Malkin conjuring visions of a young Lemieux

By Joe Starkey
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, February 12, 2008



Penguins center Evgeni Malkin celebrates his first NHL hat trick in the third period against the Maple Leafs Jan. 3, 2007, at Mellon Arena.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review

On Sunday afternoon, about 20 minutes after Evgeni Malkin's latest virtuoso performance, Mario Lemieux walked into the Penguins dressing room cradling a white cardboard box in his left hand.

Lemieux gave Malkin a fist bump.

"Nice game, Geno," Lemieux said. "And thanks for the vodka."

See, Malkin isn't merely sprinting to the top of the NHL scoring chart, sparking the Penguins to big wins without Sidney Crosby and making a case for league MVP. He's also taking care of the team owner.

The young Russian ordered some of the good stuff -- straight from his homeland -- for Lemieux, who, like everyone else, was mesmerized by Malkin's latest magic show in a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

"He's one of the best in the world," Lemieux said. "Since Sid went down, he's really picked up his game. He wants to be the go-to guy, and he's showing it on the ice.

"It's quite amazing."

With his parents, Vladimir and Natalia, watching from Lemieux's box at Mellon Arena, Malkin recorded his first four-point game of the season (goal, three assists) and third of his career.

On the morning of Jan. 19, the day after Crosby was injured, Malkin was 14th in the NHL scoring race with 52 points. Ten games and 21 points later, he is tied for second with 73 points, behind only countryman Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, who has 76.

The Penguins are 6-2-2 without Crosby. Malkin has eight goals and 13 assists in that span, 15 points in the past five games.

After Sunday's victory, the following question made the rounds: Is Malkin more like a young Jaromir Jagr or a young Lemieux? Several veteran team observers weighed in, including Lemieux, who was asked if he sees a bit of himself in Malkin.

"Yes," Lemieux said, smiling. "He's 6-4. He's handling the puck pretty good. He wants the puck every night, every shift, and that's the sign of a great player."

The consensus was that Malkin, 21, indeed is more like the early Lemieux, before injuries forced him to change his game and before his body filled out.

True, Malkin dipsy-doodles and dominates the puck against heavy physical pressure like a young Jagr, but he's really not a bull. He's more like a horse, the way he gallops. Plus, his body type (a shade under 6-foot-4, plenty lean) and style rather evoke a young Lemieux.

Like Lemieux, Malkin swoops in on defenders. He is that rare combination of open-ice artist and sniper, a deadly mix of playmaker and goal scorer.

"He sees the ice so well, like Mario," said former Penguins coach and general manager Ed Johnston, who drafted Lemieux. "Mario had control of the game. He'd slow it down, then pick up guys coming late. Malkin does the same thing. He button-hooks and makes those plays."

One other ex-player's name came up: Vladimir Malkin, who played professionally for his hometown team in Magnitogorsk. The competition back then was equivalent to the low-level minors, but the elder Malkin, who stands well under 6 feet, apparently passed on some valuable gifts to his youngest son.

Malkin's parents consented to an interview after Sunday's game. Team employee George Birman translated. This is the Malkins' second visit to Pittsburgh. They plan to stay until Feb. 26.

Natalia Malkin chuckled as her husband spoke, but he was dead serious when he said, "I think Evgeni took a lot from me -- the way to think on the ice, the vision, my hands. But the way he is inside -- the toughness and personal character -- that's from his mom. She's a tough girl."

Television cameras showed Mrs. Malkin cheering for her son after his goal Sunday. She says he displayed a flair and passion for the game almost from the moment he picked up his first stick.

"From when he was 5, he was competitive, a leader in whatever he was doing," she said. "He would always try to be the best."

The Malkins are loving their time in Pittsburgh, where the "people are very friendly to us," Mrs. Malkin said. The atmosphere back in Magnitogorsk has improved of late, too, though it wasn't easy when Malkin abruptly left his hometown team to come to the Penguins before last season.

The move created some hard feelings among hockey fans there.

"People have cooled off," Mr. Malkin said. "But some of them still remember and say things like, 'Oh, he can't do this to us.' But here's the thing: The people who understand hockey said, 'You know, he did it the right way. He has to be in the best league. He deserves to play there.' "

The Malkins, who have one other child, Denis, 23, run Evgeni's offbeat restaurant/deli back in Magnitogorsk. Called the VIP Zone, it is designed in the motif of a maximum-security Russian prison, complete with barred windows, aluminum forks, lamps that look like police flashlights, waitresses in striped suits and bills dotted with fingerprints.

After it opened two-and-a-half years ago, Malkin told a local newspaper he wanted "a restaurant that would be something absolutely new, like nothing before it."

So, how's business?

"In Magnitogorsk, there aren't too many rich people who can afford to go every day to a nice restaurant," Vladimir Malkin said. "It's not great business, but it's all right."

He laughed and added, "We'll have enough money to come to Pittsburgh again."

The way things are going, maybe they shouldn't leave.


Joe Starkey can be reached at jstarkey@tribweb.com or 412-320-7810.

FRONT FOUR

Evgeni Malkin has 158 points in his first 134 NHL games. A look at how Malkin's numbers compare with those of Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby and Jaromir Jagr at the same point in their careers:

Player G A Pts.
Lemieux 83 133 216
Crosby 64 126 190
Malkin 64 94 158
Jagr 54 60 114
Source: Elias Sports Bureau

Malkin's 4 points pad Pens' Atlantic Division lead

By Rob Rossi
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, February 11, 2008



The Penguins' Evgeni Malkin celebrates his second-period goal agianst the Flyers with Petr Sykora and Ryan Malone at Mellon Arena.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review


Nice going, NBC.

That network decided a few weeks back not to broadcast the Penguins' 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday -- presumably because the game did not feature injured captain and top ratings draw Sidney Crosby.

Too bad, because the latest installment of Pennsylvania's frozen feud featured a made-for-TV coming out party by Evgeni Malkin, who is closing fast on Crosby for consideration as "world's greatest hockey player."

"Basically, he is one of the best players in the NHL," left wing Petr Sykora said of Malkin, who scored his 31st goal and recorded three assists to fuel the Penguins' first victory in five meetings against the Flyers this season.

Sykora helped, too, scoring a goal and assisting on two others, as he has racked up 20 points in 17 games.

A franchise record 41st consecutive sellout crowd joyously watched as Malkin attempted to chase down league-leading scorer Alexander Ovechkin in one afternoon.

Ovechkin scored a goal and recorded two assists to help the Washington Capitals defeat the New York Rangers yesterday. He holds a three-point lead on Malkin -- 76 to 73 -- as the friendly Russian rivals attempt to dethrone Crosby as the scoring champion.

"I'm going to try," Malkin said, through an interpreter, on the possibility of winning the Art Ross Trophy. "I'm not thinking about that just because it's Ovechkin."



The Penguins' Jarkko Ruutu fights with Flyers' Steve Downie in the first period at Mellon Arena Sunday.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review

The Flyers thought long and hard about attempting to contain Malkin, figuring it was their best chance to win a fifth consecutive game against the Penguins.

"He's a world-class player and a big concern," Philadelphia coach John Stevens said. "He does so many things raw. He's a passionate hockey player."

Malkin helped the Penguins erase a 1-0 deficit by setting up Sykora's 18th goal at 16:20 of the opening period and defenseman Sergei Gonchar's ninth tally 38 seconds into the second.

Gonchar's goal provided the Penguins a lead against the Flyers for the first time this season -- a span of 260 minutes and 38 seconds.

Almost 17 minutes after his landlord finally put the Penguins ahead in this series, Malkin extended the lead at 18:43. He capped his offensive outburst with another assist -- each primary -- on rookie defenseman Kris Letang's fourth goal at 12:14 of the third period.

Malkin has scored seven goals and recorded 20 points in 10 games since Crosby was lost with a high right ankle sprain Jan. 18. The Penguins are 6-2-2 in those games.

Their latest victory was the sweetest for Malkin, who has adopted a disgust for the Penguins' fiercest rival.



Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71)knocks Philadelphia Flyers' Mike Richards to the ice in the second period of NHL hockey action at Pittsburgh, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

"That is one team that is not really a pleasure to play against. When we play (in Philadelphia), we have problems -- like people throwing popcorn on the bench," Malkin said. "I don't like that team. It is something a little bit extra than playing other teams."

Malkin was told the Flyers probably did not think highly of him after his four-point performance helped the Penguins maintain first place in the Atlantic Division and move four points ahead of Philadelphia.

"That's good," Malkin said.

Rob Rossi can be reached at rrossi@tribweb.com or 412-380-5635.

The reign of Therrien

By Joe Starkey
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, February 10, 2008



Pittsburgh Penguins coach Michel Therrien leans over Colby Armstrong as he gives instruction to Jordan Staal (11) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, Feb. 9, in Pittsburgh. The Penguins won 4-2.
The Associated Press

If you think Michel Therrien is a bit rough around the edges now, you should have seen him coaching junior hockey.

