10/31/2007
Dave Littlefield Sighting!
Stay Classy, Penn State
I tried to post this yesterday, but it kept disappearing from YouTube. There's not much more to say once you watch the video. But I'm sure some Penn State apologists will find a way to justify it. I'm suggesting something along the lines of, "Well, there's always a few bad apples..."
10/30/2007
The News
10/29/2007
Steelers Beat Bengals; Bengals Fans Still Thinking Playoffs
STEELERS (5-2) 24
BENGALS (2-5) 13
Rub Hines' head...it's good luck!
Clearly I'm kidding with that headline...or am I? Actually, I think reality is finally setting in with our AFC North neighbors. The Steelers' 24-13 win yesterday seemed, at least to me, to display a Bengal team with a lot less life than in recent years.
After witnessing another blahse performance by Chad Johnson against the black and gold (5 catches, 51 yards), I was compelled to look up his game-by-game history against the Steelers to prove that I wasn't just imagining things. My findings (catches, yards, TDs):
2001: 5-52-0 and 2-25-0
2002: 7-71-0 and 7-152-0
2003: 4-77-0 and 7-117-1
2004: 4-54-0 and 5-80-1
2005: 4-94-0 and 5-54-0 [Postseason vs. Steelers: 4-59-0]
2006: 1-11-0 and 4-53-0
Chad Johnson Career vs. Steelers (counting playoff game): 64 catches, 950 yards, 2 TD
Chad Johnson Career average vs. Steelers: 4 catches - 59 yards, and a touchdown every 7.5 games
Yep, that's right. The Sideline Hall of Famer has scored 2 touchdowns in 15 career games against the Steelers. And considering the emphasis that the Bengals put on their Steeler matchups (a.k.a. "Steeler Week"), I'm suggesting that Johnson is not a big-game player.
Keep waiting, 85
Rather than waste any more time on a team going nowhere, I'd rather talk about an impressive all-around performance by the Steelers: they threw the ball, they ran the ball, they defended the run, they defended the pass, they created turnovers (OK, turnover)...they completely outclassed the Bengals, as usual.
Willie Parker was excellent, rambling for 126 yards and a TD on 26 carries. His longs, as I always point out for those who like to pretend they never happened, were 17 and 32 yards. For anyone who reads these weekly wrapups, you've probably noticed a trend: Parker is getting at least two sizable runs in each game. I'd rather have a gamebreaker like that than three yards, three yards, three yards, 4th-and-1.
Hines Ward had another strong performance, reeling in 8 catches for 88 yards and 2 TDs, giving him a total of 15 catches in the last two games. Ward started the season slowly, with just 9 catches in the first three games, but his presence has done nothing but strengthen the passing attack.
Santonio Holmes continued his domination in the state of Ohio, adding 6 catches for 87 yards. This all added up to a 19-26, 230 yard, 2 TD game for Large Ben. Roethlisberger repeatedly avoided the rush, wiggled out of potential sacks, and extended plays far beyond what was accepted.
With that being said, I must bring up this point: during the CBS broadcast, Dick Enberg was talking about Ben's last two "first halves" (Cincy and Denver), spouting off some impressive stats. Don't quote me, but it was something along the lines of 22-29, 5 TDs. It was a nice little story. Of course, Randy Cross had to immediately spoil the moment by saying, "Yeah...that would be a good half for Tom Brady."
Newest member of the Tom Brady Man-Crush Club
You see, comments like that are why people hate the Patriots and why people equally hate most announcers. They're watching a Steelers-Bengals game, witnessing an impressive performance by the Steelers QB, and we're being beat over the head with more Patriots banter.
And if I may continue my rant on telecasts, can we please put a moratorium on people trying to being funny and say when reading highlights, "Tom Brady...he's pretty good."
Ha ha ha. It's funny because the announcer is pretending that Tom Brady isn't any good, when he obviously is. It would be funnier if:
A. The joke hasn't been done 800 times already, or
B. The announcer was using it in reference to, say, Cleo Lemon or Damon Huard.
Obviously, I can't wait for a week's worth of build up for another Patriots regular season game next Sunday.
