BTSC Steelers Six Pack- Hodgepodge Edition
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 8, 2009 11:53 AM EDT
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PrintIX- The Steelers traded out of the second round and picked up an additional two third round draft picks; which could prove to be either a great move, or a complete bust. Considering our recent history with third round draft picks, the move has to make you a little nervous. I personally like all three players picked in the third round this season, but I was also high on Matt Speath and Anthony Smith. Shows what I know.
X- James Walker brings up an interesting point that really could have a huge impact on the long-term future success of the Steelers. The Steelers number one goal right now bar none should be to resign Max Starks to a long term deal and remove the eight million dollars from the franchise tag that are tied up in the salary cap. Removing this could allow us to not only keep Starks for a few additional years but also work on resigning Heath Miller, Casey Hampton, Brett Keisel, Jeff Reid and others. Having said all that, if the front office is actually able to convince Starks to accept a long term deal I would be completely shocked.
XIII- Truly a great article from Ed Bouchette on the players prospective of free agency and team loyalty. The Steelers organization especially has had great success at retaining players that could get larger contracts in other places, but choose to stay in Pittsburgh because of the culture and family atmosphere. Have I mentioned that the Steelers are the greatest organization in pro sports?
XIV- We haven't talked much about the issue of pensions in the NFL for coaches and staff here on BTSC; probably in part because the Steelers as an organization have not changed their policy as of yet. Our SBNation friends over at Stampede Blue give a good summary of the basics of the issue with a little criticism aimed at those teams that have already ended the pensions of the staff. The economy is ravishing all industries and it looks like the NFL is no different, although I do have concerns about what ramifications this could have including the possibilities of a union for coaches which would give the NFL one more union that they will have to battle with over compensation.
XL- In terms of entertainment value in sports, I personally don't feel anyone can touch Lebron James right now. Check out the highlights from last evening's contest against the Atlanta Hawks. The Cleveland Cavaliers are rolling behind Lebron in the playoffs so far, going 6-0 and winning every contest by double digits. Not only is he electric on the court, but as evident by his MVP ceremony he is humble and generous to not only his teammates but also his family and friends that helped develop him into the superstar that his is.
XLIII- I've never been a "trekie" but considering everything J.J. Abrams touches turns to gold these days I will definitely be making a trip to check out Star Trek in the near future. The reviews have been phenomenal so far, and it just looks to be an entertaining flick. On a movie not I just watched "The Wrestler" with Mickey Rourke last weekend and that is an amazing movie, what else is BTSC watching?
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Star Trek
Saw it in IMAX on Wednesday, but was seated between two Trekkies that WOULD NOT SHUT UP!
It was a pretty decent action flick altogether.
Check out Nimoy’s awesome winter coat. Living in Chicago, we could use a few of those bad boys.
Ken Barnard
Max Powers
If we don’t sign Starks, it is not the end of the world. We will still have loads of money next year with his 8 million dollars off the books. Of course, it helps to renegotiate now because it’s easier to resign a player with one year left than a player entering free agency. It probably won’t make the difference on any of the primary players the Steelers want to keep but renegotiating now could mean retaining one additional FA to be next year.
by CarlWeathersMustache on May 8, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions
Abrams
MI3 sucked, but I guess it was better than John Woo.
As for me, I just saw Vicky Christina Barcelona and was a little surprised that there’s more to it than Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz making out. It might be Woody Allen’s best movie since Annie Hall. Definitely his best in the last 10ish years. I kept waiting for Javier Bardem to look at the two girls and say “Call it” or “What’s the most you ever lost on a coin toss?” But seriously, great movie.
charity standing orders
I really liked Match Point...thought that was his best in a long while
haven’t checked out Vicky Christina yet, but I do enjoy almost all of woody’s flicks even the lesser ones.
It’s quite amazing the volume of work he puts out, especially at his age.
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 8, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I tend to agree. I liked most of the movies he’s made in the past decade, but they were more interesting concepts than masterpieces. Melinda and Melinda was a good example. Interesting concept, nothing bad about it, but nothing that great either.
