Myron's on the Job, and Other Reasons for Optimism

The Steelers will beat the Jets.

The Steelers have the better quarterback, the better defense, and home-field advantage. Also on our side at Steeler Nation are Good Karma, Beneficial Mojo, and Myron Cope's birthday (on Sunday), as well as, of course, Myron's Terrible Towel.

In this edition of Joey Porter's Pit Bulls, we'll glance at just a few of the many reasons to feel optimistic when the Steelers' offense is on the field.

One reason for optimism about our offense:
The Steelers will go downfield on the Jets, and will have success doing it.

First, let's get this out of the way: It's entirely possible, likely even, that the Jets will put All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis on Mike Wallace almost exclusively, to try to lock him down like he did Indianapolis's Reggie Wayne, and they'll probably put Antonio Cromartie on Hines Ward.

That's reason for optimism? Crazy, you say.

At first glance, from the Jets' perspective, those two matchups look well and good, but here's something that was evident Dec. 19, and the national media would consider this unthinkable blasphemy and insane sacrilege: Mike Wallace actually CAN get separation from Darrelle Revis, and not just on deep "Go" routes, but also on crossing patterns and out routes. Watch the video from that first game, and you'll see it.

Nobody challenges Revis -- and we're not saying the Steelers will challenge Revis on Sunday, but Wallace brings a dimension (sheer speed) to the game that Revis didn't encounter with Reggie Wayne or pretty much anybody else he's played this season.

This is not to downplay Revis's all-world talent, but if you look at replays of Revis-on-Wallace in the first game, Wallace was open on a few routes where Big Ben threw elsewhere. Watch for yourself, if have the game on DVR or Tivo: The camera isolated Revis-on-Wallace on three plays, and it's a fact: Wallace got separation.

Roethlisberger, however, chose not to challenge Revis and threw elsewhere (apparently targeting Matt Spaeth of all people eight times, for crying out loud, but hopefully Spaeth won't even see the field on Sunday; and that's another story -- Heath Miller's return to action is huge, and maybe nearly as significant as the return of Troy Polamalu).

Okay, that's one match-up, and we're not suggesting Mike Wallace is going to win that match-up. But it will occupy Revis, pretty much all day, and he might have his hands full a bit more than most people would anticipate.

So-o-o-o ... that takes us to the next match-up.

Cause to be optmistic about our offense on Sunday:

• Jets' corner Antonio Cromartie is over-rated. If he's on Hines Ward, it won't matter much, because not only is Cromartie over-rated, Hines Ward can still get it done. Ward still has the knack for finding open seams 12-15 yards downfield in clutch third-down situations. This match-up favors the Steelers.
  

More reasons for optimism:

• The Jets'' secondary has no answer for the Steelers' two emerging stars at wide receiver, the very fast and extremely polished rookies Emmanuel Sanders ("Easy Money") and Antonio Brown ("Cash Money"). The Jets' safeties (Brodney Poole, Eric Smith and Dwight Lowery) are pedestrian at best, and their third and fourth corners (Drew Coleman and Kyle Wilson) are okay, but just okay. The Jets' third and fourth corners are no match for the Steelers' third and fourth wide receivers., and the safeties won't be much help because they're slow. We expect Big Ben, therefore, to target these guys deep several times. Sanders and Brown have proven they belong. They are stars in the making and could make a significant impact on the outcome of the game on Sunday.
  

Here's a link to the Jets' depth chart on defense, for what it's worth, and it ain't much.

Finally, just a footnote here, but remember how, on Dec. 19, the Jets' defensive backs (specifically Cromartie, Lowery and Coleman) were caught on camera at least four times (on deep routes, no less) hooking arms, clutching ,tugging and grabbing the jerseys of Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown?

Something tells us the officiating crew ain't gonna let them get away with that again this time. The jersey tugging, clutching and grabbing way downfield was so blatant, so flagrant, that it was borderline disgraceful, especially on that one play late in the fourth quarter when Sanders was streaking toward the end zone but was clearly slowed down by having his jersey tugged by Lowery. Everybody saw it but the officials, and it was so bad, the network showed the replay immediately and repeatedly. No call.

Sure, the Jets beat the Patriots. But the Steelers have speed weapons (Wallace, Sanders and Brown) the Patriots simply don't have (expect the Pats to draft a wideout in April) -- and we wouldn't be at all surprised if Heath Miller runs a deep route, too, much like Chicago tight end Greg Olsen did successfully last Sunday against the Seahawks.

Most Importantly: Myron's on the Job
The Steelers will win this game, if only because Sunday will be Myron Cope's birthday. It would have been his 82nd.

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls had the privilege of sitting beside Myron Cope on a fairly lengthy flight to Pittsburgh once upon a time, and we had an extended and thoroughly pleasant conversation. Myron was everything you'd expect -- witty, hilarious, spontaneous, kindly, entertaining, droll, humble, fun, brilliant, magical. One of a kind.

On Sunday, his birthday, Myron surely will be waving his Celestial Terrible Towel.

The Jets don't stand a chance.

"Two Trains on a Track"

During his weekly news conference today, Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin spoke respectfully (as he always does) about the upcoming opponent and was polite to the media (as he always is).

