Mondesi's House: Jaromir Jagr

at 10:55 PM

Lots to catch up on, including the Czech Republic/Russia championship game, the possible end of the road for Jack Wilson, Peter Gammons talkin' Bucs, and a trio of bizarre local arrests, along with much more...

at 3:52 PM

There is no fashion statement as regional as the Pittsburgh Mustache. And after a simple posting last week of a Bill Cowher/Alby Oxenreiter 'stache-shot circa 1996, it was suggested that I gather together some of the more famous hairy upper lips in the city's sporting history for a gallery and debate over which is the best (even though we all know it's the Wannstache).

So without further adieu, I present to you "Pittsburgh's Finest Sports Staches". Feel free to add your own nominees in the comments section and we can update the post with pics as needed. Enjoy at your own risk.

Barry Bonds

Barry Jones

Bill Cowher (and Alby Oxenreiter)

Bob Grove

Bob Walk

Bryan Trottier

Dave Wannstedt

Dale Berra

Don Robinson

Don Slaught

Doug Drabek

Frank Pietrangelo

Gary Roberts

George Parros (born in Washington, PA)

Hines Ward

Jack Lambert

Jaromir Jagr

Jason Thompson

Jeff King

Jerry Micco

Jim Leyland

Beaver Falls' Joe Namath

John Candelaria

John Fedko

John Steigerwald

Larry McWilliams

Lee Tunnell

Manny Sanguillen

Mario Lemieux

Mark Malone

Max Talbot

Mike Bullard

Aliquippa's Mike Ditka

Phil Garner

Rick Rhoden

Rocky Bleier

Ronnie Florian

Sid Bream

Sidney Crosby

Steve Breaston

Terry Ruskowski

Tim Foli

Send the names I missed to Mondesishouse@gmail.com or add them below

at 3:20 PM

We can all stop holding our breath: the 2008-09 Penguins schedule has been released. And since there was no two-hour ESPN special for Schedule Release Day like the NFL gets, you'll just have to settle for a link to Colin Dunlap's article for all of the highlights and notable games.

Just make sure to circle February 8 on your calendar, for that's the night that one Marian Hossa returns to Mellon Arena. I'm looking forward to a level of hospitality from Pittsburghers reserved only for superstars such as Barry Bonds and Jaromir Jagr on that evening.

Penguins 2008-09 schedule released [PG]

at 1:00 PM

I realize everyone is human and mistakes are made from time to time (luckily, Mondesi's House readers are prompt to point them out whenever they happen on this site). But this one has to be filed under the "Pretty Bad" Category: in an article bidding adieu to Jaromir Jagr, ESPN's Scott Burnside refers to Jags as "No. 66". Yikes. Apparently the copy editors at the .com had the 4th of July off.

Predictably, readers went nuts on Burnside in the comments section, which is always a lot of fun. ESPN has since corrected the error, but in anticipation I grabbed a screen shot yesterday.

Coming tomorrow: feature articles on #24, Michael Jordan, and #98, Wayne Gretzky.

With Jagr gone, the page has been turned in New York [ESPN]

at 1:47 PM

Satan and Ingrid Smolinska at a Slovak Fashion Show. Shall I add that Marian Hossa was on hand at the fasion show and pictured as well?

We can now move out of panic mode, as the Penguins have finally signed some wingers. Hot on the heels of signing bruiser Eric Godard earlier in the week, the Penguins have signed RW Miroslav Satan and LW Ruslan Fedotenko, who both played with the Islanders last season. Take that, Garth Snow.

The early numbers are $3.5 million next year for Satan and $2.5 million for Fedotenko. Both are one-year deals.

The 33-year-old Satan scored 16 goals with 25 assists last season. He's lit the lamp 337 times since entering the league with Buffalo in 1995.

Fedotenko, 29, had 16 goals and 17 assists last year. He has career totals of 122 goals and 117 assists in seven NHL seasons.

According to hockeybuzz.com, these moves now put the Penguins just $2.97 million under the cap for '08-'09. In short, don't count on Jagr or Naslund suiting up for the Pens unless Mr. Shero can unload a Sydor here or there.

*By the way, joke "B" was Satan and Crosby forming the God-Satan Line. Thanks, I'll be here all week.

PENGUINS ADD SATAN, FEDOTENKO TO FILL HOSSA-VOID [TSN]

Penguins Cap Center [Hockey Buzz]

Miroslav Satan [ESPN Player Card]

Ruslan Fedotenko [ESPN Player Card]

at 1:36 PM

No, he can't play wing, but at least the Penguins can cross goaltender off of their list of concerns for the next seven seasons. The man known as "MAF", Marc-Andre Fleury, is back in the fold with a seven-year deal worth $35 million.

This comes on the heels of yesterday's signings of Brooks Orpik, whose beefs with Michel Therrien seem greatly exaggerated, and Evgeni Malkin, who looks like he's not going to Russia (or the Kings) after all.

Now back to your regularly scheduled Hossa-bashing and Jagr-pining.

PENGUINS LOCK UP FLEURY WITH SEVEN-YEAR, $35 MILLION DEAL [TSN]

at 12:51 PM

TSN and the PG are both reporting that Marian Hossa has signed a one-year, $7.4 million deal with the Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings.

Considering the wild contracts allegedly tossed around the past few days, this deal is somewhat surprising, especially considering it's relatively close to the annual numbers the Penguins offered. So much for that "hometown discount".

