Once upon a time in Forbes Field, a ball cleared a wall

That story repeats each fall

Tuesday, October 14, 2008
By Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/


Michael Henninger/Post-Gazette

Best seat in the house: Eleanor Taylor (right) was 8 months pregnant with her daughter Tracey (left) on that great baseball day, Oct. 13, 1960. They were among the many who gathered yesterday in Oakland to commemorate Mazeroski's World Series-winning home run.

It happened yesterday afternoon, as it does every Oct. 13 at almost exactly the same time. Bill Mazeroski led off the ninth inning with a home run and a raucous crowd of Pirates die-hards erupted rapturously.

There are no turnstiles at the remnants of Forbes Field's brick center field wall, and so no accurate crowd count. Call it 300 or 400 fans. They came to listen to every pitch of the deciding seventh game of the 1960 World Series because they wanted to relive a 48-year-old memory some were too young to have even had.

Saul Finkelstein began this tradition in 1985, "just a man who decided to eat his lunch one day at the wall" and listen to his favorite game once more. Herb Soltman, a member of the Game 7 Gang, was telling that story, remembering how he heard about the tradition on Doug Hoerth's radio program in October 1992 or '93, and popped a U-ey on Freeport Road around Fox Chapel to speed down and join the dozens who brought lawn chairs and beer coolers for this cherished rite of autumn.

A handful of former Pirates -- Dick Groat, Elroy Face, Bob Friend, Nellie King, Frank Thomas and Dave Giusti -- were there, and old baseball stories were told well. But this was a day for fans, not players, and youthful stories passed back and forth on a day as perfectly sunny as the one back when.

•

Eleanor Taylor was 19 and eight months pregnant with her first child in October 1960, parking cars in her mother-in-law's backyard on Parkview Avenue. That was practically Forbes Field's backyard, too. You could squeeze in as many as five cars if you did it right, and with World Series fans paying something like $3 or $5 per car, it was a nice little payday.

The baby girl born about six weeks later, now Tracey Taylor Perles, brought her mom and dad, Ron, back to the wall yesterday. For Ms. Perles and her dad, this was their second "Wall Day," but her mom had never been and they were all joking that Mom had cried only three or four times before the first replayed pitch was thrown.

Mrs. Taylor is a retired teacher, having put in 23 years at Brookline Elementary. She's also a grandmother of five.

But, for a few hours, she could be a teenager again, remembering the thrill of her father-in-law driving her and her husband Downtown for a celebration that Pittsburgh still hasn't topped.

•

Dick Jones of Ross was a ninth-grade student at North Catholic and, the night before the game, he practiced a kind of espionage. He hid a transistor radio under his shirt and threaded an earpiece through his sleeve, hiding it by holding his head up with his palm against that ear.

"It looked beautiful in the mirror," he said.

All went well until Latin class when he was startled to have classmates muttering that he was being called to the blackboard. As he stood before the board, his plan literally fell apart. Brother Verbasey asked him what was hanging from his sleeve.

When told it was a radio, Brother Verbasey ordered him to put in on the desk. "Turn it up so we all can hear," he said.

Michael Henninger/Post-Gazette

Baseball fans cheer while listening to a replay of Bill Mazeroski's ninth-inning, game-winning home run during the annual celebration of the Pirates' 1960 World Series victory over the New York Yankees yesterday along Roberto Clemente Drive in Oakland.

•

Nick DeMao of New Kensington had lugged over what he claimed had been first base in the big game. If you didn't believe the well-worn canvas was genuine, he also had a framed front page from the New Kensington Daily Dispatch in October 1960 detailing how his dad, Alex DeMao, had grabbed the base and carried it off in the post-game celebration. So there.

•

The Pirates have lost for 16 consecutive seasons, and the man hired last year to right the ship, team President Frank Coonelly, was walking among the crowd, thinking not of what was, but of what might be.

"It reaffirms for me the passion this town has for the Pirates and the passion that is waiting to be tapped again."

The Pirates of the 1950s were woeful, losing for nine consecutive seasons starting in 1949, but "they started to show life in 1958," Mr. Coonelly said. Two years later they won the Series.

•

The Pirates won two Series in the 1970s. So why is this one held in such esteem? Maybe it's because the Pirates beat the Yankees, or because they'd gone 35 years between Series championships, because the ending was so memorable, or the celebrations so innocent and instantaneous, or because Pittsburgh was still a big city then.

Whatever. Nita Cullison of Scott was thinking out loud that a statue of Maz hitting the homer should be erected in time for the 50-year celebration in 2010. Not at PNC Park, but right there.

"It just sort of seems like it would fit out here, don't you think?"


Brian O'Neill can be reached at boneill@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1947.
First published on October 14, 2008 at 12:00 am

Ed Bouchette on the Steelers: A tour any fan will wish they made

A look inside the team, the issues & the questions

Sunday, October 12, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/


"Steeler Nation: A Pittsburgh Team, An American Phenomenon" by Jim Wexell.

Greg Lloyd talks about his anger growing up, about his ex-wife and how he believes she forced their son to lie that Lloyd put a gun to his head.

And he talks about how he came to the Steelers an angry young man.

"That anger was there because I came from a little old black college right here in Fort Valley, a sixth-round draft pick, and then I've got these big jokers coming from these big schools and they are wimps and they [stink] and they're getting millions of dollars and they're there for two years and they're gone. They're set for life if they take care of their money, but I've got to make that up. I can play three years and not make that up. But I'm going to do it in practice. I'm going to find out if they breed them the way as they do in Fort Valley. Do you think you can play this game better than me? Well let's strap it up."

Lloyd paused, according to author Jim Wexell, and then stated, "There's no way that we shouldn't have won two Super Bowls."

The chapter on Lloyd is worth the price of admission alone in Wexell's latest and best book, "Steeler Nation: A Pittsburgh Team, An American Phenomenon." But this is not just another book on former Steelers and what they are doing now. It's different, based on the author's 9,928-mile road trip over six weeks around the country, from Pittsburgh through the South, across the Southwest to California up to Seattle and back home across the midsection of the nation.

Along the way, Wexell, his car toted behind a friend's RV, stopped to visit the small towns and large ones of current and former Steelers, taking time to interview their friends and families. He also stopped at various Steelers bars throughout the nation and was at times treated as royalty by fans.

The Irwin resident took time off from his job as a Steelers freelance beat writer -- he's covered the team since 1995 -- during the 2007 season for his research. The result is a delicious read about the life of Steelers fans and players' families away from Pittsburgh.

"The idea for the book struck me while reading Kevin Chong's road trip book Neil Young Nation," Wexell writes. "Chong made no point or broke no new ground. He just drove around North America and talked to people about rock and roll. The journey was the thing, and it was a fun read. I decided to do the same with Steelers Nation, the only true sports nation."

He scored a touchdown in doing so as dramatically as that 8-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Hines Ward last Sunday in Jacksonville.

He visited the small town of Tenmile in southern Oregon, population 539, where Troy Polamalu grew up with the family of his uncle Salu Polamalu. Troy Aumua lived in a violent suburb of Los Angeles without a father, and a mother who had to work to support her five children. Troy visited his cousins in Tenmile and did not want to leave. His uncle, with his mother's permission, took him in and Troy asked to change his name to Polamalu.

As Troy told Wexell about his experience in Santa Ana, "My mom worked so I was basically on my own. I'd stay out till 12 or 1 in the morning. I'd go out late at night with 15 cents in my pocket and walk a half hour to get some candy. I loved candy so much my front six teeth were black. But I'd walk down the middle of the road so no one could jump out at me."

Wexell paid a visit to Colorado Springs and interviewed Aaron Smith's four older brothers and how their late father, a 6-foot-5, 320-pounder was a disciplinarian, to say the least. He kicked three of the brothers out of the house at age 16 and Aaron was forced out at age 12 and grew up in poverty.