The old Therrien -- the one who broke an opposing coach's nose in a mid-game fight at the Zamboni entrance -- makes the new Therrien -- the one who isn't afraid to publicly lambaste a player -- look tame.

But as Montreal Canadiens defenseman Francis Bouillon told me late last season, one thing holds true from Therrien's junior days.

"He didn't care if the players liked him or not," said Bouillon, who captained Therrien's Memorial Cup-winning Granby team in 1996. "The goal was to win."

So, go ahead and rip Therrien if you like. Players do, sometimes justifiably. The media does, which every coach should expect. And his methods can be maddening.

But you know what? He wins.

He's winning.

Some players, no doubt, believe the team is flourishing in spite of the coach. Plenty of observers are poised to bury Therrien at the first opportunity, believing the Penguins will never win a Stanley Cup under his guidance.

Even if that proves true, nobody will ever take this from Therrien: The first time he walked into Mellon Arena as coach, he saw how screwed up things were and had the courage to effect change.

Therrien's not the old-boys-network type, you know. And if he's not around when and if the Penguins win a Cup, he'll be secure in the knowledge that he played a major role in their evolution.

But that's a subject for the distant future.

Let's talk about how different this season is from 2006-07, when everything went right.

History shows that teams crash hard after making the kind of monstrous jump the Penguins made last season. Sure enough, they dug themselves an early hole. Then came the injuries, one after another.

Yet, the Penguins are on pace to finish with 100 points. They are 5-2-2 without Sidney Crosby, fresh off a 4-2 victory Saturday over the Los Angeles Kings and in first place in the Atlantic Division with the Philadelphia Flyers in town for a titanic battle today.

The players deserve most of the credit. They always do, in every sport. But isn't there a chance -- a teentsie, weentsie, barely detectable, infinitesimal chance -- that coaching has something to do with this?

Few seem inclined to give Therrien and his assistants, Mike Yeo and Andre Savard, much credit. A rational look at the situation should tell you that Therrien belongs in the discussion of Jack Adams Award candidates as the NHL's Coach of the Year.

Which other team in solid playoff position has overcome such hardship?

Folks were quick to jump Therrien for blaming defenseman Ryan Whitney for the loss Monday to the Devils. They shouldn't have been. Whitney's a big boy, and somebody has to play the heavy. Therrien did the same thing to goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury last season.

Both were premeditated moves, designed to motivate players Therrien knows well.

Therrien picks his spots to lash out, and most of the time, the results speak for themselves. Whitney might have come back to score twice and play a solid game Thursday even if the coach hadn't blasted him, but the harsh words sure didn't hurt.

In these parts, the inmates ran the asylum for years. One Penguins player of recent vintage was known to write down suggested trades on a piece of paper and slip them to an assistant coach.

It's safe to say that isn't happening anymore.

Sometimes slow to adapt, Therrien usually comes around. He stuck with Mark Recchi too long this season, out of respect for Recchi's veteran status, but finally gathered the gumption to remove him from the lineup.

To that point, the Penguins were 8-10-1. Since then, they are 23-9-4.

Ty Conklin obviously had a large hand in saving the season. Then again, Therrien's system has contributed to Conklin's success.

The system is rigid, but not so rigid that it stifles the offensive genius of star players such as Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who was spectacular again yesterday (two goals, assist).

So, go ahead and rip Therrien if you like. Take your best shot.

He couldn't care less.

The goal is to win.


Joe Starkey is a sports writer for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached at jstarkey@tribweb.com.

Pirates Spring Preview 2008: Top Ten Issues

Much will be new, including half the bullpen

Sunday, February 10, 2008
By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Peter Diana / Post-Gazette

Come Thursday, when the Pirates' pitchers and catchers report to Bradenton, Fla., they will be welcomed by a new headquarters building towering above the Pirate City complex, an all-new management and a resultant new air of accountability.

For the most part, though, it will be the same players, which surely will raise one ominous question: Will they be the same old Pirates?

The top 10 issues, in descending order, of the spring training to come:

10. Renewing acquaintances

Although manager John Russell and his entire staff are new to their posts, there should be little adjustment. Russell was the Pirates' third base coach in 2003-05, and nearly half the roster did at least some spring work with him in the past.

The same is true, perhaps just as important given the nature of spring instruction, of pitching coach Jeff Andrews. He oversaw four-fifths of the current rotation -- Ian Snell, Tom Gorzelanny, Paul Maholm and Zach Duke -- while they were rising through the minors, and their confidence in him has a genuinely strong feel to it.

"Andy's going to make a big difference," Duke said.

One area the staff already appears to have affected: Several players have followed the team's urgings to get into better shape this offseason, including a lighter and apparently motivated Ronny Paulino.

9. Knocking at the door

None of Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker or Steve Pearce sees himself as a minor-leaguer, and not without cause. The first two are the Pirates' top two prospects, and Pearce soared into that class with a Lynchburg-to-Pittsburgh 2007 that totaled 31 home runs and 113 RBIs.

For now, though, all are expected to start out at Class AAA Indianapolis.

"The important thing is to promote players when they are completely ready, not because they might be your best available," general manager Neal Huntington said.

Bet on the ultra-talented McCutchen to put on the best show in the spring. He batted .321 last March and was spectacular defensively before a down-then-up season in the minors.

"I feel like I've got a shot if I have another big spring," McCutchen said.

8. One more catcher

Although the Pirates will continue seeking a backup catcher who might push Paulino, the backup, as things stand now, will be one of journeymen Raul Chavez or Michel Hernandez. Give a slight edge to Chavez because of a strong arm that the teams' scouts love.

Ryan Doumit can catch, too, but the Pirates want Doumit's bat available for pinch-hitting, and they like what they saw of him in right field last year. Expect to see him wear a mask only in the earliest stages of camp.

7. X marks the goner?

The most likely player to be traded is outfielder Xavier Nady. Management is eager to add prospects, and its best chip -- with Jason Bay out of the equation until his value increases -- is to move one of its many outfielders.

San Diego still is seeking a corner outfielder and likes Nady, but the Padres and Pirates have found little common ground toward a trade so far.

Expect little on this front until late in the spring, or maybe closer to the July 31 trading deadline.

6. A lineup in indelible ink

The Pirates enter spring with a virtually set lineup, with the notable exception of the duel between Nate McLouth and Nyjer Morgan to play center field and bat leadoff.

That might lead one to suspect Russell already has a clear vision of his lineup.

"I've got ideas," Russell said. "But nothing's set."

His early leanings: Freddy Sanchez might bat second. Adam LaRoche might be at cleanup. And Jack Wilson, always a variable in these scenarios, might stay at No. 8, where he batted .400 in the final two months of last season.

5. Room in the rotation?

Although Huntington has designated his five starters as Gorzelanny, Snell, Maholm, Duke and Matt Morris, he never has ruled out that someone else could steal a spot.

But do not bet on it.

Everyone except Duke is a lock no matter their spring -- anyone remember Gorzelanny's 7.96 ERA last March? -- and, even there, management wants to give Duke every chance to become a solid, 200-inning performer.

On top of that, candidates to push Duke are slim: Best bets are one-time standout Jamey Wright, familiar faces Bryan Bullington and John Van Benschoten, and waiver-claim swingmen Phil Dumatrait and Ty Taubenheim.

4. Bop off the bench

The five-man bench will consist of utilityman Chris Gomez; Doumit as an outfielder, first baseman or third catcher; one of middle infielders Ray Olmedo or Josh Wilson; Chavez or Hernandez as the backup catcher; and McLouth if Morgan beats him out.

The catch: If Morgan loses, he likely would return to the minors to ensure consistent at-bats, and outfielder Kevin Thompson would enter the mix.

Any way that shakes out, it shows scant traces of offense, certainly nothing close to what the Pirates had from Josh Phelps, Cesar Izturis and Matt Kata in the second half of 2007. And that is particularly true with regard to power: Doumit and McLouth provide the only bop, but only from the left side.

3. Reviving the big bats

Perhaps nothing could be more encouraging for the Pirates this spring than to see Bay and LaRoche spraying balls through the palm trees beyond McKechnie Field's fence.

Bay is coming off a career-worst year -- .247 average, 21 home runs -- brought about in part by a wonky knee. The knee is fine, Bay insists. And, to ensure it stays that way, his offseason workouts have focused on strengthening his legs, something he says could help revive his power.

LaRoche is seeking to avoid the slow starts that have plagued him all through his career, even in the minors. He began taking batting practice as early as December in Kansas, and management has a spring plan to get him more at-bats than his 54 of a year ago.

"I'll be ready," LaRoche said.

