The Mondesi Show

I must admit, I love when a piece I write generates a lot of comments. The Pitt/Penn State debate and 55 Things That Annoy Me About Sports are two recent examples. I think collectively, the audience of Mondesi's House has a very high sports IQ.

With that in mind, I'd like to try something new. As much as you read for what I say, I read for what you say. And I've always thought of Mondesi's House as somewhat of a talk-show format in blog form. So today, I turn the keys over to you. The inmates will run the asylum. I'm going to introduce a few hot topics and give you my two cents, and I'm hoping to get yours as well.

Welcome to The Mondesi Show!

Today's topics to stir the pot:

1. The New York Giants. Everyone is talking about them after the Strahan meltdown. I always thought they had a dangerous mix of chemistry, at least for a team with Eli Manning running the show. I've seen junior high QBs with more poise. At this point, not only is this experiment blowing up, the lab is burning down. I don't think the majority of Giants have ever bought into Tom Coughlin's philosophies. I think there is a tremendous amount of players with their own agendas, not buying into the team philosophy. When you mix in a ton of injuries and players who are healthy dogging it like they have in the past (Plex, I'm looking at you), I'm not surprised at their tailspin of late. Obviously, this team is better off than the Steelers, because at least they're still in the race. But what do you think about this daily soap opera of me-first malcontents?

2. John LeClair and Andre Roy placed on waivers. These are two more examples of how far Craig Patrick had fallen in his final year. Ryan Malone, "The Midnight Mayor of the South Side" (Mark Madden's brilliant nickname), is due back soon. So unless he breaks his arm again, someone has to go. Any thoughts on Pens roster moves?

3. Is this the year Pitt takes the next step in the NCAAs? With their team hovering in the top five, expectations are high for the Panthers. After Aaron Gray pummeled Bobby Mo for 21 and 15 on Wednesday, Pitt moved to an early 7-0. What is your gut---do the Panthers get past the Sweet 16, or will this be another year of disappointment?

4. Michael Vick. Vick grabbed a lot of attention this week for a one-fingered salute to the loyal dopes who still think he'll be great in the future. I don't think that day will ever happen. Yes, he'll always be exciting, but excitement alone doesn't win Lombardi Trophies. There's a strong contingent of footballers in the know who believe Matt Schaub would be a better choice at QB. Do you think Vick will ever will a championship in his career?

5. The Buccos. What are your expectations of the 2007 squad? Any suggestions for Dave Littlefield outside of jumping off the Clemente Bridge?

6. Wild Card. No, I'm not talking about the Steelers chances. Although you can if you want to. Feel free to open up a discussion on any topic on your mind.

7. The BCS. Do you think Michigan deserves a rematch, or would you be content watching a team that lost to Oregon State in their place?

Mondesishouse.com Arrives

Just a quick note to let you know that I officially purchased the www.mondesishouse.com name before some enterprising individual swooped it from beneath me. So you can now ignore all of that blogspot.com stuff in the address line, as this will point to the same site.

Marvin Harrison's Walkoff, Pujols=Jerk, Don West Swims in Cards, College Hoops Power Rankings, Flying Wii Remotes, Playstation 3 for Baby?

NFL:

Marvin Harrison walked off the field before the half was over, then he failed to even attempt a tackle on Lito Sheppard. Lebron James was raked over the coals for something similar. Terrell Owens would have been sent to the gas chamber. Can anyone say, "double standard"?

Loyal Mondesi reader A.J. sends over the gayest Tom Brady tribute video ever made. Watch at your own risk.

MLB:

Albert Pujols, turning into a jerk right in front of our eyes. Barry Bonds would be proud.

If you've never checked out Joesportsfan.com, you're missing out. Be sure to check out former Bucco Bob Walk, featured in the "Worthless Card Collection".

On the topic of baseball cards, the above site has a great article on former Home Shopping crazyman Don West. You know, the guy who tried convincing you at 2 AM to buy that Gem Mint 10 of Derek Jeter? In the article, the author references an occasion when West accidentally knocked a box of 3,200 baseball cards on the floor in the middle of a sales pitch. Always the master of improv, West then "swam" in the cards, as only he could. He explained that he used to swim in piles of cards as a kid. Alas, here is said video of Don West swimming in a pool of overpriced cardboard.

COLLEGE HOOPS:

SI.com's Luke Winn gives his college basketball power rankings. Wichita State #3, Butler #4, Gonzaga #6, Marquette #8, Pitt #10. Maybe next week he'll release his real power rankings, as these were obviously a joke.

NBA:

Tony Parker and Eva Longoria to live happily ever after.

RANDOM FUN STUFF:

The Nintendo Wii has a major downside: Wii remotes flying from player's hands, crashing TV sets, windows, and pictures of Grandma in the process.

Wondering about how the Michael Richards video affected Seinfeld Season 7 DVD sales? Would you believe they're up 75% over season 6 and 90% over season 5?

A St. Paul radio station had a gag in which they offered a free Playstation 3 in trade for 24 hours custody of your baby. The result? They were overrun with calls.

Strahan Hatin on Plex, Gatlin to Texans, Bobby Bo=HOF?, Frank Beamer's Ballot, Danny Devito Drunk Video

NFL:

This just in: Bill Cowher doesn't want to kiss the rears of 16 and 17-year olds as the coach of N.C. State.

Michael Strahan's comments about Plaxico Burress, Tiki Barber's overall perfectness, Eli Manning's self-destruction, Lavar Leap's season-ending injury, Tom Coughlin's timeliness, Jeremy Shockey's calling out the Cowboys...you gotta love the New York Giants.

Steroid cheat Justin Gatlin tries out for the Houston Texans. They'll do anything to make you forget about passing on Reggie Bush.

The Big Lead offers a great look at the Jay Cutler-Jake Plummer-Mike Shanahan-Chris Mortensen soap opera. My highest recommendation.

Tony Romo finally admitted that he never went on a date with Jessica Simpson. But he did go on one with John Madden.

COLLEGE HOOPS:

Pitt takes down Robert Morris behind the X-Factor. That's Aaron Gray, in the words of RMU Coach Mark Schmidt.

BASEBALL:

Where Have You Gone, Andy Van Slyke points out that Pirates.com is trumpeting Bobby Bonilla's inclusion on the Hall of Fame ballot. Good luck with that, Bobby Bo.

Speaking of the HOF, should Mark McGwire be inducted? What do you think this is, the Dan Patrick Show? Or as it now stands, the Dan Patrick Hall of Fame Daily Debate Show?

COLLEGE FOOTBALL:

Frank Beamer's All-American ballot was leaked, and guess who voted for six of his own players?

NBA:

Bill Simmons: "This year's NBA Eastern Conference is the worst conference in the history of pro sports."

RANDOM FUN STUFF:

Video of Danny Devito, wasted, on "The View", bashing George W. (video link)

A sad day for Jay and Silent Bob fans, as Pumpkin Escobar, nee Tracy Morgan, is arrested for a DWI.