Tomlin also was typically articulate, affable, upbeat, personable and ... businesslike. Pleasant ... but professional.

As usual he had some interesting things to say in addition to demonstrating a thorough knowledge of the opposing team.

Here are two quotes that resonated:

"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man."

Tomlin also replied to a reporter's question about the Jets' collective penchant for brassy talk:

"They've been pretty consistent all year about stating their intentions, which is to win a world championship. We've been pretty consistent all year about stating our intentions. So you can see where that's going to lead us. That's two trains on a track."

In other words, and this is strictly our interpretation: "Let 'em talk all they want. So what? I don't care. Let's get it on."

Happy Day!

Big smiles all around today, at least here in Pittsburgh and all across Steeler Nation.

Much more to come on this blog about last night's win over the Baltimore Ravens, but for now, let's just revel in the happy afterglow and say a few prayers of thanks on this sunny Sunday morning.

Yeah, it was a close one, with spectacular plays knocked out by both sides, as well as questionable officiating slamming both teams. Granted, that holding call on Lardarious Webb's electrifying punt return with just under six minutes left in the game may or may not have been technically correct. Even Joey Porter's Pit Bulls, ardent Steelers' fans, probably wouldn't have called it.

Still, shaky calls went against both teams throughout the game and, even if Webb's return had been allowed to stand, you had the feeling the Steelers were going to win the game.

And ... and, let's point out, the officials had absolutely nothing to do with what happened on 3rd-and-19, just a few minutes later. Third-and-19!

On 3rd-and-19, with about three minutes left in the game, the Ravens vaunted defense allowed Ben Roethisberger and Antonio Brown to hook up for a bee-yoo-tee-full 58-yard completion that set up the winning touchdown -- which would have won the game anyway, even if Webb's punt return had been allowed to stand.

A 58-yard-completion on 3rd-and-19 with three minutes left in the game??!!! How does that happen?

Just where were the Ravens' vaunted safeties and pass rush on that play? That play is going to haunt the Ravens and their fans all off-season, and probably for years to come.

Allowing a 58-yard pass completion on 3rd-and-19? Inexcusable. Even Terrell Suggs said, "Even if we allow just 18 yards there, we're off the field."

Graciously, and to his credit, Suggs absolved the refs and credited the Steelers for making a great, clutch play with the game on the line.

That 58-yard completion was the defining play of the game, thank goodness, and rendered moot what might have become a bitter, simmering debate over the officiating throughout the contest. The officials were too prominent throughout, as if they were trying too hard to keep the lid on a nearly boiling-over cauldron of a barely controlled riot, which is what they were facing, more or less.

Well, that's what you get with the Ravens vs. Steelers.

As Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin said in his post-game news conference, "That's Hagler-Hearns right there, that game."

More happily, he closed his nationally televised press conference with a cheery birthday greeting to his son Mason, who turned nine years old yesterday. Must have been quite a memorable birthday for the kid.

"Happy Birthday, Mason," Tomlin said with a big smile, as he stood up to leave the post-game dais.

Indeed, and a happy day for all of us in Steeler Nation.

Bonus Track:

"Sun Is Shining"

Yoi!

Game day.

As Steelers' radio broadcaster and 14-year NFL veteran Tunch Ilkin said earlier in the week, "At this point, it's all conjunction."

Indeed.

The malaprops have been blurted. The stats have been studied. The match-ups have been mimed.

The cliches have been clucked; the hyperbole has been hyped; the gauntlet (whatever medieval anachronism that is) has been thrown; the symbolic bets between mayors, radio personalities and bishops (bishops? Yes, bishops.) have been made; and the self-aggrandizing trash talk has been tossed.

Of course, ratbirds like Terrell Suggs, Baltimore linebacker, just had to chime in. Paraphrasing here, but not far off from what he said this week:

"Look at me! I'm the one wearing an insulting, profane tee-shirt!! That makes me bad! I'm the evil one! It'll be Armageddon!! World War III!!

Hey, Terrell, clown: Put the cuckoo back in the clock.

Then there was this, from ESPN broadcaster, former NFL great and "Dancing With the Stars" contestant Emmitt Smith with the breathless, obligatory Biblical reference:

"This game will be like two brothers fighting.
It'll be like Cain and Abel out there!"

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls have never seen Cain and Abel fight. We'll take Emmitt's word for it.

Again, to revisit Tunch's words of wisdom: "At this point it's all conjunction."

Conjecture, too.

Surely, Myron Cope, up in Steeler heaven, must be as fidgety as can be. With a respectful nod to Myron, then, we'll leave the last word to him, always the voice of reason:

"Yoi, and double yoi!!
Let's kick it off already, for cryin' out loud!!!"

Additional Reading:

• The New York Times this week published an interesting article about Troy Polamulu''s spirituality. The article, titled, "A Defensive Anchor Walks a Spiritual Path," is a good read, even for Terrell Suggs and Ravens fans, assuming they can read.

• The closeness of this rivalry spanning the past several years nearly defies belief and merits scrutiny, if only for fun. Over their past 17 meetings ...