2. Center of attention

McLouth and Morgan will bring many similar traits to their duel, but there are two critical differences: McLouth can infuse some needed left-handed power, and Morgan can provide game-changing defense.

Management was divided on the two, by all accounts, to the extent that Huntington tossed out a personal philosophy against basing too much on spring performance and decided to let the two duke it out in Bradenton.

"I'm looking forward to it," Morgan said. "Nate's a quality player and a friend, and we're each going to go out there and do our best."

One aspect to watch: The Pirates are placing a premium on reaching base out of the leadoff spot. Patience long has been a positive trait for McLouth in drawing walks, and Morgan must improve there.

1. Little relief in sight

The Pirates have a closer in Matt Capps and two proven left-handers to set him up in Damaso Marte and John Grabow.

From there ...

One can safely add Franquelis Osoria to the mix because of a dynamic sinker that gives Russell an easy call when needing a double play. But the field for the other three openings is vague to the point of not being able to rule out virtually any of 32 pitchers being invited.

As Huntington put it, "It could be anyone."

Still, look for veterans Hector Carraso, Casey Fossum and Elmer Dessens to get long looks, along with all of the pitchers mentioned above as starting possibilities, plus newcomers Marino Salas, T.J. Beam and Rule 5 pick Evan Meek.

To be sure, it will represent the greatest challenge for Andrews and all evaluators in camp.

"No question," Andrews said. "But we like the options we have, what some of these guys can bring, and we'll just have to see how it plays out."

Dejan Kovacevic can be reached at dkovacevic@post-gazette.com.
First published on February 10, 2008 at 12:00 am

Sanchez deal required compromise, ingenuity

All-Star second baseman's contract could net $18.9 million

Wednesday, February 06, 2008
By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Freddy Sanchez was a mess of nerves two weeks ago: His wife, Alissa, was on the verge of delivering their second child, and he had a side worry that his employer no longer wanted him.

Then, around dinner time Jan. 25, his agent got a phone call from the Pirates approaching him with a long-term offer.

The next day, Ryan Anthony was born.

And yesterday, Sanchez was signed and sealed to go with that delivery, putting the final touch on a contract that could cover three years -- two guaranteed plus a vested option -- and pay as much as $18.9 million.

"I'm thrilled," Sanchez said at a PNC Park news conference. "Pittsburgh is where I want to be. Everybody knows that. For me and my family, it was kind of a no-brainer. We love this community, and we appreciate the support that our fans give us. There's nothing better than going on the field knowing the fans are on your side, like they are here."

The Pirates, making their first major commitment under new management, sounded no less satisfied after securing their All-Star second baseman's rights through 2010.

"Freddy's exactly the kind of player we want to keep, on the field and in the community," general manager Neal Huntington said.

First, a breakdown of the deal ...

• Sanchez will make $4 million this season, plus a $300,000 signing bonus. That strikes common ground, given the salary figures the Pirates and Sanchez had exchanged -- the team $4.1 million, Sanchez $4.9 million -- toward their arbitration hearing that had been set for Monday.

• He will make $6.1 million in 2009.

• For 2010, the Pirates can exercise a club option of $8 million that can increase by as much as $500,000 on performance bonuses: $100,000 for 650 plate appearances in 2008, $100,000 for 650 plate appearances in '08 or '09, $100,000 for an All-Star berth in '08, $100,000 for an All-Star berth in '09, $100,000 for a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger in '08 or '09.

• There also are performance bonuses for 2010: $25,000 for an All-Star berth, $125,000 for World Series MVP and tiered bonuses of $125,000 for National League MVP, $75,000 for runner-up and $50,000 for third place.

• If the Pirates reject the 2010 option, they pay a $600,000 buyout.

• He can trigger that option automatically if he makes 635 plate appearances in 2009, or he has 600 plate appearances and an All-Star berth that same year.

• He will contribute $25,000 each year to Pirates Charities.

Now, a breakdown of how the deal was struck ...

All through December and January, the Pirates and Sanchez's agent, Paul Cobbe, had been bartering about a one-year contract aimed solely at avoiding arbitration. Not much came of that, as the sides ended up exchanging arbitration figures by Major League Baseball's Jan. 18 deadline.

Sanchez had two years of arbitration eligibility remaining, then could become a free agent after the 2009 season. And that is exactly how it figured to play out -- his leaving through free agency -- if he and the Pirates were to go year to year on contracts.

"You never knew what was going to happen with an all-new front office," Sanchez said. "Maybe they don't want you. Maybe they don't care what you've done in the past."

Then on Jan. 25, the Pirates' lead negotiator, Larry Silverman, approached Cobbe about trying two years and a club option. That was not appealing initially -- why would Sanchez give up a year of free agency to the Pirates' whim? -- but it soon morphed into the final arrangement.

"It meant a lot more to me that the call came from them," Sanchez said. "When Paul told me about the call, I said, 'OK, this is what I want. Let's get something done.' "

Sanchez sees the option year as very much in his control, particularly after making 632 plate appearances two seasons ago while winning the batting title and 653 last year.

"All I have to do is go out there and do what I've been doing," he said. "I consider this a three-year deal."

From the Pirates' perspective, the 2010 option offers a safeguard against Sanchez having a major injury -- though there also is insurance on any multiyear deal -- as well as the right to keep a prime player. Or, they could trade him, as there was no no-trade clause included.

"Mutually beneficial," Huntington called the contract. "The club gets cost certainty the first two years and market value for 2010."

Sanchez had a third reason to smile: He resumed throwing last week for the first time since having minor arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in September. He has been hitting for more than a month.

The shoulder "feels great," he said, adding that he expects to be ready for spring training. To ensure that, he plans to report with the pitchers and catchers Feb. 14, five days before position players, to have extra time with the athletic trainers.

•

NOTES -- The Pirates will learn today if starter Sean Burnett clears waivers after the mandatory 48-hour period. If he does, the team's plan is to outright him to the minor leagues -- the player has no choice in that scenario -- and invite him to the major-league portion of spring training.

Sanchez's new contract is much-needed positive step

Wednesday, February 06, 2008
By Bob Smizik, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Lake Fong/Post-Gazette
Freddy Sanchez takes questions from the media after signing his new contract yesterday at PNC Park.

The Pirates took a step toward eliminating the public perception they are a cheap, bottom-line oriented team that either cannot or will not pay to keep its best players by signing Freddy Sanchez to a contract yesterday that could pay him almost $20 million, including $8 million in 2010.

The third year (2010) is significant because that is scheduled to be Sanchez's first year of free-agent eligibility. It's commendable when a team buys out the arbitration years of a player, as the Pirates did with Jason Bay. But that's smart business for both sides. By buying out a year of free agency with Sanchez, the club made a commitment to the future beyond the norm.

Of course, it's only one year and one player, but it's a step in the right direction.

Sanchez will receive $4.3 million this year, $6.1 million in 2009. That is close to what he would have made in arbitration if his play continued along the same level it was in 2006 and 2007.

The third year kicks in at the club's option or if Sanchez achieves certain performance levels.

The first two years give Sanchez a good deal of security and the Pirates cost certainty. If the option is exercised by either party it will mean Sanchez has continued to be a good hitter who is capable of driving in runs despite not hitting homers and a well above-average second baseman.

The going rate for such a player by 2010 would be $8 million, if not more.

This is a good deal for both sides.

So what does it mean?

First, some history. The Pirates have made peculiar financial moves in recent years but not since the memorable Aramis Ramirez trade to the Chicago Cubs in July of 2003, for which they received virtually nothing in return, have they failed to keep a player worth keeping. It's true they've unloaded some big contracts -- Brian Giles, Jason Kendall and Mark Redman come to mind, but all those were worth unloading. In the case of Giles, they also got Bay and Oliver Perez in exchange.

So although the public perception that the Pirates are super cheap is not necessarily wrong, the team really has not been in circumstances where is has had to pay the big money to players. It kept Jack Wilson, who otherwise would have been eligible for free agency after last season.

The true test for Pirates' ownership will come after the 2009 season when team's core is either eligible for free agency or moving into arbitration.

No one should take the Sanchez contract as any kind of sign the Pirates are committed to upping their payroll to $70 million and beyond. As stated, it's just one step with one player.

A positive side of this deal is that in Frank Coonelly, who was installed as team president in mid-September, the Pirates have someone overseeing the operation who will not allow any outrageously stupid deals to be made.

Under Coonelly, there won't be any Jeromy Burnitz or Joe Randa signings, two deals, by the way, which definitely did not show the Pirates to be cheap but rather to be extravagant with their money.

Too bad Coonelly wasn't hired six weeks earlier. He certainly would have squelched the July 31 trade made by former general manager Dave Littlefield that sent Rajai Davis to the San Francisco Giants for Matt Morris. The Pirates are scheduled to pay Morris $9.5 million this season and it will take $1 million more to buy out his 2009 option year.

