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LATEST POSTS ON THE PENSBLOG
Saturday, 30 January 2010 04:13 am
82 Comments
Insane news from Dejan Kovacevic of the PG, that will certainly be the talk of everything.
Mario and co-owner Ron Burkle have actually made an offer to buy the Pirates. PG
According to sources on the Penguins side, the meeting happened four months ago at the Penguins' front-office headquarters in Chatham Center, Uptown. Mr. Lemieux, Mr. Burkle and Mr. Nutting were present, and the intent of the meeting was for the Penguins owners to offer to buy the Pirates. Mr. Burkle made a financial offer.
According to the Pirates, the purpose of the meeting was about another matter, and no serious discussion about an offer or sale took place.
The reasons Mr. Lemieux and Mr. Burkle would want to buy the Pirates will not be clear until they speak to that, though that is not expected soon, if at all.
One possibility, according to a source, is that a joint ownership of the Penguins and Pirates could create a business "synergy" that would allow one to pick up the other in tough times, and vice versa. It would help, the source added, that the NHL and MLB seasons have little overlap and that the teams currently.
EMPTY NETTERS has some stuff as well.
Now, the Pirates said they aren't for sale, but you have to believe pressure will mount. If this would somehow get done, this might be the only way to save the Pirates in this town before the Penguins and Steelers completely make them irrelevant forever.
All we are saying is this. If 66 owns the Bucs, we're going to at least 20-30 games. We'd support Mario if he bought a team in Afghanistan. And we know tons of others that would do the same.
This would be nothing but good for Pittsburgh. Could you imagine turning PNC park into a frenzy like the Mellon during the playoffs?
So of course the Pirates would reject it.
Unreal.
Go Pens
(UPDATE)
Pirates bloggers are whatev about it. [WHYGAVS]
We'll be interested to get MONDESI'S HOUSE take, along with RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER.
We know PSAMP will be as jacked for it as we are.
(UPDATE II)
Ray Shero, gm? Just sayin...
(UPDATED III)
As expected, MONDESI'S HOUSE agrees with us.
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Comments
#1
2010-01-30 04:45
it'll be awesome if they changed the Pirates colors to Black and Vegas Gold... remove the Red... that's sooo Wilkes Barre.
#2
2010-01-30 04:51
I hate baseball. I think it's pathetic. The players are all overpaid pussies and the league is a bigger joke than some of the fart huffers that call themselves pens fans.
That being said...
I too would go to a game or two sporting a pens jersey and insisting on starting a "lets go pens" chant every inning.
That being said...
I too would go to a game or two sporting a pens jersey and insisting on starting a "lets go pens" chant every inning.
#3
2010-01-30 07:51
Ive never really been big into any other sport, but I think the big 66 could really do something for the team. They are kind of shadowed behind last years superbowl win and the cup. I wont say anything else because, I really dont know much about baseball. =\
#5
2010-01-30 09:19
Shero GM? I may actually buy season tickets, theyre what, 20-30 bucks right now?
#6
2010-01-30 09:31
Gary Roberts player/coach/gm
Pirates return to greatness after every other team in the league is afraid to get within a mile of GR
Pirates return to greatness after every other team in the league is afraid to get within a mile of GR
#7
2010-01-30 09:42
Quoting TheFandangler:
... I hope I can hear all 6 of you on the radio...
That being said...
I too would go to a game or two sporting a pens jersey and insisting on starting a "LET'S GO PENS" chant every inning.
... I hope I can hear all 6 of you on the radio...
#9
2010-01-30 10:00
One summer Mike Lange broadcast Pirate games with Steve Blass. They sounded drunk. Lots of jokes and giggling. Bring them back. A match made in heaven. Go Pens.
#10
2010-01-30 10:18
Even if the Pirates were good, baseball would never come anywhere close to my love of football and hockey. That being said, if 66 got his hands on this team my interest in this team would go up a few notches. I particularly think the "synergy" scenario could work out well; 66 could pump some money (and life) into the team which could result in a better product and thus the team would make more money.
I have complete faith that 66 wouldn't get into to something knowing what he was doing. The visit to KC to get to the Pens the new stadium is a legendary buisness move in my eyes!
I have complete faith that 66 wouldn't get into to something knowing what he was doing. The visit to KC to get to the Pens the new stadium is a legendary buisness move in my eyes!
#12
2010-01-30 10:38
I love the idea, but I don't see why Nutting would ever sell. He's raking in far more than he spends, doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks about that, gets to hang around baseball and go to all the cool meetings.
But it 's fun to think about. You think Sir Buries It may be able to teach some bunting skills?
But it 's fun to think about. You think Sir Buries It may be able to teach some bunting skills?
#13
2010-01-30 10:38
Baseball isn't near the top of my list for favorite sports, but nevertheless, this is a class move by 66 and Burkle. It's no secret how much Mario loves this city and I'm sure he's sick and tired of seeing a team in his town mismanaged. It's bad for the city and it's fans and it's bad for baseball period. We all can bash the Pirates, and rightfully so, but we need them to get better for the good of our city. Fuck Nutting and his bullshit rebuilding. Until someone takes over this team and puts their money where their mouth is, I refuse to go to a game. I work to hard for my money to piss it away like that.
#15
2010-01-30 10:49
If Bob Nutting wouldn't sell to Mark Cuban, I doubt he'll give in and sell to the Mario/Burkle duo. It'd be nice - and I'd definitely drive up for more games if it happened - but I think this is something that can be labeled a pipe dream right now.
[EDIT] @bluzdude - There is absolutely no evidence anywhere that Bob Nutting is "raking in far more than he spends." The Pirates have never opened up their books, nor are they required to as a private entity. The only groups that get to see their books are the MLB and the MLBPA - and you'll notice that the Pirates were not one of the teams specifically mentioned by MLB & MLBPA as a team pocketing profits (cough cough Florida Marlins cough). So yes, there is a lot of anger about the Pirates being a low-spending team and I get it, but there is absolutely no proof that Bob Nutting is lining his pockets with millions of dollars in profits. He'd have to get people to actually show up and watch the team to get big bucks.
[EDIT] @bluzdude - There is absolutely no evidence anywhere that Bob Nutting is "raking in far more than he spends." The Pirates have never opened up their books, nor are they required to as a private entity. The only groups that get to see their books are the MLB and the MLBPA - and you'll notice that the Pirates were not one of the teams specifically mentioned by MLB & MLBPA as a team pocketing profits (cough cough Florida Marlins cough). So yes, there is a lot of anger about the Pirates being a low-spending team and I get it, but there is absolutely no proof that Bob Nutting is lining his pockets with millions of dollars in profits. He'd have to get people to actually show up and watch the team to get big bucks.
#16
2010-01-30 11:05
Quote:
Not with baseball's busted-ass revenue-sharing system. The K.C. Royals are the Pirates of the American League and they operate at a nice profit every season despite doing things almost exactly like the pirates (don't care much about home attendance, trading off guys as soon as it's evident they won't be able to keep him for peanuts).
Having an owner that cares about winning would be awesome for a club I haven't paid any attention to since Sid Bream ended their playoffs way back when the other Sid was still learning to read, but I'm not sure what Mario could do for them. Mario knows hockey, he's got enough clout to be that guy you want to play for. Does his charisma carry over to baseball? Yeah, it probably does.
Problem is that MLB has a salary system that's completely fucked. Where Mario could get all that young talent collected and together long enough to gel to a championship team in the NHL where there's no team that can come along and steal any key cogs with insane contracts, that protection isn't around in MLB. You get a good young core and the Yankees and Red Sox pick them apart with figures that Mario can't match and no player in his right mind would turn down in order to take a home team discount.
Baseball is fucked. Mario would probably help the Pirates, but any expectation that he's going to be able to put together a winner are going to be met with severe disappointment.
He'd have to get people to actually show up and watch the team to get big bucks.
Not with baseball's busted-ass revenue-sharing system. The K.C. Royals are the Pirates of the American League and they operate at a nice profit every season despite doing things almost exactly like the pirates (don't care much about home attendance, trading off guys as soon as it's evident they won't be able to keep him for peanuts).
Having an owner that cares about winning would be awesome for a club I haven't paid any attention to since Sid Bream ended their playoffs way back when the other Sid was still learning to read, but I'm not sure what Mario could do for them. Mario knows hockey, he's got enough clout to be that guy you want to play for. Does his charisma carry over to baseball? Yeah, it probably does.
Problem is that MLB has a salary system that's completely fucked. Where Mario could get all that young talent collected and together long enough to gel to a championship team in the NHL where there's no team that can come along and steal any key cogs with insane contracts, that protection isn't around in MLB. You get a good young core and the Yankees and Red Sox pick them apart with figures that Mario can't match and no player in his right mind would turn down in order to take a home team discount.