1. The Steelers have nine wins; the Ravens eight.
2. Each team has scored 303 points.
3. Each team has about 265 yards per game on offense.
4. The Ravens have committed 33 turnovers; the Steelers, 34.
   

• For more in-depth analysis of today's match-up and infinitely more minute statistical scrutiny, visit this site.

Pics That Make You Appreciate Being a Steeler Fan

Hmmm ... Joey Porter's Pit Bulls trolled the Baltimore Sun's Web site this morning. It was, predictably, a waste of time.

Having found the above images, we're not quite sure what message they are sending:

• Have Baltimore fans worked themselves into such a frenzied lather that some misguided soul festooned his lawn with a giant inflatable doll and ... purple flamingoes? HOW INTIMIDATING!

• Another Ravens fan apparently is holding his dog hostage -- after painting the poor creature purple. The worst part is the pathetic, suffering pooch appears be on the verge of being hanged if -- if what? ... if what happens?? ... if the Ravens don't cover??? ... if Fido insists on continuing to root for the Steelers??!! Sheesh, as dog caretakers, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls just find this image disturbing. We didn't know Michael Vick had moved to Baltimore.

• Yet another image, not worth showing, invites Ravens fans to use Big Ben's face as a dartboard. Lame.
  

Well, enough of THAT nonsense.

There Will Be Blood

Who didn't know that?

Sunday's game will be a bloodbath.

We've all seen the violence in recent Steelers-Ravens match-ups. Remember the Steelers' Super Bowl XVIII run during the 2008-09 season? The Steelers beat the Ravens twice in the regular season and again in the playoffs -- and if that playoff game wasn't the most violent football we've witnessed, the second regular-season game may well have been. Brutal. On both sides.

Maybe some of the Steelers-Raiders and Steelers-Browns match-ups in the 1970s compare. Probably. For all we know, the ghosts of Dwight White, Mike Webster and Fats Holmes are suiting up, pounding shoulder pads, butting heads and getting ready for the game on Sunday. They'll be watching intently, at the very least.

This Steelers-Ravens rivalry is different from, say, the Patriots-Jets, or the Bears-Packers, or any other in the NFL right now. It hearkens (hark!) back to the Ravens' roots as the transplanted Cleveland Browns, but at this point, it's gone way, way beyond that.

It's routinely and unabashedly violent to the -nth degree. And that's not to use the word "violent" lightly.

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls try to be careful with words, and (unlike the Ravens' Terrell Suggs) we try to avoid cliches. George Carlin did a classic stand-up routine where he mocked the loosely used metaphors and analogies commonly associated with football. He was right on, so we won't describe Sunday's game as "combat," "war," or "Armageddon."

We call it like we see it, without gaudy patter. This game will be Seriously Violent -- almost certainly more so than any other playoff game this year. That may be stating the obvious, but still ... it's what we've all signed up for.

It won't be war, or Armageddon, but it will be violent, in the extreme.

Having said that, we see the Steelers winning this game, and doing so handily. They're going to outscore the Ravens with quick strikes. It says here that this is not going to be the defensive slugfest everybody expects.

Yeah, it'll be a slugfest, but the Steelers will put up some points, and the Ravens won't be able to keep up. Then they'll get frustrated, take cheap shots, and the violence will escalate.

Feel free to mock us afterwards. If we're wrong, so be it. But that's how we see it.

There will be blood. It will be violent. And the Steelers will win.

Yeah, there's quiet confidence here -- not the sort of false bravado exhibited by cut-rate blowhards Terrell Thuggs and Rex Ryan, both of whom will exit the playoffs as losers on Sunday.

-----------------------------------

Footnote, for what it's worth -- a quote from Terrell Thuggs:

As it appears on ESPN.com:

When Suggs described Armageddon, he mentioned good vs. evil and when he was asked who was evil, he replied, "I don't know. I guess from your point of view that I am definitely evil."

Addendum:

"The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter."
-- Humphrey Bogart, as hardboiled detective Sam Spade, in The Maltese Falcon.


"Empty barrels make the most noise."
-- Chuck Noll, former coach of the Steelers, Hall of Famer and four-time Super Bowl champion.

Congratulations, Maddie!

Here at Joey Porter's Pit Bulls, we're all about football -- and pit bulls, dogs generally, baseball, music, dames, hockey, politics, urban culture, movies, books, and all sorts of other aimless amusements.

Indulge us for a second for this feel-good story about Maddie, the very sweet long-timer at the Animal Rescue League who was featured as Joey Porter's Pit Bulls' New Year's Dog of the Day.

A favorite of Animal Rescue League staffers and volunteers, Maddie's finally been adopted! Inexplicably, she'd been at the shelter for much longer than anybody would have anticipated, but now, thankfully, she is with a wonderful family and has her forever home.

It's always good to see shelter dogs get adopted, but especially gratifying when it's a dog like Maddie. She gets you at first look and makes you appreciate being alive. Congratulations, Maddie, a sweetheart, an inspiration and a true success story.

Lots of other wonderful dogs remain at the Animal Rescue League and need their own forever homes. We will continue to feature them every so often on Joey Porter's Pit Bulls, and we will, of course, continue to cover the Steelers and the human circus in general.