"I got kicked out because I wouldn't do the dishes," brother Steve said.

"Aaron ... was so fearful of his father he began sleeping with a Bokuto -- a long wooden sword used to train Samurai fighters -- next to his bed," Wexell wrote.

"He even slept with it next to his bed the next couple years after my father passed away," Steve Smith told the author. "It tells you a little bit about what type of childhood we had."

Wexell produces gems like this over and over throughout his 223-page book.

You can find the book, published last month, at Orders@PittsburghSportsPublishing.com, or by calling 724-861-3554.

Status report: The sale of the team

The NFL conducts its short two-day fall meeting starting tomorrow in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Steelers ownership issue will be the subject of a finance committee report, but no vote will take place and no recommendations are expected.

The club's ownership issue could remain in limbo for awhile. Dan Rooney's four brothers decided last month not to accept a bid from billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller nor one from Dan and his son Art Rooney II.

The four brothers hoped to open it to more bidding through their investment firm, Goldman Sachs, but a family source indicated that with the sudden downturn in the economy, they expect little action.

The Post-Gazette reported that at the four brothers' meeting Sept. 18 to consider offers, John Rooney pushed for them to take the Dan/Art Rooney offer. A family source subsequently told the Post-Gazette that Art Rooney Jr. also could not bring himself to sell the team outside the family, and that one more brother -- either Tim or Pat -- wanted to keep the status quo.

That's where the franchise remains. The impetus for the brothers to seek a sale came two years ago from the NFL because some of the Rooney owners are not in accordance with league rules. The issues are that they also run casinos at their two racetracks, and because none owns at least 30 percent of the franchise, which is a league requirement.

Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com.
First published on October 12, 2008 at 12:00 am

Some of the best parts of Hines Ward's game don't show up on stat sheet

Sunday, October 12, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/


Peter Diana / Post-Gazette

There is a part of Hines Ward's game for which no statistics are recorded and no records kept.

Hines Ward came right out of the chute Sunday night in Jacksonville and gave the Jaguars his best shot.

Mike Peterson was the victim. On the first play from scrimmage that night, Mewelde Moore took a handoff from Ben Roethlisberger and Ward did his thing. He slammed his 205 pounds into the side of the 238-pound linebacker. Moore ran for 19 yards that ended out of bounds. Another 15 yards was tacked on because defensive end Paul Spicer, upset that Ward had the audacity to throw such a hard block, shoved the Steelers wide receiver after the play.

Ward had set a tone, again.

"I knew it was going to be one of those nights," Ward recounted the other day. "I knew it was going to be a physical night, so I just went out and had the mentality that I was going to initiate everything and keep it going.

"It took a toll out of me physically but from the first play on they ended up getting a personal foul. I think I cracked down on the linebacker, put him down and the next thing you know Spicer's responding and they got a flagrant foul and later in the next drive they got another flagrant foul."

Ward's response?

"I didn't say anything. I got up smiling."

You'd expect something different from the most vicious blocker among wide receivers in the NFL?

Ward not only holds every meaningful Steelers receiving record, he has that extra tool in his repertoire -- blocking. It has paid them many dividends through the years, and none more than the past two games.

He drew another personal foul retaliation from cornerback Will James that tacked on another 15 yards to a 13-yard pass reception by Moore. That put the ball on the Jacksonville 15, and Ben Roethlisberger tied the score with a 1-yard pass to Heath Miller.

Jacksonville's coaches privately acknowledged that Ward was a beast last Sunday night. It's something coach Mike Tomlin learned long ago when he coached the secondary in Tampa Bay.

"It dominates their thoughts the entire game week," Tomlin told Steelers Digest early this season. "They have their heads on a swivel, looking for Hines Ward, and I know it because I've competed against these guys and prepared for them. His reputation precedes him, and it's well deserved. It's something that's talked [about] in secondary rooms the week people play the Pittsburgh Steelers 17 weeks a year."

Ward loves hearing that.

"It's a big honor, a compliment, that their coaches said I was all over the field creating havoc. That's my job; you wouldn't expect that from a wideout."

He performed a similar trick Sept. 29 in the Monday night game against Baltimore. He riled up the Ravens with a block during Nate Washington's 8-yard pickup on an end-around that prompted Baltimore linebacker Jarret Johnson to shove Ward out of bounds after the play. The 15-yard penalty and run gave the Steelers a first down at Baltimore's 44. Three plays later Roethlisberger threw a 38-yard touchdown to Santonio Holmes that brought the Steelers to within 13-10. On the next play, they took a 17-13 lead on a sack and LaMarr Woodley fumble return for a touchdown.

Those extra yards in two tight Steelers victories made a difference. Johnson later said he lost his cool.

"That's what you can't do as a defense, that's hidden yardage in the game," said Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith. "Those defenders don't like that when he's hunting them down. I'm surprised more receivers don't do that."

"That's just Hines being Hines," offensive tackle Trai Essex said. "He's a physical player and everybody in the league knows that. And he's out there still smiling. You can't get him mad. He's going to play the game no matter what. That plays into the mental aspects of the game. He gets under their skin and that gives us an advantage."

Ward has even more reason to smile this season. He leads his team with 24 receptions, with 316 yards and with four touchdowns.

And ...

"I'm healthy now," Ward said. He missed two games in 2006 with a knee injury, missed three more last season with a knee injury and had knee surgery early this year. Tomlin gives him Wednesdays off from practice.

"My weight's down and I feel good. The rest coach Tomlin's giving me is doing wonders for me personally. I'm fresher on Sundays. ... It's not that I can't [go], he just doesn't want me to.

"He told me that's what they did with Joey Galloway in Tampa. They knew what Joey was going to bring to the table. He was in his 30s but there was a lot of good football left."

Ward is 32 and it appears he has plenty left as well.

"For the first five games, it's worked wonders for me, something I had to get accustomed to and used to. But it's starting to show on the field. I have more energy. I can be more physical and I'm healthy."

It should keep the talk humming next week in the secondary room in Cincinnati.


Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com.
First published on October 12, 2008 at 12:00 am

Harrison, Roethlisberger shining team lights

By Ron Cook
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
October 12, 2008


Peter Diana / Post-Gazette

Ben Roethlisberger is all smiles after he converts a third down against Jacksonville.

It's never too early to hand out awards. Why wait for the halfway point of the NFL season? Let's do it now -- during the Steelers' off week -- and beat the rush ...

Speaking of beating the rush, let's take a moment to wish Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger a pain-free day. He was a much younger man the last time he didn't ache on a Sunday.

Offensive MVP: Roethlisberger, who else? Quite simply, he's the NFL's best quarterback with Tom Brady out, the No. 1 reason the Steelers are 4-1 and in control of the AFC North Division.

Defensive MVP: Linebacker James Harrison, who else? Actually, if you want to make a case for defensive end Aaron Smith -- an absolute beast of a player -- you wouldn't be far off base. But Harrison is virtually unblockable and brings a mean streak that any great defense needs.

Special Teams MVP: Kicker Jeff Reed, who else? I used to think Gary Anderson was the best in franchise history. Now, I'm not so sure.

Best Comeback: Safety Troy Polamalu. What a waste of time in the summer, fretting if he would be able to stay healthy and be productive. The man has never been better.

While we're on the subject of needless worry ...

Most Overblown Story: The Steelers' schedule. How tough can it be with six games against the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens?

Most Enjoyable Moment: Wide receiver Hines Ward marking his spot in the Cleveland Dawg Pound's end zone after catching a touchdown pass to beat the hated Browns.

Best Play: Roethlisberger's 18-yard pass to Ward on third-and-8 and under tremendous pressure to beat Jacksonville. "That's why he's Big Ben," teammate Mewelde Moore said.

