Sports Beat
*The Pirates were swept last weekend in Milwaukee by the Brewers, which has been a place that has been nothing but agonizing for the Pirates for many years. Now before everyone starts to think same old Pirates, let’s remember one thing. These 18 years of futility did not happen overnight and this thing is not going to get turned around overnight, either. There are places that the Pirates go where the opposition owns them and Milwaukee is one of them. Just like back in the day when the Cleveland Browns, no matter what they did, could not win in Pittsburgh. Well, the Pirates just can’t win in Milwaukee. It is going to take time for this to turn the corner. I have not given up nor have I given in on this team. The core is in place. They just need to begin producing and start getting to opposing pitchers. The Pirates are back home this weekend to take on the Detroit Tigers in interleague play.
*The rumors are swirling that the Penguins may try and bring back Jaromir Jagr for a year or two. They have invited Jags to take part in the 20th anniversary of the first Penguins Stanley Cup team in 1991. While Jags did not depart on good terms, being moody and uttering such phrases as “I’m dying alive,” he did help the Penguins to their first two Cups in 91 and 92. It took him time to mature into the person he is now and he will turn 40 by the time the season begins in October.
The Penguins have invested down the middle of their lineup (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, and Marc-Andre Fleury). They do not have much money to invest in a name winger to complement Crosby on the top line to finish for him. James Neal is supposed to be that guy, and he still might be, as he did not get the chance to show what he can do without Crosby in the lineup after January 5. But the thought is the Penguins can invest in a year or two with Jagr to perhaps complement Crosby and help the Pens to another Cup or two to finish his career with Pittsburgh.
The other side of that is any fence mending he might want/need to do with the organization and Mario Lemieux in particular. Mario was at the beginning of his tenure as owner of the Penguins in 2001 (two years in) when the club traded Jagr to Washington for Michael Sivek, Ross Lupaschuck, and Kris Beech. None of those players made a lasting impression with the Penguins and the club really was not prepared to bring in a top notch player because it couldn’t afford him due to the club being in bankruptcy and paying off its creditors.
In one of the Pittsburgh papers over the weekend it was reported that Jagr will stay in the European League. Well, we all know that plans can change and Lemieux may try to make the pot sweet for Jagr to change his mind. It is a long way between now and September. Would I like to see Jagr back in Pittsburgh to finish his career and play alongside Crosby? Hey, if he can be a stopgap and help the Pens win another Cup or two, I’m all for it! It could be his goodbye gift/s to Lemieux and the Pens by bookending his career with Cup victories. That would be fitting. Let’s face it, it’s all about winning and Jagr can still play and help the team win.
*Fast Willie Parker was back in town and shown on KDKA last week having lunch with Jory Rand at Jerome Bettis’ Grille 36 on the North Shore. In no uncertain terms Parker wants to return to the Steelers to resume his career and play behind Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall’s Twitter rants notwithstanding, he could use some insurance behind him if, God forbid, something happens to him on the field.
Last year, the Steelers brought back Bryant McFadden, Larry Foote, and Antwaan Randle El. All, by definition, were/are retreads. McFadden proved that by having an off and ineffective year. Randle El did not start, nor did Foote. They were insurance policies for their respective positions and, last year having been an uncapped year and now the lockout, there was a method to the madness, no matter the fact that this is a team that has got to, at some point, get younger.
Parker is not the back he once was and he didn’t fit in Washington where the Redskins cut him loose. If the Penguins are looking to maybe bringing back Jagr, then why not bring back Parker to back up Mendenhall? Bettis spelled Parker in his final year and it resulted in him retiring as a Super Bowl champion. While Parker is younger, now, than Bettis was then, the concept remains the same. Allow him to spell Mendenhall on occasion to keep his legs fresh and to avoid the wear and tear on his body.
Mendenhall will only be 24 when the season starts, yet running backs have a limited shelf life. At best, he might have four to six years left on his body if the Steelers choose to run him until the “wheels fall off.” More and more teams are utilizing one back sets and they are losing running backs in the process. I, for one, would like to see the Steelers go back to a two back system that allowed them to win four Super Bowls in six years in the 1970s and show the rest of the league that you can run the ball and still win.
While the NFL has generated into a passing league, you still need to run the ball to control the clock and win games. That is how the Steelers have won so many games and rushed for more yards than any other team in the league since 1970. That is over 40 years of running the ball, effectively, and keeping the other team’s offense off the field. If it isn’t broken, do not fix it!
One of the reasons why I like a two back set, especially with two talented rushers in the backfield, is it keeps the defense guessing as to whom is getting the ball and who may be blocking. The name of the game is to keep the defense on its heels and off balance. Ben Roethlisberger will still get his pass plays, but he will also reduce the wear and tear on his body after all of the hits he has taken thus far in his career. Give him two backs behind him and give the defense something to think about.
Whether or not it happens remains to be seen, as long at the lockout is still in effect. But it would not surprise me at all if Willie Parker is back in a Steeler uniform for training camp this summer and on the sidelines in the fall. Keep the stable filled in the backfield and give Mendenhall some breaks in the action and put Parker back there to give the defense some different looks. Hey, it can’t hurt and maybe only help.
*Matt Kenseth won the Sprint Cup race in Dover, Delaware last Sunday afternoon at The Monster Mile. This is his second win of the season and puts him in premium position to get into the Chase at the end of the season for the championship. Kenseth won the title eight years ago in 2003.
