It's Easier To Laugh, Steeler Fans

I’m still seeing some overly optimistic Steeler fans out there proclaiming this team can still go 8-1 and get into the playoffs with a record of 10-6. I’m struggling under the weight of their gross ignoring of how bad this team is this year. In fact, I just laugh.

The first play of this disastrous game was enough to tell me the Steelers weren’t ready to win a football game today. When playing a mobile inexperienced quarterback, you need to dare him to beat you with his arm and contain his running ability. Instead, LaMarr Woodley missed the contain, and 93 yards later, Terrelle Pryor had the NFL’s longest rush in league history for a quarterback. I can’t help it, I laughed out loud at the futility.

Antonio Brown had a few more key drops today, including what would have been a huge third-down conversion late in the game. He also failed to hold onto the ball and gave up a turnover late in the game. He fails to make plays when the team needs him most. Not what you want out of your top receiver. I found myself laughing at every mistake he made. You know what makes it easier to laugh at him? It’s easier because he’s right there on the field laughing himself.

Shaun Suisham, the reigning special teams player of the week, missed two field goals inside of 40 yards. I laughed after both of them. That’s simply inexcusable but he’s not the sole reason this team lost today. They lost because once again they simply aren’t good enough. There are no playmakers on either side of the ball. 

The Steelers woes aren’t just a lack of talent either, as much of the blame can also fall on the coaches. Poor timeout selection, poor clock management, tons of screens on 3rd and long when you have to score touchdowns. Look at the final play of the game when you have to make a long pass and get out of bounds. What do the Steelers do? Throw it straight down the middle with no timeouts. Game over. Once again, I laughed.

The Steelers should at least ACT like they’re trying to win the game but this team fails to show any kind of urgency until the score is 21-9 late in the game. That’s the kind of urgency and track record that has some of you thinking a turnaround is just around the corner? There are too many talented teams left on the schedule to think the Steelers can go on a monster run and sneak into the playoffs. They’ve made their bed this year and have to live with the consequences.

The team they faced today is one of the worst in the league and the Steelers STILL found a way to lose to them.

The offensive line took on a few more injuries today. Ramon Foster got hurt, was replaced by Guy Whimper, who subsequently got hurt, and now you’re looking at Cody Wallace in the game. David DeCastro hurt his ankle in this one and now you have to wonder if the Steelers will have to sign Max Starks by default at this point because they are out of other healthy options. The thought that he’s the best option available is funny enough, but sadly it might be true.

Maybe the Steelers will eventually figure out how to win a game outside of the Eastern Time Zone again. They haven’t won one since Nov. 27, 2011 against an awful Kansas City Chiefs squad. Oakland continues to be a black hole for them, with their last road win in Oakland coming all the way back in 1995. In case you’ve missed it, Oakland has been an awful football team for a long time.

Personally, I’m glad they lost today, because this team needs to get into the mindset of fixing things long term. A rebuild is needed this offseason and many hard decisions are going to have to be made. How long can you pay Heath Miller as one of your top players? Is Troy Polamalu’s production matching his cap hit? At what point do you have to write off Mike Adams and Marcus Gilbert as top busts and move on?

At what point do they finally pull the plug on the Todd Haley era? I’d argue that should have happened already this year, but someone in the Steelers organization must love watching this offense sputter and stall out constantly under his watch. Dick LeBeau needs to start planning his retirement conference now as well.

I learned early on in the season not to expect much this year and I’m a better person for it. I’ve learned to laugh at each and every error like a comedy tour, because it’s easier to laugh Steeler fans. Trust me.

Living The Dream

The funny thing about chasing your dreams is that sometimes you do finally get there.  No I haven’t gotten all the way to where I want to go in my broadcasting career but I’ve seen positive steps in the right direction over the past few years.

Last night I got to fill in as the public address announcer for the Pittsburgh Power at the Consol Energy Center, a major league venue.  It’s a gig I envisioned filling ever since I first started honing my announcing skills in Erie and Johnstown.

Every step of the way people have believed in me, people who have reinforced my confidence in my abilities and told me to never stop giving up.  Last night was a validation of their confidence in me and their spirit flowed through me as freely as the words from my lips.

Some of my friends and family asked if I was nervous but to be honest it felt like pretty much every other game I’ve ever announced.  I felt the rush of adrenaline right before player introductions.  There’s something about the lights going out and Thunderstruck kicking in that still gets my heart pumping.  There’s also a feeling of power knowing your words can help impact the way a crowd reacts.  Bringing the crowd to life with the home team on defense is always a blast.

I used a lot of my trademark calls and the crowd responded favorably.  It didn’t hurt that I got to announce the first Power win at home in well over a year.  I felt the electricity in the air, the excitement at how the game was going, and then the sheer joy of the fans when the clock struck 0:00 and we could finally party.

We won….

That’s right I said we, because I can.  I was part of the team last night, the so called 9th man on the mic according to a few fans, and I tried my hardest to will that team to victory.  I felt a connection with the Power fans and I hope they felt it in return.

I know I’m supposed to remain unbiased as a member of the media but last night I was part of the team and it felt different, it felt great.   I was caught up in the emotions the team and fans were feeling because I had invested myself into this one.  I know how much it means to this team to finally win one for the fans at home.

Yes it was the players on the field who ended up making the difference in the end, but maybe just maybe there’s something to this homefield advantage and I firmly believe a revved up crowd can make a huge difference in the Arena Football league.

One of my favorite parts of the night was right after the score went final, getting to add a little personal touch to the game.  I blurted out, "Libbie leave the lights on, we're celebrating a Power win tonight!"  It's always fun to add your wife to Power lore.  Not many people get the chance to have that kind of impact.

Hope I get to say it again soon.

Power Outage On Offense Leads To 0-3 start

Usually there is plenty of scoring to talk about in arena football. We here at Pittsburgh Sporting News had plenty of pixel space set aside to talk about the great plays we saw out of the Pittsburgh Power in Chicago. Unfortunately, the Power saw themselves get shutout in the first half. They would score two touchdowns in the third quarter but then got shutout in the 4th. Three scoreless quarters is horrendous no matter how you look at it.

The final result is a 45-14 loss to the Chicago Rush and has me wondering how the Power offense could actually go backwards from the pathetic showings we saw in week one and two. I’ll tell you the two main culprits in my eyes are quarterback Jordan Jefferson and offensive coordinator Mike Tomczak.

Don’t get me wrong, Jefferson can make plays with his legs, but he’s being paid to throw the ball. He’s nowhere near good enough to be an AFL quarterback. No play signifies how bad Jefferson has been this year more than the ball slipping out of his throwing motion for a fumble despite him not being touched on the play.

I can understand fumbles when you are hit, but he’s lost the ball several times this year untouched. His deep passes are constantly off the mark and the opposing defenses know he’s not much threat outside of the screen pass.

