Tim Benz stories, Page 187
First call: Pat Maroon plays Game 7 hero; stunning shootout goal; ex-Pirates steady
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Game 7 NHL drama. A head-scratching shootout goal. Catching up with Cutch. The Texas Rangers are your new second-favorite baseball team. Feel familiar? Whenever they see a Game 7 playoff contest go to double overtime, Pittsburgh Penguins fans think of this. Thank you, Chris Kunitz. Thank...
U mad, bro? Penguins, Steelers, horse-racing fans air frustrations
In “U mad, bro?” this week, Pens fans pop off about a lack of toughness and too much trade talk. People sure are touchy about the Kentucky Derby. And some Steelers fans want to pretend Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown no longer exist. Bob is boiling down all the Penguins’...
Tim Benz: Reevaluating Mike Tomlin’s contract situation with Steelers
Highbrow sports columnists such as myself refer to it as “having a developing opinion.” The real world says, “I’m changing my mind, n’at.” Trolls on Twitter say, “You’re flip-flopping.” However you choose to phrase it, I’m altering my view on Mike Tomlin’s contract situation based on some new information. That’s...
First call: Martavis Bryant vies for reinstatement; Therrien, Yeo to coach Flyers
In “First Call” Tuesday, Martavis Bryant wants to be reinstated in Oakland. Mike Yeo and Michel Therrien are getting reunited in Philadelphia. Gerrit Cole may be finding his groove in Houston. And bees are taking over Cincinnati. Bryant back? Former Steelers — and Raiders — receiver Martavis Bryant apparently wants...
Podcast: Robert Morris men’s lacrosse coach talks return to NCAA Tournament
The Robert Morris men’s lacrosse team is heading to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season after an NEC championship victory against Hobart last weekend. LET'S GO, BOBBY MO!From 1-7 to @necmlax champs for the second year in a row, @RMUMLacrosse is headed back to the @NCAALAX tournament after...
Tim Benz: Le’Veon Bell’s funny explanation for staying away from offseason practices
It’s somehow comforting to know New York Jets fans already are getting used to asking the same question about Le’Veon Bell that Steelers fans had been asking for the past few seasons. “So, when is he going to show up?” Bell has yet to appear for offseason workouts in New York....
Tim Benz: Antonio Brown could get another clown in the Raiders circus
If there is truly a God above, this will happen. Just for the sake of our entertainment. The NFL Network reported the Raiders are working out free agent offensive lineman Richie Incognito. Here’s an interesting one. The #Raiders are working out free agent G Richie Incognito today, sources say. Incognito...
First Call: Duquesne lineman gets a kick out of Seahawks minicamp, RMU & PSU in lacrosse tourney
In Monday’s “First Call,” a Duquesne Duke has a memorable moment at Seahawks camp. Also: the NCAA Lacrosse tournament will have a local flavor, a NHL game seven, and rumors about the NFL taking the combine on the road. The more you can do When you’re a rookie free agent...
Tim Benz: Kentucky Derby controversy a warning amid NFL rules changes
It’s probably not the best strategy to start a sports column with an admission that you are utterly unfamiliar with the sport you are discussing. But here goes. I know very little about horse racing. Just because I’m built like a jockey, doesn’t mean I know anything about riding a...
Podcast: Mark Madden and Tim Benz on Evgeni Malkin, Kentucky Derby, Pirates
In this week’s “Madden Monday,” 105.9 the X’s Mark Madden and I cast a wide net over the sports world. We start with following up on last week’s podcast in which Madden told us there was some fire to the smoke when it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins considering a...
Tim Benz: Pirates can’t afford injury bug within starting staff
In his usual Sunday media scrum with reporters, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington rattled through the litany of injuries that have beset his club. “We haven’t had an at-bat from our regular left fielder (Corey Dickerson),” Huntington said to begin his mental checklist. “Our regular right fielder (Gregory Polanco)...
First Call: A safety for the Steelers?, Torts’ Tumble, a humiliating first pitch
In Friday’s “First Call,” we consider a familiar name as a fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Plus, the “Torts Tumble,” a humiliating first pitch, and people are already turning on Jameson Taillon. A safety for the Steelers? Keep this name in mind for free agency next season, Steelers fans. It’s...
Tim Benz: Penguins fans must prepare for real change … eventually
This is always a frustrating time of year to write about the Pittsburgh Penguins. Well, at least in non-Stanley Cup winning seasons anyway. The cycle is drudgery, and it is familiar. The Penguins lose a series. The fans, media, locker room, and management call for change. Rumors emerge about potential...