I don’t mean to build it up too much (I went in thinking I’d be happy just to see those two making out), but VCB is more than just a forgettably decent movie.
charity standing orders
ya, Melinda and Melinda comes to mind
as probably my least favorite of his in the past few years, probably partially due to my expectations due to the cool concept.
I do think him getting out of New York for filming has really helped to make him relevant again.
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 8, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Also,
His new one with Larry David intrigues me
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 8, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Haven’t come around to his newer stuff yet. I’m always amused by his obsession with certain actors/actresses though.
Manhattan is perhaps one of my favorite movies ever. Brilliant.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
if you haven't seen Husbands and Wives
I would highly recommend that one; not completely new from the early 90’s but really good. Nominated for a couple oscars.
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 8, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m caught up until post-match point. Is there anything greater than Netflix?
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
not in my mind
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 8, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, that was what I didn’t like about Match Point. I thought it was a decent movie (although I thought “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and a few other movies did a lot of the same things better a few years earlier), but there were an awful lot of shots of SJ’s pants. Which is great unless you know a 70 year old dude is holding the camera.
charity standing orders
One of the things that is so funny about Manhattan was that he’s dating a friggin high schooler in it. It’s not like he was exactly young 30 years ago. I need to rewatch the movie, there’s hardly a line in it that I don’t chuckle at.
Also, nyc is quite a city.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
Also, I agree that it’s remarkable what LeBron has done. He didn’t even have to play for very long last night (31 minutes) to win by 20. Some of those dunks were ridiculous, too. I think the Hawks realize they have no chance, so they might as well let LeBron get some nice highlights on the way.
charity standing orders
ya,
The three pointer from practically half court to end the half was amazing…he is too good
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 8, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Lebron is great
But Kobe is a better shooter, Lebron gets his team involved better, kobe defense is a lil better, and no one can stop lebron form going to the hole. I think they are even right now with being the two best players in the league with D.Wade a close third. Lebron will surpass kobe though and maybe even MJ
by tannofsteel84 on May 8, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
funny
Blitz and I had this same conversation just they other day.
Kobe is definitely a better shooter and I don’t know that Lebron will get to his level, but Lebron’s jump shot has improved so much in the last year or two that I think he will continue to get better especially as he gets older and won’t have as much burst to the hole.
I don’t agree that Kobe is a better defender by any means, Lebron almost average 10 rebounds a game and most of those come from the defensive side of the game. Did you see the charge he took in game one of the hawks series? I don’t think you will see Kobe doing that anytime soon.
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 8, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions
rebounds
You might be looking only at the playoff stats. Lebron only averaged 7.6 RPG over the larger sample size of the regular season, although that’s still quite a bit higher than Kobe.
charity standing orders
no your right I think simple
8 is close to 10 in my terms, but statistically it is a ways away from averaging 10 a game.
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 8, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I actually think...
D-Wade’s game is closer to Jordan’s than the other two. The way he can get by anyone on the perimeter and finish spectacularly.
I know Kobe is older and maybe his game is closer to an older Jordan. But IMO, Kobe has never had the athleticism that Jordan, Wade, and LBJ have/had. He’s no slouch, but his game is predicated more on moves that are 10-12 feet from the bucket…and always has been.
I think LBJ is just something the game has never seen before. I’m positive he weighs at least 275 and is as athletic as anyone.
Thoughtages
Star Trek was tight. Saw it in an advance showing Thursday night at 7 PM.
Lebron is epic right now. And I’d say his D matches up with Kobert very very closely. I still would prefer Kobe on my team overall but I think Lebron is pretty much on his way to being one of the best ever
Maxamillion Starks did say he’d like a long term deal. I just think he may be so used to being overpaid he may not take a reasonable deal.
what else is BTSC watching?
Big Penguins game tonight, all are welcome to head on over to Pensburgh and chat it up with us if you’d like. The Pens could certainly use all the support.
Your link wasn’t working.
I don’t think I will be on to chat tonight; was there on Wednesday & I can vouch for it being a good time!!
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 8, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Good game Mlikshake
I havent been to a hockey game in about 4 years. Even though it was a loss for me, amazing game to be apart of.
