*sigh*

Well, we didn't win. It sucks.
At the same time...  I can tell you there were quite a few of my own friends who were sure that we would not even make the playoffs. So? I'll take it. Train wreck and all.
There will be tons of game break downs. I will skip that part.
Julia cheered like a little trooper all the way to the bitter end.
Twitter provided me with the most hilarious feed last night. Between the commercials, fail half time show, fail during the game, and the relative whom tried very hard to get smacked in the head with my beloved Droid.... Twitter saves.
I even had non-Twitter people laughing with some of the posts I quoted.
Thank you steelers.
Thank you Twitter.
LET'S GO PENS!!!

A Bunch of Random...

So first up... The List

I am pretty sure with the exception of Twitter (and Friends) Karaoke... nothing else is getting checked off before next year..... So, Haunted House? Done. Karaoke? NEXT WEEKEND!!! WOOO. Anyway.
-------------------------------------
How can you go insane in under 20 minutes? {mom blogging}

Julia: What is this street's name?
Me: Pioneer.
Julia: Why is that its name?
Me: Cause it is.
Julia: Why?
Me: *brain explodes*

Julia: Why is there 2 green lights?
Me: Seriously? I don't know
Julia: Cause they put them up there.
Me: *brain explodes*

Julia: Where is Greentree Road mommy?
Me: What?
Julia Greentree road.
Me: Its the other direction.
Julia: Are we gonna go on it?
Me: No. We are going this way to grandmas
Julia: Why?
Me: Because This way is faster.
Julia: Why?
Me: *brain explodes*

Julia: Look mommy that police car matches our car
Me: [believe me] I know
Julia: Why is it a different color?
Me: Because police cars are different since they are the police [cut me some slack, my brain was hurting at this point]
Julia: Why does it have those lights in the window? Why we don't have those lights? Where are our lights? You NEED those lights mommy. Mommy how are you gonna get those more lights? Mommy one of the police lights is broke [burned out break light]. Where are all the other cars? Where did they go? Are they hiding from us?.....

Kid 1 - Mom 0 {/end mom blogging}
-------------------------------------
Dear Steelers and Penguins

Srsly?? Seriously? You all need to get your acts together. NOW. There is only ONE loser sports team in the city and that is the Pirates. Do me a favor.... KNOCK IT OFF.
love, me

Ouch. *sad*

Thanks for the good run Pens. I think you were just out of gas. It happens.

Pittsburgh loves you.

Open Letter to Pirates

Dear Management of the Pirates,

Step back and take a deep breath. Did you smell that? Do you feel that?

PLAYOFF HOCKEY

Do you know what that means?

HAPPY FANS WHO BUY MERCHANDISE AND TICKETS.

Just to make this easier to understand for you.... I know there is only one language you idiots speak.

WINNING = MONEY

Do you understand that? Do see how excited people are that the pirates are in 2nd place? Look around. Smell the excitement and joy in the air. Note the large numbers of people who willing sit outside the arena to watch the hockey game on the big screen because the tickets are (wait for it) SOLD OUT.

LETS GO PENS!!!!!!

And damn it Pirates, take notes and try to have a winning season. Please.



p.s. I still hate 4square.

Who's Angry?

I saw this headline in the PG today:

Steelers trying to erase doubts

Really? How about not LOSING TO THE F&$%ING BROWNS!!?? I know that would go a long way towards erasing my doubts that the whole team caught varying degrees of "Pirates Syndrome." WTF is wrong with everyone? The BROWNS!?

I firmly believe this stops with the players. Hey guys? You DON'T GET PAID TO PLAY WORSE THAN THE BROWNS! I meant it! lately everyone has SUCKED. I can't even point out 1 failure because I would be here all NIGHT pointing out the bullshit. That is twice we won a superbowl and twice we have been hideous the following season. That isn't Tomlin's fault.

How about the 27 steelers with TV, radio, Internet, print media, CB radio, podcast, Morse code, and drunk jailhouse shows and appearances focus more on PLAYING and less on f&%$ing around in the spotlight. SRSLY. If you people would spend less time in the media, maybe you wouldn't SUCK so bad on the field. GAWD.

The motivation for the players this week comes in different forms.

"Play for pride"
"Play for the fans"
"Play for your family."

How about playing for the million dollar contracts you f&%$ing signed??? HUH??!! That's not motivation enough?

How about NOT letting the quarterback get sacked 8000 times a game?
How about the quarterback lose some fucking weight and get back it the shape you were in 2 yrs ago?
How about NOT letting opponents run kickoff and punts past the f&%$ing 30 yard line?

How about playing like you give a shit?

Assholes.

Retire? Who said I was retiring?