For my next rant, I'd like to talk about Carson Palmer, the ringless man universally regarded as better than Ben Roethlisberger. Once again, the QBs went head-to-head, and once again, Palmer went home on the losing end. For those of you scoring at home, the career scoreboard now looks like this: Roethlisberger 5, Palmer 2. Keep the stats, give me the wins. I'd take Roethlisberger over Palmer 100 times out of 100.
That's all the rants and Bengal/Patriot hatred I have in me for one morning. Regardless of how horrible their offense is, I'm sure Baltimore will put up a fight next Monday night, so count on another spiritied recap for a hated divisional opponent.
Thoughts from around the game, around the league, and around the sports world:
--Congrats to the Boston Red Sox on winning the World Series. It couldn't happen to a more humble, classy, non-obnoxious fan base. I can only hope that the Patriots win the Super Bowl, Boston College wins the BCS, the Celtics win the NBA Championship and the Bruins win the Stanley Cup.
--I was listening to ESPN radio on Friday and caught some of their "Fantasy Expert", Matthew Berry. You know, The Talented Mr. Roto? This guy couldn't talk up Brian Griese enough for the Bears game against Detroit. He hyped him to the point that you thought Griese would have 500 yards and 8 touchdowns, you know, just like Tom Brady has in the first half. He stopped just short of telling the host of the show to start Griese in front of Peyton Manning. Griese finished with 208 yards and 4 INTs. If there is a job that pays you for predictions and analysis like that, where do I sign up?
--Derek Anderson had another big game for the Browns yesterday. But have you noticed his opponents in these games? He's gone back to back against 0-8 St. Louis and 0-8 Miami. He also had a big game against the Bengals and their horrible defense. Of course, against the Steelers, his passer rating was 65, the Patriots 59, and Oakland (who actually has a good defense), 57. So let's not induct him into Canton alongside Chad Johnson just yet.
--The Jets-Bills game featured appearances by not one, not two, but four horrible QBs: JP Losman, Trent Edwards, Chad Pennington, and Kellen Clemens. Not surprisingly, a total of 16 points were scored.
--Everyone enjoy that Dolphins-Giants game from Foggy Londontown yesterday? NFL Globalization...feel the excitement!
--Vince Young continues to amaze me. 6 completions, 42 yards, and the Titans win yet again. I don't get it either.
--What's a more crushing defeat: the way Pitt lost on Saturday or the way Penn State lost Saturday?
10/26/2007
Wrapping Things Up
A LIST OF TODAY's TOP LISTS
The 5 Unsexiest Women Alive
Illegitimate Offspring: The 10 Most Tenuously Connected Movie Sequels
Free Shipping for Mondesi's House Readers!
Bill Cowher autographs
Chuck Noll autographs
Franco Harris autographs
Heath Miller autographs
Hines Ward autographs
Jack Lambert autographs
Jerome Bettis autographs
Lynn Swann autographs
Troy Polamalu autographs
Willie Parker autographs
Mike Tomlin autographs
Sidney Crosby autographs
Evgeni Malkin autographs
Jordan Staal autographs
Marc-Andre Fleury autographs
Willie Stargell autographs
Mario Lemieux autographs
Mickey Mantle autographs
Alex Rodriguez autographs
Dan Marino autographs
Joe Namath autographs
Steve Slaton autographs
Michael Jordan autographs
Howard Stern autographs
Seinfeld autographs
Godfather autographs
Spiderman autographs
Britney Spears autographs
Jennifer Lopez autographs
Prince autographs
Guns N Roses autographs
Ozzy Osbourne autographs
Jay-Z autographs
Why My Team Will Be Better Than the Steelers
Steelers All-Time Not So Much Team
Steelers All-Time Not So Much Team (PG Blog N Gold)
Amazing Joe Paterno Photos
10/25/2007
Mondesi's House on Cincinnati Radio
UPDATE:
We're all set for 11 AM today (Friday Oct 26).
You can listen online at http://1530homer.com/main.html.