The origins of that deal speak to the lack of judgment that prevailed on the team before Coonelly. It wasn't so much that Littlefield made the deal and agreed to pick up all of Morris' contract, which no other team would do, but that he was allowed to make such a move.

Just what was owner Bob Nutting thinking when he granted Littlefield, a man he would fire five weeks later, permission to make that trade? Nutting is not a baseball expert, but you don't have to be Bill James to know that Morris, who had a 7.94 earned run average in his eight most recent starts, was not worth $10 million or anything close to that.

Those kinds of trades won't happen with Coonelly and Neal Huntington, Littlefield's successor. The Pirates have in place a front office that understands the economics of the game.

That's a positive, especially considering the recent past, but not enough to turn the team into a winner.

And the same can be said for the Sanchez deal. It's a positive, but by itself not enough to turn the team into a winner.

Bob Smizik can be reached at bspg@comcast.net.
First published on February 6, 2008 at 12:00 am

Building Blocks: Coonelly's 'culture change' starts inside

Pirates' president addresses pessimism with firm, engaged manner

Wednesday, February 06, 2008
By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette



The Pirates' braintrust -- manager John Russell, left, general manager Neal Huntington and team president Frank Coonelly take questions from fans at PirateFest at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Well before sunrise each weekday, team president Frank Coonelly's oft-declared goal to "change the culture" of the Pirates begins with a dark drive to PNC Park.

Once there, he heads to the exercise room for a double-espresso of a workout, then cleans up and climbs the steps to the fourth floor to be seated behind his big oak desk. The clock shows 6:30 a.m., so the first official task of the day, as one might expect, is performed alone: He tears a piece of paper from a memo pad, the words "Frank Coonelly: To-Do List" engraved across the top, and begins penning item after item, from player moves to pushing suite sales.

The list pokes visibly out of his front suit pocket all day as he engages employees to cross off items, but one that remains untouched and no doubt unwritten, is that the Pirates must win for any of this to matter.

Chronologically above that, something even more challenging: Get someone to believe it can happen.

"One thing I won't do is criticize what's gone on in the past," Coonelly said in an interview at PNC Park. "But what I do know very well from being here for 100-plus days is that many people in this town truly believe we can't succeed. They believe it's because of the economic system of Major League Baseball and that we don't have the money some other franchises have. We need to change that inside this house, from the field to the front office. But we also need to change that perception in this town."

That perception also is fueled, Coonelly was reminded, by fans who feel the Pirates prefer making a profit over winning.

"I understand that is a perception out there," he said. "And that has been fed by not winning, by not spending the amount on payroll to put yourself in a losing position financially. Some fans will naturally gravitate to it. But, if you're feeding the fan that the system is unfair, that means you're telling them we can't win. We have to change that."

Coonelly began espousing "changing the culture" the day he was hired five months ago, following owner Bob Nutting's verbal lead. And part of his early push has been aimed at the past.

He has invited alumni managers, coaches and players to participate in team affairs. He has de-emphasized the angry-pirate logo in favor of the classic 'P' that adorns the caps. He has replaced the oft-ridiculed "We Will" slogan in favor of the fans' chant, "Let's Go Bucs!"

On a personal level, he has been reading about the franchise's history, most recently Frederick G. Lieb's still-published 1948 journal, "The Pittsburgh Pirates."

"It's very important to me," he said, "to know where this team has been."

But the bulk of his focus has been on the present and future.

On the business end, Coonelly is preaching an upbeat if authoritative brand of optimism in a workplace that, by some accounts, had morale ranging from apathetic to empty under Coonelly's predecessor, Kevin McClatchy. Two winters ago, the marketing firm that produced "We Will" simultaneously conducted a private study of the Pirates' business practices that pointedly recommended that the team find new leadership.

Employees will attest that Coonelly has been much more visible and involved than McClatchy had been in his final year-plus as the company's head. They say Coonelly comes to meetings no less prepared than those who specialize in the topic at hand and that he spontaneously moves from floor to floor in the building, often making surprise stops in offices and cubicles.

They also say that, when Coonelly speaks, beneath the smile is a firm tone of accountability.

"Step one is the psyche of the people who work here," Coonelly said. "This should be fun. It's baseball. But we also need to do our jobs."

On the baseball end, Coonelly has delved no less deep, as Nutting made clear would be the case upon his hiring in saying he sought "checks and balances." Although general manager Neal Huntington is autonomously responsible for engineering player personnel matters, all significant proposals have crossed Coonelly's desk.

It has been Coonelly's call, ultimately, that the Pirates' only notable spending has been on their own players, from the three-year contract signed yesterday by second baseman Freddy Sanchez to similar offers for first baseman Adam LaRoche and closer Matt Capps. Free agents have been approached, but Coonelly has stuck by a systematic plan not to pay more than what his baseball men initially tell him a player is worth.

He also has been apprised of all trade discussions and, according to several sources, has been involved to the point of being pivotal in the Pirates' early December rejection of a five-player deal with Cleveland that would have sent Jason Bay to the Indians. The reasoning: More could be had in the future if Bay rediscovers peak form.

To be sure, Coonelly is no baseball novice.

His background as MLB's chief legal counsel in the previous decade and relationships with executives around the sport enabled him to call several peers and fish for ideas about building an organization. Independent of that, he can rattle off everything from scouting reports of other teams' minor-league relievers to backgrounds on 27th-round draft picks.

Add that to what Coonelly calls "a highly competitive nature," no doubt nurtured during his days as captain of his high school hockey team in Philadelphia, and he has his explanation for leaving his lawyer's life in New York to run a team.

"I understand that there were some in management here criticized in the past for not seeming to care about the success of the team on the field," he said. "I can assure you that will not be an issue."

He laughed.

"My only trepidation in taking this job was that, as a fan, I would get so upset over losses that I was concerned I would be even more of a fan as team president, to the extent it would be dangerous to one's health."

Coonelly's other imprints on the baseball end include maintaining elite facilities and equipment at all levels. That's aimed not only at improving players' development but also to make an impression.

"Are we collectively paid as much as Red Sox or Yankees? No. But we're a first-class team, and all our players should see that on daily basis."

In turn, Coonelly added immediately, "They have to conduct themselves in a first-class manner."

He often mentions in speaking engagements two examples of conduct in the Sept. 30 finale at PNC Park that clearly angered him.

The first came during the seventh-inning stretch when, during the Sunday playing of "God Bless America," only two Pirates coaches followed MLB guidelines to stand in unison across the front of the dugout. Everyone else stayed in the dugout or milled about in the field.

"I was appalled," Coonelly said. "Every one of the [St. Louis] Cardinals was out there, from players to coaches to manager. We had two coaches. Our franchise was showing a lack of respect."

The next came a half-hour later when about half of the Pirates' players snubbed the season-ending fan appreciation ritual and hastily exited through the dugout.

"I've been going to baseball games since I was a kid and always appreciated seeing players toss their shirts after the last game, shake hands, let fans take their pictures. Many of our players did that, but we had quite a few who went right into the clubhouse. I was appalled by that, too."

Coonelly has met with managers and coaches at all levels to ensure that a code of dress, conduct and charitable work will be part of what quietly is being labeled the "Pirate Way."

Anyone not obliging, apparently, will be reprimanded or shipped out. It was that mind-set, without question, that motivated the Pirates to cut ties this offseason with two perceived malcontents, reliever Salomon Torres and infielder Jose Castillo.

Coonelly acknowledged the scope of the challenge in converting a franchise mired in 15 consecutive losing seasons and the lowest of expectations.

"It won't be quick," he said.

But he also readily cites a passage from Lieb's book quoting Barney Dreyfuss, the Pirates' owner a century ago who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer.

"When Mr. Dreyfuss came here from Louisville, his mantra was, 'We are a first-division city, and I am a first-division owner,' " Coonelly said. "I would change that somewhat to 'Pittsburgh is a first-division city, and this team will be a first-division club.' But we first need to believe ourselves that we can do this."

Does he?

"I'm more optimistic than most, but I'm optimistic."

Dejan Kovacevic can be reached at dkovacevic@post-gazette.com.
First published on February 6, 2008 at 12:00 am

This Rooney book is a must-read

Tuesday, February 05, 2008
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


Associated Press file photo
From left, Art Rooney Sr., Art Rooney Jr. and Dan Rooney pose with their three Vince Lombardi trophies in 1978.

Maybe it isn't a tell-everything book, but it comes pretty close. A dead giveaway is the part about President Jimmy Carter pinching Kay Rooney's behind during a Steelers' visit to the White House after one of their Super Bowls.

You think Art Rooney Jr. would make that up about his wife?