Baseball is fucked. Mario would probably help the Pirates, but any expectation that he's going to be able to put together a winner are going to be met with severe disappointment.
#17
2010-01-30 11:07
@PensFan2166
A quick Google search for "pirates luxury tax" brings up quite a bit of information.
www.xomba.com/.../
This references information from Forbes.com, including the following:
"Pittsburgh Pirates have turned an operating profit, on average, of $18.6M per year since 2005, including a $16M profit in 2009."
They are receiving 10-20 million per year in luxury tax. The commonly held belief is that money is going straight into Nutting's pockets, and the numbers would back that up.
A quick Google search for "pirates luxury tax" brings up quite a bit of information.
www.xomba.com/.../
This references information from Forbes.com, including the following:
"Pittsburgh Pirates have turned an operating profit, on average, of $18.6M per year since 2005, including a $16M profit in 2009."
They are receiving 10-20 million per year in luxury tax. The commonly held belief is that money is going straight into Nutting's pockets, and the numbers would back that up.
#18
2010-01-30 11:11
Quoting PensFan2166:
You are wrong my friend. They have been "in the black" for over 10 years. They used to be in the top 10 most profitable MLB franchises perennially while fielding shit teams that would get their asses kicked in AAA, let alone the MLB. The Pirates ARE one of the teams Steinbrenner and one or two more prominent owners held up for ridicule because most of their profits come revenue-sharing. One of those is where I first heard that Pittsburgh Pirates are nothing more than a development team for the rest of the league. Trust me, the Pirates owner/management is why I quit watching anything but hockey. I'm lazy, but research on the intertubez and you'll find out as well.
THAT SAID
The very idea of Mario buying the Pirates is so beautiful it almost makes me cry.
There is absolutely no evidence anywhere that Bob Nutting is "raking in far more than he spends." The Pirates have never opened up their books, nor are they required to as a private entity. The only groups that get to see their books are the MLB and the MLBPA - and you'll notice that the Pirates were not one of the teams specifically mentioned by MLB & MLBPA as a team pocketing profits (cough cough Florida Marlins cough). So yes, there is a lot of anger about the Pirates being a low-spending team and I get it, but there is absolutely no proof that Bob Nutting is lining his pockets with millions of dollars in profits. He'd have to get people to actually show up and watch the team to get big bucks.
You are wrong my friend. They have been "in the black" for over 10 years. They used to be in the top 10 most profitable MLB franchises perennially while fielding shit teams that would get their asses kicked in AAA, let alone the MLB. The Pirates ARE one of the teams Steinbrenner and one or two more prominent owners held up for ridicule because most of their profits come revenue-sharing. One of those is where I first heard that Pittsburgh Pirates are nothing more than a development team for the rest of the league. Trust me, the Pirates owner/management is why I quit watching anything but hockey. I'm lazy, but research on the intertubez and you'll find out as well.
THAT SAID
The very idea of Mario buying the Pirates is so beautiful it almost makes me cry.
#19
2010-01-30 11:13
Quoting TheFandangler:
Add football and it's players to that list as well, along with spoiled, lazy, self-important bunch of INDIVIDUALS who just happen to be wearing the same clothes while doing the same-ish thing.
I hate baseball. I think it's pathetic. The players are all overpaid pussies and the league is a bigger joke than some of the fart huffers that call themselves pens fans.
Add football and it's players to that list as well, along with spoiled, lazy, self-important bunch of INDIVIDUALS who just happen to be wearing the same clothes while doing the same-ish thing.
#20
2010-01-30 11:20
@JJ & Rage - I agree that the baseball economics system is completely screwed up and ensures that only the big market teams can remain contenders. Yes, teams like Oakland, Minnesota, and now Tampa are foisted off as competitive small market teams - but with the exception of Tampa 2 years ago, none of those teams does anything besides get drubbed by big spenders in the playoffs.
Revenue sharing does also give owners quite a bit of cash, but it is basically hush money from the teams in NYC, Boston, Chicago & LA to make sure the lower-spending teams don't object to how things are going. And the caveat that comes with the revenue sharing dollars is that it must be proven to be spent on the team. MLB and the MLBPA just audited the books of all the teams and specifically mentioned teams who were in violation of that - and the Pirates were not one of those teams. I understand folks are mad that the Pirates are perennial losers (they haven't had a winning season since I was 12, so I understand), but that doesn't mean that Bob Nutting is lighting cigars with $1,000 bills and wiping his ass with $100 bills.
Again, I am painfully aware that the Pirates suck - for crying out loud, I get busted on by Nats and O's fans for supporting a shitty franchise - but Bob Nutting has been the principal owner for 3 years and he's paying for the sins of his predecessors. While the Pirates haven't won with Nutting as the principal owner, let's look at what they have done:
1. In less than 1 year as owner, he fired Dave Littlefield (a man who wrecked the farm system and traded away almost all legit talent at the direction of Kevin McClatchy without getting any talent in return)
2. Hired an actual international scouting staff, so the Pirates went from having 2 international scouts to being in the top 5-10 in international presence
3. Built a top of the line baseball academy in the Dominican Republic - a place where the Pirates had no presence since getting Roberto Clemente - that is the envy of all the other MLB teams
Now I'm not saying Bob Nutting is the best owner in sports, or even in baseball. But A lot of people just ride this populist sense of anger that he has to be fleecing the team because Kevin McClatchy and his father G. Ogden Nutting did for 10 years prior to him.
Bottom line: Just because the team is a low-spending team, it doesn't mean they're raking in profits and lavishing the money on themselves. And while Mario could be a charismatic owner, let's not fool ourselves. Ron Burkle's money would be what could turn the Pirates around - and there's no guarantee that'd happen over night. The Mets are a perfect example that spending money doesn't make a winner unless the big bucks are spent wisely.
/endofrant
Revenue sharing does also give owners quite a bit of cash, but it is basically hush money from the teams in NYC, Boston, Chicago & LA to make sure the lower-spending teams don't object to how things are going. And the caveat that comes with the revenue sharing dollars is that it must be proven to be spent on the team. MLB and the MLBPA just audited the books of all the teams and specifically mentioned teams who were in violation of that - and the Pirates were not one of those teams. I understand folks are mad that the Pirates are perennial losers (they haven't had a winning season since I was 12, so I understand), but that doesn't mean that Bob Nutting is lighting cigars with $1,000 bills and wiping his ass with $100 bills.
Again, I am painfully aware that the Pirates suck - for crying out loud, I get busted on by Nats and O's fans for supporting a shitty franchise - but Bob Nutting has been the principal owner for 3 years and he's paying for the sins of his predecessors. While the Pirates haven't won with Nutting as the principal owner, let's look at what they have done:
1. In less than 1 year as owner, he fired Dave Littlefield (a man who wrecked the farm system and traded away almost all legit talent at the direction of Kevin McClatchy without getting any talent in return)
2. Hired an actual international scouting staff, so the Pirates went from having 2 international scouts to being in the top 5-10 in international presence
3. Built a top of the line baseball academy in the Dominican Republic - a place where the Pirates had no presence since getting Roberto Clemente - that is the envy of all the other MLB teams
Now I'm not saying Bob Nutting is the best owner in sports, or even in baseball. But A lot of people just ride this populist sense of anger that he has to be fleecing the team because Kevin McClatchy and his father G. Ogden Nutting did for 10 years prior to him.
Bottom line: Just because the team is a low-spending team, it doesn't mean they're raking in profits and lavishing the money on themselves. And while Mario could be a charismatic owner, let's not fool ourselves. Ron Burkle's money would be what could turn the Pirates around - and there's no guarantee that'd happen over night. The Mets are a perfect example that spending money doesn't make a winner unless the big bucks are spent wisely.
/endofrant
#21
2010-01-30 11:25
Quoting ProfessorConfus ion:
Does your Google search also tell you that Forbes admits that they had zero access to the financial records of any MLB teams and that their figures are merely estimates? That's the problem with buying into Forbes as the gospel on this - they like to tout their numbers but the admission that their numbers are shots in the dark is left in the very fine print.
A quick Google search for "pirates luxury tax" brings up quite a bit of information.
www.xomba.com/.../
This references information from Forbes.com, including the following:
"Pittsburgh Pirates have turned an operating profit, on average, of $18.6M per year since 2005, including a $16M profit in 2009."
Does your Google search also tell you that Forbes admits that they had zero access to the financial records of any MLB teams and that their figures are merely estimates? That's the problem with buying into Forbes as the gospel on this - they like to tout their numbers but the admission that their numbers are shots in the dark is left in the very fine print.