Your 2007 Pittsburgh Steelers Roster

Since the ship has sailed on the 2006 season, it's time to take an early look at the 2007 Steelers roster. I personally blame all of the problems on filming that music video with the Povertyneck Hillbillies. That supercedes all Cowher distractions, motorcycle crashes, appendectomies, torn ACLs, concussions, or nagging hamstring injuries as the downfall of the 2006 campaign. But enough about the Curse of the Hillbillies. On to your 2007 Steelers roster:

QB: Large Ben should be around for a while, and I am guessing Chaz Batch will be there to carry the clipboard and occasionally step in when Bart Scott tries to decapitate old #7 in future Ravens games. Brian St. Pierre will continue to be cut and re-signed well into the next decade. Long story short, don't plan on any new QBs other than the usual late-rounder and/or training camp sacrificial lamb that fans eventually fall in love with (hellooo, Mike Quinn and Pete Gonzalez).

RB: Willie Parker is on pace for a 1,300-yard, 13 TD season, yet the annual rumors persist about the Steelers acquiring T.J. Duckett as "Bettis II". You could bring back Bettis circa 1997 and he wouldn't make much of a difference behind this line. Just because he's big, burly, and a perceived malcontent does not mean he's another Jerome Bettis. Duckett had a career high of 779 yards in 2003, and his career has been in free-fall ever since then. Since he was dealt to Washington this season, and we can safely say that experiment has blown up in the lab, he's now failed with three coaches (Reeves, Mora, Gibbs). I just fail to see the infatuation with this guy. It seems like John Clayton has rumored Duckett as a possible Steeler since the moment he was drafted by Atlanta. I can understand drafting a young power-back as a change of pace back, but I think the ship has sailed on Duckett.

Parker, on the other hand, is one of the very few Steelers who is having a better 2006 than 2005. I think if the Steelers could figure out a way to truly utilize his talents, he could be a valuable asset for many years to come.

Najeh is an unrestricted free agent, so I'd put his odds on return at 50/50. Verron Haynes should be back is he has recovered from his knee injury as the third-down back, and John Kuhn will toe the line of practice squad/emergency RB.

Available UFAs include Ahman Green, Correll Buckhalter, Ron Dayne, Dominic Rhodes, and Musa Smith. But here's an even better choice as an RFA than a re-tread like Duckett: Michael Turner of San Diego. Speed and power. And he's never going to displace Tomlinson.

If the draft is the route you prefer, the top prospects are Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, and Kenny Irons.

FB: Dan Kreider, the pride of New Hampshire, should be back for his 8th campaign.

WR: You can pencil in Hines and Santonio and probably Willie Reid, if only because of the high pick invested in him. After that, anyone is fair game. Wilson and Washington are just not exceptional wideouts. And I was one of those pleading to give Washington a chance in the preseason, saying "if he can play, his pedigree (or lack thereof) should not matter". He has been simply too inconsistent. I guess you can technically count Sean Morey as a WR, but I am hoping he's not around in '07. He certainly hasn't helped the special teams one iota.

The free agent market has very little to offer in terms of potential help. The top UFAs are St. Louis' Kevin Curtis, Tennessee's Drew Bennett, and Houston's Eric Moulds. The top RFAs are Jacksonville's Ernest Wilford, New Orleans' Terrence Copper, and Dallas' Patrick Crayon. Slim pickins indeed.

The draft offers such intriguing prospects as Ted Ginn, Calvin Johnson, Dwayne Jarrett, and Jeff Samardzija. I wouldn't argue with seeing any of the aforementioned in black and gold.

TE: Whether they throw to him or not, Heath Miller is the present and the future. Jerame "It's Not a" Tuman will more than likely be back for his 800th season as a backup. Probably little change at this position.

OT: Max Starks and Marvel Smith have not had good years. Starks is an RFA, so there is at least the potential that he may not be back. The depth is in Willie Colon and Trai Essex, and I don't think either one is pushing for a starting job yet.

If there is a change made, there's always 6'6', 366 pound Leonard Davis of the Cardinals on the free agent market, or in the draft, 6'8", 315 pound Joe Thomas of Wisconsin. But if the Steelers are picking high enough to take Thomas, that means their problems are deeper than we could have ever imagined.

OG: Kendall Simmons' hold on the right guard spot has been tenuous at best. He could be replaced by Chris Kemoeatu any week now. Alan Faneca has endured a very trying season, but he will be back next year. Other than that, the cupboard is pretty bare. This will probably be their #1 or 2 pick in the draft. There's 6'4", 329 pound Justin Blalock of Texas, but not many other high-profile guards in this year's draft. If they want to make things interesting, they could sign Eric Steinbach, the Bengal UFA who was famous for "boating under the influence".

Center: I would guess this is the last go for Jeff Hartings, whether he wants it to be or not. Chukky Okobi could take over, or they could slide Simmons in and let Kemoeatu take his guard spot. Marvin Phillip is there as the backup in any scenario. Should be status quo, minus Hartings, in '07.

DE: Brett Keisel and Aaron Smith are both locked up long-term. Travis Kirschke will be there for depth. Rodney Bailey is a UFA, so he may not return. This could be a possibility for a mid-to-late round draft pick.

NT: Casey Hampton is one of the best in the biz. Chris Hoke is one of the best backups in the biz. No changes should be necessary.

LB: Here is where it gets reeeeal interesting. My gut tells me Joey Porter's days are numbered. There was a reason that James Harrison was signed for an extension last year. He will take Porter's slot in 2007. Farrior, Foote, and Haggans should all be back to round out the group. Chad Brown is a UFA and will probably be finished.

Farrior has probably seen his better days, and you could argue the same for Haggans. I don't know if Rien Wallace would be ready to step in for Farrior, perhaps in 2008, so they may be looking for an ILB high in the draft. As far as OLBs, Penn State's Paul Posluszny could be a possibility, depending on where the Steelers pick. I think if they don't go O-Line, it will be a LB in round one.

CB: Wow. We all thought the signing of Ike Taylor was the answer to our D-Back questions for the next five years. How quickly things change. Regardless, I would imagine Ike to enter camp as the starting CB opposite Bryant McFadden. I don't see Deshea Townsend as a starter next year. At least I hope I don't. This is a position crying out for depth and playmakers.

The top draft prospects are Leon Hall of Michigan, Darrelle Revis of Pitt, and Marcus McCauley of Fresno State. I can't speak for the other two, but I can say Revis is a prototypical shut-down corner. And as you know, he can also return a punt on occasion.

S: The big question facing the Steelers next is the long-term contract status of one Troy Polamalu. Persistent rumors have our favorite safety going to the west coast, but I'm hoping they find a way to get the job done. I think Ryan Clark and Anthony Smith are pretty safe bets to pencil in, but beyond that, there's not much else left at safety. Tyrone Carter and Mike Logan are both UFAs, so there is a chance one or both will not be back. They may go for a safety in a mid-to-late round, but don't expect any top picks invested in this spot.

P: Please, I beg of you, rid us of Chris Gardocki. That's all I ask.