Honorable Mention: Harrison's sack and forced fumble and linebacker LaMarr Woodley's touchdown return against Baltimore.

Worst Play: A third-and-16 against Philadelphia. Roethlisberger was chased right by heavy pressure and threw an incompletion in the direction of wide receiver Santonio Holmes, but that wasn't nearly the worst of it. Guard Chris Kemoeatu was called for holding and Big Ben for an illegal forward pass for desperately trying to get rid of the ball past the line of scrimmage. That play perfectly summed up the Steelers' only loss.

Along those same lines ...

Worst Sequence Of Plays: An earlier series against Philadelphia. The Steelers went sack, sack, false start on tackle Willie Colon, interception. That was an ugly day.

Most Underrated Player: Nose tackle Chris Hoke. The Steelers are 14-2 when he starts. Casey Who?

Most Underused Player: Tight end Heath Miller. Guys, can you call his number a few more times? He never disappoints.

Most Amazing Man At Team Headquarters: Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, 71 and in his 50th NFL season. He's every bit as remarkable as the great Joe Paterno.

Lou Gehrig/Wally Pipp: Cornerback Bryant McFadden. Starter Deshea Townsend got hurt and McFadden stepped in to play lights-out football. He -- not Townsend or Ike Taylor -- is the team's best corner.

Best Coaching: Mike Tomlin at Jacksonville. He wouldn't allow his players to use an unbelievable run of injuries as an excuse.

Worst Coaching: Tomlin and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians at Philadelphia. The Steelers seemed surprised by the Eagles' blitzing and never adjusted.

Biggest Bust: The 2008 draft class, at least so far. And you thought I was going to say tackle Max Starks. It's hard to believe the same brain trust that brought the team Lawrence Timmons and Woodley in the '07 draft looks as if it will get virtually no help from the '08 bunch.

Tough Luck: Guard Kendall Simmons. At 29, he's facing a long road back from a ruptured Achilles injury.

Worst Use Of $7 Million: Starks. What? You didn't think I'd get there?

Dumbest Penalty: Wide receiver Nate Washington's unsportsmanlike conduct call on the winning drive against Jacksonville. At least linebacker James Farrior had a good reason when he was penalized for throwing the bird at a Cleveland fan; the fan gave him the middle finger first and was cheering an injury to teammate Ryan Clark. Who wouldn't be tempted to respond in kind? But there's no justification for Washington's foolish, selfish act. It could have cost the Steelers the game.

Say What? Ward's $5,000 fine for what the NFL called his "unnecessary roughness" in the Baltimore game. He wasn't penalized during the game. Maybe Jack Lambert had it right all of those years ago. Maybe they should put 'em all in skirts.

Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com. More articles by this author
First published on October 12, 2008 at 12:00 am

Obituary: Bruce Dal Canton

Former Pirates pitcher
June 15, 1942 - Oct. 7, 2008

By Robert Dvorchak
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Friday, October 10, 2008


1969 photo Bruce Dal Canton

Bruce Dal Canton spent four decades in professional baseball as a pitcher, coach, mentor and ultimately a teacher, sharing his knowledge of pitching with All-Stars and those who labored in minor league obscurity.

For any kid with a glove and an armful of dreams who came of age in the tumultuous 1960s, he was the prime example that the son of a coal miner who pitched on the sandlots of southwestern Pennsylvania could make it to the major leagues.

"His real love was working with the kids," said one-time Pirates teammate Steve Blass. "He was rock solid. He was the kind of guy who never said much, but he didn't miss anything either. He was one of those special guys who happened to be a baseball player. He's one of the reasons they call it the Big Leagues."

Mr. Dal Canton, 66, of Carnegie, died Tuesday in St. Clair Memorial Hospital. He was diagnosed in summer with cancer of the esophagus and had recently started a second round of chemotherapy.

Mr. Dal Canton, a one-time teacher at Burgettstown High School who was discovered by the Pirates while pitching in a local amateur league, spent the first four of his 11 major league seasons in Pittsburgh. His teammates included Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Bill Mazeroski.

After his playing days, he was the pitching coach of the Atlanta Braves during the developmental years of John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Steve Avery, the core of a rotation that gave fits to the National League. And for the past decade in the Atlanta system, he was the pitching coach of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Class A Carolina League.

A native of California, Pa., Mr. Dal Canton graduated from California Area High School and earned bachelor of arts and master of education degrees from California University of Pennsylvania.

Signed as a free agent in 1966, he made his Pirates debut on Sept. 3, 1967, throwing three scoreless innings of relief against the Phillies. He compiled a 20-8 record in four years with Pirates, working primarily as a reliever.

At the winter meetings in 1970, Mr. Dal Canton was traded to the Kansas City Royals with Jerry May and Freddie Patek. In return, the Pirates got two pieces of the 1971 championship team, pitcher Bob Johnson and shortstop Jackie Hernandez, along with Jim Campanis.

He saw extensive use as a starter with the Royals, then pitched for the Braves and the White Sox before leaving the game in 1977 with a 51-49 record in 316 games, including 83 starts.

The Braves hired him as a minor league coach in 1982, and he was Atlanta's pitching coach from 1987 through 1990. Known by the initials DC, he became an instructor in 1991, and for the past 10 seasons, tutored young pitchers at Myrtle Beach. More than 30 players under his guidance made it to the major leagues, each one a living monument.

"DC was a true gentleman in every sense of the word," said Pelicans owner Chuck Greenberg, who also owns the Altoona Curve and the State College Spikes.

"I have never met anyone in baseball who inspired such reverence, both personally and professionally, from all who knew him.

"He was a mentor to every pitcher who progressed through the Braves system for more than 20 years. Even more significantly, his character, decency and humility served as a role model to all of us fortunate enough to know him."

Mr. Dal Canton was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and was one of 13 charter members in the California University Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife, Helene; brothers Bernard of LaPlata, Md., and Brian of Redondo Beach, Calif.; and a sister, Diane Shook of California, Pa.

Friends will be received at the Bagnato Funeral Home in Carnegie from 2 to 8 p.m. today. A Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Grace Church.

Contributions may be made to the California University Baseball Organization, the Pittsburgh Pirates Alumni Charities at PNC Park or to the Baseball Assistance Team at 245 Park Ave., New York, N.Y., 10167.

Robert Dvorchak can be reached at bdvorchak@post-gazette.com.
First published on October 10, 2008 at 12:00 am

Fans relive joy of Pirates' 1960 World Series win

By Kevin Kirkland
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Friday, October 10, 2008


Robin Rombach/Post-Gazette

Fans celebrate Bill Mazeroski's 1960 World Series-winning home run at the Forbes Field wall in Oakland in Oct. 2006. Fans gather every year to celebrate one of the greatest moments in Pittsburgh sports history.

The Game 7 Gang will be at the Forbes Field wall Monday in Oakland, just as they have been every Oct. 13 for at least 20 years. And they're expecting a lot of company.

Since 1985, when Saul Finkelstein showed up alone to listen to a cassette tape of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, Pirates fans have been making an annual pilgrimage to this small stretch of red brick with the number 457 painted on it.

Some were there that sunny Friday afternoon when Bill Mazeroski's ninth-inning home run cleared the wall and defeated the New York Yankees for the championship. Others were glued to their radios or televisions. And some weren't even born but come to experience what was recently chosen as the greatest moment in Pittsburgh sports history.

About 200 people show up each Oct. 13 to listen to a recording of NBC broadcasters Chuck Thompson and Jack Quinlan call every ball and strike of Game 7. This year, in honor of Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary, the gang is inviting anyone looking to relive a little of the joy an entire region felt when the Pirates triumphed.