For now, we like to think Maddie's adoption is a portent of good things to come -- like a Steelers' victory on Sunday en route to a Super Bowl win next month.

Yeah. Good things to come.

www.animalrescue.org

412-661-6452

Speaking of grass ...an inquiring Steeler Nation wants to know.

It will be, ahem, interesting to see how Heinz Field's new sod fares on Saturday.

The entire playing surface at Heinz Field was re-sodded following the New Year's Day "Winter Classic" between the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitols.

Maybe the grounds crew should have simply left the skating rink in place?

It's remarkable what can be done anymore, but still ... it's winter. Since the new grass (FieldTurf?) was laid in place, in fact, the temperature in our fair Burgh has yet to rise higher than 25 degrees (Fahrenheit, you Canadiens -- viva les Alouettes!). Last night, we had several inches of snow, and more snow is expected over the next few days, including Saturday.

The playing surface has been covered with a tarp ever since it was resodded, so we're not sure anybody really knows what condition it is in today.

An inquiring Steeler Nation wants to know: Will Heinz Field remain a skating rink? Will it be a muddy mess? A pristine garden?

Or, will it be like our playing "field" my at Peabody High School in East Liberty, where the maintenance crew sprayed massive amounts of black oil to completely cover the dirt playing surface and turn it into a blacked-over parking lot, essentially, with the surface as hard as concrete. It was so nasty, they couldn't even paint yard-markers on it.

Yeah, that was an "educational experience" but absolutely no fun to get slammed down on. Well, it made us tough -- at least that's what the ex-Marine coach told us, and he was probably right, considering what happened later.

But that's life in the city, and we digress.

Back on topic: Heinz Field has a desultory reputation for having one of the worst, if not the worst, playing fields in the NFL. Remember the Muddy Monday Night Slopfest against the Dolphins a few years ago?

Will the field even be playable? Will the turf pull up the first time Haloti Ngata does his impression of a Pamplona bull digging into the dirt with his foreleg? Will the Steelers and Ravens use a hockey puck instead of a football?

An inquiring Steeler Nation wants to know.
We'll find out soon enough.

Image courtesy of The Washington Post.

Animal Rescue League Dog of the Day

Phillip!

Phillips's a hoot! Laugh-out-loud funny. Cheerful, affectionate, playful ... what's not to like? Plus, Phillip absolutely loves people and other dogs.

Phillip's a winner and will brighten any home.
Phillip needs a home, and a chance.
Send an e-mail to adoptions@animalrescue.org.

Visit Phillip at The Animal Rescue League at Fifth and Hamilton in Shadyside, EastSide -- whatever the realtors are calling our neighborhood these days.

The shelter is just a block or so from Mellon Park, Trader Joe's and Bakery Square.
= = = =
Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania
6620 Hamilton Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15206

Tel: 412-661-6452
www.animalrescue.org

Beat 'em Bucs!

Here at Joey Porter's Pit Bulls we focus primarily on the Steelers, but we have other interests, too, like the Pittsburgh Pirates, believe it or not.

Ya gotta admit, they are fascinating in a perverse sort of way -- kind of like watching a train wreck in slow motion, over and over and over again.

At this time of year -- really, what is there to say about the Pirates? Well, for your reading edification, here's a link to an interesting and amusing article by Jeff Passan at Yahoo! Sports.

Did Pedro Alvarez really strike out 119 times in 347 at-bats last year? If true, yikes!

Personally, we like the "Pirates Haiku" at the end of Jeff's article.

The Kansas City Chefs Served Up A Tidy Pigeon For Ravenous Baltymore

Forgive the tortured headline atop the photo.

This past Sunday, K.C. played the role of The Sunshine Band, patsy, pigeon, chef, bee-yotch, whatever, to a ferocious Balt'more Ravens squad. To say the Ravens demolished the Chiefs is an understatement, and that might be an understatement.

Read elsewhere for the gory details, but Baltimore brutalized K.C. in every facet of the game, from time of possession (the Griefs had the ball for less than 20 minutes), to turnovers (Baltimore's defense picked off three passes and forced two fumble recoveries), all the way through. Even the kicker, Billy Cundiff, was impressive, nailing two field goals and burying kickoffs five yards deep into the end zone.

For all we know, the Ravens also trashed the post-game tailgate gatherings in the Arrowhead Stadium parking lots.

Baltimore's Ed Reed played like a man possessed, and he might have been, considering the disappearance of his brother into the Mississippi River a few days ago.

Joe Flacco was flawless, Haloti Ngata was a caveman, and Ray Lewis looked like he's still bristling over the murder charges filed against him years ago.

Also problematic -- extremely so -- were running back Ray Rice, tight end Todd Heap, and receivers Anquan Bolden, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Derrick Mason.

All right, enough of that. For the Ravens, it's going to be a trying week, with more than a few distractions. Also, they were almost too dominant in Kansas City.

This Saturday, in Pittsburgh, it will be a different story.

The Steelers are not the Chiefs.

First, let's take a superficial look, and then we'll dig a little deeper. As we all know, the Steelers and Ravens split the two games they played during the regular season.