K: Skippy Reed has not had a good year by anyone's account, but I don't anticipate a change here.

Coach: I think Kenny Wiz gets the job and Bill Cowher retires to watch girls' basketball for a year or two. By then, Joe Gibbs and/or Bill Parcells should be out of their respective situations and they will be at the top of the list to sign Mr. Bill.

Cowher will probably command $8-10 million a year upon his return, and if that's what Mike Holmgren gets, I don't know how Cowher could only be making $4 million. If you were making half of what you thought you were worth, I doubt you'd be enthused about your job either. Money gets brushed to the side when discussing Cowher's status, but trust me, money always talks. If the Rooneys pony up with the bucks I referenced above, I can guarantee Cowher would sign an extension tomorrow. And Kaye and the kiddos would have to made do on their own for a while longer.

Dallas Clark is Mad, Vick Fined $20K, Shula Fired, Manny Trade?, 2007 NBA and NFL Mock Draft, Kid Rock Dumps Pam Over Borat,

A sad day for Jerome Bettis, as his father John died suddenly after an apparent heart attack.

Jeff Suppan back to the Pirates? Doesn't seem like a tremendously great idea.

The latest 2007 NFL Mock Draft is out, and we now see the Steelers drafting 6'4", 329 pound Texas OG Justin Blalock at #13. We're getting on the right track.

Aaron Gray is up to #17 in the latest NBA 2007 Mock Draft.

Manny being Manny may find a new home. I mean, who wouldn't want J.D. Drew instead?

Cost of Michael Vick giving his home fans the middle finger? $20,000. Cost of giving millions of football fans yet another reason to take a shot at Vick? Priceless.

That Madden 2007 commercial where Dallas Clark gets blown up again and again? Turns out, no, he's not too happy about it.


Mike Shula is fired at Alabama, and the once-proud Crimson Tide are looking for a new coach for the fourth time since 2000. Call them the Anti-Rooneys.

For all you video gamers, here's the Top 10 Cheat Code searches in one convenient article.

Sit down for this one: Kid Rock broke up with Pam Anderson over her appearance in Borat. As this article points out, "The star of Joe Dirt and Biker Boyz is looking down on Pam because of her movie choices?"

Bill Cowher's Worst 2006 Decisions

I hear a lot of Bill Cowher bashing these days. Of course, I should expect just as much after that lifeless performance Sunday at Baltimore, one of the worst and least-inspired in the Cowher Era. Critics of the bashers will say "you can't pin all the blame on Cowher" and "he just won the Super Bowl, get off his back". True and true. I think Cowher is one of the greatest coaches of all time and the Steelers are very lucky to have had his service all these years. I also agree that you cannot pin all the blame on Cowher; there's certainly enough to go around with this team. Game-time emotion has been a point of issue with Cowher this year, and I won't argue that he's been relatively sedated by his standards. But that is far down the list of legitimate mistakes Cowher has made this season.

Cowher pushed all the right buttons in 2005, but 2006 has been a completely different story. Here are five key decisions Bill and the Steelers' brass made that I think we can all second guess at this point.

1. Duce Staley. The inclusion of Staley on this year's roster tells you all you need to know about the 2006 team. He has never been a durable back in his Pittsburgh tenure, playing just nine games in 2004 and three in 2005. He was never the face of the franchise (a la Bettis), so the loyalty factor in keeping him around is a flawed theory. He seemed highly content to stand on the sidelines in his famous gray sweatsuit for most of last season, hands down pants.

But the Steelers decided to bring him back, at least for training camp, in 2006. And how did Duce respond?

Check out his four preseason games: 7 carries, 14 yards...5 carries, 11 yards...11 carries, 21 yards...19 carries, 46 yards...That's a total of 42 carries for 92 yards, or 2.19 yards per carry. Was he cut? No, John Kuhn was the sacrificial lamb of the running backs.

Najeh Davenport then becomes available, and the Steelers jump on him like a loose ball. Duce was lapped on the depth chart by a guy just cut from the Packers. To follow that, Verron Haynes went down for the season with a torn ACL, and Staley wasn't even activated---Kuhn was rescued from the oblivion of the practice squad!

Is the presence of Staley hanging around really motivating any players to do their best? Can ANYONE answer why he is here?

2. The wide receivers. Cowher kept Sean Morey for his special teams skills, but if that unit is horrible with him, what's the point of having him occupy a roster spot? Quincy Morgan was a competent kick returner in addition to his receiving skills, but he was deemed not worthy of a uniform. Willie Reid was drafted primarily for his punt return duties, and he fielded the majority of them in preseason. So who was sent back to field them once the bell rang in week one? Ricardo Colclough. Some questionable decisions here, to say the least.

3. Chris Gardocki. The league's worst, albeit unblocked, punter. Inconsistent, with a very weak leg. Rarely puts the Steelers in a good position with his kicks. And he costs a lot more than Mike Barr, the impressive rookie free agent who was cut loose.

4. A lackadasical training camp, by Cowher standards. Cowher gave the team plenty of time off in this year's camp. But his biggest sin was the lack of playing time to the starting unit in preseason games. I know, we don't want anyone to get hurt. But the flipside of having a healthy team is having a very rusty team, especially when several of those players were not healthy throughout or before camp. Honestly, how much time in preseason games did a still-recovering Roethlisberger get? How many reps against first-team defenses did Willie Parker get?

Well, here are some of those answers:

Roethlisberger threw a total of 22 passes in three preseason games: 4, 4, and 14.

Parker had a total of 7 carries in three preseason games: 3, 1, and 3.

Hines Ward had 0 catches in the preseason, due to injuries.

Cedrick Wilson had a total of 6 catches in the preseason: 1, 2, and 3.

Does that look like a recipe for a fine-tuned offensive machine to anyone else?

5. Failure to make lineup changes. Sure, Ike Taylor was benched recently. It only took until the 10th game. But why was Ricardo Colclough sent out to field punts, over and over and over again, after proving he was incapable of doing the job? Why is Cedrick Wilson still starting opposite Hines Ward, when the only thing he has proven is the ability to make a pass-interference gesture after every incomplete pass thrown his way? Why is Nate Washington still getting the ball thrown his way in crunch time when he's averaging about two drops per week (although I will give him credit for holding on after his bell got rung on Sunday).

I think the world of Bill Cowher. But in all fairness, the above list shows that he does deserve some of the blame in this train-wreck of a season. When you're winning, you're always perceived as making all the right moves; when you're losing, lists such as this pop up. There are at least 53 other reasons why the Steelers are 4-7; their respective positions on that list are debatable. The coach always gets too much credit when the team wins and too much blame when the team struggles. But I would have a hard time believing that someone could argue the above list in any capacity (although you're welcomed, and encouraged, to do so).

Cowher Statue on ESPN, FredEx a Substitute Teacher, Dolphins #12, Bowl Projections, Paris, Britney and Lindsay Together

As reader "Soup" points out in the comments section, was ESPN's DJ Gallo inspired by the Mondesi-created "Cowher Statue" in Monday's ESPN Page 2 wrapup?