Starting at 12:30 p.m. Monday, employees of the University of Pittsburgh's Katz Graduate School of Business will serve free hot dogs and other ballpark food. At the flagpole by the wall, members of the Game 7 Gang and Forbes Field Wall Working Group will raise a new 12-by-6 Forbes Field pennant paid for by an anonymous donor. They'll acknowledge former Pirate players in attendance and explain how this grass-roots celebration started. Then they'll begin to play the recording at the wall and across the street in the tent at Schenley Plaza.

Under the tent, Pirates and Forbes Field memorabilia will be on display, including enlargements of more than a dozen Game 7 wire service photos collected by gang member George Skornickel of Fawn.

Post-Gazette photos of Mazeroski's homer also will be displayed along with an old Forbes Field ticket box, a scale model of the ballpark and items associated with the Homestead Grays, who played there in the 1930s and '40s.

The display and celebration are sponsored by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, City of Pittsburgh, Katz, the Game 7 Gang and the working group.

Despite all the extras, the centerpiece of the celebration remains the radio broadcast, which is timed to end as near as possible to 3:36 p.m., the moment that the ball sailed over the ivy-covered wall at a spot now marked by a plaque in the middle of Roberto Clemente Drive.

Gang leader Herb Soltman of Scott, who had a banner made that reads: "Mazeroski 10-13-60 3:36 p.m.," says listening to the broadcast gives a feeling that the game is unfolding right now.

"You sit there and listen to it and you're still not sure they're going to win," he said.

Maybe that's why there's such a cheer every year when they hear Mazeroski's bat send the ball into history.


Kevin Kirkland can be reached at kkirkland@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1978.
First published on October 10, 2008 at 12:00 am

If you go

What: A celebration of the Pirates' 1960 World Series championship.
When: 12:30 p.m. Monday.
Where: The Forbes Field wall in Oakland.

New NHL DVD focuses on Sidney Crosby, Pens

By Joe Mandak
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Thursday, October 9, 2008

A new DVD marketing Penguins star Sidney Crosby as the face of the NHL gives fans an off-ice look at the 21-year-old during last season's run to the Stanley Cup finals.

Among other tidbits, "On Ice and Beyond" shows Crosby as someone who is polite to a fault, avoids chocolate chip cookies during training camp - even those baked by a fan - and is undaunted by expectations the team faces after falling just short of a Stanley Cup.


Fans "expect us to go far every year, so I don't think (the expectations) change," Crosby told The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday.

The DVD mentions the increased expectations for this season, but Crosby said that doesn't intimidate him.

"Individually, I have high expectations for myself and as a team we have high expectations so I don't think the outside expectations will get to us because we expect a lot of ourselves as it is," Crosby said.

The only thing that really bothe rs Crosby about last season's story line is the ending, when the Penguins lost to the Red Wings in six games.

The Penguins got off to a slow start, gelled and went on a winning streak just as Crosby was sidelined for two months with a high-ankle sprain. He returned in the playoffs as the Penguins made their first Stanley Cup final since 1992.

"The NHL followed our team around all last year, and myself, and it turned out really nice," Crosby said of the DVD. "It's kind of a roller coaster year so a lot of different things happened."

The DVD makes much of Pittsburgh's blue-collar past, with shots of its rusted, shuttered steel mills. It also has fun with the Penguins' efforts to market their up-and-coming team filled with other young stars, including Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

One segment shows Crosby delivering season tickets to fans at their homes - something the club has done the past two years. One season ticket holder offers Crosby chocolate chip cookies - which he politely refuses - and marvels that he was polite enough to remove his shoes before coming in.

The fan is also savvy enough to appreciate Crosby's penchant for fitness and offers him a backup batch of cookies: oatmeal, made with whole grain flour.

Penguins fans also will appreciate the fact that Crosby still lives with team owner Mario Lemieux, who once said during his playing career that his offseason training regimen consisted of skipping the French fries on his steak salads once August rolled around.


Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Ben Roethlisberger ... He's got it.

By Ed Bouchette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Thursday, October 09, 2008


Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

The Steelers entered their off week 4-1 and leading the AFC North, largely because of Ben Roethlisberger.

His teammates tried to describe their quarterback after Ben Roethlisberger won another AFC player of the week award yesterday, three days after his extravaganza in Jacksonville.

"The kid, he's just a winner," said Hines Ward, who caught the touchdown pass from Roethlisberger with 1:53 left that gave the Steelers a 26-21 victory.

"I don't know what it is about it. He just has a knack. He has that 'It' sort of thing."

The victory sent the Steelers into their open date at 4-1 and pushed Roethlisberger's personal starting record in the regular season to 43-17 (.717), second best only to Tom Brady (.784) among current NFL quarterbacks with at least 40 starts.

Jacksonville was not just another victory on the pile for Roethlisberger; it represented an important milestone. Not only did he lead his team to his 15th winning drive in the final quarter or overtime and second in the past two games, he did it without his top two halfbacks and starting fullback and by throwing 41 times and topping 300 yards for only his fifth time in the regular season. He did it against a defense that expected the pass, he did it with a sore right shoulder that was hurt again, and he did it in spectacular fashion at the end.

With a lame Jeff Reed not knowing how far or how accurate he might be on a field goal, Roethlisberger scrambled to his left and with two Jaguars hanging on him, completed an 18-yard pass to Ward on third down from his 31 in the closing minutes. That allowed him to find Ward from 8 yards out four plays later to win it.

"Unbelievable," said defensive end Aaron Smith yesterday. "It's incredible. I've kind of given up on being shocked because it seems like every time I see him do something, he does something more miraculous. Unbelievable."


Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Ben Roethlisberger is often kept from practicing because of the pounding he has taken practically every week.

"Amazing," tackle Trai Essex described it. "That's one of the best games I've ever seen from a quarterback. Just the plays he made in the clutch with people hanging on him, like that throw he made to Hines on third-and-8, that's one of the best throws I've ever seen. I don't know how he did that.

"We have a great quarterback and we're going to ride with him."

The kicker to it all? Roethlisberger did not practice last Wednesday or Thursday and was limited Friday.

"For a guy not to practice and go out there and put up over 300 yards passing, I can't describe how a guy can do that," Ward said. "He's done a phenomenal job to this point. We'd like to save him a little bit and keep him fresh. But he's going to show up every Sunday and give us all he's got."

They hope he can show up every Sunday.

Roethlisberger has been sacked 18 times in five games, putting him on a pace for nearly 58 sacks, which would be a record for a Steelers quarterback and more than his awful 47 sacks last season.

"I don't know what type of toll it's taking on him," Ward said.

Roethlisberger's right shoulder took another blow when it was wrenched by Jaguars defenders as he threw the 18-yard completion to Ward. He got up slowly, his right arm dragging, but said he never thought of leaving the field.

"Not unless they were bringing a stretcher, gurney, ambulance out there," Roethlisberger said yesterday. "I was going to stay out there until Mike wouldn't let me stay out there."


Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Ben Roethlisberger's strong-arm escape tactics proved key Sunday night.

He told coordinator Bruce Arians after that hit that "we might have to hand the ball off for a couple of plays. Of course, two plays later he throws the ball."

All in all, though, he said he is in decent physical condition.

"I don't have anything too serious, bumps and bruises and stuff like that. For me, it's getting those bruises worked out and feeling good next week."

His teammates say they're not overly concerned about his health.

"He's taken a lot of beating, but he seems pretty durable," Aaron Smith said.

"I guess that's the nature of this business."


Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com.
First published on October 9, 2008 at 12:00 am

The Bay State: Bay makes Red Sox forget Ramirez

By Jimmy Golen
AP Sports Writer
The Boston Globe
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/
October 7, 2008


BOSTON - OCTOBER 6: Jason Bay #44 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after scoring the winning run against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 6, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)


BOSTON— Things are going pretty well so far in the Bay State.

Ever since Jason Bay came to Boston in a deadline deal for Manny Ramirez, the low-key, un-dreadlocked left fielder has fit right in. Playing in his first pennant race and first postseason, Bay scored in every one of Boston's first-round wins against the Angels, sliding home with the winning run Monday night as the Red Sox advanced to the AL championship series.

