch up their jersey and sneakers, while paying a premium price to watch a game. As usual the little guy is the one forgotten here. While the players and owners haggle over billions of dollars, the bottom line is, what is in this for the fans. I know, ticket price increases. Concession price increases. Parking increases. Cable price increases. Jersey price increases. You get the general idea. We will all have to shell out more money to enjoy basketball. That is why I am seriously thinking about a boycott of NBA games, after they settle and get back to playing. We do not need the NBA and I have stated this before. So let's all think about ways to show our disapproval to both sides and let them know, we will not be coming out so easily, this time. They will have to work extra hard if they want us to return to the arenas and televisions this year.

Where Are The Idiots That Predicted FSU Would Win The National Title?

Oh, wait I was one of those idiots! Alright you have me. I made my choice based partially on emotion. I was swept up in the optimism of FSU returning to the prominence it once enjoyed. My heart overwhelmed my sensibilities. So what? I am a fan. If I was that good at predictions I would be making a killing in Vegas, instead of just picking and hoping. I have been and still am a fan of FSU football, and maybe this year is not turning out quite as well as I had hoped, but remember we still have next year. To all of my Gator friends, don't do what a lot of Nole fans have been doing. Don't run around saying, "Oh well it was against two of the best teams in the country. You all got your butts handed to you and the FSU-Gator game will not have a great deal of luster surrounding it. One thing, on my side, Stanford is still looking good and most important, my Steelers kicked butt today. "Here we go Steelers, Here we go!"

Sports Are Only Diversions!

On October 1st I wrote a warning to the NBA owners and players, that they were in danger of becoming irrelevant. In today's Orlando Sentinel, Mike Bianchi, echoed those same sentiments. If you live in Orlando you should take a moment and read his column. One of the items the owners and players do not understand is they exist only because the fans are shelling out money to go to the games, buying their products and watching them on television. What they do not care about is the average person that is willing to spend their hard earned money to watch them. They are a temporary respite from our daily problems. What about the concession person that depends on the income from working those games. The restaurant workers that make extra money when their home team plays. The owners of the small businesses that surround arenas across the country that depend on the games to make a living. The cities, that depend on the income from the parking, concessions and ticket sales, that have to make the income up from someplace else. All of these groups and more are going to be hurt by this standoff.                                                                                                           I understand the players need to make the money while they are able to, but how is their position any different from the coal miner that is only able to physically work so many years? How about the construction workers and factory workers that only have the ability to work so long before their bodies rebel.
The owners, that have held up city officials to build them a shiny new arena and is now hurting the very people that gave them a way to make billions of dollars more. These are people that are portrayed as saintly men that only have the good of the people in their cities at heart, when in reality they are only trying to line their pockets. Once more to the NBA owners and players, a warning, we can live without you and if you are not careful we will show you all how easy it is. I love sports and particularly basketball, but I can and will find other ways to spend my entertainment dollars.

Baseball PostSeason, College Footbal and Other Items.

You really have to love a team with one of the smallest payrolls in baseball, the Tampa Rays, beating out teams, more directly the Red Sox, that have a monster payroll. Then they start their playoffs by defeating the Texas Rangers. College football is rolling along. Great for the Pitt Panthers to finally put together a complete game and wallop the USF Bulls. FSU is off this weekend and hopefully they will correct some problems and start playing smart and the way they can. Two close losses to two good teams is not what the fans of Florida State football are used to. The talk about the cancellation of the NBA season continues and yet where is the outcry. My warning to all involved if you make the fans believe they can exist without pro basketball, you run the risk of becoming the National Hockey League. Then nobody wins. Does anyone know if the WNBA is still playing, and if not who won the championship. Remember when the league first started, there was plenty of interest and excitement around. Tom Brady 5 touchdowns and 5 interception in one game. When they talk about football imitates life, they were not kidding. Their was more ups and downs in this game then a kid playing with a yo-yo. Lastly did anyone watch golf this past summer? I know that it has been a long time since I missed watching at least the majors. There just was not that much interest. Maybe Tiger Woods was a draw after all.

Fans, Short for Fanatics.

O.K. the first few weeks of football are here and gone. My prediction for FSU is disappearing faster then nachos and beer served at tailgating parties. So, what. I am a fan. I love my Steelers, Pirates, Pitt Panthers, Florida State Football, Duke Basketball and the Orlando Magic. I have never been the fan, that sees a team doing well and jump ship to back a winner. The Pirates are completing their nineteenth year in a row of finishing below five hundred. A record, but they are still my team. I can remember when the Steelers were the lovable losers of the NFL. I bleed black and gold. That will not change and neither will my loyalty toward the teams I support. When I saw my friend, Michael, a Florida Gator, yesterday, my first comment to him was FSU is right on track to win the National Title. We laughed. I am not delusional, just a fanatic. Always have been and always will be.  GO NOLES!!!