Tonight, Pitt and Duquesne will meet on the basketball court for the 78th time, and it will mark their 35th and final meeting at Mellon Arena. That might not seem like a big deal to some people, including the other half of my radio segment, Whipping Boy. When I mentioned The City Game on yesterday’s show (105.9 The X), Whip started to yawn. So what else is new? College sports are only exciting to Whip when Penn State’s part of the dialogue. Well, unfortunately for Whipping Boy, this will be a “Nitt-free” conversation. So where was I? Oh yes, The City Game. Everyone knows that it’s been a lopsided series in recent years. Pitt has emerged as a perennial national power, while Duquesne has been mired in a slump for the better part of the last 25 years. They are, as they say, two programs on different ends of the spectrum, and their rivalry has been anything but contested. Pitt has won the last eight games (with an average margin of victory of almost 17 points) and 27 of the last 30. Pitt leads the all-time series 46-31, and Pitt has won 20 of the 34 games played at Mellon Arena. So why is this lopsided series so significant? Well, a deep history is a major reason. These two universities first played each other in 1932, when Duquesne was not only Pittsburgh’s premier college basketball team, but a national program of great achievement. All these years later, Pitt is a national program of great achievement, and the Duquesne is on the rebound. With a good man and credible coach at the helm, the Dukes are fighting their way back. Duquesne basketball is respectable again. So sit back and soak up the memories of the city’s greatest rivalry, and watch the Dukes and Panthers go at it one more time under the silver dome. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be a perfect rivalry. Whip, stop rolling your eyes.
The Steelers have lost three in a row, and they’re losing in a way that is very uncharacteristic. Sunday night’s overtime loss to the Ravens was the fourth time in five losses this season that they let a fourth quarter lead slip through their fingers. Their biggest defensive star, Troy Polamalu, continues to nurse his injured knee. Their biggest offensive star, Ben Roethlisberger, continues to deal with the ugly aftermath of his fourth concussion in a span of four years. Ben waited until late in the week to alert the Steelers of his concern about playing in the Ravens game, and with backup Charlie Batch out with an injured wrist, the Steelers were forced to play the toughest of road games with their #3 quarterback. Dennis Dixon did an admirable job in his first NFL start, but the Steelers fell short. On top of everything else, they’re experiencing some level of uneasiness inside the confines of their locker room. After the embarrassing loss at Kansas City, several defensive players, including some veterans, claimed they didn’t know what defensive play had been called before the Chiefs big play in overtime. Questioning Dick Lebeau was once unthinkable, but it happened. Mike Tomlin supported his defensive coordinator, but the damage was already done. Then, before last night’s game with the Ravens, Hines Ward, the voice of authority in the locker room, questioned his quarterback’s decision to be on the sidelines for arguably the most important game of the year. Ward said the players were split 50-50 on Ben’s decision. Injuries can lead to losing, and losing often leads to discontent, which often manifests itself with bickering and finger-pointing. Just as we did in the season after Super Bowl XL, we’re witnessing the disintegration of a champion. The Steelers are falling apart. There’s still time for a rebound. The Steelers can run the table and finish 11-5. Four wins in their final five games would make them 10-6. In some ways, that would erase the miserable month of November, which ended with 3 consecutive losses. But against a string of bad teams, what would that prove? The Steelers need to get their stars back in the lineup, and they have to hope that the stars in the sky realign. Their season is slipping, and if they don’t do something about it, it will soon slip away.
