U mad, bro?: Pirates fans push back on booing of David Bednar, idea of Barry Bonds in team Hall of Fame

This week, I didn’t defend a hometown hero after he got booed at PNC Park. I suggested that a Pittsburgh sports pariah get inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame. And I refused to advance a bogus politically correct women’s sports media narrative.

So, as you could imagine, my social media interactions and inbox were quite a minefield.

Duck and cover as you read this week’s “U mad, bro?”

Regardless of my recent argument to the contrary, “DM” doesn’t think that Barry Bonds is worthy of a Pirates Hall of Fame induction or a jersey retirement — even though Jaromir Jagr just got the same honor in Pittsburgh despite similar fan acrimony that lasted numerous decades.

@TimBenzPGH regarding your article this morning.. Barry Bonds was a post-season choke artist.. Jaromir Jagr was not.. 'nuff said

— DM (@mstr824) April 9, 2024

In eight postseason games with the Pirates, Andrew McCutchen doesn’t have a single homer or RBI. So I guess he should be left out when he retires, too, huh?

On Tuesday, new Pirate Rowdy Tellez commandeered a David Bednar postgame media scrum to lecture Pirates fans for booing the closer after a third blown save in four tries. Janis did not like how I characterized Tellez’s actions.

“You call it ‘peacocking,’ others call it ‘showing kindness and compassion.’ Try it someday.”

I’m often very kind and compassionate toward others. You just don’t see it because I don’t wait for a camera to be turned on before I do it.

Bednar is a 29-year-old All-Star. Did he really need (or want) to be protected by the recently signed journeyman who has been here for 10 minutes to start finger-wagging fans (who have been through the better part of three decades of losing) how to act?

“Rooney III” in South Carolina has a similar opinion of my portrayal of Tellez’s media redirect.

“You need to run one of those fan polls to see if they preferred Rowdy’s ‘pandering’ and ‘moralizing’ or your Monday morning quarterbacking. I kinda liked Rowdy’s better.”

Well, seeing as how the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016, my “Monday morning quarterbacking” is on a seven-year unbeaten streak.

Tellez should be so lucky.

Related

• First Call: Potential Steelers international date goes elsewhere; examining Easter Conference playoff chances for Pens
• Tim Benz: Booing David Bednar doesn't matter. How he is pitching, and how the Pirates fix him, does
• Tim Benz: It's time to put Barry Bonds into the Pirates Hall of Fame

The Athletic’s David Aldridge sent out this post on social media after he apparently felt that there was too much negative dialogue about this year’s NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

Caitlin Clark is great.
Kamilla Cardoso is great.
Iowa is great.
South Carolina is great.
Bluder and Dawn are great.
This title game is great.
Paige is great. Aziaha James is great. JuJu is great.
ESPN's studio show is great.
This tournament is great.
Can we all stop hating on…

— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) April 7, 2024

Aren’t those doing the “hating” being dwarfed by those doing the “enjoying”? The ratings/coverage suggest that’s the case. In record numbers no less. This feels like a “retweet/like me” straw man.

As a sport grows, polarization will grow with it. “Everybody luv everybody” is harder to pull off when more of “everybody” has an opinion on what they are watching.

We can’t have it both ways, David. Do you want equal treatment for women’s sports? Or special treatment for women’s sports?

Here’s how I responded to Aldridge’s post.

Duke/UNC is great
MICH/Ohio St is great
Yanks/Red Sox is great
The Super Bowl is great
When people care, u get a reaction. And when someone wins/someone loses, the losing reaction isn't always going to be lovey-dovey.
A little sandpaper isnt a bad sign for the growth of a sport

— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) April 7, 2024

Jason in Slippery Rock didn’t like that retort.

Wow, someone sounds cynical...

— Jason in Slippery Rock (@meg_ree) April 7, 2024

Honestly, what Aldridge said is 10 times more cynical than what I did when you really think about it. Consider the whole thread before you posture for likes and retweets.

Jock has some thoughts on the Steelers potentially drafting an offensive tackle in the first round of the NFL draft.

“The Steelers have no center, a wide receiver room with only the cantankerous and seemingly immature George Pickens left to answer the door, a defensive line rotation two, possibly three guys short and several other thin spots. So we’re supposedly going to take another shot at replacing Dan Moore Jr. in round #1(?). Wha’ for? A #1 pick that we paid dearly for couldn’t beat him out last year so we’re going to guess again? Say it isn’t so.”

Don’t cross the streams, Jock.

Broderick Jones didn’t fail to beat out Dan Moore Jr. last year. The Steelers predetermined that Moore was going to be good enough to start. Then Jones replaced Chuks Okorafor and proved that he was starter-worthy all along.

Moore is entering the last year of his contract. Do you want to sign him to starter’s money at left tackle? I don’t.

Worst case scenario, if they draft a first-round tackle in a good year for talent at the position, they get Jones in Year 3 as a starter on one side and first-round draft choice OT-X as the starter on the other side in 2025.

For a franchise that hadn’t addressed the position in the first round since 1996, this feels like a pleasant departure.

David has an opinion on that Bonds conversation, too.

“Did not read your article on Bonds as I would never waste that amount of time and energy on him. Absolutely not is he to even visit the pirates HOF let alone anything else ….. NO !!!”

Davey, the Buccos literally sell seats to dogs on Tuesday night home games for “Pup Nights.”

RT Pirates: Pup Nights are back at PNC!
Enjoy a night at the park with your best friend.

TIX: … pic.twitter.com/e2CSzzBeQl

— Bill Hart (@bhart62) February 4, 2016

Regardless of your opinions on Bonds, if Rover can purchase a bleacher seat, I think a former two-time MVP for the franchise should be allowed to gain entry to the Hall of Fame with a ticket if he so desires.

And if Bob Nutting turns down money from Barry Bonds, that would be a twist of irony so severe it may tear a hole in the space-time continuum.

Finally, here is an email from a nice guy named Nick.

“I am a junior at (a local university) majoring in News and Sports Communication. I am reaching out to you to learn more about your experience as a sports journalist and if you would have any advice or tips to get into the sports journalism field? I would greatly appreciate your input.”

Nick, you seem like a really good kid. I’m sincerely flattered that you would send me an email. You are smart enough to be doing exactly what any young person should do while embarking on your career — seeking the advice of those who are as beaten down and jaded as I am.

Hence, my advice is to get out while you are still young. My tips are to never write anything nice about Barry Bonds or anything remotely negative about David Bednar or women’s sports.

If I can be of any further help, please do not hesitate to reach out in the future.