#22
2010-01-30 11:41
An image that may be worth photoshopping at some point:
If 66 buys the Pirates I'll not only go to infinitely more games than last year (0) I'll watch infinitely more innings than last year (also 0).
If 66 buys the Pirates I'll not only go to infinitely more games than last year (0) I'll watch infinitely more innings than last year (also 0).
#23
2010-01-30 11:47
I stopped watching baseball all together many, many years ago. I used to be really into baseball but then 2 things happened. I discovered hockey and the Pirates started to suck. I am a Pittsburgh boy so I refuse to root for any team that is not from Pittsburgh. It was clear the Pirates would never be good again, so I just gave up. I know that sounds like a bandwagon fan and maybe it is. But Jesus, it has been like 18 years since they were good.
The thought of Mario owning the team is exciting and scary all at the same time. For the team to get good, they need to start spending money on players. If not done well, they could go into financial distress witch could have impact on the Pens. But if they get really good, Pittsburgh could have another star shining for them, maybe even another championship.
The thought of Mario owning the team is exciting and scary all at the same time. For the team to get good, they need to start spending money on players. If not done well, they could go into financial distress witch could have impact on the Pens. But if they get really good, Pittsburgh could have another star shining for them, maybe even another championship.
#24
2010-01-30 11:58
Quote:
I get your point, and admittedly don't know enough about how the Pirates are run to really counter it, but I'd be interested to know more about how the league rules that mandate revenue sharing dollars be spent on the team are written.
For instance, if the Pirates get $20 million from revenue sharing and their total operating expenses (including player's salaries) just so happens to add up to $20 million, then that means that every dollar the Pirates get from television contracts, merchandise sales, gate, and concessions can go right to the owner's pockets, right?
I work in the financial world and one of the shittiest things I've seen clients do (aside from cancel their active-duty military SGLI benefits... $400,000 coverage for $27 a month while you're on active duty that you have to specifically OPT-OUT of) is to use UTMA/UGMAs as tax shelters to fuck their own kids over. The rules were that the growth of the account was taxed at the kid's bracket level and you had to "prove" to the IRS that the money you pull out is going to benefit the kid. I knew a guy who bought himself a Corvette with his son's UGMA money and used the history of his son paying his own way through college (from an account they held jointly, but only the child used) to "prove" that he has spent the money on the kid's education. The son never even knew there was an account set aside for him like that. Even better, I've heard stories of parents going the extra step further and tricking the kid into claiming the income and paying the taxes on it, although I've never personally known anybody who's done that.
the caveat that comes with the revenue sharing dollars is that it must be proven to be spent on the team. MLB and the MLBPA just audited the books of all the teams and specifically mentioned teams who were in violation of that - and the Pirates were not one of those teams.
I get your point, and admittedly don't know enough about how the Pirates are run to really counter it, but I'd be interested to know more about how the league rules that mandate revenue sharing dollars be spent on the team are written.
For instance, if the Pirates get $20 million from revenue sharing and their total operating expenses (including player's salaries) just so happens to add up to $20 million, then that means that every dollar the Pirates get from television contracts, merchandise sales, gate, and concessions can go right to the owner's pockets, right?
I work in the financial world and one of the shittiest things I've seen clients do (aside from cancel their active-duty military SGLI benefits... $400,000 coverage for $27 a month while you're on active duty that you have to specifically OPT-OUT of) is to use UTMA/UGMAs as tax shelters to fuck their own kids over. The rules were that the growth of the account was taxed at the kid's bracket level and you had to "prove" to the IRS that the money you pull out is going to benefit the kid. I knew a guy who bought himself a Corvette with his son's UGMA money and used the history of his son paying his own way through college (from an account they held jointly, but only the child used) to "prove" that he has spent the money on the kid's education. The son never even knew there was an account set aside for him like that. Even better, I've heard stories of parents going the extra step further and tricking the kid into claiming the income and paying the taxes on it, although I've never personally known anybody who's done that.
#25
2010-01-30 12:11
@JJ - I am not intimately familiar with all the rules either, but I do know that MLB requires that the money is spent somehow on the on-field product. My understand of it is the money can go to upgrading training facilities, major league payroll, etc. And while one could argue that saying the money must go to the on-field product is very vague, I do recall the McClatchy ownership group (or it could have been when Bob Nutting first took over) getting into hot water with MLB for using revenue sharing dollars to pay down debt the team had incurred - the MLB took the stance that paying down debt did not impact the on-field product.
#26
2010-01-30 12:22
The MLB revenue sharing/luxury tax is basically a way for teams like the Yankees, Red Sox & other top teams to spend all the money they want & the smaller teams don't care cause they're getting extra money. Only 3 or 4 teams have ever broken the luxury tax level (that being said, it's set ridiculously high).
Will baseball ever have a salary cap?? Probably not. But there are those who say something needs done. The owner of the Red Sox actually came out I believe it was last year, and said he was in favor of a salary cap system. There has also been talk of a salary floor-setting a minimum amount that a team has to spend on talent.
The owners & the players are what's preventing the MLB from having parity that other league's have, & they're more than happy to keep it that way because they're making money.
Will all this change when Selig steps down (if he steps down) in a few years? (of course he said he would do so AFTER the new CBA is figured out)
ok, /endrant. (sorry, did a case study on lack of a salary cap in the MLB & how it affects the league last semester, felt the need to jump in)
Will baseball ever have a salary cap?? Probably not. But there are those who say something needs done. The owner of the Red Sox actually came out I believe it was last year, and said he was in favor of a salary cap system. There has also been talk of a salary floor-setting a minimum amount that a team has to spend on talent.
The owners & the players are what's preventing the MLB from having parity that other league's have, & they're more than happy to keep it that way because they're making money.
Will all this change when Selig steps down (if he steps down) in a few years? (of course he said he would do so AFTER the new CBA is figured out)
ok, /endrant. (sorry, did a case study on lack of a salary cap in the MLB & how it affects the league last semester, felt the need to jump in)
#27
2010-01-30 12:43
Quoting Rage:
wow, what's with the hate? Did Big Ben and Ryan Doumit poop on your couch or something? Baseball is a damn fine sport, even if it isn't quite as 'manly' as hockey. Just making contact with a major league pitch is one of the hardest things an athlete can ever learn to do. And football players are lazy pussies now? That just doesn't make any sense to me. The individuals trying to do the same-ish thing is my favorite though. Football requires without a doubt the most team coordination out of any of the 4 major sports.
Let's Go Pens/Bucs/Steelers!
Quoting TheFandangler:I hate baseball. I think it's pathetic. The players are all overpaid pussies and the league is a bigger joke than some of the fart huffers that call themselves pens fans.
Add football and it's players to that list as well, along with spoiled, lazy, self-important bunch of INDIVIDUALS who just happen to be wearing the same clothes while doing the same-ish thing.
wow, what's with the hate? Did Big Ben and Ryan Doumit poop on your couch or something? Baseball is a damn fine sport, even if it isn't quite as 'manly' as hockey. Just making contact with a major league pitch is one of the hardest things an athlete can ever learn to do. And football players are lazy pussies now? That just doesn't make any sense to me. The individuals trying to do the same-ish thing is my favorite though. Football requires without a doubt the most team coordination out of any of the 4 major sports.
Let's Go Pens/Bucs/Steelers!
#29
2010-01-30 13:15
Lemieux should start up an NBA team here while hes at it..
okay thats probably the one thing i would NOT support that buries it would do.
okay thats probably the one thing i would NOT support that buries it would do.
#31
2010-01-30 13:25
Quoting Basher:
You are an idiot if you in ANY way support the asshats that own the Pirates. Although, I'm sure the current owner appreciates your money...Doumit? Isn't he already gone? No matter, he WILL be. Write it down.
Football is a team activity, however, you will always see players shamelessly self-promoting at every opportunity, whether the TEAM is winning or not. Oh, I get it...that's called "passion" now, isn't it?
Tell you what there chopsy...show me more than 1-2 guys that get their teeth knocked down their throats, require anywhere from 5-70 stitches on a baseball OR football team that COME BACK in the game and we'll talk. I'm not even bothering discussing actually fighting...so yeah...buncha overpaid, whiny, prima-donnas.
Not saying that there isn't a niche for any/all sports. They are just inferior in all aspects to the game of hockey. Just my opinion, of course.
wow, what's with the hate? Did Big Ben and Ryan Doumit poop on your couch or something? Baseball is a damn fine sport, even if it isn't quite as 'manly' as hockey. Just making contact with a major league pitch is one of the hardest things an athlete can ever learn to do. And football players are lazy pussies now? That just doesn't make any sense to me. The individuals trying to do the same-ish thing is my favorite though. Football requires without a doubt the most team coordination out of any of the 4 major sports.
