Cannon: Firing Line
Front Page News
By Ellis G. Cannon
Publisher, Pittsburgh Sports Report

Years ago, I had a law school buddy who summarized the hopes of Pirates' fans everywhere with one simple sentence. It was short and sweet, but still resonates. He wanted "the Pirates to get me to August." All he needed out of his relationship with the Pirates was for them to have relevance once Steelers' training camp started. He had no issues with the Steelers, he simply wanted a more natural order to the sports scene.

Well, Bill, you finally got your wish.

And by giving Bill what he's wanted for the better part of a decade, the Pirates may have overcome their biggest burden. Reaching back into the souls of their fans, the team has reached the significant milestone of again becoming relevant. As the Pirates make that long climb from extended losing, it is easy to overlook the significance of this accomplishment, yet it must be central to any evaluation of their progress.

The biggest casualty of losing has been the Pirates' essential irrelevance for the past 10-plus years. It's a natural consequence, perhaps even appropriate, brought on by failure and incompetence. It's also a death sentence. And if the Pirates are in the process of avoiding it, or at least getting back on the radar screen, it speaks volumes.

It is more important than the team's record and place in the standings. It is more meaningful than a handful of games, wins or losses. It is the building block to the future, on and off the field.

Consider the national coverage of the Pirates over the last several years. There was none. No meaningful rumors. No titillating trade scenarios. No mention about the thrills of "development" within the system. Nothing.

That's death. When a team and organization are so far off the radar screen they don't register, except possibly for trade buzzard conversation, that's worse than losing.

Losing, of course, is what drives irrelevance. But its impact is so sinister and far-reaching it can't be understated.

Once fans and media consider your product irrelevant, its credibility is shot. Nobody wants to hear from you, or, for that matter, believe what you say. It's like you don't exist.

That appears to be changing. This summer's interest in the Pirates is more passionate, and compelling, than even the Steelers. If you don't consider that worthy, stop and think for a second. With the Pirates slowly rebuilding the emotional connection with their fans, there's been more buzz about the future of Kris Benson, a possible wild card run and development of prospects than there has with the re-signing of James Farrior, the injury to Clark Haggans, and, yes, the contract extension of Bill Cowher.

Nobody even remotely linked to the Pirates should get cozy with this newfound status. Nobody believes the Steelers just got knocked to D-7 in your daily. Toward the end of July, the Pirates still weren't at .500, were at or near the bottom of their division, were double digits behind the division leaders, and, as David Littlefield rightfully reminds everybody, nowhere near the product he wants them to become.

But people are talking, which is the first step. It precedes attendance growth. And, for once, that talk isn't about big and small markets, or about the Yankees winning every year. It's where it should be, on the Pirates, how they are matching up with similar teams, and whether their vision for the future is working. That's relevant, even if it's in the early stages.

Most importantly, it's happening in August.

"Ellis Cannon's Sportsline Pittsburgh" airs weeknights, 6-8 p.m. on FM NewsTalk 104.7. Ellis is also a regular contributor on the "#1 Cochran Sports Showdown", aired Sundays at 11:35 on KDKA-TV.