"I can't imagine that it'll get more intense than this," he said while celebrating with teammates he has known only about two months. "But it will."

Bay spent most of his first five seasons in Pittsburgh, playing for Pirates teams that never finished higher than fourth. So he was the happiest one around when the Red Sox went looking for a way to ditch Ramirez at the trade deadline, eventually working out a three-team deal that sent the disgruntled slugger to the Dodgers and brought Bay to Boston.

The happiest, that is, except for Ramirez.

The first World Series MVP in Red Sox history, Ramirez put up big numbers over 7 1/2 years in a Boston uniform, but also earned the better part of $160 million and precipitated enough clubhouse flareups to leave management wondering if he was more trouble than he was worth.

After years of ill-timed and sometimes suspicious absences from the lineup, the tipping point might have been a July at-bat when, called upon to pinch-hit on a day he expected to be off, he struck out on three pitches from Yankees closer Mariano Rivera without ever taking the bat off his shoulder.

Ramirez got what he wanted: Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein shipped him to the Dodgers in a three-team deal that brought Bay to Boston.

BOSTON - OCTOBER 06: Jason Bay #44 of the Boston Red Sox gets past Mike Napoli #44 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to score the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win Game Four of the American League Championship Series on October 6, 2008 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox defeated the Angels 3-2 to advance to the ALCS. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

"Jason has had an impressive transition into a new league, a new clubhouse and his first pennant race," Epstein said in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Tuesday, a day after the Red Sox earned a chance to play for the AL pennant against the Tampa Bay Rays.

"He knows himself really well as a player and as a person, and is comfortable with who he is. He's not the type to put too much pressure on himself, or to change his behavior to try to be something he's not. He hasn't tried to replace Manny Ramirez, and we never asked him to do so. He's been himself -- a steady, productive all-around good player and great teammate."

In Los Angeles, Ramirez propelled the Dodgers to the NL West title with a .396 batting average, 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 53 games. He went 5-for-10 with two home runs, three RBIs and four walks in the Dodgers' division-series victory over the Chicago Cubs, then said, "I came, I did my job. I'm just blessed to be here."

And Bay is blessed to be in Boston, where they are comparing the trade to the 2004 move that shipped out fan favorite Nomar Garciaparra in a four-team deal that brought the Red Sox Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz -- key players in the title that ended the franchise's 86-year World Series drought.

"The goal is to build a winning team -- not necessarily an accumulation of the most recognizable star players," Epstein said. "Those trades were made because, in our opinion, they improved our chances of winning the World Series."

Bay has already helped Boston take the first step.

He hit a two-run homer in Game 1 to give the Red Sox the lead, then hit another in the second game. On Sunday night, he threw Torii Hunter out at second base when the speedy Angels outfielder tried to stretch a single into a double.

In the Game 4 clincher on Monday, Bay hit a one-out double in the ninth inning of a 2-2 game. When Jed Lowrie bounced a single through the hole between the first and second basemen, Bay motored around third and dove for the plate, sliding in headfirst to get his fingers on the plate for the winning run.

"The only thing I was thinking about was scoring," Bay said. "I wanted to score so bad I almost fell down rounding third. I tried to run faster than my legs would go."

Frattare reflects on tough call to quit the booth

By Bob Smizik
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Wednesday, October 08, 2008

An emotional Lanny Frattare, speaking for the first time since it was announced last week he was retiring after 33 years as Pirates broadcaster, denied he was forced out by the team but admitted it was a difficult decision and one with which he continues to struggle.

In a phone interview yesterday, Frattare, 60, talked about the process of considering retirement and admitted, just a few days after the announcement, he was second-guessing himself.


David Arrigo/Pittsburgh Pirates

Lanny Frattare -- "... I'm deeply indebted to the fans for giving me a chance."

"It was a somewhat numbing experience," he said. "It's something I thought about for a long time. I hope I haven't made the wrong decision. If I did, it's something I have to live with."

He strongly denied he was forced out by Pirates president Frank Coonelly.

"I was not," he said. "The ball club and I had some conversations about my future for some time. Frank Coonelly has been tremendous with me."

Frattare joined the team after the 1975 season after having worked with the Pirates' Class AAA affiliate in Charleston, W.Va. He was teamed with veteran announcer Milo Hamilton, who had been working for the Atlanta Braves. The opening existed when the Pirates fired legendary announcer Bob Prince, in a move that brought down a firestorm of protest against the team, and Nellie King.

Asked if there was anything he wanted to say to Pirates fans, Frattare responded this way:

"I hope this doesn't sound trite, but I'm deeply indebted to the fans for giving me a chance. When I first joined the team after the firing of Bob, it was difficult. But the fans gave me a chance and that means the most to me.

"I hope I haven't let them down. I hope through these 33 years I gave them what they wanted even though my style was so different from Bob's."

Frattare -- who was selected Monday as a finalist for the Ford Frick Award, which is given by the Hall of Fame for excellence in broadcasting -- said he has many thoughts about what he wants to do with his future and some of them include broadcasting.

"It's really been hectic, and everyday I think of something else I might want to try," he said. "I think of teaching. I've always enjoyed speaking in front of classes. Whether I'm capable of teaching on a regular basis, I don't know.

"I'm not throwing away any options. MLB has a network that is being formulated. Maybe I could work one day a week or something along those lines. I thought of so many things. Tons of ideas are running through my mind."

The toughest part of leaving the Pirates will come in a few months when the team readies for spring training and the start of the 2009 season, Frattare said.

"It's going to be awkward to think about spring training and not going down to Bradenton with the team and not thinking about getting ready for another baseball season," he said.

Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com.
First published on October 8, 2008 at 12:00 am

Mewelde Moore did a perfect imitation of Willie Parker

By Ron Cook
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Willie Parker loved the comparison.

"Mewelde Moore," someone said to Parker in the happy Steelers' locker room as Sunday night turned into Monday morning, "looked just like you out there."

"Now that's high praise," Parker said, grinning.

Deserved praise, too.


Post-Gazette

On the left: Mewelde Moore -- Signed with the Steelers in the offseason as a free agent for backup running back position. On the right: Willie Parker -- Starting running back ran for 263 yards and three touchdowns before injuring his knee in Week 3 against Philadelphia.

There are a lot of reasons the Steelers are 4-1 and boss of the AFC North Division despite a frightful string of injuries that easily could have sabotaged their season. Moore is high on the list. He didn't beat the Jacksonville Jaguars by himself Sunday night or the Baltimore Ravens the weekend before. But the Steelers wouldn't have won either game without him.

"He probably endeared himself to some guys in there," coach Mike Tomlin said after Moore played a huge part in the 26-21 victory against the Jaguars. "You know how it is for a new guy. He's got to earn his stripes with his teammates. I'm sure he's got some new friends in there."

Would you believe 52 new pals?

"I'm not surprised by what he did," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "I knew, he knew, we all knew he could do it. Everyone worried about a drop-off with our running backs by committee, but we all knew he'd be just fine."

Tomlin always preaches about "team football."

"The level of expectations won't change," he said after injuries to running backs Parker, Rashard Mendenhall and Carey Davis, leaving Moore as The Man in overtime against the Ravens and the unlikely starter against the Jaguars. But not even Tomlin could have imagined that Moore -- a player he pursued and signed as a free agent in the offseason -- would do such a fine Fast Willie imitation. If he had, Moore would have had more than just one touch -- a carry for 6 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles Sept. 21 -- in the first three games.

Where has this guy been?

"He definitely stepped up," Parker said. "He brings it in practice so we know what he can do. But you're still kind of a little shocked after a game like this because we only saw it from him on third down."

