Madden NFL 10 AFC North Preview

Here is the link for the preview of our division for the new Madden game. I am super excited for it. 1. Because I am getting a new PS3. 2. Because this means that the season is right around the corner. If that doesn't get you pumped up, MOVE TO ANOTHER STATE!

http://maddennfl.easports.com/media.action

McClouth Trade

I know that the trade is long past, but I came across this song and found it interesting. This video is from Jesse Andrews, which Dejan Kovacevic of the PBC Blog reported in a post today. After trying to find out the name of the kid who wrote it, he actually heard from him.

Dejan,

It took me a while, but I just noticed that you included my Nate McLouth video in your blog. That's amazing! I'm a big fan of yours, and it feels pretty wild to have done a thing that found its way into your reporting. Thanks so much!

I'll note in passing that the irony of the video is that I actually thought (and still think) that the McLouth trade was a smart move. It was really just the fact that Nate's teammates were upset about it, not to mention Nate himself, that made me feel justified in writing a sappy melodramatic song (and also, of course, Nate being one of my favorite Pirates).

Do you have any idea of whether Nate himself knows this video is out there?

Anyway, thanks again for linking, hope your back is doing better, and huge props to you, Chuck, and the rest of the PG team for your consistently awesome reporting.

Jesse

I understand the logistics behind this trade. Andrew McCutchen was waiting in the wings and probably ready to step in. He is also 22 years old and McLouth is 27. By the way, McCutchen has shown some promise since he was called up after the trade. However, I can also see why fans are angry. Here's another Pirates "star" that was traded away for prospects. Mind you, prospects that the Pirates brass called "above average". Is Nate McLouth a major league star? No, but he was the best player on our team and one of the three players that Dave Littlefield...sorry for that Freudian slip, Neal Huntington said he wanted to build the franchise around. Will the Pirates ever win? Only time will tell, but when moves like this are consistently being made, it's doubtful.

The City of Champions

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It's a great time to be from Pittsburgh. By the way...isn't this picture fitting?

Captain Compete

For Halloween 2008, Will Ferrell brought to life a super-hero named Captain Compete in order to motivate the USC Trojan football team. I'm not a USC fan, nor does this have anything to do with Pittsburgh sports. However, I thought it was funny and oddly inspiring.

Now, onto some Pittsburgh sports news.

Penguins
How well are these guys playing? I have NEVER seen any team in any sport dominate like the Pens have in this series. Malkin. That's all I have to say. He has stepped up his game and is finally performing on the level everyone knew he was capable of. Looks like this will be a sweep, but never count your chickens before the eggs hatch. Go Pens!

In Response To Yesterday's Blog

Yesterday, I went off on a rant aimed at James Harrison. http://mypittsburghsportsblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/is-james-harrison-really-that-dumb.htmldumb.htmldumb.html. I questioned his intelligence, and deservedly so. The winner of the Super Bowl is granted the right to meet the President. We won. So, we get to go. Had the Cardinals won, they would be making the trip. I really don't think James Harrison is that ignorant. However, his comments made him sound classless and egotistical. Harrison said,

"If you want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers, invite us when we don’t win the Super Bowl. So, as far as I’m concerned, he would have invited Arizona if they had won. I don’t feel the need to actually go. I don’t feel like it’s that big a deal to me.’’

If it's not a big deal to him, that's fine, but don't phrase it like that. The only reason any team goes to the White House is because they won the championship or accomplished some other spectacular feat in their sport. What makes the Steelers any different? I love the Steelers as much as anyone else. I am a Western PA guy. I grew up with the Steelers, as well as the other college and pro teams in the area. I have a passion for and follow all of the teams. But, if we put things into perspective, the Steelers are just a football team. Now, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is putting out an article stating that Harrison's fear of flying may be the reason he does not want to go, but judging by Harrison's comments, flying has nothing to do with it. http://www.pittsburghpostgazette.com/pg/09140/971339-66.stm It sounds like the Post-Gazette is trying to dissolve the story because it has become national news. It wasn't a big deal last time because Harrison was just a special teams player, not the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Also, Harrison didn't make such foolish and absurd comments after Super Bowl XL. Listen, it is an honor to be granted a chance to meet the leader of our country, especially when the President is close with the owner of your football team. If he doesn't think so, then I guess he is doing the right thing by staying home. Many people don't see this as a big deal. So, I will leave you with one final question. If you had the chance to go to the White House and meet our President, would you go?