It's there on the pages of "Ruanaidh" -- that's Rooney in Gaelic -- which is due out later this month. Countless books have been written about the Steelers, including one just last fall by team owner Dan Rooney, but none is as candid and revealing as this one.

"The book honors my father," Rooney Jr. said. It's true -- the colorful life of Steelers founder Arthur J. Rooney Sr. is examined exhaustively, warts and all -- but there's so much more. Rooney Jr.'s prime credentials as an author are two. One, he is a fabulous storyteller with a great memory and an even better eye for detail. Two -- and this is the biggie -- he as the Steelers' personnel director and Chuck Noll as their coach were responsible for the construction of the Super Steelers dynasty of the 1970s. The result is a fascinating read that opens the door to the inner workings of the franchise.

Both the positive and not-so-positive inner workings, it should be noted.

In Dan Rooney's book, you won't find anything about how he fired Rooney Jr. -- his younger brother by three-plus years -- late in the 1986 season. You'll read plenty about it in "Ruanaidh."

"It was devastating for me and my family," Rooney Jr. said the other day in his South Hills office, where he said he was "exiled" to oversee the Rooney family's real estate interests.

"It was the end of a way of life for us. All of my friends were in football. Suddenly, I was out."

Rooney Jr. was so bitter after the firing that he never returned to the team's offices at Three Rivers Stadium. It made for some tense family gatherings, although Rooney Jr. and his brother managed to remain cordial in the interest of family business.

If nothing else good came from the firing for Rooney Jr., it gave him time to write his book. More than 12 years in the making and edited by legendary former Pittsburgh Press sports editor and columnist Roy McHugh, it can be purchased through artrooneyjr.com. Rooney Jr. published it himself at the cost of $30,000 because he wanted total literary control.

"I wanted this stuff on the record," he said.

"Roy tells me I'm the same stream-of-consciousness writer that James Joyce is except for two things. He says Joyce was a brilliant writer, and I'm not. And he says Joyce eventually gets to the point, and I don't.

"What an odd pair we make, doing this book."

What they made was magic, a book that, though heavy to hold -- nearly 500 pages -- is hard to put down. Once you jump into Rooney Sr.'s world and the Steelers' world, you won't want to leave.

It helps that Rooney Jr. is such an honest, likable character, a people person very much in the image of his father. He can be humble to the point of self-deprecation. "The only reason I got a job with the Steelers is because my mother insisted that my dad give me one. It was nepotism, pure and simple. My father was against it. He always said," -- and these words would come back to sting Rooney Jr. years later when he was fired -- " 'There's no room for two.' "

But Rooney Jr. isn't so humble that he'll pass up a chance to mention how former Steelers great Franco Harris sent him a note saying, "Thanks for making my career possible." It was Rooney Jr. and his staff who convinced Noll to draft Harris in the first round in 1972 instead of University of Houston running back Robert Newhouse. Four Super Bowls and a Hall of Fame career later ...

"My daughter, Sue, posed the two of us for a picture at the 75th anniversary gala," Rooney Jr. said. "Franco asked for a copy. I'll never forget that."

The fight about Harris was one of many Rooney Jr. had with Noll. Their often stormy relationship provides some of the juiciest reading in "Ruanaidh," the Kay Rooney pinch aside. Through it all, though, the two didn't just manage to co-exist. They produced the greatest draft in NFL history -- the 1974 class, which included Hall of Famers Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth and Mike Webster -- and what still endures as the league's greatest dynasty, thanks to the New England Patriots' stunning loss Sunday night.

"My job was a passion for me," Rooney Jr. said. "Back then, the Rooneys always were looked at as being dumb and cheap. I guess I was dumb enough to think I could do something about that."

Noll had the final say about the Steelers' drafts, but, as the Harris story proves, he was willing to listen to reason. Rooney Jr. worked like a dog to earn his respect. His three nominations to the Pro Football Hall of Fame would come much later.

"Noll was the guy," Rooney Jr. said. "The scouts and I would meet with him for hours. It was like a private tutorial. He loved to teach and we loved to learn."

What Rooney Jr. and Noll loved to do most was win, which they did better than any personnel man-coach combo in NFL history.

Sadly, though, nothing lasts forever.

Rooney Jr., 72, writes poignantly about the deaths of his mother, Kass, in 1982 and his father in 1988. One passage about his mother's passing might be the most memorable in the book: "All I can say is my dad never meant as much to me as Kass did. I thought of them differently. He was Art Rooney. She was Mom."

You don't have to see Rooney Jr.'s office -- which is nothing less than a shrine to his father -- to appreciate the powerful meaning of that statement.

You just have to read the book.

Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com.
First published on February 5, 2008 at 12:00 am

Incomplete: Four great Pittsburgh teams that did not win it all

By Joe Starkey
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, February 3, 2008


Losing is never pleasant.

But when a team knows it is superior to the rest in a given year, the pain of falling short runs especially deep and can linger like a bad childhood memory.

The New England Patriots go into the Super Bowl tonight knowing that a victory will cement their legacy -- and that a loss will render their 18-game winning streak nothing more than a historical footnote, a footnote that will periodically come to life and kick them in the gut for years to come.

At least four teams from Pittsburgh sports history could relate to such a fate. Each of the four -- the 1992-93 Penguins, the 1972 Pirates, the 1976 Steelers and the 1980 Pitt football team -- believed they were better than anybody else and had adequate proof.

Their failure to finish the deal did not produce the boiling resentment or sense of betrayal a fan might feel. Rather, the ache for some members of those teams is akin to a deep longing to fix something than cannot be fixed, to find something that cannot be found.

"It never goes away," says Rick Trocano, a safety on the 1980 Pitt football team, which lost at Florida State and was denied a chance to compete for the national championship. "I speak for all my fellow teammates. I guarantee they never have forgotten, and you still feel unfulfilled, even 27 years later."

Former Steelers defensive end Dwight White remembers the loss to Oakland in the 1976 AFC title game in a different way than the four Super Bowl wins.

Why does pain loiter for so long, while pleasure loves to flee?

"When you expect to win -- especially when you are, in fact, the best team -- losing is just unacceptable, an extra sense of pain," White said. "Winning is like, 'OK, we expected to do it.' Losing is like an endless death."

White's old teammate, Rocky Bleier, knows where the Patriots will wind up if they lose.

"The sad tale," Bleier said, "is probably that if they don't win, they will be the No. 1 team to go in the article about the best teams that didn't win a championship."

What follows are the stories of perhaps the four best modern-day Pittsburgh teams that didn't win it all:

THE 1992-93 PENGUINS



Penguins coach Scotty Bowman stands with his team during their game against the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 14, 1993, at The Auditorium in Buffalo, N.Y.
Rick Stewart/Allsport

Like the Patriots of today, the 1992-93 Penguins ran off a prodigious winning streak and often were spoken of as one of the great teams in their sport's history.

"Best group of talent ever put together, in my opinion," says Penguins director of player development Tom Fitzgerald, who played on the Islanders club that ruined the Penguins' season.

Several members of that Penguins team have said the seed for trouble was planted, ironically enough, during their league-record 17-game winning streak at the end of the regular season. The streak might have exhausted precious energy resources and created a false sense of security, as the Penguins eyed a third consecutive Cup.

"We were just kind of fluking our way through the whole thing," defenseman Larry Murphy said.

After crushing New Jersey, the Penguins ran into an Islanders team without its best player, Pierre Turgeon. This would not be a problem.

But it was.

Abrasive defensemen Darius Kasparaitis and Rich Pilon teamed with a swarm of maddening checkers to frustrate the Penguins' plethora of skilled players. Goalie Glenn Healy got hot.

Early in Game 7 at Civic Arena, Penguins winger Kevin Stevens went down with a sickening, face-first thud after a collision with Pilon. Stevens was lying in a hospital bed -- surgeons would rebuild his face the next morning -- when little-used David Volek beat Tom Barrasso at 5:16 of overtime.

The Penguins had outshot the Islanders, 45-20.

"I was the only person in the hospital, I think, because all the doctors were at the game," Stevens recalls, chuckling. "My head was killing me. Going into overtime, I said, 'We're going to win,' then Volek scores from the corner or something. I don't think he'd been on the ice in about two hours. I almost died. It's unbelievable how you can remember those things."

The loss ruined the possibility of a dream matchup: Mario Lemieux against L.A. Kings star Wayne Gretzky in the Stanley Cup final. Penguins defenseman Ulf Samuelsson, a decade later in Hockey Digest, said, "That game took a long time to get over. I had to live with it the whole summer. I still do."

Like the '72 Pirates, the 1992-93 Penguins were never the same after their crushing loss.

A closer look at the '92-93 Penguins:

Claim to fame: Won NHL-record 17 straight before a tie in final regular-season game.