This weekend will be the first of two races in the same venue as the series moves to Charlotte, North Carolina and the hub of the sport, as many of the race teams are headquartered in North Carolina. This Saturday night is the Sprint All Star Race (formerly The Winston when R.J. Reynolds tobacco was the title sponsor). It is a non-points race and the drivers are after the big money. This will be the prelude to the longest race of the season, the Coca Cola 600 next Sunday night.
*The rumors are swirling that the Penguins may try and bring back Jaromir Jagr for a year or two. They have invited Jags to take part in the 20th anniversary of the first Penguins Stanley Cup team in 1991. While Jags did not depart on good terms, being moody and uttering such phrases as “I’m dying alive,” he did help the Penguins to their first two Cups in 91 and 92. It took him time to mature into the person he is now and he will turn 40 by the time the season begins in October.
The Penguins have invested down the middle of their lineup (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, and Marc-Andre Fleury). They do not have much money to invest in a name winger to complement Crosby on the top line to finish for him. James Neal is supposed to be that guy, and he still might be, as he did not get the chance to show what he can do without Crosby in the lineup after January 5. But the thought is the Penguins can invest in a year or two with Jagr to perhaps complement Crosby and help the Pens to another Cup or two to finish his career with Pittsburgh.
The other side of that is any fence mending he might want/need to do with the organization and Mario Lemieux in particular. Mario was at the beginning of his tenure as owner of the Penguins in 2001 (two years in) when the club traded Jagr to Washington for Michael Sivek, Ross Lupaschuck, and Kris Beech. None of those players made a lasting impression with the Penguins and the club really was not prepared to bring in a top notch player because it couldn’t afford him due to the club being in bankruptcy and paying off its creditors.
In one of the Pittsburgh papers over the weekend it was reported that Jagr will stay in the European League. Well, we all know that plans can change and Lemieux may try to make the pot sweet for Jagr to change his mind. It is a long way between now and September. Would I like to see Jagr back in Pittsburgh to finish his career and play alongside Crosby? Hey, if he can be a stopgap and help the Pens win another Cup or two, I’m all for it! It could be his goodbye gift/s to Lemieux and the Pens by bookending his career with Cup victories. That would be fitting. Let’s face it, it’s all about winning and Jagr can still play and help the team win.
*Fast Willie Parker was back in town and shown on KDKA last week having lunch with Jory Rand at Jerome Bettis’ Grille 36 on the North Shore. In no uncertain terms Parker wants to return to the Steelers to resume his career and play behind Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall’s Twitter rants notwithstanding, he could use some insurance behind him if, God forbid, something happens to him on the field.
Last year, the Steelers brought back Bryant McFadden, Larry Foote, and Antwaan Randle El. All, by definition, were/are retreads. McFadden proved that by having an off and ineffective year. Randle El did not start, nor did Foote. They were insurance policies for their respective positions and, last year having been an uncapped year and now the lockout, there was a method to the madness, no matter the fact that this is a team that has got to, at some point, get younger.
Parker is not the back he once was and he didn’t fit in Washington where the Redskins cut him loose. If the Penguins are looking to maybe bringing back Jagr, then why not bring back Parker to back up Mendenhall? Bettis spelled Parker in his final year and it resulted in him retiring as a Super Bowl champion. While Parker is younger, now, than Bettis was then, the concept remains the same. Allow him to spell Mendenhall on occasion to keep his legs fresh and to avoid the wear and tear on his body.
Mendenhall will only be 24 when the season starts, yet running backs have a limited shelf life. At best, he might have four to six years left on his body if the Steelers choose to run him until the “wheels fall off.” More and more teams are utilizing one back sets and they are losing running backs in the process. I, for one, would like to see the Steelers go back to a two back system that allowed them to win four Super Bowls in six years in the 1970s and show the rest of the league that you can run the ball and still win.
While the NFL has generated into a passing league, you still need to run the ball to control the clock and win games. That is how the Steelers have won so many games and rushed for more yards than any other team in the league since 1970. That is over 40 years of running the ball, effectively, and keeping the other team’s offense off the field. If it isn’t broken, do not fix it!
One of the reasons why I like a two back set, especially with two talented rushers in the backfield, is it keeps the defense guessing as to whom is getting the ball and who may be blocking. The name of the game is to keep the defense on its heels and off balance. Ben Roethlisberger will still get his pass plays, but he will also reduce the wear and tear on his body after all of the hits he has taken thus far in his career. Give him two backs behind him and give the defense something to think about.
Whether or not it happens remains to be seen, as long at the lockout is still in effect. But it would not surprise me at all if Willie Parker is back in a Steeler uniform for training camp this summer and on the sidelines in the fall. Keep the stable filled in the backfield and give Mendenhall some breaks in the action and put Parker back there to give the defense some different looks. Hey, it can’t hurt and maybe only help.
*Matt Kenseth won the Sprint Cup race in Dover, Delaware last Sunday afternoon at The Monster Mile. This is his second win of the season and puts him in premium position to get into the Chase at the end of the season for the championship. Kenseth won the title eight years ago in 2003.
This weekend will be the first of two races in the same venue as the series moves to Charlotte, North Carolina and the hub of the sport, as many of the race teams are headquartered in North Carolina. This Saturday night is the Sprint All Star Race (formerly The Winston when R.J. Reynolds tobacco was the title sponsor). It is a non-points race and the drivers are after the big money. This will be the prelude to the longest race of the season, the Coca Cola 600 next Sunday night.
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