The All-Time Stillers
Terry Bradshaw - Quarterback (1970-83)
Jerome Bettis - Running Back (1996-05)
Rocky Bleier - Running Back (1968, 1970-80)
Franco Harris - Running Back (1972-83)
Bennie Cunningham - Tight End (1976-85)
Elbie Nickel - Tight End (1947-57)
John Stallworth - Wide Receiver (1974-87)
Lynn Swann - Wide Receiver (1974-82)
Hines Ward - Wide Receiver (1998-Present)
Larry Brown – Offensive Tackle (1971-84)
Dermontti Dawson – Center (1988-00)
Alan Faneca – Guard (1998-Present)
Tunch Ilkin – Offensive Tackle (1980-92)
Jon Kolb – Offensive Tackle (1969-81)
Mike Webster – Center (1974-88)
Joe Greene – Defensive Tackle (1969-81)
L.C. Greenwood – Defensive End (1969-81)
Casey Hampton – Nose Tackle (2001-Present)
Ernie Stautner – Defensive Tackle (1950-63)
Dwight White – Defensive End (1971-80)
Jack Lambert – Middle Linebacker (1974-84)
Greg Lloyd – Outside Linebacker (1988-97)
Joey Porter – Outside Linebacker (1999-2006)
Mel Blount – Cornerback (1970-83)
Jack Butler – Defensive Back (1951-59)
Carnell Lake – Safety (1989-98)
Troy Polamalu – Safety (2003-Present)
Donnie Shell – Safety (1974-87)
Rod Woodson – Cornerback (1987-96)
Gary Anderson – Kicker (1982-94)
Bobby Walden – Punter (1968-77)
10/24/2007
Another Embarrassing Steeler Fan
Wow...this is simply painful to watch:
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The News
10/23/2007
The News
--Momentum is building for the Penguins, who spent yesterday shopping with kids on behalf of Project Bundle-Up.
--PA lawmakers want all teams to retire Roberto Clemente's No. 21. That's your tax dollars at work, Pennsylvanians.
--Ron Cook researches Zombie Nation and tells us why the Nittany Lions could upset Ohio State this weekend.
--The Colts beat the Jaguars last night. That's funny, by listening to who the announcers were talking about, I thought I was watching a Patriots game. Apparently, Pro Football Talk thought the same (scroll down their page a bit for the story).
--Yeah, that was a pretty awkward interview with Russell Crowe in the booth last night.
--The officiating in Super Bowl XL creeps into an NBA Preview (item #7). You know, the game the Seahawks lost when the refs let Willie Parker loose for a 75-yard touchdown run.
--Wait, 2004 didn't happen?
--The Ghosts of Wayne Fontes argues that incentive-based contracts are here to stay.
--Sources are saying that Kobe Bryant could be traded this week. Any chance of the Miami Heat reuniting him with Shaq?
--Speaking of trades, Chad Johnson could be on his way out of Cincinnati. As emailer Keith (a Steeler fan in Cincy--poor guy) points out:
Here's my favorite part, the second to last paragraph after Johnson acknowledged there's some truth to the trade story:
“Everything I’ve done has always been positive, it’s always been fun. It’s never been a me, me, me thing. It’s how Chad plays the game. … I’ve been playing it the same way the past four years. I celebrate. I have fun with it. It is a dirty business. And to get the business side of it off my mind, I go out and have fun with it like I’m a little kid.”
So it's never been about him in one sentence, followed by a 3rd person reference to himself in the next sentence. And if a little kid broke out a future Hall of Fame jacket after making a play, I think his Pop Warner coach would show him the bench.
--WPIAL football fans can vote on the top seeds at Rizzo Sports.
--Check out this vintage, cringe-worthy pic of Antwaan Randle-El against the Brownies.
--Anyone want to buy the old Ookie Vick place?
--This probably took some coordinating.
--Philadelphia has the least attractive people in the United States, according to a new survey. Of course, they're not talking about Flyer fans. They're exquisite.
--It's the oldest living Nittany Lions mascot! Ironically, he's 30 years younger than Joe Paterno.
--Here's everything you need to know about the NHL last week in one neat, tidy post.
--WWTDD tries to clear up any doubt about Jake Gyllenhaal.
--From the "Great Headlines" Department: Officer Swerves To Miss Cats, Hits Building
--Ellen Degeneres seems really sad about this dog situation. Too bad she's done it nine times.
A LIST OF TODAY'S TOP LISTS
THE 50 MOST STYLISH MEN OF THE PAST 50 YEARS