• In Week Four, Sunday, Oct. 3 at Heinz Field, the Steelers -- playing without Ben Roethlisberger -- lost a nail-biter to the Ravens on a last minute TD pass to T.J. Douchemandzadeh.

• In Week 13, Sunday night, Dec. 5 in Baltimore, the Steelers pulled out a 13-10 nail-biter following Troy Polamalu's spectacular!, sensational!, pivotal!, game-turning!, season-saving! hit of Joe Flacco that forced the game's decisive fumble, which led to Isaac Redman's late game-winning touchdown catch-and-bull-run.

Okay, so the two teams played each other pretty evenly during the regular season, and, indeed, over the past couple of years. Pretty evenly?!

Let's take a closer look at the past two seasons (2009 and 2010). Consider, over the past four games between the Ravens and Steelers ...

• Each team has two wins and two losses.

• Each team has scored 67 points.

• Each team has scored seven touchdowns and six field goals.

Well, it doesn't get much more even that that.

However, and this is a BIG caveat:

• Both of the Steelers' two losses to the Ravens (in 2009 and 2010) were without Big Ben -- who, by the way, has beaten the Ravens six in a row.

The Steelers will win this game, too.

Stick that in your caw and smoke it, Baltimorons.

The Plot Thickens

Both NFL playoff games yesterday were upsets -- which makes us glad, once again, that we don't bet football (but that's another story).

More to the point, yesterday's upsets make things ever-more interesting for the rest of the playoffs teams, as well for their fans. Like us: Steeler fans.

So-o-o-o ... Joey Porter's Pit Bulls must recalibrate our expectations for next week's game at Heinz Field.

Sheesh, we fully anticipated Peyton Manning to flop-sweat through his annual post-season choke -- but we thought it would happen next week in Pittsburgh, not yesterday on Manning's home field in Indianapolis.

It's not even so much that Manning necessarily choked. He didn't play that badly ... or did he?

Here's the thing with Manning, and we've all seen it time ana again: Manning gets to Big Games (yesterday's games, for example, as well as last year's Super Bowl, multiple post-season appearances, etc.), and he repeatedly displays a predictable yet maddening (for Colts' fans) backslide into his fatal weakness, which is ... rigidity.

Man, that dude gets uptight in big games. How else -- seriously, how ELSE -- to explain why he would target his No. 1 receiver, Reggie Wayne, just once in yesterday's game. Reggie Wayne, 10-year vet, perennial Pro Bowler, go-to receiver., second in the NFL in receptions this past season. Yesterday? Manning threw to him once. Once!

Yup: One pass to Wayne attempted for one meager completion, for one measly yard ... to Reggie Wayne, who rated second in the NFL with 111 receptions this season!???

Say what you will about Jets' cornerback Darrelle Revis (Aliquippa's own, and Pitt's too) once again playing a terrific game. Yes, Revis took Wayne out of the game and put him on "Revis Island. " Still, blame Manning and the Colts' coaching staff -- mainly Manning, we believe -- for failing to anticipate the Revis-on-Wayne coverage scheme and especially for failing to make the requisite in-game adjustments. Shame on Manning and the Colts, but it's the same old story with them. We don't care all that much, but it must be maddening for their fans.

Actually, in a way, we're happy Manning is out of the playoffs so soon. Now that Brett Favre's finally out of the picture and Manning's out of the way, who will the pathetic and sycophantic ESPN Talking Heads (Chris Berman, Adam Schefter, et al) have left to fulminate over, blubber about, slobber all over, bleah, bleah? Prime candidates: Ray Lewis, Michael Vick, Tom Brady, Bill Bellichick, Revis and even Rex Ryan, the outspoken, roly-poly blowhard, foot fetishist and head coach of the New York Jets.

Whatever.

Thankfully, nobody on the Steelers is likely to garner such attention, not just yet, anyway.

Now, the Steelers almost certainly will host the Baltimore Ravens next Saturday at Heinz Field. That's okay. Yeah, yeah, the Ravens first must beat the upstart Kansas City Chiefs today, but they will. And the Jets this week will prepare to travel to Foxboro, Mass, to get beat by the Patriots.

So, we'll get the Ravens on Saturday. The Ravens definitely are a dangerous team, fully capable of beating any team left in the playoffs.

So are the Steelers.

Bring 'em on.

*** *** ***

Off-topic:
Our prayers go out to the shooting victims in Tucson.
"So Much Trouble in the World"

It's Christmas All Over Again! " ... an abyss of beauty that's just endless."

"Troy Polamalu says 'Kala Christougena!'"

That's the headline on the front page of today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, with the story starting as follows ...

-----------------------------------------------

The most famous Orthodox Christian in Pittsburgh, if not the nation, has a greeting for his fellow believers today:

"Kala Christougena!" said Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. That's Greek for "Merry Christmas!"

Mr. Polamalu and his wife, Theodora, actually celebrated Christmas 13 days ago, but they keep the same Orthodox traditions as those who observe today. Most Orthodox celebrate on Dec. 25, but many Slavic churches tie liturgy to the old Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. The Greek Orthodox Church and some others have adopted the Gregorian calendar -- except at Easter.