Moore ran for 19 yards on the first play against the Jaguars. He had a run of 8 yards and a catch for 13 on a first-quarter touchdown drive. He had three carries for 18 yards on a second-quarter field-goal drive. And, on the winning touchdown drive late in the game, he had a 27-yard run that gave Roethlisberger a chance to pull out the improbable victory with two of the prettiest passes you'll ever see to wide receiver Hines Ward.

"That long run was sweet," Parker said.

Fast Willie-like, indeed.

"I believe in myself," Moore said. "It all starts from there."

"A talented guy," Tomlin called him. "He can do a lot of things well. He can run it and he can catch it."

Moore caught it in overtime against the Ravens, converting a third-and-8 with a 24-yard grab-and-go before getting kicker Jeff Reed just close enough for the deciding 46-yard field goal with another 7-yard reception. He mostly toted it against the Jaguars, rushing 17 times for ...

"Yeah, I know, 99 yards," Moore said, sighing. "I need to find 1 more yard somewhere."

You have to think Moore would have gotten an 18th carry and that precious extra yard if his helmet strap hadn't broken on the winning drive. Backup Gary Russell -- on the team only because of the injuries -- had a carry right before Roethlisberger broke a lot of hearts at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium by throwing a perfect 8-yard touchdown fade pass to Ward.

Not that Moore was complaining about being stuck on 99.

"We got the win. I'll take that any day."

It was a win that sent the Steelers into their desperately needed off week in the highest of spirits. They would have signed in blood to be 4-1 if you had told them they would lose all of those running backs plus nose tackle Casey Hampton, defensive end Brett Keisel, cornerback Deshea Townsend and guard Kendall Simmons. Now, they get the better part of two weeks to heal before they play the 0-5 Cincinnati Bengals Oct. 19.

Parker, who injured his knee against the Eagles, should be ready for the Cincinnati game. Although he has tortured a lot of teams, he has been especially effective against the Bengals. In his past four games against them, he rushed for 87, 126, 134 and 133 yards and a total of five touchdowns.

Moore willingly will check his ego at the locker-room door and step aside for Parker.

Of course, he'll also be ready to go, if needed.

"Team football," Tomlin said again.

Mewelde Moore.

You think of one, you can't help but think of the other.


Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com.
First published on October 7, 2008 at 12:00 am

Steelers QB delivers in the clutch

By Gene Frenette
The Florida Times-Union
http://www.jacksonville.com/
October 6, 2008


JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 05: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on October 5, 2008 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

There's been a lot of uncertainty in recent months about what's going to happen with the Pittsburgh Steelers' ownership. However, a bigger concern for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been the Jacksonville Jaguars - with four consecutive wins over the black-and-gold - owning them on the field.

Big Ben decided Sunday that enough was enough.

Just as the Jaguars were in position to escape with an improbable one-point victory, the quarterback with the $100 million-plus contract performed magic when it mattered most.

After an embarrassed Jaguars' defense redeemed itself and shut down Roethlisberger for most of the second half, he showed why he's the best quarterback in the NFL not named Brady or Manning.

Roethlisberger engineered a spectacular 80-yard drive in the closing minutes, hitting Hines Ward with a perfect rainbow pass for an 8-yard touchdown that delivered a 26-21 Steelers victory in front of a crowd of 65,908 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

It was a crushing blow to a Jaguars team that battled back valiantly to take the lead, but still can't get defensive stops when games are on the line.

"[Roethlisberger] was outstanding at crunch time," said Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio. "One of the things he does best is extend plays. He's got the ability. He's kind of a horse back there. He doesn't go down easy."

Again, as was the case in their four previous games, the Jaguars collapsed because they failed to put the opposing quarterback on the ground.


Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, left, scrambles as Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle John Henderson attempts to make the tackle during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, in Jacksonville, Fla.(AP)

Twice on the game-winning drive, Big Ben made great escapes that ended up breaking the Jaguars' hearts. Defensive tackle John Henderson almost had Roethlisberger sacked on the first play, but he slithered out of his grasp and completed a 16-yard pass to Hines Ward.

That was the first of three killer plays that undid the Jaguars. The second was allowing third-teamer Mewelde Moore to run 27 yards on a draw play that took the Steelers into Jaguars' territory.

On third down, Roethlisberger came up with his masterpiece move of the night. It looked like he was going to be sacked for a loss by Reggie Hayward, but he somehow got away and hit Ward for an 18-yard gain.

Three plays later, he and Ward hooked up again.

The game-winning drive was a carbon copy of the entire first half, where the Jaguars tried almost every conceivable defense to slow down Pittsburgh's attack without any success.

How bad was the defense in the first 30 minutes? Pittsburgh ran 46 plays to the Jaguars' 17, and outgained them by a whopping margin of 300-49.

The Jaguars didn't help their cause with several needless personal-foul penalties, but they still had a chance to pull out a victory.

A defense that gave up late fourth-quarter scores to Tennessee, Buffalo, Indianapolis and Houston maintained that trend.

This time, Big Ben did them in.

This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100608/jag_340716902.shtml.

Steelers go with Moore of the same

By John Harris
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Monday, October 6, 2008


Mewelde Moore gained 99 yards as the Steelers starting running back Sunday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review

JACKSONVILLE -- Mewelde Moore scooted 19 yards on the first play Sunday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers coaching staff was apparently so shocked at the unexpected development that Moore didn't touch the ball again until the next series.

Moore's ability to provide a legitimate ground game when his number was called more than compensated for the loss of what was supposed to be a two-headed running back combo featuring Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall entering the season.

By the time Moore hit his seventh carry, early in the second quarter, he was just under the 50-yard milestone -- no idle accomplishment so early in the contest. As a result, Jacksonville's hostile defenders were forced to stop teeing off on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, such was their sudden concern about stopping the run.

Roethlisberger took a wicked hit from rookie defensive end Quentin Groves while completing a 16-yard strike to Hines Ward in the first quarter.

The next two plays were called runs for Moore, a clone of New England Patriots all-purpose running back Kevin Faulk, who totaled nine yards. Moore remained in the game on third-and-1, whereupon Roethlisberger handed off to recent pickup Najeh Davenport, who gained three yards while the defense keyed on Moore.

Yes, the same Mewelde Moore who could barely get on the field in the Steelers' first four games. The same Mewelde Moore whose lack of playing time was so glaring that people were beginning to wonder if the Steelers made a mistake signing him as a free agent. The same Mewelde Moore who the coaching staff went away from until the Steelers fell behind in the fourth quarter.


Pittsburgh Steelers running back Mewelde Moore, left, runs past Jacksonville Jaguars safety Pierson Prioleau during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, in Jacksonville, Fla.(AP)

Old habits die hard. Nevertheless, the Steelers got their money's worth out of Moore, who rushed for 99 yards and whose huge 27-yard run late in the game set up Roethlisbeger's 8-yard touchdown pass to Ward in the Steelers' come-from-behind 26-21 win.

Following Davenport's first-down pickup, Roethlisbeger hit Moore leaking out of the backfield for 13 yards. One of Moore's strengths is his elusiveness, his ability to make defenders miss. On his reception, Moore dodged safety Gerald Sensabaugh like a school kid at recess.

An unnecessary roughness penalty sweetened Moore's catch-and-run and gift-wrapped a Steelers first down at the Jacksonville 15.

The Steelers brought in big back Gary Russell for his first two carries of the season totaling three yards. A third-down pass to tight end Heath Miller for nine yards kept the drive alive. Following another Russell run for two yards, Roethlisbeger faked a handoff and hit Miller for a 2-yard touchdown toss that tied the score at 7-7.

With the ground game firmly established, Roethlisberger took to the air.

Operating out of the no-huddle, Roethlisberger threw five straight passes, completing four for 37 yards. Moore opened the second quarter with three carries on the next four plays for 18 yards. When the drive bogged down, Jeff Reed kicked a field goal slicing Jacksonville's lead to 14-10.

