First Call: Le'Veon Bell wants to be Mike Tyson's sparring partner; ex-Steeler retires at 31

Monday’s “First Call” has a celebrity boxing idea with a Steelers twist. A former Steeler is retiring at a young age. A Penguins free-agent target may not even get to the open market. There was a big baseball showdown in the Bronx with some Pirates connections.

And we celebrate the most important date in Penguins history.

‘Spar me’ or ‘spare me’?

Former Steeler Le’Veon Bell wants to help Mike Tyson get ready for his celebrity boxing showdown with Jake Paul.

The YouTuber turned boxer planned to fight Tyson on Netflix on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. However, late last month it was announced that the fight was postponed because Tyson was dealing with an ulcer. Now that fight has been rescheduled for Nov. 15, 2024 at the same venue.

Over the weekend, after Tyson posted about the new date on social media, Bell jumped in and offered to be the former champion’s sparring partner.

SPAR ME MIKE https://t.co/HjbsuNQwGB

— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) June 8, 2024

Since leaving football, Bell has won two of his three pro fights, plus an exhibition match over fellow former NFL running back Adrian Peterson.

Bell has fought at the cruiserweight division (weight limit 200 pounds). That’s the same class as Paul. Both are 6-foot-1 as well.

Size-wise it’d be a match. So maybe Tyson should consider the offer, or perhaps Bell should fight Paul. That idea was floated to Bell, but he shot it down.

my age/athletic ability ratio doesn’t qualify ..

— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) June 8, 2024

For the record, Tyson is 57, Bell is 32 and Paul is 27. Maybe all three should just get in the ring together and turn this whole thing into the actual carnival event it was meant to be since the idea was originally hatched.

No more from Nelson

Houston Texans cornerback Steven Nelson is retiring. The ex-Steeler has decided to call it a career at age 31.

A team captain with the AFC South Champion Texans, Nelson is coming off a season that saw him intercept four passes in the regular season and another in the playoffs. That’s a career high. Apparently, Nelson’s biggest motivation to walk away is the upcoming birth of a child.

Steven Nelson on his decision: 'Retirement, after thinking it over and having some talks with my family, I think it’s time for me to take a step back and spend more time with my family,” Nelson said in a telephone interview. “We’re expecting a newborn this coming month and I… https://t.co/CHx8zySidW

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 9, 2024

According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Nelson also has a podcast and responsibilities on a large livestock farm.

Nelson ends his career with 13 career interceptions and 87 passes defensed in 130 games played. Over his two seasons in Pittsburgh (2019-20), Nelson made 104 tackles, grabbed three interceptions and broke up 17 passes.

Related:

• Madden Monday: 'I've conned myself into thinking is Russell Wilson is going to have a good year'
• Tim Benz: Debating the idea that the Steelers get more media, fan protection than other Pittsburgh teams
• Mark Madden Hot Take: Fantasy leagues warp loyalties, ruin sports viewing

No doin’ for Drouin?

On Friday, Pittsburgh Hockey Now advanced the name of Jonathan Drouin as a potential target for the Penguins in free agency. Playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado, the winger posted 18 goals and career highs in assists (37) and points (56).

That may be a short-lived conversation, though. During his podcast on Saturday, agent Allan Walsh said that he has had conversations with the Avs about keeping Drouin in Denver.

“I did meet with (Avs general manager) Chris MacFarland in Buffalo (at the NHL Combine) and had a great meeting with him. Both sides have been pretty public also about how we want to make a deal, they want to make a deal. When both sides want to make deals, deals happen,” Walsh said.

Also, during the podcast, Walsh gushed about how much Drouin enjoyed playing in Denver and how the fit was great. So if the Penguins want him, they might have to overpay to get him out of Colorado.

Projections for Drouin seem to be in the $4.75-$5.5 million range.

Mario memory

Sunday marked the anniversary of the single most important day in Penguins history: the day the club drafted Mario Lemieux.

The frequently forlorn Penguins changed the organization’s future by drafting the 18-year-old No. 1 overall from Laval of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) on June 9, 1984 in Montreal.

The team’s social media division posted a video to commemorate the event.

A Hall of Fame player.
A role model for all.
And the best thing that ever happened to the Penguins.

It's been 40 years since Le Magnifique galvanized the city of Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/QsdaxO6M7z

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 9, 2024

The Penguins had declared bankruptcy after the 1974–75 season. By 1984, the club had failed to have a winning season since 1979 and had missed the playoffs two years in a row. Crowds were sparse and the future of the franchise in Pittsburgh was in serious doubt.

Then Lemieux was drafted, and everything changed. Four decades later, Lemieux brought the team two Stanley Cups as the team captain and three more as the team’s owner. All that after signing an entry level contract of $600,000, plus a $150,000 bonus.

Not as sharp

After a standout performance in his return to Pittsburgh during a 1-0 loss last week, former Pirates pitcher Tyler Glasnow had a tougher time in New York on Sunday. He and the Dodgers lost 6-4 to the Yankees.

Glasnow pitched six innings. He only walked one batter and racked up 12 strikeouts to improve his Major League Baseball-leading total to 116. But he also allowed five earned runs including this home run to Trent Grisham.

The Stadium gets LOUD. Trent Grisham gives the @Yankees the lead with a 3-run shot! #SundayNightBaseball pic.twitter.com/zeUb1ZWlCh

— MLB (@MLB) June 10, 2024

Oswaldo Cabrera hit another homer off of Glasnow, and Aaron Judge added his MLB-leading 24th off Yohan Ramirez.

Another ex-Pirate, Clay Holmes, came in for his 19th save to close out the game in the Bronx. He’s tied with Emmanuel Clase of Cleveland for the American League lead.