Ah yes the screen pass. Mike Tomczak seems to love this play immensely. Tomczak is a great guy in real life. I’ve had some nice chats with him, but when I take a hard professional look at this offense, it sucks.

Period.

Too many plays are designed to start in the backfield, whether it’s a deep pitch to a running back, a backwards lateral, a screen pass or a Jefferson scramble. You can’t play that way and have success in the AFL. I truly feel like I am watching the same movie on perpetual replay with this offense. It wouldn’t be so bad if it worked but we all know it isn’t.

I remember wondering what kind of hire the Power made when they brought in a guy with zero AFL experience in Tomczak. It had me scratching my head at the time, but I vowed to give him a chance. I’ve seen enough. The Power have to do something to fix this mess. Once again it starts with the quarterback and offensive coordinator. There’s just no way to sugarcoat that.

Through three games now the Power have a combined 82 points total. Jacksonville scored 76 points this week alone. The Power offense gives this team zero chance to win. It’s a shame because the defense has done a good job trying their best to keep the team in games. If you hold your opponent to 14 first half points you should be in great shape, but instead the Power trailed by 14 going into the half. If I’m the Power defenders right now I’m dialing 1-800-OFFENSE and paying $9.99 a minute for some assistance. Remember kids to ask your parents first.

The fans deserve so much more than this. Especially when it’s plain as day to all the fans and those covering the team that Jefferson just doesn’t have it. When he was injured against Jacksonville, Shane Austin came in and the offense seemed to spark under him. I actually saw a pulse. He has indoor experience. He actually knows the game, so why not use him? 0-3 is bad, but not an impossible mountain to climb out of. Make the right move now and try something different before it’s too late.

This was a game the Power should have been competitive in. Instead it was another regression for the Power. They aren’t moving forward, they are moving backwards. Not surprising since that’s the kind of playcalling they prefer.

Pittsburgh has another game on the road this week against the New Orleans VooDoo (1-2) as they will try to earn their first win of the season.

Pittsburgh Power 2013 season/Week 1 preview

We are just about ready to kick off the 2013 season for the Pittsburgh Power.  The team announced their “final” roster today, although one more move will have to be made to sign a new kicker.  Josh Smith suffered an injury while preparing for training camp and will not be ready for the season opener.

A few players return again for the Power, but overall there are a lot of new faces suiting up for the team this year.  Considering the final results from last season, that’s probably a good thing.

Let’s take a look at the team a bit more in depth.

There wasn’t much to write home about last year as the Power struggled to a 5-13 season.  The only truly memorable game was an AFL record 31-point comeback victory over the Orlando Predators.

The team seemed to lack direction and the losses piled up, leading to the dismissal of head coach Chris Siegfried.  Defensive coordinator Derek Stingley took over and the team seemed to rally around him a bit more, winning two of their last four games to head into the offseason.

It’s obvious change is needed anytime you post that kind of record, and the Power have made quite a few changes to the roster and are fully prepared to kickoff the 2013 season Saturday night against the Utah Blaze.

Fans who have followed the Power since their inception will know that it’s been the team’s inability to find a solid quarterback that’s led to failure.  Here’s hoping AFL rookie quarterback Jordan Jefferson is finally the superstar they need to take this team to the playoffs.

Jefferson starred at LSU, appearing in the national championship game and he threw for 4733 yards and 34 touchdowns and added over 1000 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in his collegiate career.

Running back Kirby Griffin is another new face will start in the backfield for the Power.  Griffin did not play in the AFL last year but was a strong part of the Jacksonville Sharks march to the 2011 title.  Griffin has 32 rushing touchdowns in his two years in the AFL so far, and looks to build upon that total this year for the Power.

Two familiar faces headline the Power receiving corps.   Mike “The Joystick” Washington is back for his third season with the Power.  He’s caught 229 passes for 2851 yards and 64 touchdowns the past two years and looks to continue putting up strong stats for the Power.

2012 First team all-arena kick returner and 2011 JLS Ironman of the Year P.J. ”Superman” Berry is also back in the fold.  Berry has posted two consecutive seasons with 2000 return yards, but he also knows how to catch the ball.  He has 4227 receiving yards and 78 touchdowns through the air, and also has run for 18 more in a 3-year career.

Center Beau Elliott, a former 2nd team all-arena center, is back for his second season for his hometown team.  The IUP and Highlands High School grad is an absolute beast in the middle of the Power line and will be looking to help newcomers Jason Thomas and Daverin Geralds mesh into a formidable front wall for the Power.

The true strength of this team is going to be the defense.  This was a group that was 2nd in the AFL in yards allowed last year but struggled at times to force turnovers.  They needed playmakers and I feel the team did a great job of getting them.

The biggest offseason grab was adding first team all-arena jack linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson.  Jackson tied for the lead league in interceptions (14) last year as a linebacker.  He’s played in coach Stingley’s defense several times and knows the ins and outs and should bring fear to opposing defense because of his coverage skills.

Upfront, look for 2nd year man Dominie Pittman to improve upon his rookie season in which he notched 5.5 sacks.  AFL veteran Neil Purvis lines up on the other side.  He has battled injuries both years he has played for the Power but he is capable of generating a strong pass rush.  Rookie Willie McGinnis will play nose tackle.

The Power also upgraded the secondary.  Chris LeFlore returns for a second season and set a Power franchise record with nine interceptions last year.  Sergio Gilliam comes over from Kansas City where he had six interceptions last year.  They also added Brandon Freeman who has two years of AFL experience and the team is also high on Tank Calais.

Josh Smith was supposed to handle the kicking duties for the Power but injured himself in practice so the Power will open up the season with Josh Czajkowski from N.C. State.  Regardless of who does the kicking for the Power they will have to improve upon the dreadful 70% extra point percentage the team posted last year.

They draw a tough battle in week one against the Utah Blaze.  The Blaze fell one game short of the ArenaBowl last year, losing to the Arizona Rattlers 75-69 in the National Conference championship game.   Reigning league MVP quarterback Tommy Grady once again leads a potent passing attack.

He’ll have Aaron Lesue (154 rec, 1787 yards, 55 TD), Brandon Thompkins (76 rec, 906 yards, 26 TD’s), and L.J. Castile (104 rec, 1196 yards, 27 TD’s) leading the way in a strong receiving group.

Defensively, Utah was practically an unstoppable force last year, earning the nickname “Sack Lake City.”  Caesar Rayford has 22.5 sacks in his previous three seasons with Utah and teammate Keenan Mace led all AFL nose guards with 7 sacks last year.

Be sure to keep an eye on new mack linebacker Joe Mortensen who is looking to make a name for himself this year for the Blaze.

Overall it should be an interesting matchup in Pittsburgh this week.  If Jefferson can prove he belongs in the AFL and limit the turnovers, the Power could be looking at a chance to make an early statement.  The defense gets a chance to show right away what it can do against top flight competition.  This is the kind of game that sets the tone for the season.