In the second quarter, Roethlisberger was 9-of-16 for 150 yards. He threw a beautiful 48-yard touchdown-on-a-rope to Nate Washington and seemed to be able to complete just about any pass he desired.

All because the Steelers finally committed to the run with a back who before last night was still finding his place on the team.

John Harris is a sports writer for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.

Big Ben comes up 'empty'

By Mike Prisuta
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Monday, October 6, 2008


JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 05: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on October 5, 2008 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

JACKSONVILLE -- Although he’s been battered and bruised in recent weeks, Ben Roethlisberger had no reservations whatsoever taking snaps in formations that featured "empty sets" and afforded no protection whatsoever for the Steelers’ quarterback beyond what his offensive line could provide.

"No, I was calling them," Roethlisberger said. "I like it."

With the Steelers running their no-huddle offense "almost the whole game," in Roethlisberger’s estimation, they wound up relying upon empty sets more than they had all season in Sunday night’s 26-21 victory over the Jaguars.

"By far," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said. "Maybe all of last year, too. We knew they were struggling with their secondary injured. They actually took the one cornerback out and put the linebacker back in and kind of dictated zone coverage.

"You could get the ball out quick, spread the field. Our line did a great job protecting and Ben handled the no-huddle beautifully."

The Jaguars, Arians said, never went with a five-defensive backs set after cornerback William James was beaten by wide receiver Nate Washington from an empty set on what became a 48-yard TD pass from Roethlisberger early in the second quarter.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Steelers attacked Jacksonville’s base defense on third-and-5 from the Jacksonville 8-yard line with 1:59 remaining with a personnel group that included two tight ends, two wide receivers and running back Mewelde Moore. They eventually ran their play from another empty set.

Roethlisberger’s 5-yard fade to wide receiver Hines Ward wound up winning the game.

No wonder Roethlisberger loves to operate out of an empty set.


JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 05: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on October 5, 2008 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

"It spreads you out," he said. "You can kinda see who’s blitzing, usually. It utilizes weapons that we have, not just at wide receiver but at tight end and running back."

Roethlisberger was sacked three times and pressured on numerous other occasions.

But the empty sets repeatedly sparked the offense prior to Ward’s touchdown.

The Steelers ran seven plays from an empty set over the first two quarters.

Those plays resulted in one incompletion, two penalties against the Steelers and four completions that produced four first downs, 89 passing yards and one touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, the Steelers went back to the empty set.

Plays run form the empty look resulted in one sack, one penalty against Jacksonville, one incompletion and four catches for 35 yards and another score.

On the drive that won the game Roethlisberger went 3-for-3 for 24 yards and the game-winning TD while operating with an empty backfield.

"Ben is an amazing player," Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "He makes plays that other quarterbacks probably wouldn’t, and in that last drive he definitely made some great plays."


Mike Prisuta can be reached at mprisuta@tribweb.com or 412-320-7923.

What a way to head into a bye week

Monday, October 06, 2008
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/


Peter Diana / Post-Gazette

Steelers tight end Heath Miller picks up yardage against the Jaguars last night.

No Willie Parker. No Rashard Mendenhall. No Carey Davis. No Kendall Simmons. No Marvel Smith late.

No problem.

Watching the Steelers come from behind to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, 26-21, on the road last night after a short week and a body-bag Monday night game against the Baltimore Ravens brought back memories of something Bill Cowher always said after his team stood tall in the face of the roughest adversity:

"I've never been more prouder of a bunch of guys."

Well, Mike Tomlin was pretty darn proud after this one, too.

With good reason.

"This was a great night for the Steelers, man," Tomlin fairly gushed shortly before midnight. "Our injury situation was well-documented. Those guys didn't look for a potential excuse. They embraced the challenge. They stepped up and delivered."

Maybe the Steelers caught a break with a game against the Jaguars, a shell of the team that beat them twice in Pittsburgh last season, including a killer loss in the playoffs. The Jacksonville defense had just five sacks in four games coming in. Its secondary was without two injured starters, cornerback Drayton Florence and safety Reggie Nelson.

But to just say the Jaguars' defense was bad would unfairly cheapen an impressive, when-it-counted performance by a Steelers' offense that was down to fourth-team running back Mewelde Moore and had guard Darnell Stapleton making his first NFL start for the injured Simmons. Moore and his backup, Gary Russell, provided enough of a running threat to keep the Jaguars honest, Moore rushing for 99 yards on 17 carries. Stapleton, little-used tackle Trai Essex -- in for Smith (cramps) in the fourth quarter -- and their oft-criticized pals on the offensive line kept quarterback Ben Roethlisberger relatively clean, allowing three sacks.

Big Ben must have felt as if this were a lovely moonlit night on Jacksonville Beach after he was sacked 15 times in the first four games.


Peter Diana / Post-Gazette

Ben Roethlisberger converts a third down with the Jaguars defense hanging on.

No one will confuse Roethlisberger's offense with, say, Tom Brady's New England offense or Peyton Manning's Indianapolis offense, but, on this October evening, it was just good enough to send the Steelers into their perfectly timed bye week with a 4-1 record and control of the AFC North Division.

Roethlisberger, especially, was good enough.

"Ben is an amazing player," Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "He makes plays that other quarterbacks probably wouldn't. On that last drive, he definitely made some great plays."

Down 21-20 with 61/2 minutes left, Roethlisberger led the Steelers on the winning touchdown drive. All things considered, it was stunning: an 11-play, 80-yard work of art. Big Ben completed a third-and-three pass for 8 yards to wide receiver Nate Washington and then, after Washington took a selfish, foolish taunting penalty and under tremendous pressure from the Jaguars' rush, a fabulous third-and-eight pass for 18 yards to wide receiver Hines Ward. The 5-yard fade pass to Ward for the touchdown with 1:53 to go was routine by comparison.

Brady and Manning couldn't have run that drive any better.

No quarterback could have made that 18-yard pass to Ward better.

"That was a heck of a football play," Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said. "Guys were draped on him and somehow he got his arm out of the way and got the ball completed out of there. That's special. That was really the difference."

"That's why he's Big Ben," Moore said. "Only a few guys can stare down the barrel like that and still throw the ball on target. He's one of them."

Said Tomlin of Roethlisberger's 18-yard pass to Ward: "That's Ben. Sometimes, he holds the ball too long and the O-line catches a bad rap for it. But you take the good with the bad. He's capable of making plays like that. He's very good at what he does."


Peter Diana / Post-Gazette

Hines Ward scores touchdown in the 4th quarter.

"A double-edged sword," Roethlisberger called it. "Sometimes it helps you. Sometimes it hurts you."

It helped big time on this night.

No, Roethlisberger's offense wasn't perfect, not by a long shot.

Roethlisberger -- more accurately, wide receiver Santonio Holmes -- gave the Jaguars an early 7-0 lead on cornerback Rashean Mathis' 72-yard interception return for a touchdown. Holmes stumbled coming out of his break on an inside move, giving Mathis a clear shot at the pass.

The offense also stumbled for much of the second half after putting up 300 yards in the first two quarters and building a 20-14 lead. It didn't get out of its territory until the winning drive.

But what a winning drive it was.

What a way to go into the much-needed bye week.

"It's going to feel good," Roethlisberger said, "to get some time off."

Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com.
First published on October 6, 2008 at 12:16 am

Bruised defense delivers in clutch

Monday, October 06, 2008
By Bob Smizik, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/


Peter Diana / Post-Gazette

Mike Tomlin celebrates by hugging James Harrison after beating the Jaguars.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- With the Steelers running back corps decimated, the conventional wisdom was they would have to rely on their passing offense to secure a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Actually, there was another method of securing victory: Shut down the Jacksonville offense.