Dennis Dixon didn’t lead the Steelers to a win in Baltimore, but he did just about everything else. Dixon’s numbers weren’t spectacular, but his performance was. Dixon rose above the situation and gave the Steelers a fighting chance in what ended up being an overtime loss to the Ravens. It would have been a better story had the Steelers won the game, but it was a great story nonetheless. Dixon’s father and sister flew across the country to see it in person, and Dennis didn’t disappoint. Dixon’s first pass was nearly intercepted, and the Steelers were three-and-out on their first possession. But then the young QB started to get in the groove. He completed his next six passes, including his first NFL touchdown pass, a 33-yarder to Santonio Holmes. Dixon celebrated by pointing to the heavens as a tribute to his mother, who died of breast cancer six years ago. All told, Dixon was 8 for 10 in the first half for 87 yards and a 136.2 passer rating. He even turned in a nifty scramble for what would have been a first down, only to have it taken away because of a penalty. In the second half, Dixon’s 24-yard TD run gave the Steelers a three-point lead with just under 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation. But the Steelers defense couldn’t hold it, and Billy Cundiff’s 24-yard field goal tied the game with 1:51 to play. In overtime, Dixon made his only real mistake, and it was costly. On the Steelers’ second possession of overtime, Ravens rookie linebacker Paul Kruger intercepted Dixon’s pass and returned it 26 yards to set up the gamewinning field goal. Six plays later, Dixon’s first NFL start was in the books. The Steelers didn’t win the game, but Dixon was a big winner. He completed 12 of 26 for 145 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception. Dixon also ran three times for 27 yards and a touchdown. While Dixon’s numbers can only be described as ordinary, his performance was downright extraordinary. Dixon date-of-birth is January 11, 1985, but a second birthday should be added to his bio. That date is November 29, 2009. It’s the date an NFL quarterback was born.
As reported yesterday, QB Dennis Dixon will make his first career start tonight versus the Ravens because of lingering effects from Ben Roethlisberger’s latest concussion, and growing doubt by Ben over whether he was putting himself back in action so soon after that injury. Roethlisberger was given the green light to play after undergoing a series of test last Monday. At his Tuesday news conference, Mike Tomlin said Ben was “symptom free and feeling fine.” Ben practiced on Wednesday and again on Thursday. He also spoke with the media on Thanksgiving, and gave no indication of his concern. But according to my sources, one day later, on Friday, Ben approached Tomlin and told him he had been experiencing headaches, and that he wouldn’t play at Baltimore. The news took the Steelers by surprise, and with only a little more than 48 hours to the game, Dixon was installed as the starter. Dixon took the majority of snaps at practice on Friday. Ben’s health is the number one concern, and the Steelers fully support Ben’s decision, but the timing of his announcement was a stunner. Having to prepare Dixon on short notice is a challenge to say the least. The Steelers think he has the talent to be an NFL starter someday, but throwing him into this situation is not what they wanted. The Steelers will face the Ravens (arguably the season’s most important game) without their two biggest stars, Roethlisberger and Safety Troy Polamalu.
Stunning news from the Steelers. As the team prepares to take an afternoon flight to Baltimore, I’ve learned that Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will not start for the Steelers in their game against the Ravens tomorrow night. Last Sunday at Kansas City, Roethlisberger suffered his fourth concussion in about four years. One day later, he passed a series of neurological tests, but after experiencing headaches this week, Ben began having second thoughts about starting the game, and approached Head Coach Mike Tomlin on Friday with his misgivings. I’m told that the Steelers were taken by surprise with this news, especially so late in the week. So Dennis Dixon will get the start. The Steelers may sign former West Allegheny High School and University of Pittsburgh star Tyler Palko from the practice squad, but as of early Saturday afternoon, the team had not made any roster moves. It hasn’t been decided whether Roethlisberger will serve as the backup QB, or whether he’ll be designated as the team’s emergency QB, but he will not start.
In the hours after the Steelers overtime loss at Kansas City, I had an opportunity to talk with one of the Steelers veterans in a candid conversation about some of the team’s current problems, and about where the team is headed. Sometimes it’s better not to have microphones or cameras around. Our talk was unscripted and honest, and it helped give a true assessment on the State of the Steelers. We talked about the recent injuries, the loss to the Chiefs, the pathetic kick coverage, and what’s sure to be a scramble for the playoffs. Bottom line, despite two straight losses and injuries to Troy Polamalu, Ben Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch, there doesn’t appear to be any sense of panic or despair in the Steelers locker room. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. I was told they’ll go to Baltimore with confidence and optimism. The Steelers still feel they’re a major player, and, if not the team to beat, then certainly a team to contend with in the playoffs. Here’s one player’s opinion on…
On the direction of the team: “When we play our best, we can beat anybody.”
On the team’s kick coverage: “We’ll make some adjustments. Remember, we were #1 in the league last year in kickoff coverage. We didn’t all of a sudden forget how to do it.”