It’s time to see what these guys can do.

Pittsburgh Power assigned wide receiver Lonnell DeWalt

The Pittsburgh Power have been assigned wide receiver Lonnell DeWalt.

DeWalt is a huge red zone target, standing 6-foot, 6-inches, and has a knack for showing up on the scoresheet. He caught a touchdown in all but one game in 2011, totaling 45 receptions for 489 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also shifted to the defensive side of the ball midway through the season and added four interceptions and two forced fumbles.

DeWalt fit the role of a true Ironman, something that has become a rarity in the Arena Football League these days. He is a guy that can play almost anywhere on the field and have an impact.

Power fans will likely remember his dramatic over-the-wall touchdown grab with no time left to lift the Power to a dramatic 39-38 victory over the Milwaukee Mustangs.

DeWalt’s willingness to do what it takes to make a play is going to be a very welcome addition to this 2013 Power squad. He also adds to the strong wide receiver corps the Power are putting together.

The Power scrimmage the Cleveland Gladiators today from 1-3 p.m. at the Southpointe Fieldhouse in Canonsburg, PA. The scrimmage is open to all fans. The season opener is just a few weeks away when the team opens play against the Utah Blaze March 23rd.

For more information, please visit http://www.pittsburghpowerfootball.com

Pittsburgh Power Announce 2013 Promotional Schedule

The Pittsburgh Power announced today their most ambitious promotional schedule in team history.  Starting with the home opener Saturday, March 23 against the Utah Blaze, Power fans will receive premium giveaway items at each CONSOL Energy Center game along with unlimited $1 Smith’s hot dogs and $1 7UP fountain drinks.

Pittsburgh Power fleece blankets will be given to the first 5,000 fans on March 23 and will kick off the 9-game giveaway extravaganza, courtesy of Trib Total Media.  Other Power promotional items include caps, umbrellas, footballs, freezer mugs, t-shirts, earbud headphones, cooler bags and aluminum water bottles, all to the first 5,000 fans. “We’d like to thank all our sponsors for making these items available to our fans,” said Matt Shaner, co-owner. “It’s been an extremely productive off-season as we’ve refocused our marketing efforts completely to enhance the in-game experience,” Shaner added.

All Power fans will also be able to enjoy unlimited $1 Smith’s hot dogs and $1 7UP fountain drinks at every game this season.  “We are thrilled to be able to offer these incredible values to our fans this season,” said NFL Hall of Famer and Power co-owner Lynn Swann. “I’d like to recognize our friends with the Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Smith’s Hot Dogs, as well as the Pittsburgh Penguins, CONSOL Energy Center and Aramark, who helped us facilitate this amazing opportunity,” Swann remarked.

Giant Eagle Family Fun Packs will also be available for all 9 Power home games. Starting at $70, each package includes 4 great lower level seats and $5 of food and beverage value on each ticket, redeemable at any CONSOL Energy Center concession stand. Fans can purchase up to 8 Giant Eagle Family Fun Pack tickets for each game.  Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle is the 21st largest supermarket retailer in North America and their popular Fun Pack program has been a hit with Pittsburgh area sporting events and family shows for the past six years.  Giant Eagle Family Fun Packs are available not only at Giant Eagle Ticketmaster locations, but everywhere Pittsburgh Power tickets are sold.

The Power have also partnered with a non-profit/charitable partner for each of their 9 home games, with details of the partnerships to be announced next week.

Individual tickets for all Pittsburgh Power home games start at just $15 and will go on sale Friday, February 15 at 10:00 a.m. at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Box Office at CONSOL Energy Center, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at (800) 745-3000 and online at ticketmaster.com.


PITTSBURGH POWER 2013 PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE


March 23        Pittsburgh Power vs. Utah Blaze                                       6:00 p.m.
Fleece Blankets to first 5,000 fans:  Presented by Trib Total Media
$1 Smith’s Hot Dogs & $1 7UP Fountain Drinks to all fans

March 29        Pittsburgh Power vs. Jacksonville Sharks                          7:00 p.m.
Sports Caps to first 5,000 fans: Presented by UPMC Sports Medicine
$1 Smith’s Hot Dogs & $1 7UP Fountain Drinks to all fans

April 28          Pittsburgh Power vs. San Antonio Talons                          2:00 p.m.
9” Replica Footballs to first 5,000 fans: Presented by Tower Tire
$1 Smith’s Hot Dogs & $1 7UP Fountain Drinks to all fans

May 4             Pittsburgh Power vs. Orlando Predators                           7:00 p.m.
Earbud Headphones to first 5,000 fans: Presented by SportsTalk on TribLIVE Radio
$1 Smith’s Hot Dogs & $1 7UP Fountain Drinks to all fans

May 18           Pittsburgh Power vs. Tampa Bay Storm                            7:00 p.m.
T-Shirts to first 5,000 fans
$1 Smith’s Hot Dogs & $1 7UP Fountain Drinks to all fans

May 25           Pittsburgh Power vs. Cleveland Gladiators                        7:00 p.m.
Freezer Mugs  to first 5,000 fans: Presented by Esmark
$1 Smith’s Hot Dogs & $1 7UP Fountain Drinks to all fans

June 15           Pittsburgh Power vs. Philadelphia Soul                              7:00 p.m.
PA Lottery Tickets to all fans 18 & Older & Umbrellas to first 5,000 fans:
Presented by PA Lottery & thisTV Pittsburgh
$1 Smith’s Hot Dogs & $1 7UP Fountain Drinks to all fans

June 29           Pittsburgh Power vs. New Orleans VooDoo                     7:00 p.m.
Cooler Bags to first 5,000 fans: Presented by Smith’s Hot Dogs & 7UP
$1 Smith’s Hot Dogs & $1 7UP Fountain Drinks to all fans

July 13            Pittsburgh Power vs. San Jose SaberCats                         7:00 p.m.
Aluminum Water Bottles to first 5,000 fans: Presented by Trib Total Media
$1 Smith’s Hot Dogs & $1 7UP Fountain Drinks to all fans

Don't Cry For Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong is shoving his name back in the news. The disgraced cyclist admitted his cheating in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. He also doesn’t feel he was cheating because “everyone else was doing it.” Way to show contrition for lying Lance.

Armstrong is a man who misled an entire country and cheated his way to the top of a sport very few people in this country care about. Those who do follow cycling likely do so because they believed in the feel-good story of a man who recovered from testicular cancer to win multiple Tour-de-France titles.

I see a different story when I look at this man. I see a man who lied for years and preached to the world about how clean he was despite knowing the truth. He successfully sued a London newspaper for daring to write articles about his cheating ways. Hopefully they are able to recoup some or all of that money in the wake of this admission.

