And We're Back...

A few random notes before tomorrow's SteelerStravaganza post....

--Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving holiday. I know the Penguins did. As Bob Errey said of the Pens that night, they gave Ottawa "some pumpkin pie in the face".

--The Penguinos followed up that emotional win with a 5-0 blowout of Atlanta on Saturday. Sadly, their brief winning streak has only bumped them to 17th in the latest ESPN Power Rankings, which as you know are used by the NHL to determine playoff seeds.

--Are you ready for some football? Yeah, I always love to watch an 0-10 team. Or based on last week's result, "a major threat to the Steelers".

Imagine where they'd be without Porter

--Other than myself and Dave Wannstedt, who else out there thinks Pitt's going to upset WVU?

--Breaking news: Redskins safety Sean Taylor is fighting for his life in Florida after being shot yesterday.

--Here's a juicy rumor: Bill Cowher will be the next coach of the Baltimore Ravens. Where does that leave offensive genius Brian Billick?

Cowher and Billick: as close as Belichick and Mangini

--Duquesne defeated Niagara (an NCAA tournament team last season) on Saturday afternoon to take their record to 5-0. How do I know this? Because they've been all over SportsCenter! That and the fact that Dukes Court has provided blanket coverage.

--All the NFL teams should send a thank-you note to Andy Reid and the Eagles for giving them the blueprint to almost taking down the Patriots.

--Are the Patriots going to play every Sunday night now? As a matter of fact, no. Next week, it's the Steelers and the Bingles. With plenty of Patriot talk, I'm sure.

--Adage.com takes a few shots at SportsCenter. Note to Adage.com: you're a little late to that party.

--Remember that Pokey Reese Bobblehead ad for Bill Peduto from last week? A thoughtful reader wrote in with this follow-up: "That photo of the hot blonde is a better image for Peduto than this campaign photo from his speech with Balloonhead in the background."

--Have you heard about the Puerto Rican beauty pageant scandal? Investigators are trying to find out who doused a contestant's evening gowns with pepper spray and spiked her makeup, causing her to break out in hives.

--Linda Hogan was pretty cruel to the Hulkster. Who was she being counseled by, Bobby the Brain Heenan?

A LIST OF TODAY'S TOP LISTS

The 12 Awesomest Games of 2010

10 Terrible Comeback Singles

The 7 Least-Faithful Comic Book Movies

How Does #1 Sound?

ESPN has just unleashed their NHL Power Rankings on the world, and look who's at the top? None other than the Pittsburgh Penguins.

1 (7) Penguins 41-21-10
A new arena, a new future, and now, maybe even home ice?! The Penguins are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and seven of those eight wins came against playoff contenders. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have a combined six goals and nine assists in the last five games.

Rounding out the top five: Detroit, Nashville, Vancouver, and Buffalo.

If I told you at the beginning of the year that the Pens would be ranked #1 this late in the season, Jordan Staal would trail Sidney Crosby by four goals (32-28), Marc-Andre Fleury would double his career win total (with 10 games still to go), and the Pens have a new arena deal for the next 30 years, would you have asked to see the deal with the devil? It's too much to believe...but fun to watch.

Your Daily Time-Killing Fix

ESPN gives major love to the Penguins, ranking them 2nd in their Power Rankings. We're coming for that #1 spot, Buffalo.

The Kevan Barlow Era comes to an unceremonious end in New York. And this time he can't blame Coach Hitler.

The relationship between Mike Lange and FSN Pittsburgh sounds worse than Marty Schottenheimer and A.J. Smith in San Diego, if that's at all possible.

SI.com says the Pens are digging Bryan Smolinski.

Reggie Bush is your newest Gold Toe dress socks pitchman. Yeah, that taunting call against the Bears really tainted his image.

Manny Ramirez, antique auto auctioneer. Oh, that's just Manny being Manny. By the way, can we start a "Just Jose Being Jose" line to excuse Castillo's brain lapses this season? Maybe when he starts averaging 42 HR/135 RBI per year.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that ESPN's NASCAR coverage has been a bit much.

Check out Bishop State CC, where they had a 67-year-old disabled grandmother receiving athletic scholarships to play three sports there just months before she died. A three-sport granny? Sounds like a five-star recruit! Where were you on this one, Wanny?

A pack of ciggies is now running at $125 in California prisons. And just think, they're only a few bucks at Sheetz. That's the cost of living in certain areas.

A great video mash-up: "Batman vs. Superman: You Know How I Know You're Gay?", mixing a Justice League cartoon with the famous 40 Year Old Virgin scene.

Leon Washington - the New Billy Ripken?, Duquesne Opener, $51 Million to Negotiate, Power Rankings, PA Casinos

The Red Sox pay $51 million to negotiate with a Japanese pitcher , which is more than the 2006 opening day payrolls in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Tampa Bay and Florida. Yep, baseball's in great shape.

ESPN's Andy Katz writes a nice piece on Duquesne's season opener on Monday night.

Stewart Mandel unleashes his College Football rankings on us. Let's see...1, Big 10...2, Big 10...3, SEC...4, SEC...

On the topic of Power Rankings, our Penguins fall to #16 according to the puckheads at SI.

We have a J.R. House sighting! Thanks to reader Jason for the link.

Beckett.com's story on the Leon Washington middle finger rookie card. This generation's Billy Ripken F-Face. I'm certainly hoping this will get kids interested in cards again.

Pennsylvania's first casino opens in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday. That might be a bad influence on all those Baby Penguins.

Power Rankings, Boise Sticks ESPN, Rodman's Midget Basketball Movie, KFed Dumped by Text

The Yankees had a case of extreme bad timing with their "Yankee Santa Claus flying a plane" Christmas ornament released days before the Cory Lidle tragedy. (Thanks to reader A.J. for the link)

While writing stories about Kevin Pittsnogle and Ike Taylor, I neglected to wrapup the Pens game. So I'll leave that duty to the Pensblog today.

Regulars know "bern1" from the Mondesi comments section. And he just started a blog, so you can read more of his musings at Joey Porter's Pit Bulls. Check out his "Deuce vs. Duce" preview of Sunday's matchup.

SI.com says the Pens are the 11th-best NHL team in their new Power Rankings.

Meanwhile, SI.com says the Steelers are the 22nd-best NFL team.

Bill Simmons sorts out the first week in the NBA. He fails to mention the impact of Cavs games airing on FSN Pittsburgh.

The Ike Taylor benching has resulted in the closure of the Facemeike.com store

Boise State sticks it to ESPN, like each of us dream to do every day.

How's this for a movie concept: Dennis Rodman coaching a midget basketball team, with Mini-Me as one of his players?

Chad Johnson quits the Bengals to pursue a solo career.

Stewart Mandel does a good job sticking up for the Big East. Personally, I've grown weary about hearing how the conference is so inferior.

Kevin Federline got dumped...by text message?

Finally, an awesome first look at the Hills Have Eyes 2. Anyone else out there ever see the original or the remake?

NHL Power Rankings, A Belichick Smokes Up, 2006 MLB Free Agents

The newest TSN NHL Power Rankings are in: Pens #8, and in dead last...the Flyers!

Looks like one Stephen Belichick got caught smoking the ganja.

Not a good injury report for Steelers who played for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Virginia Tech may not produce accurate pro QBs, but their fans were able to connect a glass bottle with Tommy Bowden's head on Thursday night.

The Post-Gazette compiled a list of the 11 Super Bowl Champions to miss the playoffs the next year.

SI.com has the early buzz on the 2006-2007 MLB Free Agents.