Remember Freddie "Fred Ex" Mitchell, the mouthy wide receiver for the Super Bowl Philadelphia Eagles? Wonder what he's up to? Would you guess "just fired for hitting on girls as a substitute high school teacher?"
This dude is way too excited to get his picture taken with Freddie Mitchell

First we had Firejoemorgan. Now, through the wonders of FoxSports Blogs, I present The Bill Simmons Hater

The resemblance? Uncanny.

Peter King Miami Dolphins Fine Fifteen Watch: This week, the Fightin' Sabans are up to #12. And that 1-6 start is just a faint memory. Don't forget to read all seven pages of this week's drivel disguised as a football column. By the end, you're reading stuff like "I can't get past the Wednesday New York Times crossword. Usually I can't finish that one either. Shameful admission." and "Witnessed the most insane Starbucks order I'd ever heard the other day. "Grande white mocha with five Equals,'' a woman in front of me said." My head hurts.

ESPN tries their hand at projecting the college bowl games. And unlike SI's picks, they've omitted one Wannstached Big East squad.

Stop me if you've heard this one before...Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears are in a car together...No I'm not joking, this actually just happened. And yes, I realize the irony after I just mentioned Peter King's non-sport rantings. The minor difference is that I'm 99.9% sure this audience would rather hear about Ms. Lohan, Ms. Hilton, and the former Mrs. Federline than hear about Peter King being perplexed by a crossword puzzle.

The Relevance of Pitt vs. Penn State

As sports fans, I think it is in our nature to fight. We want to prove our superiority by any means possible, be it physical or mental. We love to argue about the BCS, about what's wrong with the Steelers, and about how the Red Sox could spend $51 million just to negotiate with a free agent pitcher. We love to see our favorite teams battle each week, to the extent of feeling like we are a part of the team. That is why Steeler fans take losing so hard; that is why any true fan takes losing so hard.

With that as the backdrop, an interesting storyline developed in the course of the 55 Things That Annoy Me About Sports discussion last week: the rivalry formerly known as Pitt vs. Penn State. If you haven't read the comments section of that piece, do yourself a favor and check it out. The talk moved seamlessly from gripes about broadcasters to name calling between Pitt and Penn State fans. Each side was trying to prove their superiority. But how do you argue a question when the answer looks like it is unattainable?

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the history, Pitt and Penn State was once one of the more storied rivalries in college football. The all-time record is in favor of PSU, 50-42-4. The game was last played in 2000, when Pitt defeated Penn State, 12-0, in front of 61,221 strong at Three Rivers Stadium. The game ended a seven-game Penn State winning streak versus the Panthers. That final meeting, like many others, was littered with future NFL players, including Larry Johnson, Antonio Bryant, Kevan Barlow, Bryant Johnson, Nick Goings, Bhawoh Jue, Kareem McKenzie, Gerald Hayes, Bryan Knight, Kenny Watson, Shawntae Spencer, and Ramon Walker. This was high-quality college football.

Unfortunately for fans of the rivalry, there are no prospects for the two sides to meet anytime soon. While researching this story, I dug up an article by Ron Cook from August, 2004, on this topic. If you're looking for an answer as to why these teams don't play, I'll let Ron give you an explanation:

"Paterno doesn't want to play Pitt and will use any excuse not to do it...Paterno doesn't want to play Pitt because of a grudge he still carries from more than 20 years ago when Pitt joined the Big East basketball conference instead of his dream all-sports Eastern league."

The title of Cook's article I referenced? "Pitt-Penn State series is bigger than Paterno"

According to Cook's piece, Penn State was only willing to schedule Pitt if Panther AD Jeff Long would agree to a two-for-one deal, in which Pitt would play two games at Penn State for every one PSU would play in Pittsburgh. As Cook said at the time, "The arrogance of that proposal is almost incomprehensible. At last check, Pitt was running a major college program, too."

That's what I thought, too. Remember, Cook's article was written two years ago, so unless he had Biff's Sports Almanac from Back to the Future, he wouldn't know how bad Pitt fell in 2006. But they are by all means a major college program. They play in a BCS conference, use a 60,000+ capactiy stadium, continue to produce NFL talent, and have a bevy of exciting young players and recruits lined up for the near future, including Dorin Dickerson, Pat Bostick, Elijah Fields, and Nate Byham. While it is not pretty to think about just days after the latest debacle, the state of the program is much better than, say, 10 years ago.

Biff failed Ron Cook on this occasion

This isn't meant to be a piece celebrating Ron Cook or bashing Joe Paterno. This is a piece crying out to JoePa to back down from his lofty demands and give the fans what they want to see. I know, I know, Penn State fans claim they don't care about Pitt anymore. To those fans, I ask: do you honestly enjoy spending your hard-earned dollars watching Akron, Youngstown State, and Temple? You really wouldn't relish a chance to shut Pitt fans up on a regular basis? Really?

As much as Penn State fans don't want to admit it, they don't have a true rival on their schedule right now. If they say Michigan or Ohio State, that simply would not be reciprocal, as they are each other's top rival. They try forcing Michigan State upon the public, but we all know that's going nowhere, as long as Michigan State continues to play like Michigan State. The Notre Dame game is nice, but Irish fans will argue that USC is their traditional foe. At least Pitt has WVU to fall back on in lieu of a Penn State matchup. While I'm sure they seethe plenty of venom for their matchups against the Wolverines, Buckeyes, and Irish, the lack of that go-to rival leaves a gaping hole on their schedule.

OK, so Paterno is bitter that Pitt turned his back on him in the early 1980s for his all-sports conference. Here's a good question for JoePa: how many of those Pitt ADs and coaches who decided to join the Big East are still around? What has the current administration done to alienate you?

People get in a huff about the 2-for-1 deal, but I think Paterno just threw that out there because he knew Pitt would never take it. He may be old, but he's not an idiot. He can then say he was willing to compromise, but Pitt was asking for too much. Unfortunately for Joe's strategy, Pitt was able to go out and get home-and-homes with other prominent national programs, such as Nebraska, Michigan State, Texas A&M, and Virginia. So that kind of killed the argument that Pitt was somehow lesser of a program and unworthy of a one-for-one swap.

This is truly intended to be one of those "talk-back" pieces where the fans speak their peace. I want to hear from Pitt fans, from PSU fans, from Pittsburghers, from transplanted Pittsburghers, from anyone...what are your thoughts? Is Paterno wrong? Is Pitt wrong? Is the series dead? Does anyone care?

Namath to Sign Books; No "I Just Want to Kiss You" Inscriptions Allowed

The one, the only Joe Willie Namath will be signing his autobiography, Namath, tonight at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at South Side Works. The legendary Beaver County native and NFL Hall of Famer will be appearing from 6-8 PM. And no, Suzy Kolber will not be there.