Let's Go Pens/Bucs/Steelers!
You are an idiot if you in ANY way support the asshats that own the Pirates. Although, I'm sure the current owner appreciates your money...Doumit? Isn't he already gone? No matter, he WILL be. Write it down.
Football is a team activity, however, you will always see players shamelessly self-promoting at every opportunity, whether the TEAM is winning or not. Oh, I get it...that's called "passion" now, isn't it?
Tell you what there chopsy...show me more than 1-2 guys that get their teeth knocked down their throats, require anywhere from 5-70 stitches on a baseball OR football team that COME BACK in the game and we'll talk. I'm not even bothering discussing actually fighting...so yeah...buncha overpaid, whiny, prima-donnas.
Not saying that there isn't a niche for any/all sports. They are just inferior in all aspects to the game of hockey. Just my opinion, of course.
#32
2010-01-30 13:37
Quoting Rage:
What about the Blue collar guys in football that would be better off in a strongest or fattest man competition? They're real athletes.
You are an idiot if you in ANY way support the asshats that own the Pirates. Although, I'm sure the current owner appreciates your money...Doumit? Isn't he already gone? No matter, he WILL be. Write it down.
Football is a team activity, however, you will always see players shamelessly self-promoting at every opportunity, whether the TEAM is winning or not. Oh, I get it...that's called "passion" now, isn't it?
Tell you what there chopsy...show me more than 1-2 guys that get their teeth knocked down their throats, require anywhere from 5-70 stitches on a baseball OR football team that COME BACK in the game and we'll talk. I'm not even bothering discussing actually fighting...so yeah...buncha overpaid, whiny, prima-donnas.
Not saying that there isn't a niche for any/all sports. They are just inferior in all aspects to the game of hockey. Just my opinion, of course.
What about the Blue collar guys in football that would be better off in a strongest or fattest man competition? They're real athletes.
#33
2010-01-30 13:40
Quoting J.J. from Kansas:
Well it would probably be much like the Pens...Mario is the face of the franchise and the guy you immediately think of when you think "owner," but Ron Burkle is writing the checks and he's richer than god.
Your point stands, though. Even as a billiongajillio naire, Burkle probably couldn't compete with the Sox or the Yankees in terms of salary because of the differences in the market sizes.
Problem is that MLB has a salary system that's completely fucked. Where Mario could get all that young talent collected and together long enough to gel to a championship team in the NHL where there's no team that can come along and steal any key cogs with insane contracts, that protection isn't around in MLB. You get a good young core and the Yankees and Red Sox pick them apart with figures that Mario can't match and no player in his right mind would turn down in order to take a home team discount.
Well it would probably be much like the Pens...Mario is the face of the franchise and the guy you immediately think of when you think "owner," but Ron Burkle is writing the checks and he's richer than god.
Your point stands, though. Even as a billiongajillio naire, Burkle probably couldn't compete with the Sox or the Yankees in terms of salary because of the differences in the market sizes.
#35
2010-01-30 13:54
I'm gonna say this right now, I am a diehard Pirates fan. As a Pirates fan, I know this would NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER happen. At WHYGAVS Pat pretty much said it all. Nutting will not sell. Mark Cuban wanted to buy the Pirates and Nutting wasn't willing to sell. Cuban has a tad bit more money than Lemieux and Burkle. I don't care if you call me a sucker, but I still, whenever I can, watch every Pirate game (and listen to them on the radio). Yeah I know it'll probably be a while before they ever have a winning season. I know the owners could care less about the fans but I don't care. I love the Pirates. Yeah, I understand why people don't like baseball. It's a slow sport. The players are overpaid. It doesn't take a whole lot of athleticism to play various positions in baseball. I enjoy watching it, that's all that matters.
Regardless, I still love the Pirates. The same people who, 5,6 years ago didn't care about the Penguins and are now "diehard" fans, are the same people who don't care about the Pirates now.
Quoting Rage:
When will you idiots realize that it doesn't matter how many people go to games, they are STILL gonna get money. The less money they make, the more they get from revenue sharing.
You're probably the same guy who didn't care about the Penguins when they were in the basement.
If you are too stubborn to take in the beauty that is PNC Park, well then I guess it's just your loss.
By the way, you support the Pirates and you don't even know it. Those tax dollars? Yeah, they go towards PNC Park and Heinz Field.
Regardless, I still love the Pirates. The same people who, 5,6 years ago didn't care about the Penguins and are now "diehard" fans, are the same people who don't care about the Pirates now.
Quoting Rage:
Quoting Basher:wow, what's with the hate? Did Big Ben and Ryan Doumit poop on your couch or something? Baseball is a damn fine sport, even if it isn't quite as 'manly' as hockey. Just making contact with a major league pitch is one of the hardest things an athlete can ever learn to do. And football players are lazy pussies now? That just doesn't make any sense to me. The individuals trying to do the same-ish thing is my favorite though. Football requires without a doubt the most team coordination out of any of the 4 major sports.
Let's Go Pens/Bucs/Steelers!
You are an idiot if you in ANY way support the asshats that own the Pirates. Although, I'm sure the current owner appreciates your money...Doumit? Isn't he already gone? No matter, he WILL be. Write it down.
Football is a team activity, however, you will always see players shamelessly self-promoting at every opportunity, whether the TEAM is winning or not. Oh, I get it...that's called "passion" now, isn't it?
When will you idiots realize that it doesn't matter how many people go to games, they are STILL gonna get money. The less money they make, the more they get from revenue sharing.
You're probably the same guy who didn't care about the Penguins when they were in the basement.
If you are too stubborn to take in the beauty that is PNC Park, well then I guess it's just your loss.
By the way, you support the Pirates and you don't even know it. Those tax dollars? Yeah, they go towards PNC Park and Heinz Field.
#36
2010-01-30 13:58
you mean the same Nutting who passed on Matt Wieters, because "he didn't have they money"? That Bob Nutting? A switch-hitting 6'5 catcher who can hit for power was passed over for somebody who now looks like he's gonna be bullpen material.
That cheap bastard will never part with the Pirates. It's easier for him to put a AA team on the field, mix in some bobbleheads, fireworks, and some postgame Clarks/Styx concerns and the yinzers will still flock to the park. I haven't given that penny-pinching fuck a dime of money since he has taken over ownership, nor do I plan on doing so any time soon. This means no tickets (even free tickets, which could parlay my money into buying concessions), no merchandise, not even a dime spent on parking. Nothing!
When the day comes that he finally leaves town, I feel that it's appropriate to drive him to the airport in a 1992 Festiva. It would only be fitting to describe the team that he fielded: a cheap, underpowered model that was made to be efficient and wasn't never meant to win anything.
That cheap bastard will never part with the Pirates. It's easier for him to put a AA team on the field, mix in some bobbleheads, fireworks, and some postgame Clarks/Styx concerns and the yinzers will still flock to the park. I haven't given that penny-pinching fuck a dime of money since he has taken over ownership, nor do I plan on doing so any time soon. This means no tickets (even free tickets, which could parlay my money into buying concessions), no merchandise, not even a dime spent on parking. Nothing!
When the day comes that he finally leaves town, I feel that it's appropriate to drive him to the airport in a 1992 Festiva. It would only be fitting to describe the team that he fielded: a cheap, underpowered model that was made to be efficient and wasn't never meant to win anything.
#37
2010-01-30 13:59
Quoting dying alive:
That isn't necessarily true though. Nobody ever calls the Steelers a "small market franchise," and that label hasn't been used to describe the Penguins since a salary cap was in[******] joke cityed and they began winning. Granted, Pittsburgh isn't the size of NYC, Chicago, LA, or Boston, but Pittsburgh - despite being smaller in size than most other "major" cities - has proven far more willingness to financially carry a team than those same larger cities. The dark ages Penguins and the Steelers of the 80's and early 90's prove Pittsburgh doesn't need a team to be a winner to support them - they just demand that a team exhibits semi-competent management and show they have some sort of direction.
Your point stands, though. Even as a billiongajillio naire, Burkle probably couldn't compete with the Sox or the Yankees in terms of salary because of the differences in the market sizes.
That isn't necessarily true though. Nobody ever calls the Steelers a "small market franchise," and that label hasn't been used to describe the Penguins since a salary cap was in[******] joke cityed and they began winning. Granted, Pittsburgh isn't the size of NYC, Chicago, LA, or Boston, but Pittsburgh - despite being smaller in size than most other "major" cities - has proven far more willingness to financially carry a team than those same larger cities. The dark ages Penguins and the Steelers of the 80's and early 90's prove Pittsburgh doesn't need a team to be a winner to support them - they just demand that a team exhibits semi-competent management and show they have some sort of direction.