How many millions of dollars did he earn in endorsements? How many millions did he earn in prize money and performance bonuses for winning six straight times in the Tour-de-France? His entire career was built on a lie, one he vehemently denied.

Some of us work hard in our careers. We don’t lie, we don’t cheat. We do things the right way. Every raise, promotion and accolade I’ve earned, I’ve done so the right way. This man cheated his way to titles and tons of money and endorsements.

I know Armstrong still has his supporters, the ones who like to point out all the good he did with his money as if he’s suddenly a beacon of morality. It’s real easy to give away other people’s money. By cheating to win he stole that prize money from other more deserving candidates. Maybe they would have been more generous with their money had they been the ones who won it?

Armstrong is just the latest in a long line of “role models” who are setting a horrible example to the youth of today. Look at the story coming out of Notre Dame this week about Manti Te’o and his fake girlfriend. Look at all the steroid users from the 90’s and 2000’s in major league baseball. What kind of example have they set?

Personally I am sick of the idolization of sports athletes in this country. Maybe if they weren’t so grossly overpaid the incentive to cheat wouldn’t be as prevalent?

The real heroes in this country aren’t a bunch of egotistical arrogant athletes playing a game; the real heroes are firefighters, policemen, teachers, and other people who try to make a difference in our society. Isn’t it funny how I don’t hear stories of doping and cheating in those professions?

Personally I hope Armstrong loses every last cent of falsely earned money. It’s one thing to lie; it’s another thing to complete fraud against people. Make no mistake that’s all Armstrong is, a fraud. He got millions of dollars fraudulently by “winning” titles he didn’t deserve. He won lawsuit money by lying in court against that newspaper. He’s nothing but a con artist.

Like all other criminals, I hope he gets what’s coming to him.

What's In a Name?

It’s always fun to play the “What if” game in sports. What if Neil O’Donnell hadn’t thrown two crucial interceptions in Super Bowl XXX? What if Jerry Meals had called Julio Lugo out instead of safe? What if the Penguins hadn’t drafted Mario Lemieux? What if the Pirates had drafted Matt Wieters instead of Daniel Moskos?

Here’s one for the arena football fans in town. What if the Pittsburgh Power had named themselves the Pittsburgh River Wizards instead?

You might think it’s a silly name I pulled out of thin air, but the truth is that rumors of this name had surfaced along with team colors and a logo. A lot of fans immediately hated the name and weren’t exactly fond of the logo either. I wasn’t exactly a fan of the name, but the bottom line was that I was just happy to have a team in Pittsburgh, regardless of what they were called.

The few people I’ve talked to with the team have never admitted it was an official name that was being considered, but perhaps they saw the feedback and realized a name change was a necessity. A little smoke and mirrors perhaps to keep fans from knowing the real name until it was time for the big reveal.

What exactly is a River Wizard anyways? Most wizards should be able to conjure up water out of thin air, so I don’t really see the need for one to live by the river unless he happens to like fishing. Sadly I think a River Wizard is one that never graduated from Hogwart’s to become a full-fledged magician. Kind of like some of the players in the AFL who want to graduate to the NFL.

So would things have been different with a name change? Perhaps the franchise would have a little more magic in them? Instead of Joystick, maybe star wide receiver Mike Washington would be known as Magic Mike.

Maybe the team would have learned how to pull a quarterback out of a hat during their first two seasons? I still see images of Bernard Morris making victories vanish before our eyes with four turnovers against Arizona and then Cleveland to cost the Power a chance at the division crown in 2011.

Let’s not forget one of the biggest disappearing acts of all for this team, running back Josh Rue. He quickly became a fan favorite at the Consol Energy Center, drawing out the Rue birds, but by the end of the 2011 season he wasn't even on the roster. Talk about disappointing.

Any way you slice it, a River Wizard hardly inspires fear in the opposition. It certainly doesn’t fit the blue-collar image of this city. In that regards the Power picked a better name.

People always ask what’s in a name and why they are important. Fans associate with a nickname and it’s my belief the name River Wizards would have doomed this team from the start.

I guess when you get down to it, the name of the game is winning, and the Power need more of that in their third season or they might up and vanish altogether.

If you would have had a say in naming the team, would you have gone with River Wizards, Power, or something else? Post your suggestions in the comments below.

Bottle Knocker Hockey Classic - New Year's Day

Are you bummed that there won't be an NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day?

Do you miss hockey?  

Still pissed at the fact these jagoffs Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr can't figure out how to divide millions of dollars?

Bottle Knocker Hockey understands your frustration and has a remedy for your hockey withdrawal!  The 1st annual Bottle Knocker Hockey Classic is set to air live on New Year's Day and will hopefully draw the interest of local Penguin fans as well as national hockey fans everywhere.

The Blue Collars will be coached by Matt Rethage.  The Red Bottles will be under the direction of Dan McManus.  

The game will feature full play-by-play and analysis from Mike Sasson and yours truly, Dominic Errico.  

The game is set to air at 1 PM on WBGN-TV and their sister/affiliated stations.  You can also view it online via this Livestream link.  You can also watch it via the the Bottle Knocker Hockey channel on YouTube.  Game should be available shortly after 1 PM on both Livestream and YouTube.

Give it a look, you won't be disappointed.  What ELSE are you going to watch on New Year's Day?

Ode To A Lost Season

"Ode To A Lost Season"

Mirror mirror on the wall

Which NFL team was the most disappointing of all?

I submit to you a prime contender

A faux favorite, a true pretender.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow

Being softer than a marshmallow

But really who else but yourselves are to blame

For losing to teams so pathetic and lame

The year started with a thud at mile high in Denver

Just like the season ended there last winter

Questions arose whether the defense was old and slow

By year’s end the blame fell upon “The O”

We thought our quarterback was elite

Down the stretch his mistakes got us beat

The Young Money Crew dropped the ball

We had no running game at all.

There’s plenty of blame in a season of despair

I sit here wondering why the leadership wasn’t there

Those who wanted Bruce Arians fired

Must have been shocked at who the Colts hired

Tomlin keeps firing off cliché after cliché

That’s not what’s needed on a team in disarray

Ben hates Haley, Haley hates Ben

Tell me who’s running this show again?

The bottom line is that these guys underachieved

More heart, desire and effort they need

It’s time to look at themselves in the mirror

The end of a Super Bowl window draws near

This offseason for the Steelers is a crucial one

If they can’t solve the riddle they might be done

Which vets will stay and which vets will go?

That’s something only Tomlin and Colbert know

The bottom line is that this team was disjointed

Their fans were left severely disappointed.

They better fix this mess by next year
Or it'll be the same reflection in the mirror

Young Money Crew owes Steeler fans a refund!

We have another Steeler loss and another morbid display of bad football from the “Young Money” crew.

All I hear out of some of the NFL experts is how this Steelers wide receiving corps might be one of the most talented in the entire NFL. They might have a lot of talent, and they might possess a strong skillset, but they also make up for that with an overabundance of stupidity.

