Tim Benz stories, Page 120
Madden Monday: If Penguins don’t improve goaltending ‘it will be an error of monumental proportions’
So much for my hope that the Penguins might find a way to get Marc-Andre Fleury back to Pittsburgh. And so much for Mark Madden’s advice to Fleury that he shouldn’t report to Chicago as part of that trade between the Blackhawks and the Vegas Golden Knights. Fleury put all...
Pittsburgh Gaelic Athletic Association hosts hurling; Gaelic football Midwest finals this week in Indiana Township
In Gaelic, the motto on the crest of the Pittsburgh Hurling Club reads “Neart agus Misneach.” Or, in English, “Strength and Courage.” If you’ve seen what the sport of hurling looks like at full speed, you understand why that fits. If you haven’t, you can see it on a championship...
Tim Benz: SEC expansion isn’t just about trying to dominate the NCAA; it’s preparing for a world after the NCAA
As the drama continues to swirl around the Southeastern Conference’s attempt to absorb Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12, many characterize the advance as an SEC attempt to form a “super conference.” Wait. I thought that’s what the SEC was already. No? A lot has been written and said...
First Call: Steelers work on addressing drops; ex-Steeler on covid list; Andrew McCutchen back at PNC Park
Friday’s “First Call” takes a look at the sticky situation of not-so-sticky hands from Steelers receivers. Bad news for Bud Dupree. The Pirates prepare to welcome back Andrew McCutchen. An update on the Robert Morris hockey front. And a Pittsburgh kid gets a big NHL contract. Addressing the issue Last...
U mad, bro?: Some Penguins fans don’t want Marc-Andre Fleury back; Pirates fans didn’t want Adam Frazier to go
Apparently not all Penguins fans are happy with the idea of the Penguins bringing The Flower back to Pittsburgh. Pirates fans are tired of seeing good players like Adam Frazier traded. And the Team USA Olympic basketball squad is leaving people flat. All that in this week’s “U mad, bro?”...
First Call: An argument for Aaron Rodgers to Steelers in ’22; Adam Frazier’s debut with San Diego; Larry Fitzgerald’s future
Wednesday’s “First Call” assesses the chances of Aaron Rodgers becoming a Steeler next year. Some Steelers fans think T.J. Watt got snubbed by the EA Sports Madden ratings system. We try to figure out what Larry Fitzgerald is thinking. And we get you up to date on Adam Frazier’s San...
Tim Benz: A return of Marc-Andre Fleury to Penguins makes sense beyond sentiment
The Vegas Golden Knights’ trade of former Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was a stunner to many in hockey circles on Tuesday. Not so much in the sense that Vegas shipped away the NHL’s reigning Vezina Trophy winner. After all, they had a Goalie-1 and Goalie-1A situation with Fleury and Robin...
Marc-Andre Fleury discusses future, has advice for current Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry
If anyone knows what it is like to take the heat from Pittsburgh Penguins fans after disappointing playoff results in goal, it’s Marc-Andre Fleury. With five trips to the Stanley Cup Final under his belt and three Stanley Cup rings on his fingers, Fleury has known lots of postseason success....
Madden Monday: Ripping U.S. Olympic basketball team; debating Steelers money spent on Melvin Ingram vs. Steven Nelson
This week’s “Madden Monday” podcast comes from Lake Placid, N.Y. I’m out here in support of my sister who was competing in the Ironman Triathlon. And, no, the irony wasn’t lost on me Sunday morning as I was watching one of American basketball’s most ignominious Olympic defeats from the friendly...
Tim Benz: A response to Bart Scott’s ‘compliment’ about the Steelers’ atmosphere at Heinz Field
During an episode of ESPN’s “First Take” last week, panelist Bart Scott gave a little love to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets linebacker was asked for his favorite playoff atmosphere. And he said Steelers fans at Heinz Field (at 1:22:16 of this clip). Scott...
3 fantasy football trends to watch as you get ready for your league draft
Now that training camp has hit full stride for the Steelers this week, it’s time for Pittsburgh football fans to start focusing on another team as well. Their own fantasy football team. Jeff Erickson of Rotowire joins me for this week’s fantasy sports podcast. And he outlines three big trends...
Tim Benz: Cast aside by same team, Trai Turner and Melvin Ingram look to reboot their careers with Steelers
After the Pittsburgh Steelers signed castoff free agents Melvin Ingram and Trai Turner, it was completely fair of Steelers fans to wonder if either player has much left in the tank. Turner spent most of last year hurt, playing only nine games thanks to ankle and groin injuries. When he...