#38
2010-01-30 14:02
Quoting TheTaxidermist:
Who said I pay my taxes?
OK, to clarify, I will not voluntarily give my money to the Nuttings. I have even canceled ski trips to 7 springs this year because guess who owns the resort? You guessed it.
By the way, you support the Pirates and you don't even know it. Those tax dollars? Yeah, they go towards PNC Park and Heinz Field.
Who said I pay my taxes?
OK, to clarify, I will not voluntarily give my money to the Nuttings. I have even canceled ski trips to 7 springs this year because guess who owns the resort? You guessed it.
#39
2010-01-30 14:07
@The Taxidermist - To be fair, Mark Cuban never gave an offer to Nutting. He just lamented the direction of the Pirates and said he'd be interested in buying them.
@J.S. - From many accounts, the Matt Wieters fiasco was all Dave Littlefield. Littlefield was the guy who told Scott Boras he thought the defensive play of Wieters was suspect and that he shouldn't get paid as much as Boras wanted. If Nutting wasn't willing to spend money, why did he allow for the Pirates to acquire Matt Morris and his $10M contract that same year - and then pay him $8M (or whatever the final figure was) the next season to just go away? Also, the Pirates drafted Pedro Alvarez - another Scott Boras client - and Neil Huntingdon negotiated a contract with him even though Boras was demanding more money at the beginning than he did for Wieters. Bob Nutting's brief history as owner of the Pirates shows he may not always spend his money wisely, but he isn't necessarily cheap.
@J.S. - From many accounts, the Matt Wieters fiasco was all Dave Littlefield. Littlefield was the guy who told Scott Boras he thought the defensive play of Wieters was suspect and that he shouldn't get paid as much as Boras wanted. If Nutting wasn't willing to spend money, why did he allow for the Pirates to acquire Matt Morris and his $10M contract that same year - and then pay him $8M (or whatever the final figure was) the next season to just go away? Also, the Pirates drafted Pedro Alvarez - another Scott Boras client - and Neil Huntingdon negotiated a contract with him even though Boras was demanding more money at the beginning than he did for Wieters. Bob Nutting's brief history as owner of the Pirates shows he may not always spend his money wisely, but he isn't necessarily cheap.
#40
2010-01-30 14:17
I'm not a huge baseball fan, but over the past couple years I've started following the sport slightly more, mainly due to my one friend who is a die-hard pirates fan. She's supported them her whole life, which the vast majority of has been losing seasons (we were both 2 the last time they had a winning season).
I've gone to games the past few years just to enjoy the environment. I love PNC Park, it's one of the best views of the Burgh skyline in my opinion.
If I had to pick a baseball team to root for, it would be the Pirates simply because I support the city. Will it ever be my favorite sport? No. Do I want to see them do well? Hell yes. They've become the laughing stock of the MLB for a long ass time & I would love for them to be at least somewhat competitive again.
I've gone to games the past few years just to enjoy the environment. I love PNC Park, it's one of the best views of the Burgh skyline in my opinion.
If I had to pick a baseball team to root for, it would be the Pirates simply because I support the city. Will it ever be my favorite sport? No. Do I want to see them do well? Hell yes. They've become the laughing stock of the MLB for a long ass time & I would love for them to be at least somewhat competitive again.
#43
2010-01-30 14:26
Quoting igloo71:
Can he even grow a mustache?
In other news....Feds is the new moustache boy.
penguins.nhl.com/.../...
Can he even grow a mustache?
#44
2010-01-30 14:27
Quoting pensfan:
Are you kidding? Buries it would pitch a perfect game, hit for the cycle, and single-handedly turn a triple-play in a single game. Unfortunately, despite all of that baseball would still be gay.
66 strikes out the side?
Are you kidding? Buries it would pitch a perfect game, hit for the cycle, and single-handedly turn a triple-play in a single game. Unfortunately, despite all of that baseball would still be gay.
#45
2010-01-30 14:28
Quoting TheTaxidermist:
You see, that's where we differ. I don't refuse to take it in, I live about 1200 miles away, but the very first team in the very first sport I became a fan of was the Pittsburgh Pirates of the MLB. MY tax dollars don't fund that owner.
Here's the thing. Assneck the Owner has absolutely no reason to sell his team because he's turning a profit. Part of the reason he's turning a profit is because of people like you. If nobody shows up for games, guess what's gonna happen? You think MLB will pour MORE money down that hole? I don't think you're that simple. I don't think you're an idiot as much as I think you and anybody else who supports the OWNER(not the TEAM) is completely misguided. If I lived in Pittsburgh I would have been going to games win or lose, until I found out that the Pirates have consistently made a profit while not even making a feeble attempt to field a winning team. You want to feel civic pride? Go to Little League or high school baseball games. Enjoy the game in it's purest form. Stop being a chump and rewarding a douchebag for being a money-grubbing asshat who doesn't give a shit about anything, be it the city of Pittsburgh, certainly not fans, or anything else other than his bottom fucking line. That doesn't make you fucking "bandwagon" that makes you a smart consumer. When the Pens were insolvent, everybody knew they would struggle because they had no money, but they did the best they could with what they had. The Pirates don't even try and they don't give a fuck what you or me thinks about it, as long as he's making bank.
When will you idiots realize that it doesn't matter how many people go to games, they are STILL gonna get money. The less money they make, the more they get from revenue sharing.
You're probably the same guy who didn't care about the Penguins when they were in the basement.
If you are too stubborn to take in the beauty that is PNC Park, well then I guess it's just your loss.
By the way, you support the Pirates and you don't even know it. Those tax dollars? Yeah, they go towards PNC Park and Heinz Field.
You see, that's where we differ. I don't refuse to take it in, I live about 1200 miles away, but the very first team in the very first sport I became a fan of was the Pittsburgh Pirates of the MLB. MY tax dollars don't fund that owner.
Here's the thing. Assneck the Owner has absolutely no reason to sell his team because he's turning a profit. Part of the reason he's turning a profit is because of people like you. If nobody shows up for games, guess what's gonna happen? You think MLB will pour MORE money down that hole? I don't think you're that simple. I don't think you're an idiot as much as I think you and anybody else who supports the OWNER(not the TEAM) is completely misguided. If I lived in Pittsburgh I would have been going to games win or lose, until I found out that the Pirates have consistently made a profit while not even making a feeble attempt to field a winning team. You want to feel civic pride? Go to Little League or high school baseball games. Enjoy the game in it's purest form. Stop being a chump and rewarding a douchebag for being a money-grubbing asshat who doesn't give a shit about anything, be it the city of Pittsburgh, certainly not fans, or anything else other than his bottom fucking line. That doesn't make you fucking "bandwagon" that makes you a smart consumer. When the Pens were insolvent, everybody knew they would struggle because they had no money, but they did the best they could with what they had. The Pirates don't even try and they don't give a fuck what you or me thinks about it, as long as he's making bank.
#46
2010-01-30 14:37
Quoting PensFan2166:
To be fair, I have heard that. But Littlefield had to hear that the money wasn't available from somebody.
@J.S. - From many accounts, the Matt Wieters fiasco was all Dave Littlefield. Littlefield was the guy who told Scott Boras he thought the defensive play of Wieters was suspect and that he shouldn't get paid as much as Boras wanted. If Nutting wasn't willing to spend money, why did he allow for the Pirates to acquire Matt Morris and his $10M contract that same year - and then pay him $8M (or whatever the final figure was) the next season to just go away? Also, the Pirates drafted Pedro Alvarez - another Scott Boras client - and Neil Huntingdon negotiated a contract with him even though Boras was demanding more money at the beginning than he did for Wieters. Bob Nutting's brief history as owner of the Pirates shows he may not always spend his money wisely, but he isn't necessarily cheap.
To be fair, I have heard that. But Littlefield had to hear that the money wasn't available from somebody.
#47
2010-01-30 14:40
[quote name="Rage"] You want to feel civic pride? Go to Little League or high school baseball games. Enjoy the game in it's purest form. Stop being a chump and rewarding a douchebag for being a money-grubbing asshat who doesn't give a shit about anything, be it the city of Pittsburgh, certainly not fans, or anything else other than his bottom fucking line. That doesn't make you fucking "bandwagon" that makes you a smart consumer.
I go to a Pirate game or two a year, normally cause my friends will have extra tickets & I just like to get out & enjoy myself every now & then during the summer. But I go to watch the Collegiate level prospect team that's in my hometown a lot more. Not only is it closer & cheaper, but those guys aren't getting paid yet, they're working on moving up into the big leagues, so they're putting forth all their effort. I'm actually going to work with them this summer & I'm really looking forward to it.