I was discussing Namath's career recently with my brother, and since he played before we were both born, we delved into the world of internet stats to quantify Namath's greatness. According to pro-football-reference.com, Namath had a career TD to INT ratio of 173 to 220 (1:1.27). On the all-time lists, he is stunningly mediocre: Pass attempts, 44th; Passing yards, 42nd; Passing TDs, 43rd.

In terms of career passing yards, Namath ranks behind Kerry Collins, Jake Plummer, Mark Brunell, and Rich Gannon, none of whom should expect to be immortalized in Canton. Yes, I realize that the seasons were only 14 games long when Namath played; but I also noticed that he played in six or less games as a starter four times in his 13-year career. He didn't have Manning's stats or Favre's durability; those attributes did not get him a bronze bust in Ohio. Namath's greatness was his moxie, his bravado, and most importantly, his win in Super Bowl III. Namath's Super Bowl win is probably the closest tied to a Hall of Fame career than any other player's. The guarantee and subsequent win defined who he was and legitimized the AFL to a legion of non-believers.

He was the first true off-the-field media machine. He is the epitome of the phrase "Women loved him, men wanted to be him." He is almost equally famous for his Fu-manchu, nightclub ownership, panty hose, and fur coat as his on-field exploits. He was a personality that would thrive in the modern-day NFL.

To people like myself who never saw Namath play, I encourage you to check out his Wikipedia page. "Fascinating" would be an understatement when describing his life. I would love to see the scene when Namath descends on the South Side tonight, but I doubt he'll hit the bars post-signing. He's been clean and sober for over 1,000 days. But turn back the clock 30 years, and I can assure you we'd have a gallery of pictures that would make Big Ben, Kyle Orton, and Matt Leinart look like amateurs by comparison. Here's to you, Joe.

Monday Morning Wrapup

Redskins 17, Panthers 13- Carolina does just enough to create doubt in their team down the stretch; and did you notice TJ Duckett's 24 yards rushing for the Redskins? All those trade rumors were right: he would have fit right in with the Steelers.

Dolphins 27, Lions 10- If you have zero expectations for a game, and it still underperforms, how do you describe it? How about a recap, which sounds completely made up, but isn't: Joey Harrington getting cobbler from Phil Simms' Mom after a Gatorade shower.

Cowboys 38, Bucs 10- Before Tony Romo's head gets too big, he should look across the field at fellow first-year starter Bruce Gradkowski. Just a few weeks ago, he's engineering come-from-behind, dramatic wins. Now, he's completing 10 passes and getting blown out by 28 in front of the entire nation. Fame is fleeting, Mr. Romo. Before soon, you'll go back to your house of ribs.
Better keep up those wins, Romo. Jessica Simpson's not dating a rib jockey.

Chiefs 19, Broncos 10- And Jake Plummer is finally put out of his misery by "The Punisher", a.k.a. Mike Shanahan. Unfortunately, I missed this game, as ours was one of millions of households who did not have access to the NFL Network. I can only hope that the network will air ads every commercial break urging us to bother our local cable operator and tell them to pay the already-rich NFL even more money.

Vikings 31, Cardinals 26- Did I read these stats right? The Cardinals attempted 51 passes and 6 runs? At 2-9, I guess you could say that angle didn't work either, Denny.

Rams 20, 49ers 17- Antonio Bryant: 2 catches, 53 yards, no speeding tickets for going 100 in his Lamborghini.

Jets 26, Texans 11- The leading rushers in this one: Wali Lundy with 11 yards for Houston, and Leon "Middle Finger" Washington with 17 for the Jets. Who were the offensive coordinators, Dennis Green and Dennis Green?
Those aren't middle fingers. He's just predicting Wali Lundy's 11 yards on Sunday.

Bills 27, Jaguars 24- Remember when the Steelers played Jacksonville on Monday Night Football? And all that talk about how the national media doesn't respect the Jaguars? Seems like eons ago. Oh well, at least Matt Jones scored a touchdown for Tony Kornheiser's fantasy team.

Bengals 30, Browns 0- Continuing my theme of teams who can't run the ball, Cleveland was led by Jerome Harrison with 18 yards. Meanwhile, Charlie Frye is becoming the Browns QB we all hoped he would become, with 4 interceptions and 1 jersey-grabbing altercation courtesy of Braylon Edwards.

Chargers 21, Raiders 14- Before we induct Phil Rivers into the 2006 NFL Hall of Fame class alongside Tony Romo and Rex Grossman (but only the Rex Grossman from weeks 1-5), note Rivers' 133 yard/0 TD/1 INT performance against the 2-9 Raiders. But once again, the Chargers are bailed out by Ladainian Tomlinson, who ran for two touchdowns, threw for their third, blanketed Randy Moss all day, and delivered a baby panda at the San Diego Zoo.

Patriots 17, Bears 13- The Bears just killed fantasy players in this one. Rex Grossman throws not one, not two, but three interceptions. And Thomas Jones finishes with the dreaded 99 yards rushing.

Giants 21, Titans 0- What's that? The Giants lost???? 24-21? They were winning 21-0 with 10 minutes to go! What's that? They allowed 24 points in the 4th quarter? Vince Young accounted for all of the touchdowns? The same Vince Young who missed the game flight last week? And Eli Manning threw a back-breaking interception with 44 seconds to go? The same Eli Manning who "grew up" in week two? The same Eli Manning who has the worst passer rating of any QB since 2004? OK, you got me. What are you going to tell me next...the defending Super Bowl champs are 4-7 and have been shut out twice?

Colts 45, Eagles 21- Well, Philly's lost 5 of 6 and Donovan McNabb, so we can officially write off a second consecutive season. And how about those Colts? Look at Sunday's stats: Joseph Addai, Edgerrin James' replacement, runs for 171 yards and 4 TDs. The man he replaced had 4 carries for 15 yards. I can emphatically say that this is definitely the year for the Colts. Not like in 2005, or 2004, or 2003, or even 2002. This team is different. It's special.

Another Vick Flips Off the Fans

I love the Vick family. Think of all the material Michael and Marcus have given to bloggers: Michael with his Ron Mexico alter ego, erratic passing, and coach-killing...Marcus with the Elvis Dumervil Stomp, the gun in the McDonald's parking lot, marijuana possession, reckless driving, suspensions, etc.

Marcus Vick, probably playing BeamerBall

The Vicks are always compared to each other: they both played quarterback, they both attended Virginia Tech, and they are both becoming more and more famous for their colorful, albeit regrettable, antics.

The NFL's greatest mustache since Dave Wannstedt

Where am I going with this, you ask? Well, on October 1, 2005, Marcus decided he'd had just about enough of the West Virginia Mountaineer faithful, and he set his middle finger aloft, to the dismay of all those planning on burning a couch later in the evening.

So today, after a frustrating 31-13 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Michael became the second Vick to flip off a crowd, when he gave the middle finger to his own home fans while coming off the field. Click the link for a top-notch recap of the event from ESPN.com's Don Vito....I mean, Len Pasquarelli. And to the Vicks, on behalf of the entire sports-comedy genre, I thank you.