Let’s look at Antonio Brown’s day. After the Steelers force a Dallas punt leading 24-17, it appeared the Steelers were somewhat in control, and could start going to work on the clock. Instead, Brown fields the punt, fails to secure the ball and ends up fumbling to give Dallas new life and a ton of momentum. Dallas marched right down the field for the tying score.

Brown also inexplicably played 60 yards off the punt late in the game and failed to properly field the ball, which cost the Steelers a good 20 yards in field position. Let’s not forget on the Steelers final drive when he ran straight out of bounds instead of staying inbounds to force the Cowboys to burn a crucial timeout.

Emmanuel Sanders dropped a big first down conversion on the opening drive. It was about an inch away from being a crucial fumble, but the Steelers got the benefit of the doubt. Sanders was also injured on the play.

Mike Wallace double clutched a key catch on third down, costing the Steelers another crucial first down conversion. You also had to love the effort he showed on the fateful interception in overtime. Real nice of him to stand there and watch Brandon Carr get up and run all the way to the goal line. Maybe a little bit of effort would have helped give the Steelers a slight chance to stop the Cowboys in overtime.

I keep waiting for this “Money” crew to prove they are worth it. I keep being sorely disappointed.

Brown signed a five-year extension for over $42 million dollars in the offseason. How does that investment look right now? He has three 100-yard games in a three-year career. That’s not exactly “money” to me. He has five receiving touchdowns in that same three-year span. Does that sound “money” to you?

If only these guys could pull their heads out of their butts and make some crucial plays for the Steelers, maybe they wouldn’t be sitting at 7-7. Brown had two fumbles, including a crucial lost one in the earlier Raiders loss. You can easily pin most of this loss today on him as well. Wallace had a crucial fumble that led to a Ravens FG in a three-point loss. Sanders fumbled the ball in a 20-14 loss to the Browns and then fumbled a week later in a tight win over the Ravens. These mistakes are a major reason why the Steelers are fighting for a No. 6 seed instead of handily winning the AFC North and competing for a bye right now.

I guess the most frustrating thing is the fact you have guys on this team who know how to make big plays in the clutch, namely Heath Miller. After a sizzling first half of production, the Steelers stopped using him as a weapon. Why? It’s not like the other guys are making plays when given the chance. Why stop using the one guy who has been your most consistent playmaker all season?

Unlike the Young Money Crew, Miller lets his play do all his talking. He doesn’t need a catchy nickname. He doesn’t show off after a first down. He doesn’t sprint backwards the last 20 yards and draw an excessive celebration flag. All he does is catch the ball when it’s thrown to him.

Maybe the “Young Money” crew could learn a thing or two from the “Old Money.”

Why Players Should be Booed For Poor Performance

Much is being said about the fact the Heinz Field faithful booed Mike Wallace after another dropped pass clanged off his hands early during Sunday’s 34-24 loss to San Diego. Chances were good that Wallace would have taken it to the house on the play, so the drop cost the Steelers some much needed offensive performance.

Why shouldn’t fans boo poor performance? Wallace wants paid like a top receiver yet seems to have one or two awful drops in every game. The fact he ended the day with a strong stat line doesn’t excuse the fact he made a crucial mistake while the game was still competitive. Garbage time stats are never the same as crunch time stats other than on paper.

When did we get so soft as a society that we are being told not to boo professional athletes? Are we afraid of hurting their massive egos? Are we afraid it will cause them mental anguish? Excuse me if I go boo hoo right about now.

The bottom line is that the NFL is an entertainment industry that happens to center around playing a sport. These players, even the ones making league minimum, are compensated handsomely to play a game. If you go to a concert and a singer struggles to hit notes, you can expect them to get booed. Even the great Whitney Houston wasn’t immune to this.

This is the NFL, not little league. These players are all adults. It’s not enough to show up and get your participation trophy anymore at this level. Fans expect players to play hard and produce along the lines of their talent level. Wallace wants elite receiver money, but doesn’t show elite receiver hands. He’s fumbled at crucial times this year. He’s failed to get feet inbounds on key plays, and again, he’s shown poor hands at important junctures of games.

The Steelers got blown out of their own building by a team that’s probably firing their coach at the end of the year. The whole effort deserved to be booed.

I’m tired of all the political correctness creeping into our everyday lives. If you see a player dogging it out there then BOO HIM! If you see a player have a pass hit him in the hands and not catch it then BOO HIM!

Booing is the traditional way a large crowd lets their feelings be heard. There are rules in place saying you can’t throw anything on the field, which only makes sense. There are rules saying no profanity can be used at stadiums, which also makes sense. Again, what harm really comes out of booing someone other than a little hurt pride.

If it were me getting booed, I’d bust my butt to make sure it never happened again. I make sure I prepare enough in advance before a radio appearance so I know what I am talking about. I look up relevant stats and facts before writing columns, again, because that is part of my job.

Wallace’s job is to catch the damn football. He didn’t. End of story.

Boo me in the comments if you want. I can handle it.

Arena football may be known for all the offense scored in it, but having some dominant defensive talent can go a long way towards separating a team from pretender and contender status.  The Power have been very focused on the defensive side of the ball but until today, they were still looking for a strong presence in the middle of their defense.

The Pittsburgh Power announced today that they have been assigned 1st team All-Arena jack linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson.  Jackson was a monster in the middle of the New Orleans VooDoo defense last year with 14 interceptions, which tied him with for the league lead in that category.   In two seasons in the AFL, he has amassed 22 interceptions overall.

“Alvin Ray makes any defense he plays in better,” remarked Power Head Coach Derek Stingley.  “My defense is his defense; it’s the defense where Alvin Ray cut his teeth in.  He knows all the checks, he understands all the situations like down and distance, field awareness, time and personnel.”

Stingley also commented on the impact Jackson will have in the turnover department.  “He’s a playmaker, his instincts are almost always spot on.”   This was something the Power really struggled with last year but the signing of Jackson, along with defensive backs Sergio Gilliam (six interceptions) and Chris LeFlore (nine interceptions), gives the Power defense a few ballhawks who will cause some serious havoc for opposing offenses in 2013.  Jackson and LeFlore both ranked in the top ten in the AFL last year in interceptions.  

The Power still have 13 open roster spots for the 2013 training camp roster and are hopeful that standout wide receiver and kick returner P.J. “Superman” Berry will also return to the team once he comes off the league’s injured reserve list.  By rule he is not eligible to sign with any team until then.

For the latest Power news keep checking in here at the blog.  Follow me on Twitter @SteelCityVoice as well.

Power sign eight more to the 2013 roster.

The Pittsburgh Power continues to stockpile talent for the 2013 season and have added some interesting players to the mix.

