Dog Days

These are the worst days imaginable to be a Pittsburgh sports fan.

-Hockey and all it's glory has ended.
-We are still about 2 months away from any sort of meaningful Steeler game. The Pirates are still the Pirates.
-The Pittsburgh Passion had their season ended by the Chicago Force 8-7...............
-(Thats right... 8-7)
-Ugh... Womens football.
-The Steelers ownership is in limbo. Kinda.
-The Pens have lost a lot of great players.
- You know the Pirates are about to trade Nady, Mclouth and Bay for 2 prospects and a pack of shoelaces.

Enough of that.

Yet, I still have crap to write.

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Last night was the 79th Annual MLB All-Crap Game.
Nate Mclouth threw out the potential winning run in extra innings and almost homered to win the game.

(Youtube has to to produce an upload of a good quality video from the game... probably because everyone left.)

Michael Young of the Texas Rangers drove in the winning RBI on a Sacrifice Fly in the bottom of the 15th inning, around 1:30 am.

I was actually watching it.

In my opinion, having the winning league obtain home-field advantage in the World Series is a joke and a half.
A team fights all year to buy the best players they can because they have all the money in the world and the sway to do so, yet they might lose their advantage because some douche hits a Sac-Fly in the bottom of the 15th off a used up pitcher.

Come on.

Even though that came across as sarcasm, I still feel that MLB needs to change up the All-Star game a bit, because there are just too many flaws.

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23 Days til...



Mcdouche will be there.

His ACL has requested the season off though.

Out of Town- Volume 2

It's 10:41 am.

I call this "How "bout that earliness n'at?"

Anywho....

Today I will continue my roundabout travels of the state of Pennsylvania by head North. To Williamsport, Pa.

Home of the:



Little League World Series.


**Sidetracked N-at**

Little League was a monumental time in my life. It brought me to the apex of my championship runs.

After my Little League teams season of going 0-14, changes had to be made.
So, new coach... new team name (Went from Angels to Giants)... new players. I still stayed on the team.

Year 2: 14-0. Champs. I move to the role of closing pitcher and strike out the side in the bottom of the 6th to win the 'chip.

That season, in my 2 starts at pitcher, I threw a no-hitter and a perfect game. (I have the game balls to prove it.)

Again... monumental.

After winning the Club championship, we formed a sort of "All-Star team." The best players from other teams joined our team.
We fought through regional playoff games and won them all.
We got one game away from playing the Eastern Pennsylvania Champions.
That game is when I became a man.. and tasted the worst of defeats.

Game went to 8 innings (2 more than a normal Little League game).
Bottom of the 8th... Other team at the plate. A chance to play the East and potentially go on to the LLWS as team Pennsylvania.

Then. The Hammer.

Homerun. Game over. Season over.

Tears.
Little League.

Out of Town

I am not in the good 'Burgh this weekend. I will be out of the office all weekend celebrating a friends 21st b-day. But, my Macbook has come with.. and this house I'm in has Wireless. So I'm gold.

Currently I am watching:



2/10.

Shoot Me.

Guess who is in this movie? It's a HBDBNA fave.

Then.



Now.



Hubba hubba.

________________

Anyways....... back to sports.

I have had 3 or 4 people stress real concerns to me in the last couple days about this whole Steelers moving thing. Still not happening.
The team might be changing ownership, but there is no way they are moving.

So, all the "Negative Nancy's" out there can cork it up.

___

The party is starting.

Peace.

Stuff.

First off... let me again apologize for the lack of writing these past few days.

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi (medium-size airways) in the lungs. It can lead to pneumonia. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks

This is what I have been dealing with.

Not fun.

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Also, what is this deal with everyone thinking the Steelers are leaving Pittsburgh.
People need to read a little more and not listen to SOME local media who are making this seem like the end of the world.

Let me put this in CAPS lock.

THE STEELERS WILL NOT LEAVE PITTSBURGH.

This City will not let it happen. There will be riots and people will literally be killed if that were to go down.

So stop. Don't listen to SOME of the media who is playing this sadistic role.