I go to a Pirate game or two a year, normally cause my friends will have extra tickets & I just like to get out & enjoy myself every now & then during the summer. But I go to watch the Collegiate level prospect team that's in my hometown a lot more. Not only is it closer & cheaper, but those guys aren't getting paid yet, they're working on moving up into the big leagues, so they're putting forth all their effort. I'm actually going to work with them this summer & I'm really looking forward to it.
#48
2010-01-30 14:41
Quoting Little Artie:
What do you mean a triple play?
You do know a major league game has 9 innings, right?
Quoting pensfan:66 strikes out the side?
Are you kidding? Buries it would pitch a perfect game, hit for the cycle, and single-handedly turn a triple-play in a single game. Unfortunately, despite all of that baseball would still be gay.
What do you mean a triple play?
You do know a major league game has 9 innings, right?
#49
2010-01-30 14:45
Quoting Rage:
I've re-read what I wrote a few times and I can't figure out what you are responding to. When did I defend the ownership? I was defending the game of baseball.
Quoting Rage:
There are a select few who do this ya. When was the last time you heard a Steeler take credit for a win without giving credit to the rest of the team? A play even? Ask Ben and Santonio about the superbowl catch, they will both say the other guy made the play.
Quoting Rage:
So unless people are getting hurt, they are pussies? People play with broken ribs pretty much every game. Lineman play with casts all the time. Brett Favre played with a torn bicep in his throwing arm for a quarter of a season. Just because the NFL actually tries to keep their players safe with things like facemasks doesn't make it any less 'manly.' Seriously, go watch some MMA if you just want to see people get hurt. I guarantee the average football player ends his career with a much much MUCH more battered body than the average hockey player.
Quoting Rage:
Hockey is my favorite sport too, but seriously get off your high horse.
You are an idiot if you in ANY way support the asshats that own the Pirates. Although, I'm sure the current owner appreciates your money...Doumit? Isn't he already gone? No matter, he WILL be. Write it down.
I've re-read what I wrote a few times and I can't figure out what you are responding to. When did I defend the ownership? I was defending the game of baseball.
Quoting Rage:
Football is a team activity, however, you will always see players shamelessly self-promoting at every opportunity, whether the TEAM is winning or not. Oh, I get it...that's called "passion" now, isn't it?
There are a select few who do this ya. When was the last time you heard a Steeler take credit for a win without giving credit to the rest of the team? A play even? Ask Ben and Santonio about the superbowl catch, they will both say the other guy made the play.
Quoting Rage:
Tell you what there chopsy...show me more than 1-2 guys that get their teeth knocked down their throats, require anywhere from 5-70 stitches on a baseball OR football team that COME BACK in the game and we'll talk. I'm not even bothering discussing actually fighting...so yeah...buncha overpaid, whiny, prima-donnas.
So unless people are getting hurt, they are pussies? People play with broken ribs pretty much every game. Lineman play with casts all the time. Brett Favre played with a torn bicep in his throwing arm for a quarter of a season. Just because the NFL actually tries to keep their players safe with things like facemasks doesn't make it any less 'manly.' Seriously, go watch some MMA if you just want to see people get hurt. I guarantee the average football player ends his career with a much much MUCH more battered body than the average hockey player.
Quoting Rage:
Not saying that there isn't a niche for any/all sports. They are just inferior in all aspects to the game of hockey. Just my opinion, of course.
Hockey is my favorite sport too, but seriously get off your high horse.
#50
2010-01-30 14:50
And Feds is the new Mustache Man! Why couldn't it be someone going to the Olympics?!
#51
2010-01-30 14:58
Quoting J.S.:
I don't know that anybody told Littlefield the money wasn't there. All of the obvious payroll dump deals (Ramirez & Lofton for Bobby Hill and what else?) happened on McClatchy's watch. About 80% of Littlefield's scouting staff was telling him to pony up the money for Wieters but Littlefield apparently had a real hard-on for Moskos (I don't know why). More than a few people said that the Wieters thing was a major reason behind Littlefield's firing too. One could say that perhaps Nutting didn't enjoy the PR backlash after passing on Wieters, but I counter by saying what else has Nutting done that even remotely appears like he cares about PR snafus? I could be wrong, but I don't think Bob Nutting has ever once told his management that the money isn't there if it looks like a wise investment. The majority of his time as principal owner has been spent rebuilding a farm system that was decimated, building a legitimate international scouting & development presence, and clearing out much of the dead weight from the previous group.
Again, I'm not saying Bob Nutting is a good owner - I'm not even saying he's an average owner. All I'm saying is that he takes the brunt of abuse over stuff his father, G. Ogden Nutting, and Kevin McClatchy did before Bob Nutting was even really on the scene. Papa Nutting and McClatchy were the ones who rewarded idiocy and incompetence. Bob Nutting hasn't been the principal owner for long enough to really gauge if he is in the same mold or not.
To be fair, I have heard that. But Littlefield had to hear that the money wasn't available from somebody.
I don't know that anybody told Littlefield the money wasn't there. All of the obvious payroll dump deals (Ramirez & Lofton for Bobby Hill and what else?) happened on McClatchy's watch. About 80% of Littlefield's scouting staff was telling him to pony up the money for Wieters but Littlefield apparently had a real hard-on for Moskos (I don't know why). More than a few people said that the Wieters thing was a major reason behind Littlefield's firing too. One could say that perhaps Nutting didn't enjoy the PR backlash after passing on Wieters, but I counter by saying what else has Nutting done that even remotely appears like he cares about PR snafus? I could be wrong, but I don't think Bob Nutting has ever once told his management that the money isn't there if it looks like a wise investment. The majority of his time as principal owner has been spent rebuilding a farm system that was decimated, building a legitimate international scouting & development presence, and clearing out much of the dead weight from the previous group.
Again, I'm not saying Bob Nutting is a good owner - I'm not even saying he's an average owner. All I'm saying is that he takes the brunt of abuse over stuff his father, G. Ogden Nutting, and Kevin McClatchy did before Bob Nutting was even really on the scene. Papa Nutting and McClatchy were the ones who rewarded idiocy and incompetence. Bob Nutting hasn't been the principal owner for long enough to really gauge if he is in the same mold or not.
#52
2010-01-30 14:58
Quoting PensFan2166:
Yeah, I meant more in terms of advertising dollars and such. Pittsburgh can't compete with NYC in terms of television deals, ad revenue, ticket prices, etc.
Quoting dying alive:Your point stands, though. Even as a billiongajillio naire, Burkle probably couldn't compete with the Sox or the Yankees in terms of salary because of the differences in the market sizes.
That isn't necessarily true though. Nobody ever calls the Steelers a "small market franchise," and that label hasn't been used to describe the Penguins since a salary cap was in[******] joke cityed and they began winning. Granted, Pittsburgh isn't the size of NYC, Chicago, LA, or Boston, but Pittsburgh - despite being smaller in size than most other "major" cities - has proven far more willingness to financially carry a team than those same larger cities. The dark ages Penguins and the Steelers of the 80's and early 90's prove Pittsburgh doesn't need a team to be a winner to support them - they just demand that a team exhibits semi-competent management and show they have some sort of direction.
Yeah, I meant more in terms of advertising dollars and such. Pittsburgh can't compete with NYC in terms of television deals, ad revenue, ticket prices, etc.
#54
2010-01-30 15:10
Quoting dying alive:
Fair enough. While I do agree with what you're saying, I'd add that if the star is big enough there is still ample opportunity for national exposure, be it in Pittsburgh (Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Ben Roethlisberger) or any other smaller market.
[EDIT] /endofknowitallc ommentingfromme ...and I mean it this time
Yeah, I meant more in terms of advertising dollars and such. Pittsburgh can't compete with NYC in terms of television deals, ad revenue, ticket prices, etc.
Fair enough. While I do agree with what you're saying, I'd add that if the star is big enough there is still ample opportunity for national exposure, be it in Pittsburgh (Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Ben Roethlisberger) or any other smaller market.
[EDIT] /endofknowitallc ommentingfromme ...and I mean it this time
#55
2010-01-30 15:10
Quoting J.S.:
I meant Buries would do all three of those things in a single game, not just a triple-play in a single-game. Although now that I think about it, I guess you couldn't have a perfect game and a triple play in the same game. Whatevs
On an unrelated note, Green suspended 3 games for last nite's elbow.
Quoting Little Artie:Are you kidding? Buries it would pitch a perfect game, hit for the cycle, and single-handedly turn a triple-play in a single game. Unfortunately, despite all of that baseball would still be gay.
What do you mean a triple play?
You do know a major league game has 9 innings, right?
