The News

A recap of your favorite links, named in honor of Mike Tomlin
"I'm not telling a story. I'm reporting the news."

Got news? Email it to mondesishouse@gmail.com

--Training camp is near, so you know what that means...time for Alan Faneca to give us a new round of his "I'm unhappy" speeches.

--The Pirates get swept by the Rockies with a 5-3 loss today. And I didn't even get to write about last night's loss yet! Actually, there wasn't much to write about last night. I just had to mention the way the game ended: Jason Bay stared at a called strike three and casually mosied off the field. Again. Can we get this guy some Vitamin Water or something? Or should we be apathetic to his apathy?

--A reader sends along this article written last week entitled, "Michael Vick Will Not Be Indicted: Shhhhhhhh!", where the author called out a number of people as racist and made some pretty bold accusations. Yep, he looks kinda silly after the 18-page document unleashed yesterday.

--It looks like 2007 will be an exciting year for the Big East, with four Heisman contenders in the conference. And that's not counting Shady McCoy.

--SI's Stewart Mandel takes in Big East Media Day at the Eisenhower House in Rhode Island, and he had this to say:

As the sun set along the coastline, I turned to a writer friend and said, "Under ordinary circumstances, this has to be one of the top 10 places you'd least likely expect to run into Dave Wannstedt."

--The Ladies... are not thrilled with the Danbury Mint's line of accessories for female Steeler fans. How dare you call this gaudy!

--Don't like the jewelry? How about a Big Ben Christmas ornament for your lady?

--Bugs and Cranks put together a video of all the events that have gone down since the Pirates last had a winning season. But hey, the Pirates are committed to putting a competitive ballclub on the field, so we shouldn't be upset.

--Remember Adam the Penn State fan? How could you forget him? Well, he's already counting down the days to PSU-Notre Dame (about 2 months away), so he sends over two links:

First, a pro-ND, anti-PSU article:

I Hate So Much About The Things That You Choose To Be: A Look at the Delusions of Penn State Fans

Then, the pro-PSU, anti-ND response (written by Adam).

--New blog! Check out Blue-Collar Baseball by a tortured soul who follows the Pirates and the Reds.

--From ESPN.com's "AM Jump":

Odds on what outrageous pranks Adam LaRoche is planning next, after the former Brave cut the crotch out of every Atlanta player's underpants.

8 to 1 Hot foot on 10 of Antonio Alfonseca's 12 toes
4 to 1 Plant black-and-white cookie in Gary Sheffield's locker, with note signed, "Thinking of you, DJ #2"
2 to 1 Fool Pittsburgh residents into believing they have a major league team
OFF Trick Cubs into trading for Jason Kendall

--Michael Wilbon fights back against Peter King and anyone else taking shots at him for Who's Now?

--The always-entertaining (and always off-color) Maddox tells us why the Nokia E70 is better than the iPhone.

--More from Big Ben's Excellent ESPY Adventures:

Will "The Rock" suplex Big Ben?

Handlers are spreading the word to press members that Dwayne Johnson should not be referred to as "The Rock." Not getting the memo: Ben Roethlisberger, who greeted the former pro wrestler backstage.

"I never wanted to say, from this day forward, I will be 'Dwayne Johnson, The Actor,'" Johnson said earlier. "If there's some action movie with guns and ass-kicking, and they want to call me 'The Rock,' that's cool."

"Whatever doesn't get me beat up," Roethlisberger said later.