Building A Legacy
Blair's impact already being felt

DeJuan Blair sat silently in front of his locker in the visiting dressing room of Time Warner Cable Arena. It was two hours before his San Antonio Spurs were to take on the Charlotte Bobcats, and the rookie from the Hill District was reflecting on just how much his life had changed over the last 12 months.

Two days earlier, Blair turned in a 28-point, 21-rebound performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the first 20-20 game by an NBA rookie since Blair's teammate, two-time league MVP Tim Duncan, turned the trick 12 years ago.

A year and a day earlier, Blair recorded 13 points and 18 rebounds as his Pitt Panthers won their second consecutive game as the No. 1 ranked team in the country.

And three years earlier, Blair and four of his best friends were on their way to winning the Pennsylvania state basketball championship at soon-to-be-defunct Schenley High School.

"Nothing's changed all that much, really," Blair finally said quietly.

The young man is just 20-years-old. Forgive him if his game is a little more developed than his perspective. ...Full Story...

College Football Recruiting
Local Breakdown

After months of letters, phone calls, text messages and campus visits, it all comes to a head on National Letter of Intent Day. Top high school football players in the country can make their decisions binding on Feb. 3. Hope springs eternal on LOI Days, the day the most passionate college football fans wait for all year. Who goes where? What last-minute decisions shake the foundation of the recruiting scene? How did your school do? PSR takes a look at the 2010 classes for Penn State, Pitt and West Virginia. ...Full Story...

Shuffling The Deck
Rooney demands changes in 2010-01-30

On a cold morning in the winter of 1974, Art Rooney Jr. rushed into a restroom in the bowels of Three Rivers Stadium, threw up all over his nice, new shoes, straightened his tie, cleared his throat and went out and drafted a veritable wing of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Nerves? No question. And he was the owner's son.

Through careful preparation, cunning and a particular knack for talent procurement, Rooney helped build the team that won four Super Bowls in six years for the Steelers.

Thirty-six years later, Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert is immersed among his videos, scouting reports and staff, trying to fill the holes on a team that has more than a few.

Nerves? Maybe a bit... ...Full Story...

Just Getting Started
Young Pitt Team Already Surprise of a Rugged Big East

Remember Dec. 8?

A struggling, inexperienced Pitt basketball team was losing by 20 points late in the second half against a mediocre Indiana squad at Madison Square Garden. Just four days before that, Pitt managed just 47 points against an extremely bad New Hampshire team.

Since those two rather embarrassing performances, the Pitt Panthers basketball team, officially back to full strength with the addition of Jermaine Dixon and Gilbert Brown to the lineup, has taken the court as if they were the reincarnation of last year's squad.

Remember? The one that went 31-5, reached the NCAA Elite Eight and sent two players to the NBA? ...Full Story...

From The Editor's Desk
Re-writing Favre

Aren't you sick of Brett Favre? Sick of the hype, tired of the drama, weary from all the media coverage?

Brett ends yet another NFC Championship game with an interception

Title run ends: Joy in Green Bay.

Favre's altering his legacy.

Am I missing something? ...Full Story...

Cannon Firing Line
Lifeblood

I've spent time this winter wondering why the coverage of college football recruiting has become such a big deal.

I have the answer - and it has something to do with baseball.

What we've long said about baseball remains true. Its attraction each spring is all about rebirth.

That's the same rationale with college football recruiting - except the hopes aren't limited to this upcoming season. Instead, they extend years. ...Full Story...

KidSports Magazine

As of October 2009, we began including articles from our sister publication KidSports Magazine.

KidSports Magazine is a guide for parents of young athletes. The magazine offers parents useful tips on such topics as nutrition, sports equipment, training, saving money, medical advice, rules, sports and school, sports education, scholarships and just about any other issue you can think of for parents of younger kids involved in sports. ...Full Story...