I meant Buries would do all three of those things in a single game, not just a triple-play in a single-game. Although now that I think about it, I guess you couldn't have a perfect game and a triple play in the same game. Whatevs
On an unrelated note, Green suspended 3 games for last nite's elbow.
#56
2010-01-30 15:23
Quote:
Lemme guess, he's also day-to-day with a knee problem anyway?
On an unrelated note, Green suspended 3 games for last nite's elbow.
Lemme guess, he's also day-to-day with a knee problem anyway?
#57
2010-01-30 15:30
Quoting J.J. from Kansas:
Good call. The tin foil hat society is speculating that it's why he got three games instead of one or two, because he'd probably miss at least one anyway.
Quote:On an unrelated note, Green suspended 3 games for last nite's elbow.
Lemme guess, he's also day-to-day with a knee problem anyway?
Good call. The tin foil hat society is speculating that it's why he got three games instead of one or two, because he'd probably miss at least one anyway.
#58
2010-01-30 15:32
most importantly...this post has given us the early contender for best photoshop of the year!!!
"the world is yours" mftw!!!
"the world is yours" mftw!!!
#59
2010-01-30 15:32
Quoting Little Artie:
Bettman is trying to cost "game over" his norris trophy
Quoting J.S.:Quoting Little Artie:Are you kidding? Buries it would pitch a perfect game, hit for the cycle, and single-handedly turn a triple-play in a single game. Unfortunately, despite all of that baseball would still be gay.
What do you mean a triple play?
You do know a major league game has 9 innings, right?
I meant Buries would do all three of those things in a single game, not just a triple-play in a single-game. Although now that I think about it, I guess you couldn't have a perfect game and a triple play in the same game. Whatevs
On an unrelated note, Green suspended 3 games for last nite's elbow.
Bettman is trying to cost "game over" his norris trophy
#60
2010-01-30 15:35
Quoting dying alive:
Brucie said after the game last nite that it's a charley horse, he's fine, etc, but who knows. If they did give him an extra game because he was injured I don't really have any problem with it, heck he should get an extra game just for the faux hawk
Quoting J.J. from Kansas:Quote:On an unrelated note, Green suspended 3 games for last nite's elbow.
Lemme guess, he's also day-to-day with a knee problem anyway?
Good call. The tin foil hat society is speculating that it's why he got three games instead of one or two, because he'd probably miss at least one anyway.
Brucie said after the game last nite that it's a charley horse, he's fine, etc, but who knows. If they did give him an extra game because he was injured I don't really have any problem with it, heck he should get an extra game just for the faux hawk
#61
2010-01-30 15:35
Quoting sven butenschon:
Because, for some reason, his inability to play defense never seems to take him out of the running for the Norris.
Bettman is trying to cost "game over" his norris trophy
Because, for some reason, his inability to play defense never seems to take him out of the running for the Norris.
#62
2010-01-30 15:41
Quoting Little Artie:
There seems to be some discontent over him getting three games despite having no history while others like Gonchar get off. Pretty sure the consensus here was that Gonchar should have been suspended for his hit. It does seem rather arbitrary, but the only rationale I can imagine is that Gonchar has a much longer NHL history to go by than Green does. Still, the wheel of justice crap gets old.
No doubt Green should have gotten suspended though. That hit is indefensible.
Brucie said after the game last nite that it's a charley horse, he's fine, etc, but who knows. If they did give him an extra game because he was injured I don't really have any problem with it, heck he should get an extra game just for the faux hawk
There seems to be some discontent over him getting three games despite having no history while others like Gonchar get off. Pretty sure the consensus here was that Gonchar should have been suspended for his hit. It does seem rather arbitrary, but the only rationale I can imagine is that Gonchar has a much longer NHL history to go by than Green does. Still, the wheel of justice crap gets old.
No doubt Green should have gotten suspended though. That hit is indefensible.
#63
2010-01-30 15:49
Quoting dying alive:
Not that I'm defending the Gonchar hit on Clutterbuck - I think it was a bad hit - but Gonchar had just absorbed a high hit from Clutterbuck not 10 seconds earlier. That hit was all payback - a typically clean player going after a borderline guy. Frolik did absolutely nothing to warrant an elbow to the face - so it was a typically clean guy just throwing a cheap shot.
Should Gonchar have been suspended? Yeah, probably. Should Green have been suspended? Yeah, probably. In my opinion, the NHL needs to stop doling out situational punishment. If it was a dirty play, punish the player - I don't care if it's Sidney Crosby headhunting Colton Orr or if it's Jordin Tootoo slewfooting Ilya Kovalchuk. A player's history should increase the severity of the punishment if they have a prior record, but it should never excuse a player from discipline if they don't have a prior record.
There seems to be some discontent over him getting three games despite having no history while others like Gonchar get off. Pretty sure the consensus here was that Gonchar should have been suspended for his hit. It does seem rather arbitrary, but the only rationale I can imagine is that Gonchar has a much longer NHL history to go by than Green does. Still, the wheel of justice crap gets old.
No doubt Green should have gotten suspended though. That hit is indefensible.
Not that I'm defending the Gonchar hit on Clutterbuck - I think it was a bad hit - but Gonchar had just absorbed a high hit from Clutterbuck not 10 seconds earlier. That hit was all payback - a typically clean player going after a borderline guy. Frolik did absolutely nothing to warrant an elbow to the face - so it was a typically clean guy just throwing a cheap shot.
Should Gonchar have been suspended? Yeah, probably. Should Green have been suspended? Yeah, probably. In my opinion, the NHL needs to stop doling out situational punishment. If it was a dirty play, punish the player - I don't care if it's Sidney Crosby headhunting Colton Orr or if it's Jordin Tootoo slewfooting Ilya Kovalchuk. A player's history should increase the severity of the punishment if they have a prior record, but it should never excuse a player from discipline if they don't have a prior record.
#65
2010-01-30 16:00
@Basher
1. No, you were defending the Pirates. There is no defense for the Pirates and their shitty owner/management. If you REALLY love baseball, stop giving your money to those assholes and go watch people play for free
2. When the Steelers are losing and somebody on the defense(for instance) does a silly ass sack dance or look at me celebration for making a play(doing their job)is a good example. What would happen if a Pens D-man did that in a game?
3. I wasn't going to respond to your purposefully condescending points about manliness or watching people get hurt. Let's just say that if any football player got their 4 front teeth knocked out...say in their first game at Philly at the age of 18, I don't think there would have been any chance you would have seen them back in the game, let alone scoring in sudden death.
4. Not for you or anybody else, yinzer.
/discussion
Go Pens
[EDIT] I will say, for the record, though, that if Buries It bought the Pirates, I would definitely drop some cash to go see them play, win or lose, because I don't think he would take the same route the current ownership does. I'm out like a fat kid playing dodge ball.
1. No, you were defending the Pirates. There is no defense for the Pirates and their shitty owner/management. If you REALLY love baseball, stop giving your money to those assholes and go watch people play for free
2. When the Steelers are losing and somebody on the defense(for instance) does a silly ass sack dance or look at me celebration for making a play(doing their job)is a good example. What would happen if a Pens D-man did that in a game?
3. I wasn't going to respond to your purposefully condescending points about manliness or watching people get hurt. Let's just say that if any football player got their 4 front teeth knocked out...say in their first game at Philly at the age of 18, I don't think there would have been any chance you would have seen them back in the game, let alone scoring in sudden death.
4. Not for you or anybody else, yinzer.
/discussion
Go Pens
[EDIT] I will say, for the record, though, that if Buries It bought the Pirates, I would definitely drop some cash to go see them play, win or lose, because I don't think he would take the same route the current ownership does. I'm out like a fat kid playing dodge ball.
#66
2010-01-30 16:17
Carcillo is quite possibly the dumbest player in the NHL
He just ran over Roloson didn't even try to move
Gave the Islanders some life
when will the GM collectively figure out that he is a fucking asshat and shouldn't be in the NHL
He just ran over Roloson didn't even try to move
Gave the Islanders some life
when will the GM collectively figure out that he is a fucking asshat and shouldn't be in the NHL
#67
2010-01-30 16:21
Quoting Rage:
I'm really just at a loss. Your apparent lack of reading comprehension is stunning. The only mention of the Pirates was a "Go Bucs" at the end.
Quoting Rage:
I'll give you this one, they do look like clowns when they do this shit.
Quoting Rage:
I don't know what you are basing this on except the fact that players don't get their teeth knocked out or get cut in the middle of a football game very often. You're right, I have never seen a football player get his teeth knocked out and come back into the game. Then again, I've never seen a football player get their teeth knocked out at all, they wear facemasks. I've seen players come back into games with concussions. I've seen players come back into games with broken bones. I've seen quarterbacks get carried down the field to the next play because they can barely stand on their torn knee. They will play through almost any injury that they are capable of playing through without hurting the team. I bet if Ben Rothlesberger had his teeth knocked out in his first game against the Ravens he would have done everything he could do to get back in the game.