With that said... The Rooney's need to keep this team in the family. If that means Dan buying out his brothers than fine. I don't care.. but keep the team under the Rooney name.

___

The Pens have signed Janne Pesonen from Finland.
Good move. Could be a big time player... could not. Who knows. We'll see.

Also the Tampa Bay Lightning have signed Mark Recchi to a one year deal.
Let's take a look at some current players on the Lightning roster.

-Adam Hall
-Ryan Malone
-Mark Recchi
-MIchelle Oulette
-Gary Roberts

The Lightning clearly love the Penguins. And as well they should.
Also, take a look at the Lightning's new owners... HA!

___



is my friend.

Sickness

That word means so many things to me these days. First off...



I potentially have laryngitis, strep throat or tonsilitis. Not sure. But that is why I haven't been writing mostly.

Kill me.

___

Sickness...



Ruslan Fedotenko (26) and Miroslav Satan (81) are now Penguins.

This will bring some much needed winger fire-power in place of Ryan Malone and Benedict Hossa.

I always made fun of Satan for his name... I guess I will have to accept it now though. Oh well.

___

And finally...



Say hello to Janne Pesonen. He is the Crosby of the Finish Hockey league and potentially the newest Penguin.
Ray Shero has confirmed that they are working out another one-year deal to bring the Peso's to the 'burgh.

___

32 Days til...

NHL Free Agency- Penguins Edition (Day 2)

Sorry for not writing all day. I've been kicked in the nuts by Benedict Arnold.
AKA



I put a Thrashers picture up. You know why.

Unreal.

Detroit has possibly the most stacked team in NHL history.
Screw you Hossa. I'm hurt.

Also, it's sad to see Ruutu go. What a gamer. Yet... replaceable. Thanks for the good times RUUUUUUU.

The Penguins currently have 4/8 winger positions filled. Ouch

___

On a brighter note- Brooks Orpik is coming back. 6 years, $22.5 million. Hopefully he won't pull a Whitney on us.
Getting Brooks for less than $4 million per isn't too shabby.

___

Time to go hard for Markus Naslund and Jaromir Jagr, Mr. Shero. Put on your game face and head to the front lines.




Jagrs terms: 2 years- $56 million.
Teams terms: Mullet + Woman.

___

Of those 4 wingers remaining, we have one on the left side... Pascal Dupuis.

Sorry I just threw up.

___

Come on Shero.

NHL Free Agency- Penguins Edition (Day 1)

Okay. I am just going to talk about free agents who are directly linked to the Penguins. I might also mention any blockbuster deals that go down. We'll see.

How I'm spending Free Agency Day.



I'm going to the zoo. No joke.




Resign all of them.

Penguins sign Forward Pascal Dupuis to a 3 year, $1.4 million/per contract.
Ehhhhh.......

Penguins re-sign Defenseman Mark Eaton to a 2 year deal.
Had a rough year due to injuries... but is a solid player if healthy.

Penguins sign Forward Eric Godard to a 3 year deal.
1 goal, 1 assist last season... aka Goon. Aka Laraques replacement. 4th Line player.

Penguins are reportedly VERY close to resigning Center Evgeni Malkin to a 5 year deal at $8.7 million/year.
Same contract Sid got.
Okay. At least Geno is staying.

Still no word on Hossa or Orpik (Except that Orpik isn't going to Buffalo).


Just got back from seeing:



7/10. Decent flick.

Back to hockey. The seemingly latest news:



!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Return trip to da 'Burgh)

I think this only happens if Hossa leaves. But still. Crap.

Jagr's terms: 2 years, $56 million per.
Teams terms: Mullet.



Ps. For those of you wondering, the Zoo trip didn't work out. Upon arrival, I realized that there were at least as many people there as dollars Brooks Orpik is wanting for next season.

I'm pretty sure the large attendance was to see the Penguins, new and old.

It's too late to be writing for me I think.

Go to Pensblog for late-night coverage. They have been slaving all day. Kudos.
Many others have been doing great work (Faceoff Factor, etc.) You can find links to many other great bloggers throughout Pensblog.

I hope to wake up with good news.