2010 Pittsburgh Power standout linebacker Gary Butler (6’1” 250 lbs, California of Pa.) is back with the team after a year off.  Nicknamed “The Bully” by the fans, Butler notched three sacks in his first four games, as well as three fumble recoveries.  He was also a presence with seven passes defensed.  Injuries slowed him down in the second half, but he was a vocal leader on the defense and should be a strong presence again this year for the Power.

Defensive lineman Dominie Pittman (6’3” 255 lbs, North Alabama) also returns to the Power coming off a solid pass rushing campaign last year.  He notched two multi-sack games against Orlando (Week 1) and Iowa (Week 17) and finished with 5.5 sacks overall.  He is looking to be a full time starter on the line this year for the Power.

The Power have also signed six rookies to the roster.

Running back Jason Ford is a 5’10 251 lb. bowling ball out of the University of Illinois.  Steeler fans will remember him from this year’s preseason roster.   He had 42 yards on 8 carries against the Colts before injuring his hamstring.  Considering he was merely an injury replacement on the roster to begin with, he was a longshot to make the team.  His bullying, bruising running style should make him a strong running back in the AFL.

Speedy wide receiver Curtis Walls (5’10”, 180 lbs., North Carolina A&T) has impressed the Power coaching staff enough to earn an invitation to training camp.  He played five seasons at North Carolina A&T (2003-07) and recorded 98 catches for 1,101 total receiving yards as a member of the Aggies.  He has also spent time on the rosters of the Montreal Alouettes (CFL) and the Tulsa Talons (AFL).

Defensive lineman Darius Powell is a 6’3” 245 pound pass rush specialist out of Fayetteville State.  He was 2009 Second team All-CIAA.  His best game was against St. Augustine where he had career-highs in tackles (7), tackles for loss (5), sacks (3), forced fumbles (3) and fumble recoveries (1).

Defensive back Dee Wolford was signed following his appearance at open player tryouts for the Power.  Dee spent two seasons at Geneva College (‘04-‘05) where he was named an All-MSFA Pre-Season All-American, and two-Time All-MSFA Defensive Player of the Week.  He totaled 79 tackles, 27 break-ups, and five interceptions. Wolford finished his college career with two seasons (’06-’07) at Shippensburg University by adding 83 tackles, two sacks, 11 break-ups, and one interception.  Wolford also played in 2010 for the Reading Express of the Indoor Football League.

The Power have also been assigned defensive tackle Willie McGinnis (three year starter at Rhode Island, five sacks) and defensive end Quintin Anderson from Wagner who as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Pittsburgh Power have used the exclusive free agency period to sign two players to the 2013 roster from last year’s squad.

Wide receiver Mike “The Joystick” Washington will return for his third season in the AFL, all for the Pittsburgh Power. The local Aliquippa native has been very consistent for the Power during his career, notching 114 receptions for 1,367 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2011 and 115 receptions for 1,484 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2012. He earned AFL Playmaker of the Week after catching 13 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns against Cleveland on April 28.

The Power have also signed defensive back Chris “Gingabread” LeFlore, who set the franchise single season record for interceptions last season with nine. Leflore, a three-year AFL veteran, helped lead a Power defense that was one of the stingiest in the league in terms of yards allowed. His two interceptions against Orlando on April 14th helped spark the largest successful comeback (35 points) in AFL history.

When asked what helped him make the decision to return, LeFlore said, “I love the fans in Pittsburgh. That’s one of the reasons I came back.”

Pittsburgh has until Monday to exclusively sign players who were on the 2012 roster. The Power have already teased fans with a big announcement on Monday, so perhaps another key player is already in the mix.

The Power will also be holding open tryouts for the team on November 10th. For more information about how to tryout, go to www.pittsburghpowerfootball.com

Pittsburgh Steelers Need To Shift Their Focus Back Onto The Field

Rashard Mendenhall is back at his old Twitter nonsense. This time he is calling out Steeler Nation for not supporting this team.

“Seriously, if you’re gonna talk trash about your team and everyone on it, don’t call yourself a fan. A fan is a supporter.” – Rashard Mendenhall (@R_Mendenhall on Twitter)

Is it really talking trash, or more like discussing the cold hard truth about this team? My gut feeling is that the Steelers need a wakeup call in more ways than one.

Maybe the Steelers need to focus more on themselves and not what the fans or media are saying about them. They have enough issues to worry about. In the end, nothing a fan or media person says about this team matters. All that matters is that you go out and win football games like you are paid to do.

This team is clearly lacking in the focus department. Plenty of stupid penalties, missed tackles, blown coverage, poor fundamentals, poor coaching and playing down to opponents. You name it, they are doing it. They are very hard to watch right now.

Rashard, you are paid to play the game of football. You are paid to win games. Fans pay good money to see you guys play on the field, and many invest their time and passion into a team. They identify with a team. You represent the city of Pittsburgh on and off the field.

God forbid Steeler fans actually call out the team for playing lackluster, uninspired football on the field. Are the fans supposed to blindly applaud when this team is losing to the worst teams in the league? Oakland and Tennessee are terrible and Denver is also a losing team and yet the Black and Gold have found a way to lose to all three.

Pittsburgh fans are some of the most knowledgeable football fans in the world. They recognize a stinker when they see it, and the Steelers right now stink with the worst of them. There’s no mistaking their 2-3 record, they’ve earned it by being one of the most undisciplined teams this year in terms of penalties. They’ve dug themselves a hole by letting teams hang around and steal victory from them. Good teams find ways to win close games like this, the Steelers aren’t and therefore, they aren’t a good team.

At what point do we see these losses to inferior teams and conclude the Steelers might also be an inferior team? This was supposed to be the “easy” part of the schedule, and they are 2-3 and face a must-win game next week against Cincinnati. Lose that one and fall to 2-4 with 4 losses in conference already.

The defense can’t stop blowing fourth quarter leads. The coaching staff makes head scratching decisions like going for a career long field goal with a high likelihood of failure. Shockingly, the defense couldn’t stop the Titans from moving right into field goal range. Not like we haven’t seen that story out numerous times this year.

Despite all this, you’d think Mendenhall would be more concerned with finding ways to improve his game. Maybe even stay on the field and help contribute. With all the time he spends standing on the sidelines lately, maybe it’s time for the Steelers to hire actor Orlando Jones to serve as his double. They’d probably save some money on his contract.

The Steelers need to get their focus back and soon, or else they’ll have an entire offseason to spend tweeting about how good they are. Seeing the lack of focus from them, maybe they’re already there.

Are The Pittsburgh Pirates Allergic To Winning?

After today’s loss to the New York Mets, there is absolutely no margin for error if the Pittsburgh Pirates hope to end their 19-year losing streak. If the Pirates truly want to crush their fans hearts in style, they should win four games then lose the last two and finish just below the mark. That seems to be how they do things around here.