I challenge you to pick out which one is which

A City Embarrassed

So, how was YOUR Thanksgiving weekend? Did you spend it watching the Penguins lose on Friday, or did you opt to watch their Saturday loss instead? Did you manage to catch the pathetic excuse for big-time college football on display Saturday night, when Pitt dropped their fifth straight game? Or how about Sunday, when the Steelers were finally put out of their 2006 misery by the Baltimore Ravens?

Yes, this was a tough couple of days for local sports fans. But looking back, the Penguins had a perfectly legitimate excuse for their losses (Sidney Crosby's injured groin), and did anyone honestly give Pitt a chance in their game? So that left us at the doorstep of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

We're always told how the Steelers thrive when "their backs are up against the wall". You'd think a team that just took the most difficult route to a Super Bowl victory in NFL history would have learned a few lessons from their 2005 season. But time and time, after crushing losses, we were told to "not count out the Steelers". So we sat back and enjoyed a two-game winning streak at the expense of New Orleans and Cleveland. Fans talked as if a 10-6 season was not such a ridiculous proposition.

Today's game was supposed to be the day the Steelers officially "turned it on": the Ravens had a cushy three-game division lead, the Steelers were riding consecutive wins for the first time since January, and with downtrodden Tampa Bay coming in next week, there was a legitimate chance to climb back to .500 in just seven more days.

For the team that loves to be the underdog, they decided to play that angle right off the bat. The Steelers win the toss, which is usually a good thing; I was thinking they should kick off, put the defense on the field, and try to take the crowd out of the game, especially since the Steeler offense has been less-than-stellar this season. So of course, the Steelers do the complete opposite, electing to receive and sending the offense out for their death sentence rather than wait for the inevitable.

After a rousing 15-yard return from Dump Davenport, Ken Whisenhunt called for a "three and out" offensive series, which the Steelers executed flawlessly. The Ravens were playing right into their hands. The next move was to send the UP (Unblockable Punter) out for one of his patented "short but not blocked" punts. 37 yard punt, 39 yard return. Perfect. But the return was negated by an illegal block. Nice job, Mughelli. Six plays later, Steve McNair is dropping the Omega sign and the Ravens are up, 7-0. But the Steelers could then say that their backs were against the wall. To quote Apollo Creed before his tragic demise at the hands of Ivan Drago, "It's showtime!"

Much like J-Peezy, Apollo did a lot of talking moments before his annihilation

We fast forward through the rest of the first half: Gardocki punts four more times, including one with a friendly bounce, and three others that travelled 27, 32, and 43 yards. Of course, none of them were blocked. Jamal Lewis looked like his pre-drug trafficking self, gashing the Steelers defense like a hypothetical O.J. Simpson victim. And then there's Ben. Poor, poor Ben. I don't know if Roethlisberger did something to simultaneously disrespect the entire offensive line, but they were playing like they wanted him to leave on a stretcher. That was the only thing they managed to achieve, as #7 was destroyed by an especially violent Bart Scott sack late in the first half. I felt like I was watching a Raider game and someone disguised Andrew Walter in a "ROETHLISBERGER" jersey. The half closes with a Roethlisberger kneel, one of the few plays in which he managed to not get hurried, knocked down, or sacked. 17-0, Ravens. But I was sure the Steelers were just a few plays from turning it on.

The oft-discussed but never before seen "switch" the Steelers use to "turn it on", or even worse, "turn it off"

The half opened with the ball kicked to Baltimore. The Ravens, after watching a half of inept Steeler offense, open with a three-and-out of their own, moving the ball just six yards. Not to be one-upped, the Steelers answer with a three-play, one-yard drive, resulting in a booming 41-yard punt by the UP. Touche, Billick.

The Ravens would move the ball 15 yards on their next series, but it was just a matter of time until the Steelers lit it up. The black and gold regain possession, and they start moving the ball consistently, in chunks: 11 to Ward. 11 to Captain Tiffin. 27 more to Captain Tiffin. The Steelers are in business, down to the Baltimore 30. Whisenhunt sends in the play: Parker misses a block, Roethlisberger is unprotected, fumbles, and Adalius Thomas rumbles 57 yards for the insurance TD. Once again, the Steelers execute their execution brilliantly. 24-0, Ravens. Game, set, match, season.

I can sarcastically bore you with more details, but I'll spare everyone the frustration. The Steelers' day netted 9 sacks, 20 incompletions, 2 interceptions, 2 fumbles (1 lost), 7 punts, 21 yards rushing, 0 points, and an injured Troy Polamalu.

Want some eerie similarities? The last time this team looked so inept, I would wager many of you would answer "The Jacksonville Game". Here are the same categories as noted above, but the numbers from the Jags MNF matchup: 2 sacks, 15 incompletions, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble (0 lost), 8 punts, 26 yards rushing, and 0 points.

Hopefully, we can finally close the door on the absolutely absurd playoff talk that has persisted throughout the season. To quote myself, on October 29 I issued this proclamation:

"...when you lose to Oakland, who can't even crack 100 yards of offense, your season is over. Do not keep kidding yourself with playoff talk. This team can't even beat Oakland. This team can't even beat Oakland. This team can't even beat Oakland. Has it sunk in yet? OK, let me repeat it one more time: This team can't even beat Oakland."

Yet the fans still persisted. They still believed. On November 14, I predicted the Steelers would be "lucky to split with Baltimore". So what do I get in the comments? Reactions like this:

"...way to drink the baltimore kool-aid. they needed a miraculous come-back last weekend to beat tennesee. the ravens are chumps and are just as likely to lose out as we are to win out."

I think that comment speaks for itself. The only chumps I've seen all year are the ones pretending to be Pittsburgh Steelers. They lead the league in one category: turnovers. This is a team that's won four games out of 11. Playoffs? Must I conjure up video of Jim Mora?

Why do we even bother talking about this team? From today's effort, as well as six others this year, it doesn't appear they care very much. So why do we care? Why do we watch, we write, we comment, we discuss?

I realize that we're about 9 months removed from the first Super Bowl victory this town had seen in 26 years, so it's hard to feel sorry for the Steeler fan base. But honestly, shouldn't we at least get a few games to enjoy and relish in the glory of NFL superiority? The team and their followers had exactly 11 days to enjoy a winning record this season, and that was a mere1-0.

A fan base always reacts based on preseason expectations. Look around town at the other teams...the Penguins bought a bevy of veteran free agents last year, had Crosby coming in and Lemieux coming back. Visions of Stanley Cups danced in fans' heads. But the team stumbled out of the gate and never recovered. The fans were greatly disappointed. This season, expectations were lowered, since it is a much younger team built around a promising nucleus. And to this point, the team has surpassed expectations. Thus, a happy fan base.

Look at Pitt football. They finished 5-6 last year, had a great season of recruiting, and hyped a core of Palko, Blades, and Revis. No one expected anything less than 7-8 wins. And yet the Panthers managed just a 6-6 record, improving upon last year's 5-6 mark by adding a matchup with the Citadel. Combine that with a 5-game losing streak to close the season, career high days allowed left and right, and a defense that is better comedy than Family Guy, and now Wanny is getting some heat.