First Call: Ex-Penguin Jared McCann becomes a Twitter trend after expansion selection; high praise for Minkah Fitzpatrick
Thursday’s “First Call” has some lofty compliments for Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The internet is in love with Jared McCann’s Pittsburgh-to-Toronto-to-Seattle travels. Also, we look at other interesting picks by the Kraken and the latest trials of the woebegone Pittsburgh Pirates. High praise Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made a recent...
Tim Benz: ‘Are the Steelers going to have a good training camp?’ Here are a few ways you’ll be able to tell
One of the hardest questions to answer about the Pittsburgh Steelers every year is, “Did they have a good training camp?” I mean, does anyone ever really say “no” to that? Barring a run of bad injuries, you always want to at least say, “Yes. They got better as it...
U mad, bro?: Penguins fans fret about expansion strategy; Pirates fans still prickly about draft; Steelers’ forgotten past
This week’s “U mad, bro?” is all over the map. Penguins hockey. College hockey. Baseball drafts. Steelers from the 1930s. And English lessons. This is what they call the “dog days” of summer. I don’t have a dog right now. But based on the emails I received this week, if...
First Call: Encouraging stat about Steelers’ Melvin Ingram; Steven Nelson news; interesting Penguins expansion predictions
If you are dubious about the Pittsburgh Steelers signing Melvin Ingram, Wednesday’s “First Call” may put you at ease. We also look at Steven Nelson’s future. Strange odds surrounding which Penguin may get selected by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft. And T.J. Watt’s wedding engagement is getting some...
Kraken’s expansion pick from Penguins? Seattle radio host says, ‘It starts and ends with Jason Zucker, right?’
Leading up to Wednesday’s expansion draft, a lot of Pittsburgh Penguins fans have advanced the hope that the Seattle Kraken would select winger Jason Zucker. If every team besides the Vegas Golden Knights is going to lose someone, why not him? In the wake of his acquisition from the Minnesota...
Tim Benz: 4 reasons why this year’s Steelers training camp may be more important than most
Training camp is a high priority for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as it is for the rest of the NFL’s franchises. That importance is increasing with players frequently balking at in-person offseason workouts these days and with the reduction of the preseason schedule to three games. The Steelers are “lucky” (if...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris hockey teams want to play games. On the ice, not with their own administration
If Robert Morris University truly wants its recently resuscitated hockey programs to play games this season, the school should stop playing games with the student-athletes who remain on the teams. Immediately. The decision makers in Moon Township should reinstate both the men’s and women’s programs right now and let them...
Penguins’ early actions in offseason indicate team’s main objective
Many observers of the Pittsburgh Penguins entered this offseason thinking the organization’s biggest need was to improve the goaltending. Others stressed a desire to add more size and physicality. Some want increased scoring for the playoffs. The front office probably agrees with all of the above. This is why it...
First Call: Steelers’ contract terms known for Melvin Ingram; Seattle prediction on Penguins expansion pick for Kraken
Tuesday’s “First Call” gives us the numbers behind Melvin Ingram’s new contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pitt’s odds of winning the ACC football conference have been released. We found a prediction from Seattle regarding which Penguins player will go to the Kraken via the expansion draft. Also, a Steelers preseason...
Madden Monday: Confused about why Penguins left Brandon Tanev unprotected? Mark Madden has answers.
Are you struggling to grasp the Penguins’ strategy when it comes to the expansion draft? Yeah, me, too. Over the weekend, NHL teams were required to submit their protected lists for Wednesday’s expansion draft. Among those left unprotected in Pittsburgh were forwards Brandon Tanev and Zach Aston-Reese. Meanwhile, Jeff Carter...
First Call: Steelers have interest in former Pro Bowl pass rusher; Kevin Dotson tries first pitch at PNC Park
Monday’s “First Call” gives us reason to think that the Steelers may bolster their pass rushing depth. Kevin Dotson’s pitching mechanics need work. The hype surrounding Tom Brady’s return to New England is building already. And the Pirates actually have reason to believe that they are much better than their...
Tim Benz: Pirates-Mets was far from perfect, but plenty of fun
My plan coming out of the All-Star break was to go to PNC Park Sunday in case New York Mets ace pitcher Jacob deGrom spun a perfect game against the normally putrid Pirates. Instead, what we saw was a 7-6 Mets win that was as far from perfect as you...
Former Steeler Ryan Shazier describes the impact of Troy Polamalu’s mentorship
One of the things that made Ryan Shazier’s career-ending spinal injury so sad is that, for Pittsburgh Steelers fans, they could sense a little Troy Polamalu in what he brought to the field. Shazier (a linebacker) played a different position than Polamalu (a safety), and the defense around him wasn’t...