Numbers: The most recent -- and perhaps last -- NHL team with four 100-point scorers (Lemieux, Stevens, Tocchet, Francis). ... More points (119) and goals (367) than any other team in franchise history.

Quotable: "We could have beaten the rest of those teams skating backwards." -- Kevin Stevens

Did you know? The Islanders had beaten the Penguins in three of the team's final four regular-season meetings.

Aftermath: Lemieux missed most of following season; Penguins haven't been to Cup final since 1992.

THE 1972 PIRATES



Twice a month, former American Legion Baseball teammates Al Oliver and Don Gullett get together and shoot the breeze.

They can't seem to avoid a certain topic.

"I tell Don all the time, 'If it wasn't for our 1972 loss to you guys, there's a good possibility we would not be talking about the Big Red Machine,' " Oliver said in a recent phone interview from his home in Portsmouth, Ohio.

Gullett was a starting pitcher for the '72 Reds. Oliver was the center fielder for the powerful Pirates, who were aiming for a second straight World Series title and perhaps Pittsburgh's first sports dynasty of the 1970s.

Many people, Oliver included, maintain the '72 Pirates were better than the championship clubs of '71 and '79. Their 96-59 record was the best in baseball -- though only a half-game better than Cincinnati's -- in a season slightly shortened by a players' strike.

Despite a teamwide playoff batting slump, the Pirates pulled to within three outs of the World Series, leading the Reds, 3-2, going into the bottom of the ninth of decisive Game 5 at Riverfront Stadium.

"I was out there in center field, halfway counting my World Series check," Oliver said.

Not for long, because Johnny Bench led off with an opposite-field home run off Dave Giusti. Minutes later, the Reds had men on first and third with two out against Bob Moose, a starter who'd replaced Giusti.

Moose worked the count to 1-1 against pinch-hitter Hal McRae, then uncorked a wild pitch that sent pinch-runner George Foster home -- and the Pirates to the most bitter defeat they would sustain until Sid Bream slid home 20 years, three days later in Atlanta.

Third baseman Richie Hebner will never forget the "death march" that followed Moose's errant slider.

"In that ballpark, the walk up to the clubhouse was like a $10 cab ride," Hebner said. "That night, it was like the death march. You didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I mean, if Tony Perez or Joe Morgan hit an 800-foot home run, you say, 'OK, we lost.' But a freakin' wild pitch?"

Nobody has to tell Oliver how the Patriots will feel if they don't win tonight.

"Incomplete," he said.

A closer look at the '72 Pirates:

Claim to fame: Still own best winning pct. (.619) of any Pirates team in past 82 years.

Numbers: Had five .300 hitters. ... Won NL East by 11 games over Cubs, despite missing Roberto Clemente for 53 games.

Quotable: "I don't take anything away from Oakland ... but the Pittsburgh Pirates were the strongest club we met." -- Reds manager Sparky Anderson, after his team lost World Series to A's.

Did you know? The final hit of Bill Mazeroski's career was a pinch-hit single up the middle against Jack Billingham in the fifth inning of Game 2, and the final hit of Clemente's career was a single up the middle against Gullett in the first inning of Game 5.

Aftermath: Clemente died tragically in the offseason, pitcher Steve Blass lost his control the following year, and the Pirates did not make it back to the World Series until 1979.

THE 1976 STEELERS



Bleier (1,036) and Harris (1,128) became the second pair of runners from the same team to gain at least 1,000 yards. Larry Csonka (1,117) and Mercury Morris (1,000) did it for the Dolphins in 1972.
December 1976.

Down to one healthy running back (Reggie Harrison) and zero healthy place-kickers (backup center Ray Mansfield inherited the role), the Steelers revamped their offense and went into Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Dec. 26, 1976, determined to survive the AFC Championship Game by any means necessary.

They were devoured, instead, and thus deprived of the chance to become the first and only team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. They'd beaten the Raiders in the previous two AFC title games.

"Oakland was like Mile High Stadium in Denver, where the fans were right on you," recalls former Steelers defensive end Dwight White. "I just remember how antagonistic they were, how happy to finally beat us. They gave us hell, really rejoicing, and I remember thinking, 'Well, good for them.' "

Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert and late team owner Art Rooney Sr. were among those who believed the 1976 team was the most talented in franchise history. It overcame a 1-4 start and an injury to Terry Bradshaw to win 10 consecutive games -- allowing a total of 28 points -- going into Oakland. That included a 40-14 pounding of the Baltimore Colts a week earlier, a game in which the Steelers lost running backs Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier.

Those injuries, plus others, prompted coach Chuck Noll to hastily install a one-back offense.

"Nobody had any confidence in that offense," Bleier recalls. "That's how I felt, like, 'God, we've never done this, and we really don't have the personnel.' "

The result was nightmarish, 24-7 loss. The Raiders finished 16-1, but don't tell anyone associated with the Steelers that Oakland was the better team, even if it also beat the Steelers in the season-opener.

Lambert called the title-game loss "the most frustrating game of my life." The frustration was less for others, simply because of the uncontrollable injury situation.

"It becomes disappointing, but maybe not as disappointing when you have an excuse," Bleier said.

"I'll tell you when I really felt bad when we had the better team -- San Diego (1994 AFC title-game)," says Steelers chairman Dan Rooney. "When I went to the Super Bowl and saw their logo on the field, it really hit me."

Rooney did not hesitate when asked if he believed the Steelers would have beaten the Raiders if relatively healthy.

"Oh yeah, definitely," he said. "We had the best team in football, no question."

A closer look at the '76 Steelers:

Claim to fame: Posted five shutouts in final eight regular-season games.

Numbers: Went 22 consecutive quarters without allowing touchdown. ... Had two 1,000-yard rushers.

Quotable: "I know that Art Rooney Sr. felt this way, too: The 1976 football team was the best team the Steelers ever had." -- Jack Lambert, speaking to NFL Films.

Did you know? Steelers, Raiders played 11 times in 1970s, with Steelers going 3-2 in playoffs, 2-4 in regular season.

Aftermath: After a hangover-type season in 1977, the Steelers regrouped and won back-to-back Super Bowls.

THE 1980 PITT FOOTBALL TEAM



Dan Marino

How good were the 1980 Pitt Panthers?

"Well," recalls Rick Trocano, a safety on that team, "I remember a buddy of mine at Syracuse said that when they played us, his coach walked in and said, 'Gentlemen, this week you're in the NFL.' "

Indeed, 11 Pitt players were taken in the NFL Draft the following spring, including three -- Hugh Green, Mark May and Randy McMillan -- in the first round. Their quarterback was a sophomore named Dan Marino. Pitt rolled nearly every opponent and went 10-1 in the regular season but did not get invited to a major bowl.

Some will tell you that was incompetence on the part of bowl officials. Others will point to a 36-22 loss at Florida State.

Pitt, playing without injured defensive backs Carlton Williamson and Terry White, visited FSU's sweltering and raucous Doak-Campbell Stadium on the night of Oct. 11 and melted in a puddle of seven turnovers.

The Seminoles' kicking game was incredible, as future NFL All-Pro Rhon Stark blasted punts of 60, 67 and 53 yards and repeatedly pinned the Panthers, while future NFL kicker Bill Capece made five field goals, including a 50-yarder to end the first half.

Pitt coach Jackie Sherrill regretted taking his team into Tallahassee instead of a remote outpost before the game. He said players were distracted by family members on game day.

"We were not ready to play," Sherrill later told Pitt sports historian Sam Sciullo Jr.

Green, in a recent phone interview, disagreed.

"It wasn't that we went there early," Green said. "God, it just wasn't meant to happen."

Major bowl bids were extended before Pitt played at Penn State -- each team had one loss -- and officials were leery of winding up with a two-loss team. Notre Dame was unbeaten when it received an invite to the Sugar Bowl but subsequently sustained a tie and a loss before meeting unbeaten Georgia.

That left Trocano and the rest of the Panthers in the Gator Bowl, where they destroyed South Carolina and Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers. Their only hope then was for Notre Dame to upset Georgia, but the unbeaten, Herschel Walker-led Bulldogs won, despite quarterback Buck Belue completing only one pass.

"I remember Buck Belue was 1 for 10 or something, and his one completion was a (7-yard) out, and if that was good enough to win, I thought I was going to puke," Trocano says. "Can you imagine going 1 for 10 against our defense? Herschel Walker would have been broken in-half."

Added Green: "It wasn't about talent. It was timing, the (bowl selectors) not seeing our greatness and not taking a chance on us."

That, plus a terrible night in Tallahassee.

A closer look at the '80 Panthers:

Claim to fame: Finished No. 1 in New York Times computer poll.

Numbers: Outscored opposition, 380-130. ... No. 1 in nation in total defense and rushing defense, holding opponents to 1.5 yards per carry.