As expected, Penguin fans are now mostly turning their attention to Jaromir Jagr and Markus Naslund, as well as re-signing some of their own players such as Brooks Orpik.

The long-term ramifications of this signing? I'm going to say this won't sit well with Penguin fans. At all.

RED WINGS SIGN HOSSA TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT [TSN]

Hossa to DET [Letsgopens.com]

UPDATE:

Some good news for a change...

Evgeni Malkin signs an extension: 5 years, $43.5 million

UPDATE 2:

Back to the bad news side...at this point I think we're down to about five or six guys left on the team...

SENATORS, RUUTU AGREE TO THREE-YEAR CONTRACT

at 2:49 PM

It's not the plot for a sitcom, it's a genuine possiblity...at least according to sportsnet.ca, the site that's reporting the Penguins have offered a contract to Jaromir Jagr. Let me now pick myself off of the floor, sniff some smelling salts and try to finish this post.

It's been a busy start to free agency today for the Penguins, who've already re-upped Mark Eaton for two years at and Pascal Dupuis for three. They're also reportedly close to an extension for Evgeni Malkin in the $8.5 million/year ballpark, which is looking more and more like a bargain given the early events of this year's UFA market (like 2 years, $20 million for 37-year-old Mats Sundin).

The Pens have also lost their third and fourth free agents of the offseason, watching Ty Conklin go to, of all teams, the Detroit Red Wings and Adam Hall join Gary Roberts and Ryan Malone in Pittsburgh South, Tampa Bay. And Marian Hossa looks like he's ultimately a goner as well, as Edmonton looks to be among the current front-runners for his services.

So yeah, next year's team...probably going to look a little different. On the bright side, you may be able to wear your old Jagr jersey again.

Penguins among teams courting Jagr [Sportsnet.ca]

MALKIN EXTENSION NEAR; PENS RE-SIGN DUPUIS, EATON [TSN]

2008 Free Agent Signings [TSN]

Oilers will throw rich offer Hossa's way [Edmonton Journal via LGP]

at 9:28 AM

--First off, an email from reader Mario on something we've been talking about a lot lately:

"I've noticed how you or the readers have mentioned the Versus announcers and their pro-Philly slant. Not sure if you're aware or not, but Versus is owned by Comcast, who, you guessed it, OWNS THE FLYERS. Can you imagine if the FSN Pittsburgh crew was broadcasting Pens games nationally on Versus? That's what we're dealing with here. As a displaced Pens fan living in Philly, I get to see some of the regular season Flyers games on Comcast Sports Net and they are basically the same broadcasts as the Versus ones."

That's a great point that almost gets forgotten. Plus, the Versus broadcasters are undoubtedly rooting for a series that goes longer than four games. And while those two reasons definitely make sense, they merely confirm my opinions why the broadcasts stink as much as the Flyers.

--Imagine the shock of watching Adam LaRoche clear the loaded bases with an extra-inning double around midnight last night. No, it wasn't a dream, it was all too real, as the Pirates beat the Cardinals, 8-4.

Nate McLouth hit his 10th home run of the season, Phil Dumatrait pitched six innings of four-hit ball, and Marino Salas got the win in his first MLB appearance despite three walks in one inning of work.

Tonight's matchup is LHP Paul Maholm (2-3, 4.79) vs. RHP Todd Wellemeyer (3-1, 3.56).

--The Curse of Ryan Doumit continues, as he fractured his left thumb. It is not known how long he will be out. He will be replaced by Indy's Raul Chavez, a .212 lifetime hitter who happens to be hitting .306 in AAA.

--Sid is pretty excited about growing that beautiful playoff beard.

--Georges Laraque is no longer a whale. But he's still a Penguin.

--The SI jinx now applies to swimsuit couples.

--Steely McBeam + the Bride of Chucky = the Pittsburgh Passion mascot.

--Pittsburgh Sports Report interviews DVE's Jim Krenn at great length. Sadly, this picture of Jim with Jaromir Jagr was not mentioned.

--Was Tony Parker distracted by this life-size cutout of his wife?

--The Boston Herald apologized for their Super Bowl walk-through video story, and their readers revolt.

--Tom Brady drills ESPN for their Spygate coverage.

--Duquesne Duke Kojo Mensah joined teammate Shawn James in declaring for the NBA Draft. Neither one is appearing in a current mock draft.

--Jack Wilson is sent to Altoona. Geez, he wasn't playing that bad.

--Mike Tomlin says Spygate is over. And no, he didn't announce that during a commencement speech.

--Dick Groat and Swin Cash are two of your 2008 WPIAL Hall of Fame inductees.

--A sinkhole that swallowed the Evergreen Restaurant in East Rochester continues to grow. I wouldn't stand too close.

--Back to You, the Kelsey Grammer/Patricia Heaton Fox comedy about Pittsburgh news anchors, has been cancelled, and a memorial has been erected. Seriously.

--Marvel Comics just announced their 2010-2011 slate of films, which includes Iron Man 2 and Thor in 2010 and Captain America, Ant-Man, and The Avengers in 2011.

--McDonald's plans to give away free chicken biscuits and chicken sandwiches with drink purchases on Thursday. Is it me, or are these sandwiches pretty much a carbon copy of Chick-Fil-A under the guise of "Southern"?

--I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the live-action Fraggle Rock musical.

-Here's the first pics of Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Banks as George W. and Laura Bush for Oliver Stone's upcoming film on G-Dub.

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