On Roethlisberger’s injury: “He’ll be fine.”
On the challenge of the final six games: “We know what we have to do.”
It looks like Roethlisberger will play in the Sunday night game at Baltimore. He underwent a battery of tests yesterday to determine the extent of his latest head injury. Ben’s status should be updated today by Head Coach Mike Tomlin in his weekly news conference. Charlie Batch’s wrist injury required surgery, and he’s likely out for the season. Dennis Dixon moves up to #2 on the depth chart, although the Steelers will be looking at a list of free agents. It was reported yesterday that the Steelers had reached out to veteran Jeff Garcia about a tryout, but according to my sources, Garcia had not been called by the Steelers as of late Monday night. Sunday’s game is the season’s first rematch of last January’s AFC Championship, but both the Steelers and Ravens are struggling. The Steelers have lost back-to-back games (for the second time this season), while the Ravens have lost five of their past seven.
The news couldn’t have come at a worse time. Several reports indicate that Steelers backup QB Charlie Batch will need surgery to repair a wrist injury, and could miss the rest of the regular season. Batch may have been injured on his second play yesterday as he came off the bench to replace Ben Roethlisberger, who was hurt himself after taking a knee to the helmet. Ben is undergoing tests today to determine the extent of his head injury. No official word from the Steelers on the Batch situation, and with no update expected until tomorrow on Roethlisberger’s injury, it’s at least possible that Dennis Dixon could get the start as the Steelers get ready for Sunday night football at Baltimore. Dixon has thrown only one pass in the NFL.
How in the world did the Steelers let this game get away? The Chiefs? Are you kidding me? Before yesterday, KC had lost 10 straight at home and 16 of 18 games overall. The Steelers absolutely dominated the statistics (Total Net Yards: 515-282, Time of Possession: 44:07-to-22:25) So how did they lose? Well, to start, they had some serious breakdowns and a list of costly mistakes. For the fourth time in five games, the Steelers gave up a touchdown on a kickoff return. That’s beyond unacceptable. There’s also way too much pressure on Ben Roethlisberger. The offensive line has to do a better job of protecting Ben, who despite some impressive numbers (32 of 42, 398 yards), threw two interceptions (the Steelers also lost a fumble). In overtime, Ben was knocked out of the game after taking a knee to the helmet. Head Coach Mike Tomlin called it a “concussion-oriented thing,” but the Steelers aren’t expected to have any official update on Ben’s injury until at least tomorrow. Regardless, his status for Sunday night’s game at Baltimore may be affected. Speaking of the Sunday night game, that’s a huge game for the standings and the playoffs. The Bengals lost yesterday, but the Steelers, with one fewer game to play, are no closer to the catching the Bengals. That’s a wasted opportunity. The Steelers are also in a battle for a Wild Card spot. With six games to go, they’re in a log jam with Jacksonville, Denver, Baltimore, Miami and Houston. The Steelers are in trouble. Their line is not doing the job, their kick coverage unit is the laugh of the league, they’re missing tackles, they can’t hold leads (even against bad teams), and their play-calling is very questionable. Yesterday, on a key third down in overtime, when they needed two yards, they ran a sweep with…Mewelde Moore. They lost three yards. What was that? On top of everything else, Troy Polamalu is hurt, and Ben, to some degree, is injured as well. At this point, no opponent can be overlooked, and no win can be taken for granted. After Baltimore, the Steelers are home with the Raiders, on the road with the Browns, back home with the Packers, home with the Ravens, and at Miami, the site of Super Bowl XLIV. Don’t count out the Steelers just yet, but don’t make any plans for that second trip to Miami.
I think it’s safe to say that the Canadian fans welcomed home Sidney Crosby in style last night. Sid was surrounded by an entourage as he jogged with the Olympic Torch for about 300 meters in Halifax, Nova Scotia, not far from his hometown of Cole Harbour. Thousands of people lined the streets, and Crosby looked genuinely moved with pride as he carried the torch, and then passed it along in the relay as the torch makes its way to Vancouver, where it will light the flame to start the 2010 Winter Games. The way this season has gone, I think the Pens should be relieved that Crosby didn’t pull a hamstring while jogging. The team’s injury list has been unusually long. The latest addition is Defenseman Jay McKee, who will miss the next few weeks because of an infected finger. The good news is, Max Talbot is back. Tonight in Ottawa, about 4 1/2 months after having shoulder surgery, Talbot will make his season debut. No doubt, that will be a big boost for the Pens, who start the day with a 14-and-7 record, and in the fourth position in the Eastern Conference.