And that's what a gallant Steelers defensive unit did last night at Jacksonville Memorial Stadium, helping the Steelers secure a 26-21 victory that sent them into a bye week with a 4-1 record and feeling good about the much-needed time off and even better about their prospects for the remainder of the schedule.

The Steelers have won four of five while being racked with injuries. If they can get healthier in the next 14 days, they'll be all the more formidable for the remaining 11 games.

It was an 8-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Hines Ward with 1:53 remaining that won the game. But this was a victory achieved every bit as much by the might of the defensive unit, particularly the injury-ravaged line.

The Steelers had no right to expect what they got from their defense. Not with two starters -- end Brett Keisel and nose tackle Casey Hampton -- out of the lineup. But their backups more than did the job. Chris Hoke took over for Hampton and Travis Kirschke for Keisel. Orpheus Roye, who was signed Aug. 17, backed up Kirschke.

"I can't say enough about Hokey and Travis Kirschke," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "And how big is Orpheus Roye? We go get him late in the process and thankfully we have him. He's been delivering for us."

The running back tandem of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, which tortured the Steelers last year, carried 15 times for 26 yards.


JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 05: Greg Estandia #83 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is tackled by Ike Taylor #24 and James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on October 5, 2008 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

"There are lots of guys to mention," Tomlin said. "The pass rush we got from No. 92 [James Harrison]. Bryant McFadden ... you can run down the list. It was a great overall team win."

The Jacksonville point total was in no way a reflection of how well the Steelers defense played. The Jaguars might have finished with seven points -- not 21.

Their first touchdown came on a 72-yard interception return by Rashean Mathis. Their second touchdown was greatly aided by a 41-yard phantom penalty. They got the ball on the 1 late in the first quarter after Ike Taylor was called for pass interference in the end zone. Replays showed the contact came after the ball had sailed beyond the reach of receiver Matt Jones. Jones-Drew scored from the 1 to give the Jaguars the lead, 14-7.

The first-half dominance of the Steelers can best be shown by the statistics, not the point total. Jacksonville managed only four first down and 49 yards of total offense in the first 30 minutes as the Steelers controlled the clock. The Jaguars did not get a first down on three of their four first-half possessions.

Momentum switched in the second half as the Steelers offense failed to get a first down in the third quarter and the Jaguars' offense took a forward step.

The first time the Jaguars got the ball in the second half they moved for two first downs to the Steelers 36. From there, two passes failed and a third netted a holding penalty which left them in a third-and-20 situation. They were ripe for a blitz and linebacker Lamarr Woodley did just that -- nailing quarterback David Garrard for a 7-yard loss.

On their next possession, after Jones-Drew was stopped for no gain on third and 1, coach Jack Del Rio went for it on fourth down and Garrard passed 15 yards to Jones. But here the defense again held. Aaron Smith batted down a fourth-down pass by Garrard.

But the Jaguars were gaining confidence and the Steelers defense, getting little help from the offense, was wearing down.


JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 05: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls a signal in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on October 5, 2008 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

On the Jaguars next possession, which began late in the third quarter, they moved 76 yards on six plays for a go-ahead touchdown with 14:05 remaining.

The score came after a crucial penalty against safety Ryan Clark. After a Garrard pass had gone incomplete, which would have left the Jaguars in a third-and-16 situation, Clark hit Jones after the play, an obvious 15-yard penalty. Given life, on the next play Garrard threw a 24-yard touchdown pass Marcedes Walker.

But the offense found a spark and came back for the go-ahead score.

That brought the defense out for one more stand. The Jaguars had the time -- 1 minute, 53 seconds -- and the timeouts -- two -- to get the job done. But they didn't have the ability to handle the Steelers defense.

They managed one first down -- on a fourth-and-9 situation -- but nothing more. Harrison sacked Garrard for a 6-yard loss on second down and the next two passes were incomplete.

The defense held the Jaguars to 213 yards, more than 200 fewer than the Steelers accumulated. It was a stellar defensive effort and the major reason for the win.

Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com.
First published on October 6, 2008 at 12:15 am

Alex Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby

OPENING DAY IN THE NHL

Like the great hockey debates of old (remember Wayne Gretzky vs. Mario Lemieux?) two of the brightest – and youngest – superstars are the focus of a rivalry for the ages

By Damien Cox
Sports Columnist
The Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/
Oct 04, 2008 04:30 AM

Tonight's the night. Or rather, today's the day.

Time is relative, after all, when the NHL's regular-season opener takes place overseas as it does today when the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning drop the puck in Prague at noon EST. A few hours later, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators drop the puck in Stockholm.


AP PHOTO/REUTERS
Alexander Ovechkin, left, has brought needed excitement to the Capitals, while the Penguins' Sidney Crosby is the youngest NHLer to register 100 points.

Only the NHL, you have to believe, would kick off its season and have its top attraction, Sidney Crosby, about as far from home and about as far from key North American media markets as possible.

Did we say top attraction? Perhaps it's fair to say one of its two top attractions, as the explosive season rolled out last year by Washington Capitals super-nova Alexander Ovechkin once again underlined the reality that the NHL is blessed with a talented tandem the likes of which hasn't been seen on the rinks since Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux shared exclusive ownership of the NHL scoring title for 15 years.

Gretzky or Lemieux? Lemieux or Gretzky? That debate went on for years, and it was never more fierce than during the two seasons from 1987-89 when they went toe-to-toe for the Art Ross Trophy, with Lemieux winning both times with astronomical totals of 168 points and 199 points.

After that, Lemieux ran into injury and health problems, and even retired for a period of time. The fact that Gretzky was in his seventh year of pro hockey when Lemieux was just a rookie meant that while their careers overlapped, they weren't in their primes at the same time.

That's the true beauty of Crosby vs. Ovechkin. They came into the league together out of the wreckage of the lockout. They have each won a Hart Trophy, Ovechkin last year and Crosby the year before.

Ovechkin just turned 23 and Crosby is 21, but they are essentially contemporaries still scratching the surfaces of their respective potentials.

Having both in the same conference is an added benefit. Gretzky and Lemieux only shared the same conference very late in their careers when Gretzky joined the Rangers from 1996-99, and Lemieux only played one of those seasons.

For Crosby and Ovechkin, every meeting this season – the first is Oct.16 in Pittsburgh – will be a heralded occasion. At one point, you have to believe, the chatty Crosby and the bullish Ovechkin will collide on less than friendly terms, and a playoff series between the two clubs would provide another platform to add spice to their rivalry.

Finally, while Gretzky and Lemieux played on one memorable occasion for Canada, the '87 Canada Cup, Crosby and Ovechkin are both slated to be at the Vancouver Olympics in 16 months as leaders of their respective countries, Canada and Russia.


Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux at the 1990 NHL All-Star Game in Pittsburgh (Getty Images)

While Crosby wasn't selected for Team Canada for the '06 Olympics in Turin, a massive oversight as it turned out, Ovechkin did skate for Russia and scored the winning goal in a tense playoff victory over Canada. Last spring, with Crosby's Penguins still in NHL post-season play, Ovechkin led the Russians to victory in the gold-medal game over Canada at the IIHF world championship in Quebec City.

Really, then, the difference between Gretzky-Lemieux and Crosby-Ovechkin as individual rivalries is that Crosby and Ovechkin have the opportunity to be much, much bigger, and with international ramifications.
Happily, they are contrasting characters. Crosby, the youngest NHLer to ever register 100 points, is the quintessential, earnest all-Canadian boy, happy to deliver season tickets to the homes of subscribers during the off-season.

Ovechkin, with 163 goals in his first 245 NHL games, is a happy-go-lucky rock star, the owner of a 13-year, $124 million (U.S.) contract who radiates energy on and off the ice.

They are more Bird and Magic than Mario and The Great One.

And they're just picking up steam.