Quotable: "I've said it many times: In all my years of coaching, that Pitt team was the best college football team I have ever seen." -- FSU coach Bobby Bowden, to Sam Sciullo Jr.

Did you know? Eighteen of Pitt's starters, plus five reserves, became NFL starters.

Aftermath: Pitt went 11-1 again in 1981 and beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.



Joe Starkey can be reached at jstarkey@tribweb.com or 412-320-7810.

Super Bowl Notebook: Tall receiver flap overblown, Roethlisberger says

Thursday, January 31, 2008
By Gene Collier, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



PHOENIX - JANUARY 30: (L-R) Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck of the Seattle Seahawks and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals attend the Pro Bowl news conference prior to Super Bowl XLII at the Phoenix Convention Center on January 30, 2008 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

PHOENIX -- Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, in town for his first Pro Bowl promotional news conference, said last night he has no problem with Hines Ward and no knowledge of any progress on a new contract for himself.

"I haven't heard anything yet, but I leave that between the Steelers and my agent," Roethlisberger said. "All I can say is what I've said, and that's that I want to stay in Pittsburgh."

Roethlisberger has two years remaining on his current contract, the point at which the Steelers have commonly begun negotiations with starting quarterbacks who figure prominently in their long-term plans.

As for last week's Ward blowup, Roethlisberger said he and the star wideout have talked about Ward's comments, and his own, and laughed about the whole public byplay.

"What I was asked was, 'What else would I like?' " Roethlisberger said. "I don't want to change anything. I like the team we have. Hines just said how he felt about it, but Hines and I are fine. I have no problem with Hines."

Roethlisberger told the Post-Gazette that the club might benefit from having a tall receiver. Ward, who is 6 feet, pointed out that the Steelers won the Super Bowl without one.

In the formal Pro Bowl news conference, Roethlisberger was asked specifically about former Steeler Plaxico Burress in another context.

"Plax was my neighbor, my friend, my teammate," Roethlisberger said. "I hope he does well on Sunday."

Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, seated next to Roethlisberger, then quipped, "Translation: He hates the Patriots."

Roethlisberger laughed, but quickly added his admiration for Patriots superstar Tom Brady.

"Someone asked what superhero I'd like to be and I said Tom Brady," he said.

"He just makes it look so easy. We go out there and try to do it, and it doesn't feel easy."

Penguins Try to Stay in the Race Without Crosby

By DAVE CALDWELL
The New York Times
Published: January 30, 2008



Rich Schultz/Associated Press
Ryan Malone scores off a rebound against New Jersey's Martin Brodeur.

NEWARK — Like the waiting room at a train station, a visitors’ dressing room is a place to get in and get out. But the Pittsburgh Penguins made themselves at home on Tuesday at Prudential Center, covering the walls with logos and laying a rug on the floor.

A Sidney Crosby sighting would have been more inspirational, but Crosby — the Penguins’ 20-year-old center, captain, leading scorer and N.H.L. centerpiece — will be out for six to eight weeks with a badly sprained right ankle. So the Penguins dug deep, again, and beat the Devils, 4-2.

Crosby’s injury, sustained Jan. 18, was the most serious blow in a series of setbacks for the Penguins, who were already without goaltender Marc-André Fleury. Crosby is the 12th player on the Penguins to miss a game because of injury or illness.

“He’s a leader on the club, he’s the guy pushing everybody every time we step on the ice, and we miss him,” defenseman Sergei Gonchar said of Crosby. “But it’s an opportunity for the rest of the guys to step up and do their thing.”

Or, in some cases, do different things. Brooks Orpik, a defenseman, was moved to left wing for the game against the Devils because the Penguins had seven healthy defensemen and because Coach Michel Therrien did not have many other options.

The Penguins claimed Kris Beech off waivers Saturday, but Beech, a much-traveled forward who played for Pittsburgh for three seasons from 2001 to 2004, was unable to join the team before Tuesday’s game; he was having problems with his work visa, so he could not enter the United States from his native Canada.

“It’s a situation where we are desperate for players, and it’s nothing we can control,” Therrien said glumly.

The Penguins (28-18-4) got two goals from left wing Ryan Malone to pass the Devils (28-19-3) in the standings. Pittsburgh remained 1 point behind Philadelphia (28-16-5), which won Tuesday to hold onto first place in the rugged Atlantic Division. “Everybody’s disappointed, but you remain positive,” Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney said. “It’s not like we were in 10th place and then we lost him.”

The Penguins, who were also without right wing Colby Armstrong on Tuesday because he had the flu, think they are talented enough to withstand the injury to Crosby. They have registered 5 points in the four games Crosby has missed.

The Penguins admit to being motivated by the fact that everyone else seems to think they cannot win without Crosby, particularly while playing in a competitive division in which a three-game losing streak, Whitney said, could break any team.

There is little margin for error for any team in the division. Despite the victory, the Penguins are only 6 points ahead of the Islanders and the Rangers, the eighth-place and ninth-place teams in the Eastern Conference.

“We’re playing as hard as we can as a team, trying to battle through it,” defenseman Darryl Sydor said. “Everyone’s picked us to fail. Nobody thinks we can make the playoffs. We believe we can.”

Goalie Ty Conklin, who began the season with the Penguins’ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton farm team, won 10 of his first 11 starts after Fleury was injured. Without Crosby, the Penguins realize they have to play tougher and tighter on defense.

The mood, they say, remains upbeat, with an undertone of defiance. Crosby may not return until the last two weeks of the regular season, and the Penguins said they wanted those few weeks to mean something.

“It is a challenge,” Malone said. “But we know we’ve got good players in here to do it. It’s up to us. No one’s going to feel sorry for us. The standings are so tight that every night’s a big night.”

Without winning team, Pirates sell hope, but is it false?

Wednesday, January 30, 2008
By Bob Smizik, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Adam LaRoche

The best promotion for any sports team in any market is not fireworks or bobbleheads or concerts, but winning. The second-best promotion is the hope of winning.

The Pirates cannot promise winning so they do the next best thing: They promise the hope of winning.

We saw that last year with the rush of enthusiasm generated by the trade for Adam LaRoche. His power bat would not necessarily help produce a winner, but it helped foster the hope of winning. It was the same the year before when massive expenditures brought Sean Casey, Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Randa to the team. There were no guarantees with this influx of veteran talent, but they created hope.

This year, there are no new faces to excite fans. The only addition of even slight note is veteran utilityman Chris Gomez. But that doesn't mean the Pirates can't continue to try to sell hope. They have to. They have nothing else.

The hope the Pirates are selling this year is that the 2007 team underachieved. If you accept that fact, it logically follows that just the usual course of events will make the team better and -- hopefully -- a winner.

The underachievement theory is being widely accepted, even by usually skeptical journalists. But if the 2007 Pirates underachieved, explain the following:

• Why did their win total improve over their two previous years, going from 67 to 68?

• Why did they have more home runs, more doubles, more total bases and a higher team slugging percentage than at any time in the previous four seasons?

General manager Neal Huntington thinks the team underachieved in a big way. Earlier this month, he said this about the Pirates:

"I would say there is a pretty good nucleus in place with the major-league roster, particularly the rotation. I would argue, too, that if you go around the diamond with our everyday players, there are as many as five who underachieved last year. If just three of those five meet or exceed expectations, those 68 wins become greater."



Freddy Sanchez on his way to the 2006 NL batting title

If Huntington were correct, he might have a decent point. He is not correct. There were not "as many as five" position players that underachieved last year.

It is widely accepted that Jason Bay, Ronny Paulino and LaRoche underachieved. We won't quibble with Bay, who fell off in every area -- offense, defense, baserunning. The case that Paulino and LaRoche underachieved isn't quite so clear.

Paulino's defensive play and attitude were disgraceful. He was so lazy on the field, he should have been benched for a long period or returned to the minors. But, offensively, which is the area easiest to define and what Huntington seemed to be talking about, he did not necessarily underachieve. It's true his batting average fell from .310 to .263. But what is not clear is which of the two is his true number. In eight minor-league seasons, he never batted as high as .310, so there's reason to believe he overachieved in 2006 rather than underachieved in 2007. What's more, his home run total almost doubled in 2007, from six to 11, and his RBI total remained the same.

If Paulino underachieved offensively, it was not by much.

As for LaRoche, his home run total, which was expected to increase because of the dimensions of PNC Park, declined considerably from 32 to 21. But that 21 happens to be the second highest of his major-league career. His RBI total decreased by only two. LaRoche probably underachieved, but based on his career not by much.

Where Huntington came up with five position players who underachieved is difficult to figure.

Right fielder Xavier Nady didn't underachieve. He had the best season of his career, with highs in home runs, RBIs and doubles.

Shortstop Jack Wilson didn't underachieve. His batting average increased by 23 points and was the second highest of his career. His home run total and on-base percentage were the highest of his career.

