North Shore Development Threatens Tailgating
The North Shore facelift that began with the construction of Heinz
Field and PNC Park continues. Proposed construction in and around
the two ballparks includes hotels, corporate headquarters, an amphitheater,
and possibly a casino to be built on what are now parking lots.
Both the Pirates and Steelers have marvelous new facilities loaded
with plenty of places to eat and drink. Bars and restaurants such
as Hi-Tops, Firewaters, Atria's, Castellano's and Finnegan's Wake
dot the neighborhood. In light of these developments, it would be
reasonable to assume that interest in an old Pittsburgh favorite
- tailgating - is beginning to wane . . . more.....
Lack Of Basics Surprisingly Prevalent In Major Leagues
The most basic, fundamental aspects of
the game: bunting, base running, catching fly balls, throwing to
the right base, hitting cut-off men, taking signs from the third
base coach, fielding routine groundballs or properly executing run
downs sometime seem so difficult for big-league players.
Hardly anyone seems immune from botching
a play and making the manager and his coaching staff look like they
have totally forgotten to inform the team and its players of the
game's fundamentals . . . more.....
Up Close With John Salley
John Salley, former NBA player and co-host of Fox Sports Net's "Best
Damn Sports Show, Period!" is the only player in NBA history to
win championships with three different teams. Salley won with the
Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990, the Chicago Bulls in 1996 and
the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. As a player, Salley won the "Best
Interview in the NBA" award from the Associated Press three times.
He has appeared in "Bad Boys" and "Bad Boys II" among other films,
and is currently in business with former Pens' owner Howard Baldwin
to produce black independent films. Recently, PSR editor Tony DeFazio
caught up with Salley before a taping of the "Best Damn Sports Show,
Period!" . . . more.....
Winning Isn't Everything
It was predictable. Win a few games. Attendance goes up. People
connect the dots.
Predictable, but wrong.
When Rob Mackowiak woke up on that fateful
day in late May, he had no idea what he was about to set off. The
most important development, the birth of his son, came first. To
everyone else, the most dramatic was still to come . . .
more.....
Underground Comedy Looking
back on the construction of the two new sports venues on the North
Side, can you believe no one ever suggested they be built underground?
Instead, both became part of the skyline.
How very 2001.
We won't make that mistake again. We
have seen the light and it's on top of the coal miner's helmet .
. . more.....
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Searching For Year-Round Returns
When Three Rivers Stadium stood on the North Side, the Pirates and
Steelers played all their home games there. Pitt used it to play
an occasional football game. It regularly housed the biggest rock
concerts of the era, religious rallies, charity softball games,
and high school baseball and football championships. It was a very
busy place that easily booked over 100 events a year.
Times have changed . . . more.....
Focus of Fans, Athletes Changing
I've never been as compelled to watch the Lakers as I am this season.
And this is because - somehow - I feel like I will be able to deduce
the guilt or innocence of Kobe Bryant by watching him play basketball.
- Chuck Klosterman, Esquire columnist,
in "The Truth About Kobe" (Dec. 2003).
Argue if you must whether or not Kobe
Bryant is a basketball player, an entertainer or a man facing .
. . more.....
Ruling In Favor Of Fans
In hockey arenas across the country, fans were spotted with their
mouths wide open. They were not mesmerized by the play.
They were yawning.
Goal-scoring in the NHL was at its lowest
in 50 years. Shootouts were few and far between. And hockey was
all the worse for it . . . more.....
Backroom Buzz The day will
come when the Steelers will regret that they didn't select a wide
receiver in the deepest crop to emerge at that position in one draft
in many years.
Eventually, this team will have to think
hard about replacing Plaxico Burress, and the cost to do it this
year would have been minimal.
There should be no problems at the position
this season. Expect Burress to return to the team before summer
camp, and . . . more.....
Beyond The Diehards As
host of Fox Sport Net's landmark program, "The Best Damn Sports
Show, Period!" - Chris Rose gets it.
"Not all the guys on our set are die-hard
sports fans," admits Rose. "And you know what? Most people aren't."
There it is.
More than any sports show on television,
"The Best Damn Sports Show, Period!" embraces such thinking - most
people aren't die-hard sports fans. This is probably why Rose counts
amongst his show's most loyal viewers younger sports fans . . .
more.....
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