So Mr. "I need a dictionary to learn the meaning of RETIRE" played his first game. Let's look and see how it went:

Off-target Favre debuts for Vikes, who beat Chiefs

Cheered loudly by the same fans who used to loathe him when he played for
Green Bay, Favre played two series and went 1 for 4 for a whopping 4 yards. He
moved around all right and his passes had zip, just no direction.

Well, when you FAKE retire for the last 3 years so you can miss TRAINING CAMP, that tends to happen.

His first pass was off target.... Favre was off the mark twice more on the next
possession, misfiring toward Jaymar Johnson after an apparent route
miscommunication and then chucking one out of everyone's reach on the pressure
by Mays. The holder of every major NFL career passing record knows this version
of the West Coast offense well, but it will take the Vikings time to get in a
groove with the new guy.

Really? Well Training camp helps with that shit too. How many weeks will you suck while all your new team mates were busting ass in training camp, Hmmm?

BTW:: Pronounce your name right for goodness sake its not FAR-ve. What language pronounces a letter BEFORE it appears in the word? Tell me please. Cause until I get a reasonable explanation...
Its FAV-re.

Football? Where? Where!!!!????

So, now that I have been in a sports withdrawal sine the Pens won the Cup, (that's right pirates- minor league baseball DOESN'T count) I am excited to start football!!! Go Steelers!!! I am pulling out the Steeler purse i bought last year, cycling in the Steeler charm to give the Pens charm a rest, (tomorrow hopefully) trekking to Target for Steeler Clothing for Julia (she out grew everything we had here) before the game starts....

Yes. I am well aware it is technically Thursday already (WOOO) But in my calendar, its not Thursday till I go to bed for the night and wake up in the morning. So, there!

I am a huge Steeler Fan, but I don't start hard core following until the first preseason game. Why? Well cause nothing in training camp really matters. Its all about what you do ON THE FIELD. That's when it counts. If we play a shitty game this season, expect to see a rant about it here. I love my team, but I'll tell them when they are being stupid even if nobody reads it.

I am not like the ASSHOLES in Philly who make up bullshit stories about "shooting parties."
It was 3 years ago!! I have seen all the original pics. Philly Newspapers need to learn to actually CHECK their facts first. Whatever. It all really comes down to one thing though.
The Eagles SUCK.
How many Superbowl Trophy's do you have, huh? How many have the City of Losers won? I cant f&%$ing HEAR you? Oh that's Right!!!! 0 NONE ZIP NADA

So, Shut the hell up.

Losers.

The Pirates are sooooo bad that...

The pirates are sooooo bad that....

A fan tried to off himself at the game when it became clear he wasn't at a PROFESSIONAL Baseball game.

OK. So, that's not the USA Today real headline. But it should be.

The ball did not strike him, but the fan lost his balance as he leaned far over the railing — which is about 3 feet high — and he landed face-first onto the mostly clay track that rings the field. Trainers for both teams immediately rushed to help before several doctors were summoned. The fan, who appeared to be in his 50s but was not immediately identified, was conscious and responsive while being taken off the field on a stretcher, according to the Pirates.

Yeah, Fan, you keep telling that story. We, in Pittsburgh, ALL know this headline is the real reason you took that dive:

Pirates' fundamentals 'embarrassing' in defeat

Here is, perhaps, the most frightening part for these Pirates: The season does not end until the fourth of October.

Two months.

And, if they do not improve quickly -- and dramatically -- on their abysmal showing in the 11-6, 12-inning loss to Arizona last night before 17,311 audibly groaning fans at PNC Park, that will feel more like two years.

"Embarrassing," one everyday player called it, among a few other choice words.

Hell yeah it is. But when you've nothing left but Farm Team talent, what does everyone expect. They are taking SUCK to a new level I have never witnessed before. SRSLY. I am thinking that Andrew McCutchen will be traded next year. We cant have that kind of good talent on our Farm Team.

I want to blog about other stuff. I really have been looking. But I am haunted by the Pirate Suck going on. There is just nothing out there i can flip out about. Steelers are starting, but all that rant is Jane Pitt's territory. She does it best. Oh well. Pirtate Bitching continues.

BTW, I F*&%ing HATE The PBC Management. You Suck.

Minor League Baseball

From Bob Smizik's Blog on the pg:

The deal marks Huntington’s continuing demolition of the Pirates, and that’s
also no surprise. Since becoming general manager in September, 2007, Huntington
has traded every position-player starter except second baseman Freddy Sanchez,
who could be dealt at any minute. That list includes Ronny Paulino over Ryan
Doumit as catcher. When Huntington was named, Paulino, not Doumit, was
considered the starter. Other starters traded by Huntington are outfielders
Jason Bay, Xavier Nady and Nate McLouth, first baseman Adam LaRoche and third baseman Jose Bautista.