Quoting Rage:
I am a proud Yinzer. I'll cheer for any Pittsburgh based team available.
I'm out like the cheese whiz at your moms house.
1. No, you were defending the Pirates. There is no defense for the Pirates and their shitty owner/management. If you REALLY love baseball, stop giving your money to those assholes and go watch people play for free
I'm really just at a loss. Your apparent lack of reading comprehension is stunning. The only mention of the Pirates was a "Go Bucs" at the end.
Quoting Rage:
2. When the Steelers are losing and somebody on the defense(for instance) does a silly ass sack dance or look at me celebration for making a play(doing their job)is a good example. What would happen if a Pens D-man did that in a game?
I'll give you this one, they do look like clowns when they do this shit.
Quoting Rage:
3. I wasn't going to respond to your purposefully condescending points about manliness or watching people get hurt. Let's just say that if any football player got their 4 front teeth knocked out...say in their first game at Philly at the age of 18, I don't think there would have been any chance you would have seen them back in the game, let alone scoring in sudden death.
I don't know what you are basing this on except the fact that players don't get their teeth knocked out or get cut in the middle of a football game very often. You're right, I have never seen a football player get his teeth knocked out and come back into the game. Then again, I've never seen a football player get their teeth knocked out at all, they wear facemasks. I've seen players come back into games with concussions. I've seen players come back into games with broken bones. I've seen quarterbacks get carried down the field to the next play because they can barely stand on their torn knee. They will play through almost any injury that they are capable of playing through without hurting the team. I bet if Ben Rothlesberger had his teeth knocked out in his first game against the Ravens he would have done everything he could do to get back in the game.
Quoting Rage:
4. Not for you or anybody else, yinzer.
I am a proud Yinzer. I'll cheer for any Pittsburgh based team available.
I'm out like the cheese whiz at your moms house.
#68
2010-01-30 16:39
Quoting sven butenschon:
Islander announcers repeating "... there's the dumb surfacing..."
Carcillo is quite possibly the dumbest player in the NHL
He just ran over Roloson didn't even try to move
Islander announcers repeating "... there's the dumb surfacing..."
#69
2010-01-30 16:39
Quoting sven butenschon:
But he's so talented, all he has to do is control himself, Gretzky even said so. Seriously though, he'll always have a home in Philadelphia, no other player fits that garbage organization like he does. I think a lot of guys around the league have his number though and sooner or later somebody's going to catch him with his head down or beat him to death.
Carcillo is quite possibly the dumbest player in the NHL
He just ran over Roloson didn't even try to move
Gave the Islanders some life
when will the GM collectively figure out that he is a fucking asshat and shouldn't be in the NHL
But he's so talented, all he has to do is control himself, Gretzky even said so. Seriously though, he'll always have a home in Philadelphia, no other player fits that garbage organization like he does. I think a lot of guys around the league have his number though and sooner or later somebody's going to catch him with his head down or beat him to death.
#71
2010-01-30 18:41
Can we please drop the "hockey players are tougher" arguement. Nobody gives a shit. It has "small penis syndrom" written all over it. If you don't like the sport, don't watch it.
It's the exact same shit I hear from my friends here in regards to hockey. "Why don't you watch a real sport, like football."
It's the same arguement coming from different sides.
It's the exact same shit I hear from my friends here in regards to hockey. "Why don't you watch a real sport, like football."
It's the same arguement coming from different sides.
#72
2010-01-30 18:55
Also, if this were to happen, would Bobby Crosby have to live in Mario's basement?
#74
2010-01-30 19:08
Quoting BlacknGold66:
Would that mean Dave Littlefield (or any other guy who should've never been a GM and inexplicably provides "expert" commentary) would repeatedly go on ESPN baseball broadcasts and question Crosby's maturity and ability to lead?
Also, if this were to happen, would Bobby Crosby have to live in Mario's basement?
Would that mean Dave Littlefield (or any other guy who should've never been a GM and inexplicably provides "expert" commentary) would repeatedly go on ESPN baseball broadcasts and question Crosby's maturity and ability to lead?
#76
2010-01-30 19:44
Quoting PensFan2166:
No but he will start off every sentence with well when I was the Head Coach and before I was fired blah blah blah
Quoting BlacknGold66:Also, if this were to happen, would Bobby Crosby have to live in Mario's basement?
Would that mean Dave Littlefield (or any other guy who should've never been a GM and inexplicably provides "expert" commentary) would repeatedly go on ESPN baseball broadcasts and question Crosby's maturity and ability to lead?
No but he will start off every sentence with well when I was the Head Coach and before I was fired blah blah blah
#77
2010-01-30 20:02
Quoting J.J. from Kansas:
Yep, just like Ovie who was so "hurt" during his suspension that he practiced the next day.
Quote:On an unrelated note, Green suspended 3 games for last nite's elbow.
Lemme guess, he's also day-to-day with a knee problem anyway?
Yep, just like Ovie who was so "hurt" during his suspension that he practiced the next day.
#78
2010-01-30 22:53
The Twins are NOT competitive in the same way that the big money teams are.
Minnesota has a well established prospect system. The players develop and are subsequently poached by the teams who buy their championships.
I'm only behind this if Mike LaValliere unretires and we get that skinny scrub Bonds back.
Minnesota has a well established prospect system. The players develop and are subsequently poached by the teams who buy their championships.
I'm only behind this if Mike LaValliere unretires and we get that skinny scrub Bonds back.
#79
2010-01-31 00:12
Quoting Rage:
Oh really?!?!?!
Football is a team activity, however, you will always see players shamelessly self-promoting at every opportunity, whether the TEAM is winning or not. Oh, I get it...that's called "passion" now, isn't it?
Oh really?!?!?!
#80
2010-01-31 03:56
in regards to the celebration after sacks or whatever in football, i believe the only reason football players do this is because they can. the play is over and the game has stopped for 45 seconds till the next play is ran. they have the ability to celebrate without it costing anybody anything. hockey is too continuous to celebrate after a big hit or something because the play keeps going. but hockey players celebrate all the time after goals, when they actually can. i think its just the nature of the sport that fosters the celebrations.
and for the record is think its retarded to celebrate after a sack, keep it in the endzone when it actually matters.
and for the record is think its retarded to celebrate after a sack, keep it in the endzone when it actually matters.
#82
2010-02-01 14:42
It just makes sense. Economically, the Pirates are in no position to bargain. One of the worst teams in MLB, in the area of Kansas City and Washington-bad. A major professional-sports record 17 straight-losing seasons.
The Pirates are located in one of the best sports cities in the world (Steelers and Penguins fans are famous for their devotion, and, considering what the Pirates have gone through for the past 17 years, any Pirates fans get my respect big time.) The potential is there.
It's a great ballpark, one of the best in the nation. It's got a great history (younger Yinz, the Pirates used to be one of the great teams in baseball.) It is flowing in money.
They have shown that they can produced great players (that is, before they trade them away)
Meanwhile, under Le Magnifique, the Pittsburgh Penguins are defending Stanley Cup Champions, but they share a very similar story to the Pirates:
Great teams about 15 years ago, followed up by half-a-decade of being worst in the league.
Lemieux retires from playing, stays as owner. Shero and Lemieux get incredible draft picks along with great trades to build the program back up.
The fanbase returns, the tradition returns, and now, the Pens are one of the NHL's premier teams.
Seems to me that wherever Lemieux goes, success follows. Lemieux + Pirates = the Pittsburgh Trifecta: 3 great sports teams in one city.
The Pirates are located in one of the best sports cities in the world (Steelers and Penguins fans are famous for their devotion, and, considering what the Pirates have gone through for the past 17 years, any Pirates fans get my respect big time.) The potential is there.
It's a great ballpark, one of the best in the nation. It's got a great history (younger Yinz, the Pirates used to be one of the great teams in baseball.) It is flowing in money.
They have shown that they can produced great players (that is, before they trade them away)
Meanwhile, under Le Magnifique, the Pittsburgh Penguins are defending Stanley Cup Champions, but they share a very similar story to the Pirates:
Great teams about 15 years ago, followed up by half-a-decade of being worst in the league.
Lemieux retires from playing, stays as owner. Shero and Lemieux get incredible draft picks along with great trades to build the program back up.
The fanbase returns, the tradition returns, and now, the Pens are one of the NHL's premier teams.
Seems to me that wherever Lemieux goes, success follows. Lemieux + Pirates = the Pittsburgh Trifecta: 3 great sports teams in one city.
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