Second baseman Freddy Sanchez didn't underachieve, unless he's expected to win a batting title every year. His .304 batting average and 81 RBIs were more than acceptable based on his history.



Freddy Sanchez (L) greets Xavier Nady

Third baseman Jose Bautista didn't underachieve. In his second full season, his batting average increased by 19 points and his RBI total by 12.

Center fielder Nate McLouth didn't underachieve. He had career highs in virtually every offensive category.

Nor did reserves Nyjer Morgan, Josh Phelps and Matt Kata underachieve.

The case could be made, particularly when the pitching staff is included, that the Pirates overachieved last season.

But the team should keep selling this brand of hope. After all, there's a sucker born every minute.

Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com.
First published on January 30, 2008 at 12:00 am

Super Bowl Notebook: Ward a finalist for another Super honor

Man of Year rewards community service

Tuesday, January 29, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Matt Freed/Post-Gazette
Hines Ward -- 719 catches in 10 seasons

PHOENIX -- For the second time in three years, Hines Ward can win one of the NFL's highest awards on Super Bowl Sunday.

He earned the game's MVP when his Steelers beat Seattle in Super Bowl XL. This time he's one of four finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award that will be presented here Sunday.

He places the honor as high as the one he took home from Detroit in 2006.

"I've gotten a lot of awards; that would be right up there with my Super Bowl MVP," Ward said.

"No question it means the world to me, to sit there and be mentioned with Walter Payton and win that award, not only to be known for my production on the field but off the field as well."



Walter Payton- Chicago Bears (1975-1987)...rushed for 16,726 yards and 110 touchdowns...1977 NFL MVP...9X Pro Bowl selection...1993 Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The winner will be announced before the Super Bowl. The other finalists are Woodland Hills High School graduate and Miami defensive end Jason Taylor, Kansas City guard Brian Waters and Dallas tight end Jason Witten.

The award is named after Payton, the Chicago Bears Pro Football Hall of Fame back who died in 1999. It is the only league award that recognizes a player's community service as well as his performance on the field.

Ward, a four-time Pro Bowler who holds most of the Steelers' career receiving records, established the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation to assist biracial children in South Korea who face discrimination. He donated $1 million of his own money to establish the fund and has raised another $1.5 million. He frequently participates in the NFL's annual Take A Player to School program.

He also co-hosts an annual golf outing to benefit the Caring Foundation, with proceeds benefiting families in western Pennsylvania for healthcare for children and adults.

"I'm all about helping kids, trying to raise money for parents who don't have health insurance," Ward said, "and caring places where kids can go and talk to others who lost a loved one.



Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
Some of the Heinz Field turf kicks up during the Monday night game vs. Miami in November.

"I always want to be known as a great player on and off the field."

Other Steelers who won the award were Jerome Bettis in 2001, Lynn Swann in 1981, Joe Greene in 1979 and Franco Harris in 1976.

Bay disappointed by Pirates' lack of roster moves

GM responds that team 'pursued many pieces,' but found no fair value

Saturday, January 26, 2008
By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Matt Freed/Post-Gazette
Jason Bay happily signs autographs along with Neil Walker and Bob Friend at PirateFest at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center last night. But he wasn't happy that Pirates management didn't make any big moves in the offseason.

Jason Bay clearly felt as if he had no choice but to speak up.

So, he did.

After a few days of ruminating with family, the Pirates' All-Star left fielder yesterday publicly expressed his disappointment with management -- albeit stopping well short of pointed criticism -- for its lack of roster moves this offseason.

"I kind of painted myself into a corner when I said last year that there needed to be some moves made, whether I was part of that or not," Bay said at the team's annual media luncheon at PNC Park. "And there were some moves, but probably not the type I was referring to. There was a lot of management and coaching moves. I still think there needs to be player moves."

He stressed that settling for a winning record, even after going 68-94 last summer, even after 15 consecutive losing seasons, was not enough.

"I think that, for a championship-quality team, you need to make more moves. And I'm not talking about the .500 team we can be. I don't think anyone in this room is going to tell you we're a championship-quality team. There still needs to be more moves. And you know what? I'm not trying to tell people anything they don't already know."

The way Bay saw it, remarks he made to the media after the final game of last season obligated him to go public again.

"We've had basically the same group the last four years," he said Sept. 30. "To think we're going to win 100 games or go the World Series next year with the exact same team ... it would be a little foolish. I'm not saying you need an overhaul, but something's got to change."

As Bay put it yesterday, "You say something like that, you've got to come back to it."

The Pirates, making no secret of being focused on the future under new general manager Neal Huntington, have signed only one major-league free-agent this offseason, utility infielder Chris Gomez. There also have been five waiver claims, a Rule 5 draft pick and more than a dozen minor-league contracts.

By every measure, too, the bullpen and bench have been weakened by the departures of Salomon Torres, Shawn Chacon, Josh Phelps and Cesar Izturis.

Some players privately are unhappy about what they see as a lack of support from management. Others, privately and publicly, are happy about certain player subtractions and, in some cases, grateful for the chance to prove they can perform better than they did in 2007.

Huntington has shopped some prominent veterans for trades, including Bay, outfielder Xavier Nady and starter Matt Morris, but did not like the return offers. He also negotiated with several prominent free agents, including relievers Luis Vizcaino, Ron Mahay and Jeremy Affeldt, but did not like the dollars they ended up getting elsewhere.

Told of Bay's comments, Huntington said he has "great respect for Jason Bay and his desire to win" and did not sound at all displeased.

"We aggressively pursued many pieces for the 2008 team," Huntington said. "We can't sign free agents just to appease the public. We can't make trades when players are at their lowest value just to make ourselves feel better."

He pointed, specifically, to the bullpen, which will enter spring training with four openings.

"That's the most difficult position to factor. You can throw money at it and be unsuccessful. You can try all-power and be unsuccessful. What we're trying to do is create options. You see teams all around baseball, Cleveland, Kansas City, Anaheim and others who succeed all different ways."

Huntington also did not hesitate when asked how he expected a 94-loss team to improve with so little roster movement.

"It comes back to most of our guys being younger and, statistically, it is rational to expect them to be better. They should be getting better. We have a number of players -- and they'd be the first to admit this -- who underperformed. Look, we're not preaching that this team is going to contend. We can't say that. But we can say it will be better. How much better? It's going to be very, very interesting to see."

Huntington said no player has approached him directly with roster suggestions, but he added he would welcome any input.

"Absolutely. You always want open lines of communication. I know our players want to win. We all do."

Bay, naturally outspoken, often felt muzzled by previous management, but he seemed genuinely appreciative not only for Huntington's candor about the team's direction but also for the freedom he felt in saying what he did.

"Give Neal credit," Bay said.

Bay is plenty aware that the Pirates tried to trade him, just as he is aware that his backward-step 2007 -- .247 average, 21 home runs -- lowered his value and rendered that difficult. He also recognizes that, once he performs to his ability again, it surely is just a matter of time before the Pirates try again. He is due $13.5 million the next two seasons, and he represents the team's best chance to secure the elite prospects it covets.

Will trade talk distract him?

"You just go out and help your team win," Bay said. "Right now, I'm a Pittsburgh Pirate."

Asked if he would prefer to be traded, he quickly replied, "No, not at all. I've always wanted to be a Pittsburgh Pirate. But I've wanted to play for a winning group of Pittsburgh Pirates. Hopefully, we can turn this team into a winner."

One significant component of the Pirates winning, of course, will be a return of the pre-2007 Bay. And, to that end, Bay expressed optimism, largely because he expects to be fully healthy.

Each of his first four springs with the Pirates, he was coming off a surgery or injury. But this time, after a wonky right knee slowed him last season, he described the knee as "100 percent" and predicted it would stay that way because of a training regimen he has undergone in a Seattle gym aimed at strengthening his legs. He said he and new hitting coach Don Long, who lives 15 minutes from his home, already have noticed an upgrade to his swing in private workouts.

"I found a whole different level of being in shape," Bay said. "My legs were deficient in strength, partly because I was always coming off some injury in the offseason and never had this chance. I've got a much better foundation now."

NOTES -- The Pirates and San Diego have been in touch this week regarding the Padres' continued interest in Nady, but no deal seems imminent. ... Nady, troubled by a hamstring injury all last season, said specialized workouts have helped it regain full flexibility. Of possibly being traded for the third time in the past five years, he joked, "I don't know if people just don't like me or what." ... Morris, whose $9.5 million salary will take up 20 percent of the payroll, said of being dealt, "I know it's very likely to happen, and I understand. But I hope they keep me because we're winning and they feel I can be part of it." ... There has been little progress between the team and closer Matt Capps regarding a long-term contract.




Dejan Kovacevic can be reached at dkovacevic@post-gazette.com.
First published on January 26, 2008 at 12:00 am