Gearing Up
Pens Must Find 'A' Game Before Playoffs

During their sonic boom of an October,when they won 11 of their first 13 games, the Penguins went from zero to 60 so quickly it seemed that month had somehow been mashed smack up behind June, when they had earned a place in hockey history by concluding their championship run with victories in 12 of their final 16 games.

Had they really taken four months off? The relentless results came in night-by-night, and on the first morning after Halloween, the rest of the NHL awoke to this scary thought: maybe *they* were the ones with the Stanley Cup hangover. The Penguins were still the best team in the league.

But, alas, Pittsburgh's formal title defense was still five-and-a-half months away from starting, and for a team that had played an awful lot of hockey in the previous two seasons, including a trip to Europe, there remained the small matter of almost 70 more regular-season games. It hasn't been a small matter. ...Full Story...

Up Close with the Pittsburgh Sports Report
Chicago Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa

Former Penguins winger Marian Hossa is in the midst of his first season with the Chicago Blackhawks. After signing a 12-year, $62.8 million contract in the offseason, Hossa missed his new team's first 22 games after enduring shoulder surgery over the summer, after his Detroit Red Wings lost to the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals. Hossa hasn't missed a beat in Chicago, though, as he had 34 points (17 goals, 17 assist) in his first 37 games with the Blackhawks, who entered the Olympic break on top of the NHL's Central Division standings.

PSR writer Joe Sager caught up with Hossa recently to discuss his transition to a new environment in Chicago and joining another talented team. ...Full Story...

Pirates 2010 Preview: Not Just Yet
Pirates Headed in Right Direction, But Not Likely to End Losing Streak

I know it's fashionable to bash the Buccos and I understand why people do it. I'm as aware as anyone about the team's 17 straight losing seasons, but after two years of watching the still-new regime headed by president Frank Coonelly and general manager Neal Huntington, I believe they know what they're doing and they have the organization heading in the right direction.

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I expect the embarrassing streak to end in 2010. It's probably still a year or two too soon for that to happen.

However, just because they're losing doesn't mean they're lost. Better days lie ahead.

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

From The Editor's Desk
Pre-March Madness: Dominating the Elite at the Pete

While spring used to mean baseball in Pittsburgh, for the better part of this century it has meant Pitt basketball. Despite losing four starters to the professional ranks, Jamie Dixon's Panthers exited February closing in on their ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. Only Kansas, Duke, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Texas and Wisconsin have kept pace. By now, Pitt fans are also aware of the half a dozen Sweet 16 appearances, the two Big East Tournament championships and the seven BET tourney finals. But perhaps the most astounding accomplishment of the Pitt program is their 7-0 record against Top 5 teams in the Petersen Events Center. A top 5 team has never won in the Pete. It's an impressive streak, to say the least, but one that won't have another chapter written until next season. Let's take look at Pitt's remarkable Giant-Killing Streak: ...Full Story...

Cannon Firing Line
Alternate Alternatives

Leave it to The Warden to make sense of the Winter Olympics.

Wardie and I are sitting around a few weeks ago and she reports to be interested in the upcoming Games and the "alternative" they would provide; a change from her standard fare of television options.

In effect, that meant she would give herself a two-week moratorium from the gluttony of self-help fashion, design and home construction television shows she memorizes. Those-and their subconscious message that her man is useless and she can do anything she wants without him-are horrifying enough.

Anyway, The Warden is right. ...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...