"We all celebrate Easter on the same day," said Mr. Polamalu, 29. Orthodoxy is the Eastern wing of the earliest Christian church, which split into the Orthodox and Catholic churches in 1054.

He and Theodora converted to Orthodoxy about five years ago. His background was Catholic and Protestant, hers Muslim and Protestant. They were Christians in search of a deeper, more consistent experience of God.

"Orthodoxy is like an abyss of beauty that's just endless," he said. "I have read the Bible many times. But after fasting, and being baptized Orthodox, it's like reading a whole new Bible. You see the depth behind the words so much more clearly."

----------------------------------------------------------

Click here for the rest of the story. Interesting stuff.

"Kala Christougena!" to you, too, Troy and family.

More Be-Essing, and Bessie, too

Sis, Boom, Bah, Let's Give it the Ole College Try!

Pitt, for cyrin' out loud, just hire Penn State assistant coach Tom Bradley already. This hire's a no-brainer, especially if Teryl Austin joins his staff as defensive coordinator, as has been reported in some circles. Pitt shoulda hired Bradley years ago. Getting Austin along with Bradley would be a bonus. Just do it, already.

Just Kickin' It Around ...

Who knew? The Post-Gazette reports today, that "the kick coverage against the Browns was not just the best of the 16-game season, it was the best in the NFL in three years." According to the Post-Gazette ...

The Browns averaged just 9.1 yards on eight kick returns against the Steelers, who squibbed each kick in an attempt to keep the ball away from return specialist Joshua Cribbs. That was the lowest return average in a game (minimum five attempts) since the Chicago Bears held the Green Bay Packers to a 7.3 average Dec. 23, 2007, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

The Browns had four returns less than 8 yards and none longer than 17. Their average starting field position on those kicks was their 25.

Around the NFL ...

Right now, it appears there are five coaching vacancies -- Carolina, San Francisco, Oakland, Miami, Denver.

The latter four, apparently, are going hard after Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. It must be nice to be wanted by prospective employers, and it must be especially nice to be Jim Harbaugh. Our money says he stays in the Bay Area and signs on with the 49ers. Actually, their money, which is reported to be something like $6.4 million a year, plus benefits. Must be nice.

San Diego may also be in play for a new coach, despite what Chargers owner Dean Spanos may (or may not) have said. San Diego may be the eventual landing pad for Bill Cowher, but maybe not until next off-season.

Back to the Steelers: It's worth noting that several teams the Steelers demolished early in the year got better ...

• The Raiders got better (and promptly fired their head coach, inexplicably, except possibly that owner Al Davis is crazy and maybe wants to steal Jim Harbaugh from his rivals across the Bay).
  

• Tampa Bay got way better.
  

• Atlanta got way, way better.
  

• Unfortunately, however, the Colts (ugh) and Patriots (ugh, puke) got better, too, the latter after an astounding loss to Cleveland (?!!!).
  

Which brings us back to the Steelers: Our team has gotten better, too.

They've won six of their last seven games (and should have beaten the Jets, not to single out Matt Spaeth). As the season wore on, the O-line solidified, Big Ben got better, reportedly both as a QB (faster releases, quicker reads, more confident, less addled, fewer interceptions, etc.) ... and as a person (according to Hines Ward, anyway, as well as numerous other reports). Plus, the Steelers now are reasonably healthy as a team, with the return of Heath Miller, Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith (possibly).

We shall see how it all shakes out. That's what the playoffs are for. It just shows to go ya, an NFL season is elastic, especially over the course of 16 games. One can only imagine how an 18-game season (ugh, puke) will go, but that's another topic for another day.

Now the Second Season starts. A whole new season, like a shiny bauble with its own facets, implications, permutations, blah, blah, blah. The question now is, "Will the Second Season be a diamond? ... or cubic zirconia?"

Dog Stories ...

• Three-Legged Dog Cares for Kittens

• Pit Bull Rescues Blind Cocker Spaniel Friend

The picture above shows Bessie, a very sweet dog (and very well-trained) available for adoption at the Animal Rescue League in Pittsburgh. She's reet petite, easy on the leash and just playful. Quite affectionate, too. Bessie needs a home. She'll be a true friend. Call 412-661-6452 for more information about Bessie and other adoptable pets.

R.I.P. Honus Wagner Sporting Goods

Yup, the store opened by Honus Wagner himself is set to close. End of an era.

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls bought many a pair of cleats, shoes, jerseys, shirts, jackets, hoodies, and our all-time favorite baseball glove there.

Here's the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article chronicling the store's history. Good article, well worth a read.

Photo credit: Michael Henninger, Post-Gazette

Dissa 'n Datta

It's too soon to make assumptions, but let's do, let's do (tip o' the hat to "Blazing Saddles").

Let's assume Rex Ryan, blowhard, foot fetishist and head coach of the new yak jets, and his merry band of football-playing rapscallions, lose in Indianapolis this weekend.

The Steelers then would host the Colts the following Saturday, 4.m., at Heinz Field.

We can count on Peyton Manning to do his annual (perennial?) post-season choke.

Let's assume, too, the Ravens (fuhget about the K.C. Griefs) and Patriots beat each other to a bloody pulp that same weekend of Jan. 16/17.