The Steelers were picked either first or second by every football expert from coast-to-coast. They endured some roster changes, but returned the vast majority of their team, including the entire offensive line, quarterback, and linebacking core. They added two young, exciting wide receivers and a safety who nearly decapitated a Philadelphia Eagle in the preseason (video link, for those who've forgotten). They had every chance in the world to at least contend.

The cruel reality is that the year is 2006, and complaceny will slap you in the face in the NFL. Want to get fat looking at your Super Bowl rings in the mirror? By all means, proceed. But don't be surprised when teams refuse to roll over and die at the mere sight of you as an opponent. This is a league that gets turned upside down every few weeks. Rex Grossman and Eli Manning were the quarterbacks du jour after two weeks; now, the discussion in Chicago is shifting to "should we start Brian Griese", while New Yorkers are talking about the long-term health of the franchise if Eli continues to struggle. The league was Michael Vick's a few weeks ago...now it is owned by Tony Romo and Joey Harrington. Go ahead, make sense of it...I dare you.

Yes, 2006 was a rather grim sports holiday for most of the readers of this site, but there are some bright spots for the near future: the continued development of the Penguins, a Pitt basketball team that will be ranked top-three, and that always-exciting Pirates Hot Stove League season. Hey, two outta three ain't bad.

Happy Thanksgiving from "The House"

As we come upon the five-month anniversary of Mondesi's House, I realize there are many things that I am thankful for. Mondesi's House is much more than one person and his computer. It has become a community that relies on a number of people to succeed. That is why I always refer to Mondesi's House as "our"; it has gone way beyond me. If I may, I will list a few of my reasons to be thankful on this holiday:

First and foremost, I would like to thank our readers. There is a very solid base of people who read the site on a daily basis, comment on my musings, and email posts to their friends & family. Without the readers, Mondesi's House does not exist. I thank each and every one of you.

I would like to thank all of the blogs and sites that link to Mondesi's House. There are a number of truly great websites devoted to Pittsburgh sports, and they all send a fair share of their readers in my direction. I greatly appreciate the continued support.

The media has been a great friend to Mondesi's House, especially WDVE (Randy Baumann and Jim Krenn), ESPN Radio (Mark Madden), The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Dan Gigler and Chuck Finder), and Deadspin (Will Leitch). Each one is responsible for exposing Mondesi's House to the masses, and I know we've picked up a number of our regulars from these outlets. I am eternally grateful for your mentions, appearances, and plugs.

I must thank my family for the inspiration to start this site. My parents, both journalism majors, gave me the writing background that flows in my blood. My father and brother (who I now call Felipe and Ramon) argue with me back and forth on the very topics we discuss here on a regular basis. I would also like to thank the future Mrs. Mondesi, who is very supportive even though she is not exactly a sports nut, and my Grandma, who actually reads the site on a regular basis. Now that is one cool Grandma: computer-savvy and reading a sports blog to boot!

I also thank the readers who support my business, steelcityauctions.com, through their purchases of memorabilia or consignments of their collections. To each and every one of you, I give my sincerest thanks. If anyone else out there wants a Pittsburgh-related gift for Christmas or wants to sell their prized collectibles, I'll take care of you!

I can't leave out the Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and Panthers. Without the Cowhers, Roethlisbergers, Crosbys, Wannstedts and Littlefields, this site just wouldn't be the same!

I wish each and every one of you a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, we have to endure another Lions game, but try to make the best of it! And as I say, as long as you keep reading, I'll keep writing!

- Don

Michael Irvin's Tony Romo Comments, Revisited

A few days ago, I briefly mentioned some comments I heard on the Dan Patrick Show by Michael Irvin. The Playmaker was on to talk football, and he made some comments about Tony Romo's bloodlines that raised some eyebrows.

Unfortunately, I was merely listening to the broadcast and did not have the exact quotes. I quickly threw something together, but it failed to capture the essence and tone of precisely what Irvin said. The few readers who responded thought I was overreacting. Based on the bits and pieces I posted, that's what it could appear to some people. So I removed it, because I didn't feel it was up to my quality standards, and thought I would re-post once I had a better transcript.

Well, it turns out I wasn't the only one listening. The audio is available on ESPN Insider (for now), and the masses are starting to react:

From The Big Lead, who did an excellent recap:

“… [there must be] some brothers in that line somewhere … (laughs to himself) somewhere there are some brothers … I don’t know who saw what, where …. [maybe] his great, great, great, great Grandma ran over in the hood or something went down … (laughter)”

Dan Patrick, sensing disaster, jumps in and says, ‘that’s the only way to be a great athlete?’

Irvin comes back with, “No, that’s not the only way … but it’s certainly one way … [maybe his] great, great, great, great Grandma pulled one of them studs up outta the barn [and said] ‘come here for a second’ … back in the day …(more sinister laughter)”

Patrick steps in to diffuse the situation by saying, ‘Alex Haley in ‘Roots’ on the Dan Patrick Show …’

from Michael Irvin Does His Best Jimmy the Greek Impression on the Dan Patrick Show (The Big Lead)

UPDATE! Michael Irvin has issued an apology for his comments!

Eli Manning Adopted, Donovan McNabb Done?, Yao Ming Stuffed, Bowl Projections, Playstation 3 Grill, Michael Richards Video

I work and work and work on making this a great sports site, and then I throw in one or two non-sports links every day to broaden our horizons. So guess which two links had the most out clicks the other day? That's right, the one about video games and the one about Paris Hilton and Britney Spears partying in Las Vegas. Yep, this is one fine sports blog.

A big thank you goes out to the Post Gazette's Blog and Gold Steeler column, who has thrown many a kind link Mondesi's way. If you've never checked it out, it's a really cool wrapup of the odds and ends of the internet in relation to your favorite team.

Eli Manning is having a hard time telling the Giants he was adopted.

A San Antonio newspaper takes a variety of shots as ESPN. See, we're not the only ones who have a bone to pick with the Worldwide Leader. (via Deadspin)

Is Donovan McNabb on the downside of his career? I have to admit, Don Banks makes some good points.

A great video of 7'5" Yao Ming being stuffed by 5'9" Nate Robinson. This is the #4 video on YouTube today, passing this week's trifecta of trainwrecks, the original Michael Richards video, the awkward followup interview on Letterman., and the Kelly Ripa vs. Rosie O'Donnell video.

Stuart Mandel once again revises his NCAA Bowl Projections. This time, he has Pitt against Tulsa in the Birmingham Bowl on December 23. If there's one team that deserves to play in the post-season, it's Pitt.

Now presenting the Playstation 3...Grill?

55 Things That Annoy Me About Sports

Update: Thanks to the 102.5 WDVE Morning Show for having me in-studio to talk about the list in greater detail today. It's always an honor to be on Pittsburgh's #1 morning show! You can visit the show's website at www.dve.com.



