Blog 'n' Gold : rooneys

Pregame Browns-Steelers

Chuck Finder — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:41:00 GMT

11:40 p.m.: The clock just turned back to the 1970s along the Steelers sidelines. There's Glenn Edwards in his No. 27 jersey giving Kenny Anderson, longtime Bungles nemesis, some grief. There's No. 23 Mike Wagner sneaking up on Anderson's blindside. There's No. No. 33 Frenchy Fuqua, No. 76 John Banaszak, No. 89 Bennie Cunningham, No. 43 Frank Lewis, No. 57 Sam Davis, No. 55 Jon Kolb, No. 46 Reggie Harrison, No. 74 Ray Pinney, No. 9 Matt Bahr, Dan Rooney, defensive coach Dan "Bad Rad" Radakovich (on crutches). . . . In a city more nostalgic than most, it's Alumni Weekend -- aren't those for colleges? -- at Heinz Field, and a lot of the old gang came back.

Larry Brown, Andy Russell, Randy Grossman, J.T. Thomas, Moon Mullins, Ron Johnson and coach Paul Uram also represented the Super Steelers '70s. Walter Abercrombie and Dwayne Woodruff -- who bridged three decades, playing from 1979-90 -- came from the '80s. And among the modern-day alums were Kimo von Oelhoffen, Mike Logan, Jeff Hartings and some dude known as The Bus. More might have showed by gametime; we apologize if we forgot ya.

Then again, in this Tahn, nobody completely forgets the Old Days.

, How can we not pay homage to the best-dressed fullback of the '70s?

11:55 p.m.: Inactives announced, and Rashard Mendenhall -- not unexpected -- is listed as the official starter over returning Willie Parker at halfback. Tight end David Johnson also is listed as the first-team fullback, replacing the inactive Carey Davis.

Steelers inactives: WR Limas Sweed (back inside the confinement not known as Mike Tomlin's Doghouse), CB Keenan Lewis, LB Andre Frazier, OG Kraig Urbik, OT Tony Hills, DE Sunny Harris, Davis and designated No. 3 QB Dennis Dixon.

Browns inactives: Injured K Phil Dawson (replaced by Billy Cundiff), DB Coye Francies, DB Gerard Lawson, RB Chris Jennings, OL Billy Yates, ailing TE Steve Heiden, LB Kamerion Wimbley and designated No. 3 QB Brett Ratliff. Jason Trusnik will start at LB instead of Wimbley, who was -- poor guy -- sent back to Cleveland with the flu.

The absences of Dawson (calf) and Heiden (knee) means that only one player on the Browns' roster has savored a Cleveland victory over the Steelers, way back on Oct. 5, 2003: long snapper Ryan Pontbriand.

Oh, and the loss of Wimbley to the worst rushing defense and the fourth-worst overall unit in the NFL cannot be overstated: He has a team-leading four sacks, almost half of Cleveland's nine to date.

12:36 p.m.: The Sporting News, with former Pittsburgh Press ranch hand and Point Park/Elizabeth-Forward graduate Mike DeCourcey representing the publication for whom he writes and authored that story, gathered at midfield a moment ago to officially honor the city its Best Sports City in America designation that graces the magazine cover (the one with Sid and Big Ben on the cover). Reppin' the city's various sports teams were: Teresa Conn from the Pittsburgh Passion, Robert Morris hoops coach Mike Rice, Duquesne hoops coaches Ron Everhart and Suzie McConnell, Pitt hoops coach Jamie Dixon, Steelers President Art Rooney II, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen and alum Kent Tekulve, yet the loudest ovation went to Penguins owner Mario Lemieux. Oh, yeah, and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl was there, too.

12:46 p.m.: The Alumni were just introduced, with the last one, Jerome Bettis, getting the loudest cheer from a 1/3-full Heinz Field. (Good thing there wasn't 6 inches of snow here instead of State College. How would Steelers fans react to a "No Tailgating" command? Badly. Cataclysmically badly.)

Still and all, Lemieux got the louder ovation.

G.O.A.T.?

Dan Gigler — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:53:00 GMT

Are the Steelers the greatest sports franchise of all time? ESPN's David Fleming makes a compelling argument.

Dan and Art Rooney preside over a Steelers training camp practice in Latrobe, in 2007.