Whoever wins that bloodbtath, Steelers Nation has have cause for cautious optimism. Either we get the Ravens here, and beat them to advance to the Super Bowl, or we go to Foxboro and beat the bruised yet over-confident Patriots to advance to the Super Bowl -- and win it.

Hey, a pit bull can dream, can't he?

It's better than living in Cleveland.

It must be depressing to be a Cleveland Browns fan, blogger or even a mainstream-media guy like longtime reporter/columnist Terry Pluto, who offered this bleak assessment of the Clowns following Sunday's blowout at the hands of the Steelers.

Before we totally dismiss the Steelers' win over the Clowns, it's worth noting the Cleveland defense was the only one in the NFL, entering Sunday's game, to have yet surrendered as many as 30 points in a game. That's pretty impressive.

The Steelers scored 31 points by halftime.

Before the Browns fired Eric Mangini yesterday, the NFL Network aired an amusing exchange between roundtable-discussion panelists Steve Mariucci and Deion Sanders:

• Mariucci (tentatively): "I dunno, Prime, I think the Browns might keep Eric Mangini."

• Sanders (incredulously): "Are you serious?! Did you see that game plan on Sunday?!! He walked into that game, with his job on the line with that game plan?!! Forty-one to nine!!! Kick a field on fourth-and-goal from the three??? Get real, my man. Mangini's gone, and he should be!!!"

Regrettably, it appears inevitable that the NFL will go to an 18-game schedule. Joey Porter's Pit Bulls wish they wouldn't. Sixteen regular-season games is puh-lenty. We're ready for the playoffs. If they're not careful, Roger Goodell, the owners and the TV networks are going to slaughter the golden goose. Nobody else wants an 18-game schedule, especially not the players, and not even most fans. Maybe some bookies, casinos and advertising moguls, but nobody else.

Considering the emergence of the Steelers' young receiving corps, somebody deserves some credit for their development. Good draft choices, all, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown, so the coaches and scouts deserve credit for talent-evaluation and drafting. The veteran wide receivers (Hines Ward, Antwaan Randle-el and, for all we know, Arnaz Battle) deserve credit, too, presumably, for tutelage -- for showing these young fellas the importance of blocking, running the right routes, what it takes to succeed in the NFL, and what it means to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. Credit the young fellas themselves. They've been terrific. And, last but not least, kudos to Scottie Montgomery, the Steelers' first-year wide receivers coach, for mentoring those young receivers and helping them to develop. He must be doing something right.

In case you haven't noticed, the Steelers have won six of their past seven games, so they've built some momentum entering the playoffs. And they should have beaten the Jets, who have lost three of their past five and whose quarterback has thrown just one touchdown in their last five games.

The Jets aren't going to beat the Colts.

The Steelers will beat the Colts.

Then the Patriots (or Ravens).

And then whatever team they face in the Super Bowl.

That's it, Fort Pitt.

Steelers: Let the Games Begin

Congratulations, Steelers, on an excellent regular season.

Now, it's time for the playoffs.

Time for the "Second Season"-- the playoffs, all of two huge games and, hopefully, a win in the Super Bowl.

Let the games begin.

For now, let's enjoy, reflect upon and savor yesterday's win, arguably the high note for a mostly excellent season (save for a few hiccups along the way, but never mind those).

It's always satisfying to beat the Browns, and especially in such resoundingly decisive and entertaining fashion.

Entertaining? Absolutely. From Troy's first-series interception, through the next-play bomb to Mike Wallace, to watching the evacuation of Browns' Stadium by Cleveland fans ceding their own stadium to the tens of thousands of Black-'n-Gold devotees in attendance ... yes, the game was eminently entertaining.

For those of us watching the game at home in the comfort of our living rooms, listening to the Steelers' radio-broadcast team is always entertaining. This exchange, for instance, between play-by-play announcer Bill Hillgrove and color analyst Tunch Ilkin:

Bill: "Big Ben is playing the Browns' defense like a symphony violin!"
Tunch: "He's playing 'em like a 'virch-ee-yo-see'! Is that a word?
Bill: "It is now!"

Myron would have loved it.

Tunch also described how the Browns were playing a mostly "conventionable" defensive scheme, but the most entertaining part of the day was the play on the field. Another division title sealed by big plays right and left, no offensive turnovers, zero touchdowns allowed, five touchdowns, two field goals, three interceptions, and a stellar defensive effort all-around.

About that defense: As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports ...

The Steelers easily finished the regular season with the best rush defense in the National Football League and came close to finishing with one of the best in league history.

After allowing the Cleveland Browns to rush for 43 yards on 17 carries in Sunday's 41-9 victory, the Steelers set a franchise record for allowing the fewest yards rushing in a season (1,004) and fewest yards per game (62.8).

That eclipsed the old record of 1,125 yards allowed in a 12-game season in 1953. The former yards per-game record was 74.7, set in 2001.

The Steelers came within 34 yards of tying the NFL's record for rushing yards allowed in a 16-game season (970), set by the 2000 Baltimore Ravens.

Some other defensive highlights this season:

• The Steelers were the only NFL team to allow just one run longer than 20 yards in 2010.