I've become an angst-filled sports fan lately. So today I'm going to unleash some rage and vent with all of my faithful readers. 55 things that annoy me about sports. Why 55? Because I couldn't stop at 50. Feel free to air your own grievances in the comments section, and we'll take the best and add them on in a future post, making it the uber-list of beefs from annoyed fans.

1. Bill Belichick dressing like a hobo. At least wear a hoodie with sleeves! While I'm at it, kudos to Mike Nolan and Jack Del Rio for their suits this weekend. And since the NFL is a copycat league, expect to see all 32 coaches in suits, since the 49ers and Jags both won.

2. "...this is ouuuuuur country..."

3. The Lions on Thanksgiving every year. Is this not the worst tradition in the history of mankind?

4. Celebrities in the Monday Night Football booth. Especially when they aren't even football fans. Christian Slater, I'm looking in your direction.

5. Stuart Scott. Your act is so played out. Boo-ya.

6. "Thrown under the bus". When Donna Shalala uses it, it's time to move on.

7. "Drinking the kool aid". Find a new cliche.

8. The 1972 Miami Dolphins. You're embarrassing yourselves at this point.

9. Red Sox vs. Yankees. You're both full of overpaid underachievers. The rest of the country doesn't care.

10. The BCS. Let's devise as many ways as possible to decide a champion other than a playoff system.

11. The Oakland Raiders' apathy. Nice work naming Randy Moss captain.

12. OJ Simpson's now-cancelled confession, I mean book.

13. Pitt football's "defense".

14. Fans wishing each other luck on message boards. As my brother Ramon Mondesi, a frequent visitor of Pitt message boards, often wonders, "Why would WVU fans wish us luck against Louisville? The guys on the message boards aren't playing!"

15. Websites/blogs offering messages to deceased athletes' families. As admirable as it is to post messages like, "To the Schembechler family, our thoughts and prayers are with you...", I doubt they're reading a blog the next day.

16. Notre Dame. Play a real schedule or join a conference. Three service academies, North Carolina (2-9), Stanford (1-10)...what a murderer's row.

17. Ogden Nutting. Although I admire his being able to dodge the arrows for so long through McClatchy, who many fans still think is the majority owner.

18. D-Fence Signs. At least try the "Off-fense" in the Man Law commercials.

19. Pete Rose, Terrell Owens, Barry Bonds, and Bobby Knight. Please go away, and take your "I'm Sorry I Bet on Baseball" autographs, Little T children's books, Cream, Clear, and choking with you.

20. Diminishing the accomplishments of teams who just won the championship. First we heard about how the Steelers stole the Lombardi Trophy. Then we endured how the Cardinals were such a crappy champion. How about criticizing the teams that finished in the bottom of the league?

21. The Red Sox crying poor (not re-signing Pedro or Damon, calling the Yankees "the Evil Empire") and bidding $51 million to negotiate with a Japanese pitcher. Hypocrites.

22. Spoiled Yankee fans. They boo their best/most fragile player, driving him into a further funk. They really are the smartest fans in baseball. Want to see real fans? Check out the brave souls who pay to watch Jeromy Burnitz trot out to right field.

23. Big East bashing. How about bashing the ACC, the real worst conference among the big six?

24. Roger Clemens/Brett Favre's annual retirement dances. Go away.

25. Corruption in amateur basketball. When there is a list of top 6th graders, I can safely say our priorities are out of order in this country.

26. Chris Berman. Tha Rayyyydahsss...The Seeeeeehawks...The Geeeeee Men...The frozen tundra of Lambeauuuu Field...and my favorite...You're With Me, Leather.

27. Ranking Peyton Manning as the best QB in the NFL every year, only to have him disappoint everyone in the playoffs. I know, this year it will be different. And next year the Pirates will have a winning record.

28. Jon Gruden as an elite coach. Keep working those 20-hour days. They've resulted in losing seasons in three of the last four years.

29. Larry Brown.

30. Teams who hire Larry Brown.

31. Players who celebrate individual plays when their team is behind. Also known as "The Joey Porter Special".

32. The NHL on Versus. Most YouTube videos have better production values.

33. Kobe vs. Shaq on Christmas. This was cool 2 years ago. How about Lebron vs. Wade?

34. Bud Selig. Need I say more?

35. Tiki Barber as a first-ballot HOFer. On the all-time rushing list, he's behind players like OJ Anderson, Ricky Watters, and even Edgerrin James, who started two years after him and lost a year to a torn ACL. Don't think so.

36. Koren Robinson. He's the Steve Howe of the NFL. He just can't help himself.

37. Michelle Wie, and to a lesser degree, Danica Patrick.

38. Overprotection of NFL quarterbacks. 2006 has taken this to ridiculous heights.

39. The myth that Michael Vick will someday be a polished quarterback. Marcus Vick has a better chance, and he's a wide receiver.

40. The NHL schedule. 8 games against some teams, 0 against others. Did they have one too many Labatt's when they wrote this up?

41. Matt Millen still having a job. The Lions are now 23-67 (.255) on his watch.

42. Tear-jerking Sunday morning SportsCenter pieces. I'm looking for the scores and insight. If I wanted to cry I'd watch Brian's Song.

43. Trey Wingo imitating Chris Berman. So if Berman wasn't bad enough, now he has a clone.

44. CBS's Gus Johnson. Strictly upon the Steelers-Browns game on Sunday.

45. Athletes stealing nicknames. First there was the Anthony Thomas/Mike Alstott "A-Train" controversy. Now we have Ladainian Tomlinson stealing "L.T.". Unless he gains some bulk and starts snorting coke by the bushel, he is not L.T.

46. Tony Kornheiser talking about his fantasy team on Monday Night Football. Congratulations on drafting Matt Jones. It really does prove you know nothing about football.

47. The Broncos' cut-blocking. Hard to believe a team that once employed Bill Romanowski would resort to such dirty tactics.

48. Lee Corso. Try not pandering to the home crowd. That would be really interesting.

49. Joe Theismann. Let's recap: the Sunday night football crew gets blown up. Paul Maguire gets shuffled off to college football. Mike Patrick gets shuffled off to college football. Joe Theismann gets promoted to Monday Night Football. Didn't make sense to me, either.

50. Selected ESPN programming. I know there's a lot of time to fill, especially with 19 channels, but in addition to poker, we now have paintball, dominoes, the Hot Dog eating competition, and worst of all, Cold Pizza.

51. The NFL Network. It's the ultimate leverage for the league, but until some of these cable operators blink, a lot of fans will miss out on some good football.

52. Power Rankings. The ultimate space-filler for websites. Absolutely meaningless, yet fans get whipped up about perceived disrespect. Just remember, John Clayton's vote doesn't have any influence on your team making the Super Bowl.

53. AC/DC's Hell's Bells played on 3rd and or 4th down in 98% of stadiums across the country.

54. Footballs players putting up four fingers to signify the fourth quarter.

55. Nerdy bloggers who write lists. Oooh, some guy in Pittsburgh hates the Yankees...I'm sure George Steinbrenner is losing sleep.

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