Friday Football Footnotes: Backing Big Ben continues
For “Friday Football Footnotes” this week, two members of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization made sure that the recent wave of support for Ben Roethlisberger continued. There has been a unified response from the organization of late, after a few months when the Steelers quarterback was slapped around in the media...
Mike Rupp on Evgeni Malkin trade talk: Penguins should at least consider it
Former Penguin Mike Rupp is chiming in on the Evgeni Malkin trade talk. Now an analyst for AT&T SportsNet and the NHL Network, Rupp was on 105.9 the X with me Wednesday, and I asked him what he thought about the idea of trading Evgeni Malkin. “I don’t see it...
Fantasy Sports podcast: Melky Cabrera’s hot start, NFL Draft impact
It’s our weekly fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. This week, we look at which draft choices could impact the fantasy football world. Kyler Murray leads the way. Josh Jacobs should help the Oakland Raiders. Those tight ends from Iowa could be worth a pick. And the New...
First Call: What will Baltimore do with Trace McSorley?, Gronk’s acting, a monster homer
In Thursday’s “First Call,” Gronk’s acting debut. What the future holds for Trace McSorley in Baltimore. A bad break in Cleveland. And a bad fate for the Islanders? McSorley mash-up So, what are the Baltimore Ravens going to do with former Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley? It sounds like …...
Tim Benz: So much for prioritizing Artie Burns’ confidence, or his option
Remember how we started yesterday’s “First Call” with Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert telling the world the team was hoping that struggling cornerback Artie Burns could regain his confidence? Yeah, forget that. Unless the organization thinks that refusing to pick up Burns’ fifth-year option is the best route to restoring...
Tim Benz: Time for Evgeni Malkin to follow his own advice
On locker cleanout day following the Pittsburgh Penguins’ sweep at the hands of New York Islanders, Kris Letang was indignant at suggestions that he may need to change his game. You know, be more structured and patient. Take fewer chances. Play more conservative. The response was not one of agreement....
First Call: Artie Burns’ future, a rookie wants Le’Veon Bell’s number
In “First Call” Wednesday, Kevin Colbert talks about Artie Burns’ future, Benny Snell embraces the role of replacing Le’Veon Bell, Andrew McCutchen pokes fun at himself. Burns burned out? Is Artie Burns’ toasted for good? The Pittsburgh Steelers have been very blunt that Burns’ tough 2018 shot his confidence. Now...
U mad, bro?: Not all Steelers fans are happy with drafting Devin Bush, Diontae Johnson
It’s an all-Steelers-NFL-draft edition of “U mad, bro?” Fans are mad about trading up, my critique of missing out on certain positions, and uttering the name of a certain big-chested wide receiver out loud. An unsigned email takes umbrage with my article likening Toledo wide receiver Diontae Johnson’s draft profile...
Tim Benz: Father of Steelers draft choice renounces Browns fandom
Imagine being a fan of the Cleveland Browns. Your team leaves. It comes back. And becomes an NFL punchline for decades. Now, on the verge of, potentially, Cleveland’s first division championship in decades, you renounce your fandom to start rooting for … … the hated Pittsburgh Steelers? That’s what DeAndre...
Former Penguin Colby Armstrong talks about trading Evgeni Malkin
Our first Sided.co podcast of May features former Pittsburgh Penguins winger Colby Armstrong. He joined me on 105.9 the X Friday. The AT&T Sportsnet hockey analyst gives his opinion on the idea of trading Evgeni Malkin, or some other high-profile Penguins. Armstrong seems to think that the better route for...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss if Penguins would really trade Evgeni Malkin
It’s our last Madden Monday in April, and there is a ton to talk about. You’ll be buzzing about what Mark Madden has heard regarding the Evgeni Malkin trade discussion. It sure sounds like the interest in possibly dealing the three-time Stanley Cup champion is more than a fleeting reaction...
First Call: Tyler Glasnow continues All Star run, Ryan Braun gets ‘beered’
In “First Call” Monday, the secret behind Tyler Glasnow’s success. Somebody did something to Ryan Braun we’ve all wanted to do. Two Dukes find NFL homes. What got into Glasnow? Tyler Glasnow did it again. He cashed in another great start over the weekend for Tampa Bay. The Rays right-hander...