Look at the fact they got to 16 games over .500 and most experts, including myself, thought there was no way in hell even the Pirates could blow such a lead. Boy was I wrong. Hey if you’re going to suck, you might as well do it in style.

Do you think I’m being too negative? What about the message being sent by the organization this week? I think the fans and the players, and the rest of major League Baseball have gotten that message loud and clear. Winning is an allergy around here.

Before you say I’m crazy in suggesting this team is allergic to winning, take a look back at 2010. Matt Walbeck was the manager of the Altoona Curve, the Pirates AA affiliate, and led the team to the Eastern League Title. He was fired shortly thereafter when Assistant GM Kyle Stark made some BS comment about how Walbeck didn’t fit in with the organization.

That’s right; a manager had success in the organization and was promptly canned. Here we are two years later and after back to back collapses, no one is getting fired?

Say whaaaaaaaat?

I’m trying to wrap my brain around that, I really am. Of course it probably comes down to money. In spite of the constant reminders this organization would spend money when the time was right, we got to this year’s trade deadline, and the team went cheap. They made trades for reclamation projects with years of control rather than one or two impact bats that may have helped jumpstart a second half offense that, at its most generous description, is anemic.

It’s entirely possible Bob Nutting doesn’t want to spend the money to pay off one GM contract and hire another guy. That could possibly lead to replacing and paying for two managers as well.

Hindsight might tell us maybe Huntington felt this team wasn’t really good enough, but that’s just a copout excuse. The message was sent to players like Andrew McCutchen that this team will not do everything possible to win. Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.

What free agent with any modicum of talent would consider coming here? We saw all of these players at the deadline reject the notion of playing here. I thought perhaps the fun start to this season would change that perception. The players were having fun flashing Zoltan signs. The Fans were rallying around this team. Once again their hopes were dashed.

It’s pretty sad when the fans are willing to go all-in and management isn’t. The city of Pittsburgh deserves better than an ownership group willing to accept this culture.

Wlll Penn State's punishment fit the crime?

Throughout the entire saga of the Jerry Sandusky/Penn State sex abuse scandal, people have speculated what the PSU administration knew and did not know.  People who did not have facts were screaming for the NCAA to fire off the death penalty on the Penn State Football program.  People without facts proclaimed Joe Paterno did all he had to do by reporting the issue to his superiors.   

There was always speculation as to who exactly was in charge at Penn State.  After hearing the findings of the Freeh report today, that's a very valid question.  Who was in charge at Penn State?   I'm not referring to the names of the people in charge during this.  We know those names with great detail.  President Spanier, Coach Paterno, Athletic Director Tim Curley, and Vice-President Gary Schultz.  

My question is directed more towards who these people are in terms of their character.  

Prior to this scandal, all four men were held with the highest regards professionally.  Every college football fan is well aware of Paterno's accomplishments both on and off the field.   Paterno is the all time winningest coach at the highest collegiate level.  He's given millions of dollars back to the school who employed him, and for all intents and purposes he was perceived as a good guy.   Spanier was also widely regarded as one of the finest university leaders in the country.   

None of that matters anymore.

The findings of the Freeh report blow those reputations to hell and back.  In it, the underlying theme of the report is that four people of high power and esteem at Penn State participated in a deliberate cover-up of the deplorable actions of Jerry Sandusky.  They all lied as to the extent of their knowledge.  All four of them.  

In light of the evidence found by the investigative committee, these four people are responsible for choosing not to report the actions of Sandusky to law enforcement to protect the university and football program from shame.  One quote I've heard is that it "wouldn't have been humane to Sandusky." This decision allowed Sandusky to continue to prey on his victims long after it should have been stopped.

People everywhere are disgusted by the actions of Sandusky for good reason.  The crimes he committed against children are unspeakable.  People are also understandably disgusted by the fact that said actions were hidden from the public intentionally.  I've preferred to wait until the facts came to light before making further judgement, and that day was today.

As a former Penn State student I am absolutely sickened to see all the details of just how much these four knew and hid.   Paterno, a man I once respected, has let down the very people he tried to teach the Penn State way to.  When it came time for him to face his greatest test, he failed in the most awful way imaginable.  

If they had gone to the authorities, Sandusky would have still been put on trial, but perhaps more people would have respected Penn State for "doing the right thing" in this situation.  There would have been negative publicity, childish anti-PSU jokes much like other schools caught in scandal have to face, but it would have been the right thing to do.

So now we settle in on the next phase which is, "What punishment fits the crime?"  Keep in mind that Paterno was fired for this, as was Spanier.  Curley and Schultz are on "administrative leave" while they face perjury charges, although I would imagine today's findings are more than enough ammunition for Penn State to fire them for ethical misconduct.  

All four involved will be gone for good from the university.   That should satisfy some of the bloodlust.  

Step two, legal remuneration for the victims.   Money won't change what happened, but making sure these victims get help in recovering from what is an unspeakable tragedy is a necessity.  Especially when it could have been prevented.

Step three, is trickier.  NCAA sanctions.   People out there are screaming for Penn State to get the death penalty.  You'll hear both sides of this argument play out on sports radio in the near future.  I never thought the day would come where I'd find myself writing this statement, but if Penn State was hit with the death penalty, I wouldn't complain.   Any sane, logical fan of Penn State has to see this situation for what it is.  

Despicable.

Shocking words I know, but this entire situation is shocking.  If they continue to play football like nothing happened, it will only prove that football is king in this country.  Innocents get harmed in any type of punishment.  Wives, children, mothers, brothers, sisters, friends.  Everyone who knows a prisoner can attest to this.  It's harder on those left behind.  

What would be even more shocking would be for Penn State themselves to shut down the program for a year or two.  Don't wait for the NCAA to rule.  Prove that you understand the seriousness of this situation and do the right thing.  The school would probably be better off overall if it separated football from the university for a little while.  How much of a distraction will this upcoming football season be?  

There is no precedent for the type of punishment that is worthy in this situation because this (thankfully) hasn't happened before.  Hopefully it never does again. My only question for the readers though is, how much is enough punishment for you?   

I get the feeling from some people out there that they'd like to see the Penn State Campuses flipped upside down and become State Penn.  Anyone who has ever been associated with PSU must be evil right?  

Lock down any former student, professor, athlete, alumni, whatever.  They scream, "Wipe Penn State off the map!"

I don't expect people to forget, but at least forgive and help Penn Staters move forward.  

Contrary to some people's beliefs these days, there is still a lot of good about Penn State.  I trust that PSU will do the right thing and never forget what happened here.  

One other thing many people have discussed is the statue of Joe Paterno.  Most people want it torn down.   You can't argue with that either.  Maybe before today's report you could have, but not now.  

It would be a constant reminder of the man who helped conceal a serial rapist.  It's a constant reminder of one of the greatest mistakes in human history.  Then again, maybe you SHOULD leave it up for just that reason.  

Never forget what happened here. 