This is the best series hockey has seen in a long time.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
agreed man...
didn’t see any black flacco jersey at the game, but man was it exciting. It tough for me to root against the capitals, because living in the DC area they are about the only local team that I root for. If the caps were playing any other team I would of been rocking the red!
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 10, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, the Flacco jersey was there
Thought you said it would be easy to spot a unibrow?? Kinda sucks that a Cap player was the one who scored the winning goal for you guys.
Whatever, NFL > NHL anyway.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
a win is a win…
I guess since your teams can’t beat Pittsburgh teams you might not understand that!
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 10, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Passion > Ravens
charity standing orders
by BadMaafala on May 11, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Pittsburgh Woman’s Football Team the Pittsburgh Passion > Ravens
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 11, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Holy shit!
Thats wild. I love that they never put the weight of the girls on any team rosters.
I think if Baltimore had a team, they would be call the Baltimore Skankhoes.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
close...
They are called the Baltimore Burn, as in “I just got burned by this chick from Baltimore with the clap.”
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 11, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, the Baltimore Nighthawks are the analogous Baltimore team, and the Passion just kicked their ass 49-0 last week.
http://www.iwflsports.com/schedules.php?teamID=105&SID
Nighthawk sounds an awful lot like a euphemism for “Raven”, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ravens were just dressing up in drag so they could get another shot at a Pittsburgh team. Too bad it didn’t work out.
charity standing orders
LBJ Buzzer Beater
Not only was it from 40 ft, BUT IT WAS A STEP-BACK JUMPER. Not sure I’ve ever seen a player do that to get off such a long shot…especially since it didn’t really look like he had to.
The 3rd round in hindsight
I have hopes for our draft class this year, as I do every year, but I have to admit that I was hoping for something along these lines:
3.79 Brandon Tate
3.84 TJ Lang
3.96 Scott Mckillop or even Vaughn Martin
That guy is a bit harsh on the third round picks...
Especially the more recent ones still with the team. But I was furious back in 2006 when they passed on Eric Winston twice. I thought he would have been a good first round choice, though most disagreed with me at the time. I got the “racism” chant. Then they traded up for Holmes in the first which seemed O.K. But he was still there in the second round and they traded out of that pick.
The two players I was higher on than anyone else at the time for the Steelers, Winston and Drew-Jones have been miles ahead of anyone they picked up in that draft to this point.
If you take out last year's...
that’s 2/8 for 25 percent…I got a feeling no one does much better than that. w/ 3rd rounders.
Third Rounders
The one thing that I found interesting/relevant about what he wrote is we are putting Wallace in direct competition with Sweed as someone who can stretch the field instead of grabbing somebody who could eventually replace Ward.
by SteelerBuddha on May 8, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Good point...
Everyone probably assumes its easier to find a tough-as-nails, surehanded WR than it is to find one with blazing speed…when the reverse is probably true.
I know
its like everyone acts like Hines Ward type players grow on trees
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 8, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Ward is not replacable.
How many Hines Ward play now?
Our new #1 receiver is Holmes.
Our #2 will be Sweed, wallace, or someone else. We don’t need to replace Ward, we need to find a legitimate #2 receiver to play with Holmes. Sweed will be able to play the role if he matures and works on focus, he has the talent.
Sure he can score goals, but can he cook?
Sweed showed toughness
We seen sweed lay the wood, perhaps he can develop in such a way that he can block hard as well.
Obviously there arent ANY Hines Wardsis on offense, or defense for that matter. He’s the Boss of the Boof and the Sultan of Slam.
Hopefully he can mold the new guys to fit that style
He's the
Warrior of whammy,
The Prince of punishment,
by SoCalSteelerFan on May 10, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Wallace vs. Sweed for starting spot in 3 years
From what I’ve seen of both, I think Wallace might be a better bet to get that starting spot opposite of Santonio, but that’s probably more of an indightment against Sweed than anything. WR’s who can’t catch the ball don’t last long in this league. The dude better have developed some hands during this past offseason or else McDonald will beat him out for that third spot. The team only keeps 4 active WRs on game day and Wallace will be the fourth because of his role on special teams.
So for Sweed, it’s either he steps up and beats out McDonald or he might not be active on game days. Wallace is going to surprise quite a few of you.
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