A friend of mine recently made me aware of an amazing football streak. Steve Hutchinson is a left guard for the Minnesota Vikings. In the game against Green Bay on November 1st, Hutchinson was called for holding. That didn’t get my attention, but the following stat did. According the Elias Sports Bureau, that penalty marked the first time since November 30, 2003 that Hutchinson had been flagged for holding. Hutchinson went 97 consecutive starts (including the playoffs) without being called for holding. Now that’s a streak. There are many amazing streaks/records/feats in sports. Here are a few of my favorites.
Cy Young’s career total of 511 wins will never be broken. In fact, no pitcher will ever even come close. The pitcher with the second-most career wins is Walter Johnson, and he’s 94 wins behind Young! Young and Johnson are the only two pitchers to surpass 400 wins, and both pitched in the dead ball era.
On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors scored 100 points in a game against the New York Knicks. The game was played at Hersheypark Arena, where the Warriors used to play some of their home games. Even if a team or a player set out to break that record, it would be difficult to achieve. Remember, this was before the three-point shot. On the night of his 100-point effort, Wilt scored 41 points in the first half and 59 in the second half. He was 36-for-63 from the field and 28-for-32 from the foul line. For Chamberlain, a career 51% foul shooter, that was incredible. Kobe Bryant is the closest challenger of that record. Kobe scored 81 points on January 22, 2006.
Golf’s greatest streak belongs to Byron Nelson, who in 1945, won 11 consecutive tournaments and finished with 19 total victories. Included in that total was the 1945 PGA Championship, the only major played that year because of World War II. The streak of 11 straight tournament wins is the standard for single-season domination.
Johnny Vander Meer remains the only pitcher in major league history to throw back-to-back no-hitters. Vander Meer no-hit the Boston Bees on June 11, 1938, and four days later, no-hit the Brooklyn Dodgers in the first night game at Ebbets Field. Incidentally, in his next start after the second no-hitter, Vander Meer didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning. His 21 consecutive hitless innings are also a record.
Cal Ripken’s streak of 2632 consecutive games would be a tough one to duplicate. Some people have suggested that this streak is overrated, but consider all that had to happen for Ripken to continue his streak. He had to avoid injuries and sickness. If he suffered from either, he was forced to play through it. Ripken also had to play through slumps. He avoided any family emergencies and/or family deaths. He avoided the conflict with the births of his children. The streak continued for 16 years. Remarkable.
It isn’t unthinkable that someone could break Joe Dimaggio’s streak of 56 consecutive games with a hit, but then again, no player has come with 12 games of tying that mark. Dimaggio’s 56-game streak came in 1941, which means his record has stood for 68 years! The closest anyone has ever come to threatening the record was Pete Rose, who hit safely in 44 straight games in 1978.
A look at Dimaggio’s career provides another incredible stat. The Yankee Clipper had 361 career home runs, but only 369 career strike outs! It’s extremely difficult to go one season with that ratio. Dimaggio did it for an entire career!
What other records or feats will never be duplicated? Muhammad Ali remains the only man to win the heavyweight title three times. Wayne Gretzky finished with 2856 career points (894 goals/1962 assists) and 61 NHL records. Jack Nicklaus: 18 Majors. Pete Sampras: 14 Grand Slam titles. Bill Russell: 11 championship rings in 13 years as a pro. Yogi Berra: 13 championship rings (10 as a player and 13 as coach).
Finally, it happened twice, but it will most likely never happen again. On February 6, 1971, Astronaut Alan Shepard hit two golf balls on the surface of the moon. It was the last thing they did on the moon at the end of the Apollo 14 mission. If I had hit those golf balls, there’s a pretty good chance that I would have had to relay some bad news to Mission Control. “Houston, we have a problem, and it’s called a slice.”