All in the (Steelers) family

Dan Gigler — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:58:00 GMT

A nice email we got today from Mike Cibulas, North Canton, Ohio:

"Wanted to remember the passing of "The Chief", Art Rooney, 20 years ago today (8/25/88). I remember the day well--in fact, it was also the last time I spoke to my father, who suffered a stroke that day, lapsed into a coma, and died three weeks later. The last thing Dad and I ever discussed was the fact that Mr. Rooney had died; in retrospect, it was somehow appropriate, as the one bond that we maintained throughout was our love for the Steelers, and watching every game together (with the sound down on the TV, listening to Myron Cope and Jack Fleming, of course) ... I remember both men--Mr. Rooney, and my father, every day--today's just a little more worthy to note."

Something that non-sports fans don't always get about those of us who are fanatics for a particular sports team, be it the Steelers, Packers or even, yes, the Browns, is that love of a sports team can provide a tremendous platform for further bonding with friends, family and community. Its that shared experience that makes it fun, and is often forgotten, especially by the cynical sports media (and we plead guilt to that infraction). Thanks, Mike, for keeping us "on the level" as Mr. Rooney would say and for sharing with what has to be a very bittersweet memory ...

As long as the checks keep comin' in ...

Dan Gigler — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:56:00 GMT

More from Ed Bouchette today in Latrobe:

The continuing saga of Steelers ownership and in whose hands it will wind up may be a gripping one for some fans and the news media.

Players, for the most part, don’t give a hoot.

Here are typical reactions from a few questions tossed out about whether coach Mike Tomlin was correct and that the issue could “possibly” become a distraction for the team.

“No, I don’t have nothing to do with that,’’ offensive tackle Willie Colon said. “Just pay me, that’s all I care about.’’

And this from wide receiver Santonio Holmes: “I doubt if that’s any worry on anybody’s mind right now. We came in to play football; whatever happens inside the organization, happens.”

Why would anyone think the players care? Colon said it perfectly; they care most about being paid. The rest is gravy. Alan Faneca loved living in Pittsburgh, loved playing for the Steelers. But when they did not offer him as much money as he knew he could get elsewhere, he signed on with the New York Jets, who won’t compete for a division title anytime soon as long as Tom Brady remains the quarterback in New England.

Do you think that Antwaan Randle-El cares that Daniel Snyder is his team’s owner rather than Daniel Rooney? Yes, he cares, because Snyder is the one who paid him the outlandish salary demand on the open market.

This is the bottom line for most players on the Steelers' ownership situation.

Today’s morning practice featured some feistiness on the part of Willie Reid, who enters his third season fighting for a roster spot as a return man/wide receiver.

As part of the latter, Reid caught a pass over the middle and then was popped by safety Anthony (Guaranteed) Smith. Reid did not take kindly to the hit and threw the ball at Smith. The two had to be separated by teammates.

Later, Reid and linebacker Andre Frazier got into it and again had to be separated by teammates. Sometimes, it takes several practices for a couple of fights to break out in training camp and here was Reid involved in two in the first drill at Saint Vincent.

“Those guys didn’t like the way Willie was blocking them and Willie didn’t like the way he got hit,’’ veteran receiver Hines Ward said.

“But it’s training camp, it’s all fun. You just have to be smart about it. ‘Willie, you can’t do that in the game so don’t do it out there, don’t throw the ball at other players.’ That’s the lesson for the day, you can’t throw the ball at people. You just have to find a way to get him back, retaliate and do it in an orderly fahsion where you’re not hindering your team with a penalty. It’s a learning process I talked to Willie about it.”

Kevin Greene has returned to help work with the Steelers linebackers for the first week of training camp. Greene was here two summers ago for about 10 days in Bill Cowher’s last camp. Greene, who turns 46 Thursday, played three of his 15 NFL seasons with the Steelers from 1993 through 1995. He retired after the 1999 season and his 160 sacks are the most by any linebacker since the sack became an official statistic in the NFL in 1982. His total is behind only defensive ends Bruce Smith and Reggie White.

This picture does not do justice to Kevin Greene's sweet blonde mullet.

Football Methadone

Dan Gigler — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:51:00 GMT

Spent part of Saturday watching -- we kid you not -- the following football doubleheader on FSN Pittsburgh: the Erie RiverRats of the AIFA, lead by Rod Rutherford, taking on the Reading Express; then later in the day the Pittsburgh Passion absolutely shellacking Orlando of the IWFL. The funny part is that neither of them were live events either. They were both rebroadcasts of games played weeks ago. Nonethless, we were held with rapt attention for absolutely no other reason than ... it was football. Not great football. But it was a quick & dirty fix of football nonetheless. Training camp cannot get here fast enough. We got a pigskin jones that's making us feel like this guy:

With training camp under two weeks away, it seems almost unfathomable that the biggest story will not even remotely have to do with a single event that transpires on the field, and it will stay that way until the Steelers ownership situation is resolved. If nothing else, this has to be a nice change of pace for the players, and Coach Mike Tomlin who had his every move and breath analyzed and scrutinized during his rookie coaching campaign.