Pittsburgh Power @ Iowa Barnstormers Preview

The disappointment express that is the Pittsburgh Power season continues to rumble down the tracks towards the end of the season.

The Power now sit at 3-11 on the season, and will try to end what is essentially an 8-game losing streak against the Iowa Barnstormers (5-9) Saturday night.  Pittsburgh's only win in the last two months came via forfeit from the Cleveland Gladiators.  

Iowa is experiencing their own disappointment this year.  They may have contended in the American conference, but with the strong play of teams in San Jose, San Antonio, Arizona, Chicago and Spokane, they have no chance of making the playoffs this year.  It's a shame because they possess some solid talent on their squad.

The two teams squared off earlier in the year in Pittsburgh, with the Barnstormers coming away with a 55-42 victory.  The major plays in the Iowa victory were two net recovery touchdowns by linebacker John Mohring and two interceptions by Jason Simpson.

Quarterback J.J. Raterink, in his third season, ranks amongst the AFL's best in passing.  He's thrown for 3919 yards, 73 TD's and 10 INT's this year, plus scrambled for 90 yards and 7 scores on the ground.    

His favorite target, Jesse Schmidt, is tops in the AFl in rfeceptions and receiving yards, and ranks second in touchdowns.  The only game this year in which he failed to score was that earlier meeting against Pittsburgh, so perhaps the Power have his number.

Pittsburgh quarterback Bryan Randall continues to have moments of greatness this year, but he's also had his share of struggles.  The turnovers have come down in recent weeks, but the offense has stalled out a few more times than one would like.  This might be attributed to the transition from Chris Siegfried's offense, over to Mike Tomczak via Derek Stingley.  

The Power activated wide receiver A.J. Jackson for last weeks game against Philly and he responded with a pair of touchdowns.  He could be another strong weapon for the Power offense to go along with Oderick Turner, Mike Washington and P.J. Berry.  His emergence could signal a reduction in playing time for Randy Hymes.  

Chris LeFlore hauled in his 8th interception of the season last week and remains one of the few bright spots on defense for the Power in 2012.  Conversely, Bryan Williams still has zero interceptions this year, and ranks behind P.J. Berry (one interception) in that department.

The Barnstormers have a pair of dangerous defensive backs in Simpson and Cameron McGlenn, both of whom have six interceptions.

Neither team generates a lot of pressure via their defensive line, so both quarterbacks should have time to make their reads.  

Overall as we look back at that first game for a blueprint for what to expect, I think a few bad bounces on kickoffs gave the Barnstormers the edge, although four interceptions by Andrico Hines didn't help the cause.  I like Randall a lot better than Hines, and I think the Power have better depth at WR overall than just Schmidt and Marco Thomas (112 catches, 1241 yards, 15 TD's).

If Randall and company can continue their recent play with fewer turnovers I think they stand an excellent chance of bringing home a victory from Des Moines.  

THE VOICE SAYS....Pittsburgh 58, Iowa 52

Pittsburgh Power win by forfeit, Fans lose again

The Pittsburgh Power losing streak may have officially ended last night, but the losing streak for the fans continues this year.  It's not just limited to the Power, but also the fan bases in Orlando and Cleveland and threatens to continue growing league wide.

In week one, the fans of not just Pittsburgh and Orlando, but the entire league had to watch a game with primarily replacement players take the field in the showcase "Arena Football Friday" broadcast on the NFL Network.  Pittsburgh won the game 40-28 but in the context of the season they lost.  Due to the labor dispute, Kyle Rowley and Taylor Rowan were not asked to rejoin the team.  You can blame the league, blame the Power or blame Rowley for all of this but in the end the fans are the ones who lose.

Last night the AFLPU called a strike for one franchise for just long enough to cause the Gladiators, who are in the midst of a fierce battle for a playoff spot, to just basically give a game away.   Fans lined up outside the Quicken Loans arena were not notified until 7:45 that the game was not going to be played. Those fans stuck outside included a group of Power fans who had made a bus trip from the Steel City to cheer on their team.

The strike ended officially at midnight so the players could return to their housing, which is a perk of their employment.   Officially the Gladiators lost this game via forfeit, but again, the ones that truly lost were the fans.

I continue to struggle to see what kind of leverage the union gains by forcing one of their possible playoff teams to take a dive in front of their own fans.  If you want to make a statement, you get the players on all of your teams to take a stand and strike.

The problem is I don't think the players are all on board with what AFLPU Ivan Soto is doing.  Over half the Power crossed the picket line in Orlando.  The strike ended shortly after the game.   Even last night there were reports that Gladiator quarterback John Dutton and wide receiver Robert Redd were prepared to cross.

These mini strikes have done nothing but screw with the fans of these three franchises (Pittsburgh twice now).   All they are, in my opinion, are terrorist strikes.  Hit and run attacks that only hurt those directly involved at ground zero so to speak.  These shenanigans caused the NFL Network to cancel their broadcast of the Philadelphia/Milwaukee game to a national audience.  That game finished with a last second 69-62 victory by Philly, a game that would have gone a long way to marketing this game to a larger fanbase.

If the AFLPU thinks these stunts are giving them leverage they are sorely mistaken.  The NFL Network pays the league for the right to broadcast these games.  This was a change from the previous two years when the league had to pay the network money to broadcast.  If that reverts to last year's policy, that is less money the league has to pay their players.

Attendance is down league wide as fans are starting to stay away from this pissing contest.  Look at it logically, why would fans pay money for games they don't know for sure will take place.  Season ticket renewal applications went out to fans across the league this week.  How many are having second (or third or fourth) thoughts about coming back next year?  This is the "Year Of The Fan" according to the AFL, but the fans are the ones who are losing out in this mess.

I may cover the Power for TribLive Radio, but I've been a fan of the arena/indoor football game for over six years now.  It's a fun game when they actually step on the field and play the game.  I'm one of the fans watching this unfold and it angers the hell out of me.  

Soto admits his proposal will cost the league over $15 million dollars over the 2012 and 2013 season.  That's a lot of money considering the league was bankrupt just a few season ago.  Sound out of touch to you?  Speaking of out of touch. I've heard from several sources that the players are unaware of the offers that have been proposed by the league.  Somehow the message is not getting to the membership from union head Ivan Soto.

Soto constantly bashes the league in his tweets and says the league isn't negotiating in good faith.  The league counters with the fact that the union has not budged one bit from their offer around the time of the season opener.

There's no way to know for sure what is going on due to all the misdirection happening publicly.  Here's a novel idea.  Honor the agreement you made BEFORE the season and stop hurting arena football.  After the season sit down and hammer out these differences.  There have to be concessions on both sides, there always are during a negotiation.

I'm hopeful an agreement can be reached but regardless of how this all ultimately ends, the ones who end up losing are the fans.  I repeat...the ones who are the losers in all of this are the fans.