• They allowed just two teams -- the New York Jets (106) and New England Patriots (102) -- to rush for more than 100 yards against them. No other team rushed for more than 75 yards.

• They did not allow a 100-yard rusher all season and just one in the past 50 games.

*** *** ***

Pretty good, huh? Clearly, the Steelers had a better season than Joey Porter's Pit Bulls, who somehow declined/missed/neglected to post a single entry for the regular season (sorry about that, faithful reader(s) [?]).

In any case, the past is gone, and the playoffs are ahead.

And, hopefully, better days all around, a fine playoff run, and a Super Bowl win for the Steelers in 2011.

There's much to make us feel grateful, good, upbeat and optimistic ... and happy that we're fans of the Steelers, and not fans of the Browns.

Cheers!

As the World Turns: The Soap Opera Continues at Pitt

How low can the Pitt football program go? Or, to rephrase the question, how will Pitt move forward? And, just for fun, how can Athletic Director (AD) Steve Pederson defend his hiring of the now-disgraced Mike Haywood.

On Saturday, for some reason, Pitt "Chancellor" Mark Nordenberg gave Pederson a "vote of confidence," even as Pitt continues to reel from Pederson's disastrous decision to hire the Haywood -- even as unsubstantiated rumors swirl that Haywood has a history of "problems" and "issues" dating to his days as an assistant at Notre Dame and LSU.

By now, of course, everybody knows what's happened most recently with Haywood. On New Year's Eve, he was arrested in South Bend, Ind., for domestic violence. From there, the news went from bad to worse. And then, even worse. On Friday night, Haywood spent New Year's Eve in jail and appeared to be stuck there until Monday afternoon's arraignment. On Saturday afternoon, however, his New Year got even more troubling when the prosecutor decided to upgrade the charges to a FELONY. Later that day, Pitt fired him. What happens next for Haywood (divorce papers? hard time?) are his problems, and his problems alone.

Pitt has problems of its own, and they are many. Recruiting season starts in earnest today (Monday, Jan. 3), now that the New Year's bowl games are over. This recruiting season is lost, however, even before it started, thanks to this current imbroglio.

Pitt has no football coach, a shamed program, and a major PR black eye that is sure to linger. Pitt's "braintrust" must also manage countless rumors, helplessly watch as current recruits decommit, disengage the disinformation surely already being produced by competing programs, and prepare for the school's Jan. 8 bowl game vs. Kentucky in Birmingham, Ala.

Unfortunately, Pitt officials do not know for sure -- at this moment -- who will be on the sidelines as head coach or even as assistant coaches.

Dave Wannstedt, the outgoing head coach (who Pitt reportedly forced out), has a news conference scheduled for today, and speculation has it that he plans to announce whether he will coach Pitt in the bowl game.

Again, rumors are rampant -- but rumors are just one of the many problems for Pitt right now. For all we know, Wannstedt plans to announce he will coach the team -- "for the sake of the kids" -- in the Compass Bowl (whatever that is). Or, maybe not. Almost surely, however, he must be suppressing a satisfied chuckle at this latest debacle ... all the while resisting the urge to say, "See? That's what you get," while also experiencing some serious Schadenfreude.

Next in line to coach the team for the bowl game would have been Frank Cignetti, offensive coordinator. Rumor (again) has it, however, that Cignetti wants no part of the situation and plans to accept an offer to move on to Rutgers.

Chaos! Thank you, Steve Pederson.

About that due diligence? It was Pederson who spearheaded the search that resulted in the abrupt hiring of Haywood. It was Pederson who made the choice and, as the Post-Gazette reported ...

He (Haywood) was introduced as Pitt's head football coach on Dec. 16 by Pitt Athletic Director Steve Pederson, who referred to him as a man of "character and integrity" who had qualities that were "absolutely in line with the values of this great university."

Mr. Pederson spoke highly of Mr. Haywood's reputation as a disciplinarian who would hold players accountable and be a "good role model" for Pitt's players.

Never mind that these comments appeared by implication to be a wanton, indirect slap at Wannstedt.

Even at the time, Haywood seemed a curious choice. That is especially clear now, in retrospect, but especially in light of reports that Pederson hired Haywood although many other more experienced and arguably more qualified candidates were available.

These would include Tom Bradley, the longtime Penn State defensive coordinator, who is widely respected and known to be a great recruiter. Rumors (again) are out there that Bradley made three calls to Pederson, to express his interest in the opening before Haywood was hired, but that Pederson refused to talk to him. Why?

Bradley has waited in vain for Joe Paterno to retire, but that looks like it's never going to happen. Now, even Joe-Pa is shilling for Pitt to hire Bradley. More Schadenfreude?

Going forward, the bigger, more relevant questions are these:

1. What role will Steve Pederson play in the hiring process, and in the administration of Pitt's athletic programs?
2. Once all this shakes out, will Pederson even retain his job?
3. What's next for Pitt? Does the administration have a plan? How many coaches will it have to pay? Who will be its next head coach? How does the program recover? ... etcetera, ad infinitum, ad nauseaum.

So it goes, as the world turns: The soap opera continues at Pitt.