Sources -- like this guy -- confirm that Brett Favre will come out of retirement to become the first player/owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Remember, this is a Blog 'N' Gold exclusive! Seriously though, can't Favre just go away? His annual "will he? won't he?" charade is past the point of narcissism.The rumor mill has Baltimore as a potential suitor, which makes sense as their best hope at the moment for the position are a couple of tomato cans and the Natty Boh guy. But with no running attack and their best lineman having just retired, Favre would rue the day he went to Charm City.

Your next Ravens quarterback, unless Brett Favre signs ...

Handicapping the field ...

Dan Gigler — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:52:00 GMT

According to the PG, the Steelers are lining up more investors to finance the ownership "change" in the team, that would bring billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller into the fold but leave Dan Rooney in control of the team. A source says the potential investors are "people from the Pittsburgh area and other parts of the country, some of whom are "names you will recognize."

To that end, we'll take a stab at guessing some of those recognizable handles ...

BOB NUTTING, owner Pittsburgh Pirates

Pros: Can lend "expertise" in "owning" a "professional" sports franchise.

Cons: See above.

SNOOP DOGG, born hustla.

Pros: Huge Steeler fan, richer than Croesus.

Cons: Just a hunch, but he might run afoul of the league's substance abuse policy.

BETH O., Howard Stern's fiance

Pros: Fox Chapel Native. Hot. Future husband loaded.

Cons: Beetlejuice and Underdog Lady to coach special teams.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA, worldwide starlet

Pros: North Allegheny grad. Also hot. Also rich.

Cons: Will almost certainly usher in era of cheerleaders in skimpy outfi– uh, no problem here.

JOE HARDY, founder 84 Lumber

Pros: Deep pockets. Big fan.

Cons: <Insert divorce joke here>

DENNIS MILLER, Comedian/commentator

Pros: Gets ultimate comeuppance to his old MNF detractors by owning a team.

Cons: Demands to do Steelers radio play-by-play, too busy with Mannix and Adlai Stevenson references to give score

And some serious predicitions:

Andy Russell: Member of the Steelers 75th anniversary team and former captain, all-time great has made a fortune in investing, and is the most obvious possibility for a former player. This would be cool. Franco, Swanney and Jack Ham also darkhorses.

Michael Keaton: Ultimate hometown hero, hasn't had a box office hit in forever, but the Batman residuals have kept him as rich as Bruce Wayne for the last 20 years.

Mark Cuban: Money not a question for Lebo native, and you know he's got to be salivating at the prospect. But can he handle being a silent partner and doing things, "the Rooney Way?"

Donnie Iris: Just jaggin' ya ...

Ron Burkle: Billionaire already owns the Penguins, so why not? Can bring Mario into the fold with him, which would be most excellent.

Jim Rohr: Zillionaire CEO of PNC, which already has working relation w/ Steelers, is a champion of region. Makes sense.

David Tepper: Peabody grad is a hedge fund giant like Druckenmiller, gave $55 million to CMU to establish the David Tepper School of Business. Bet he'd pay half that to have the Steelers chalk talk sessions named after him.

WILDCARDS: Terry Bradshaw, Dan Marino, Jerome Bettis, Rod Woodson. All very rich and with obvious connections to region/team, but would likely have to give up their analysts jobs.

Who do you think might end up in the new Steelers partnership? Drop a line in our comments section.

By way of introduction ...

Dan Gigler — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:47:00 GMT

According to us: "The man interested in buying a share of the Steelers is a ... diehard Steelers fan who rarely misses a game at Heinz Field, typically hosts a tailgate party in the "A" lot and has been known to paint his face black and gold."

Ladies & Gentlemen, your next Steelers owner:

Err ...

Given what we know at the moment, this is probably the best-case scenario for Steelers fans -- short of the other Rooney brothers coming around/caving on their financial demands -- a new partner for Dan & Art II that will be hands off, has deep pockets (Signing bonuses? No problem!), connections to the region, has been a huge fan of the team for decades and most importantly isn't going to move them anywhere. Could be worse. Could be a ruthless mug like this guy drinkin' your Black & Gold milkshake, straight outta town:

Weigh in with what you think using our new comments section (yes, we've taken a bold leap in 2003 here at BNG).