Today's Headlines

Today's headlines feature another Pirates loss, Big East roses, a former Pitt Panther hosting a local basketball camp, Gammons on the Bucs, a Pedro-Palooza recap, and much more after the jump...

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped their 11th in a row on Thursday night, losing 5-4 to the Chicago White Sox at PNC Park. So much for the secret extensions being announced to inspire the team.

Pedro Alvarez went 0-for-4, striking out thrice and grounding into a double play, becoming a True Pirate in the process. As for the rest of the Bucco offensive attack, Neil Walker, Andrew McCutchen, and Lastings Milledge each had two hits, with Walker hitting his second home run of the season.

Ross Ohlendorf allowed nine hits and five runs in 6 1/3 innings of work, running his record to 0-5 and looking every bit the part of the annual Pirate pitcher who's taken one step forward and two steps backward. It had to be someone, and Mr. Wonderful has stepped up nicely. 

The Pirates are winless since June 5 and sport a record of 2-12 for the month. This is their longest losing streak since a 13-gamer in 2006 and their second-longest in 55 years, as the 1955 Pirates also lost 11 in a row. They are 0-6 in interleague play this season. Shall I go on?

Now 23-43, the Bucs go at it again on Friday night, as Paul Maholm (3.63, 4-4) battles the Cleveland Indians and Fausto Carmona (3.23, 5-5) at PNC. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05, and it will kick off the Pirates' weekend-long celebration of their 1960 championship team. Any chance those guys can suit up? [PG]

Joe Starkey recaps the sad event that was the Pedro Alvarez debut on Wednesday night.  A very telling snippet:

Surely, the next person I approached would be pumped for Pedro-palooza, even if the Buccos had lost nine straight. But I swear this is what Mike Biosko, a middle-aged man from Cranberry, told me when I asked if he and his buddy had come for the Alvarez unveiling.

"No, we're here to see if they lose 10 in a row," he said.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto sent 10 red roses, 10 white roses and a card that simply read, "Unity" to Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe this week after his conference salvage job.

Does that mean Beebe will return the favor when the Big East invites Central Florida and Memphis? [ESPN Big East Blog]

Ron Cook was taken to task by the blog Elvis Has Left, which dissected Cook's recent column regarding Neal Huntington. [Elvis Has Left]

Peter Gammons was talkin' Bucs with Seibel and Starkey on Thursday, and thinks the Pirates will sign their top two draft picks. [93.7 The Fan]

DeJuan Blair will host his first basketball camp July 6-9 at Robert Morris University in Moon Township, PA. The camp is for girls and boys ages 9-18, and will run daily from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Throughout the camp, participants will participate in lectures, basketball drill stations, player evaluations, 5 on 5 games, basketball contests, and educational sessions.

The camp is open to girls and boys ages 9-18 and will cost $199 per camper, which includes a Nike t-shirt, photo with DeJuan Blair, awards, and instruction from some of the top coaches in the region.

For more information on the DeJuan Blair Basketball Camp, please visit www.DeJuanBlair.com or www.DeJuanBlairBasketballCamp.com, email info@five-starbasketball.com or call 914.373.0068.

The Pittsburgh Vipers rugby team (1-1) will take on the Boston Thirteens (0-2) on Friday, June 18th at 7:00 p.m. at Founders Field. Being that Pittsburghers hate most everything from Boston, it shouldn't be tough to conjure up some passion for this one.  [PittsburghVipers.com]

Email your feedback, questions, and tips Mondesishouse@gmail.com