SUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTERS
ADVERTISE| CLASSIFIEDS| JOBS| E-TRIB
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS NETWORK TRIBLIVE LOCAL
Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source
First Call: Antonio Brown calls new helmet ‘ugly’; Little Leaguer rips Pirates crowd | TribLIVE.com
NFL

First Call: Antonio Brown calls new helmet ‘ugly’; Little Leaguer rips Pirates crowd

Tim Benz
Tim Benz
1568599_web1_AP19232722354537
AP
Oakland Raiders’ Antonio Brown carries his helmet as he walks off the field after NFL football practice in Alameda, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019.

Wednesday’s “First Call” features a potential answer as to why Antonio Brown is so bent out of shape over his helmet issue. A Little Leaguer calls out Pittsburgh Pirates attendance on live television. Baker Mayfield goes scorched earth. Starling Marte flashes his skill. And one ex-Pirate robs another.

He never ceases to amaze

Here is what we learned about Antonio Brown on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” Tuesday.

1. We learned Brown is still stunned by the fact that people actually cover the news he creates with his own off-field distractions. His biggest complaint last night was that “he sees his face on every channel.”

Yo, A.B.

For the 100th time, stop giving us stuff to report and we will gladly stop talking about you.

2. We learned he’s never heard of the word “seamlessly.”

3. We learned the whole helmet fiasco may be traced back to Brown’s belief that his new model of headgear is “ugly.”

Why didn’t I see that last one coming? I should’ve seen that last one coming. I’m slipping.

I owe all of you better than this.

Baker being Baker

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield isn’t one to repress an opinion.

In a GQ article, Mayfield ripped the New York Giants for reaching to draft Duke’s Daniel Jones in the first round this year.

“I cannot believe the Giants took Daniel Jones,” Mayfield said.

“Some people overthink it,” he continued. “That’s where people go wrong. They forget you’ve gotta win.”

Mayfield also took time to bash teams that tried to make him learn a playbook before the draft. And he groused about being forced to apologize for planting the Oklahoma flag at Ohio Stadium after his Sooners beat the Buckeyes in 2017.

Heck, that may have been the one thing Mayfield has ever done that I really liked.

From the mouths of babes

The two most dangerous things about a live TV interview?

Youth. And honesty. The Pirates were reminded of that Tuesday night as Dan Potash of AT&T SportsNet interviewed a Little League player about his PNC Park experience.

The Vancouver kid’s assessment of his surroundings was, well, delivered with the unfiltered truth that can only accompany someone who isn’t old enough to know how to candy-coat things.

Can you blame the kid? He’s a Canadian Little League World Series star for crying out loud.

Clearly, he’s used to playing in front of bigger crowds than the Pirates could ever dream to attract.

Hey, can he pitch? Since he’s so unfazed by the crowd, maybe the Pirates can put him in the rotation after September 1 call-ups.

By the way, how about Potash as the ultimate team player, eh?! Jumping on a grenade for the club there.

Instantly, he blames the weather and not the 52-73 record. What a trooper.

Marte Partay

Well, those who were there had the opportunity to enjoy the “Starling Show.”

First, Pirates center fielder Starling Marte homered to give the Pirates a 4-1 lead in the eighth inning.

Then he made this spectacular catch at the wall to end the game.

Like that Canadian kid said, no one was there to see it. But what a performance by Marte.

I can beat that

Speaking of game-ending plays, did you see the one that involved two ex-Pirates Tuesday night?

The Miami Marlins were trailing 5-1 in the top of the ninth when Neil Walker came up. He grounded the ball towards Adeiny Hechavarria.

Hechavarria made one of the plays of the year for the Atlanta Braves to turn out the lights.

Hechavarria has been with the Braves for less than a week. That was a heckuva way to make a good early impression.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.

Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.

Get Ad-Free >

Categories: NFL | Pirates/MLB | Sports | Breakfast With Benz
";