Note: Sanchez is gone, Traded to the Giants only hours after Bob posted and days after the Pirate Management claimed to the PG that they weren't trading Wilson and Sanchez.

Other note: Good for you Jack Wilson. I am glad you got out of the loser's hell hole created by management so that we can lose for "3-4 more years" while they "build" the cheapest team that they can and still profit.
Assholes.
On the bright side, I don't have to hold up my bet with PittGirl/Jane Pitt and write an "i love pirates" post since they will never be above .500 ball this season. Or next.

Pirates Ball Club of SUCK

Smizik's blog said this today:

Has Jack Wilson lost his mind?

If Jack Wilson is serious in his rejection of a Pirates contract offer that would pay him $8 million for two seasons, he’s either taken leave of his senses or was being somewhat dishonest when he maintained through all the trade rumors that he wanted to remain with the team.

Wilson will not get that kind of offer in free agency. He might not come close.

Ah, NO, Bob. He is just following my advice from this post: More Pirate Bullshit
I told him to get out of loserville cause anything has to be better than losing all the fucking time. (yes f-bomb is intentional) I am sure his agent knows where he can get his player signed.

And really, Bob- "dishonest" should be applied to Pirate Management when they claim to want to put a winning team on the field. Now there is a bunch of lying bastards. Why?
Because they really low balled Sanchez and sorta low balled Wilson:

It looks almost certain the Pirates will be without Sanchez next season and possibly without Wilson. Although there are no players in the Pirates farm system ready to replace them, on his Sunday radio show general manager Neal Huntington said he felt confident at least adequate replacement could be found and stated the money saved could be used to bolster other positions.

HA, that's the funniest shit I have heard all week! Bolster, my ASS!

Pirates pull offers to Wilson, Sanchez
Huntington cites lack of counter-offers; Wilson says none were sought.

Huntington pointed to the lack of counter-offers as pivotal.

"Typically, in a negotiation, you get a counter-offer. That's how conversations continue. We've not gotten that to this point. We felt pretty strongly that our structure was in place but that we were open to some adjustments off it. Not huge differences in years or dollars. But if there was something that added value to the player, we're open to that."

Odle and Cobbe declined comment, as did Sanchez. But Wilson responded, solely on the topic of counter-offers.

"Answer me this: How can we respond with counter-offers when we were told that those were take-it-or-leave-it offers?" Wilson said. "How do you counter that?"

The Pirates' terminology in issuing the offers, according to multiple sources, was "best-shot."

Again. I am not shocked. I think Wilson should find a team that wants to win, and go there. The Pirates have no desire to win or spend money. And despite what Neal said in his radio show- I totally believe the contract offers were a PR stunt.

Pirates Notebook: Snell denies he prefers minors

No, he prefers WINNING. I think that they are winning in the Minors right? Why go back to loserville and watch everyone one you know get fuckin traded away?

Losing seasons don't deter Pirates faithful

"And if the yinzers, and that is what they are, if the yinzers who aren't coming now start coming to games when the Pirates win, they are hypocrite bandwagoners," Nemanic said. "That's what happened with the Penguins. They couldn't get anyone to go to games five years ago, they started winning and, all of a sudden, everyone is a fan. Whatever.
"That is why we are here now. That is why the people who are here now are true fans."
That "true fans," as Nemanic calls them, are still coming out to the ballpark even through all the losing isn't lost on management.

I partially disagree with this. You might think your "true fans" but all you do its prove to management that they can trash your team line up over an over and they will still make a profit. And while the Pens games weren't sellouts when they struggled - people were still going.

"One of the best things we have going for us is the passion of these fans; it is something that drives us," Huntington said. "We are working to build a winner because these people deserve it. If you cheer for a team as passionately as these people have, and you lose for 16-going-on-17 years, I absolutely understand their frustration.

Oh, I want to spork him. Liar. Oh for the record:

Because what so many in the fan base see as the first item on the to-do list -- finishing at least at .500 -- Huntington doesn't acknowledge as a goal.
"Eighty-one wins is meaningless," he said. "It is a step in the process, but that is not where we are ultimately headed. We have larger objectives. We just ask that people remain patient with us."

There you have it, "Larger objectives" should be replaced with "money to make from the profit of these idiots who still come to games."

Asshole is the word I'm thinking of here.

More Pirate Bullshit

I wasn't intending another Pirate post so soon, but a news piece in the PG this morning set me off.

Wilson apologizes for remarks

Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson did an about-face yesterday -- and he insists no one urged him to do it. Rather, he dug down deep within himself and knew an apology was what he should deliver.

Tuesday, in the wake of the latest round of trades made by the organization, Wilson was critical and, among other harsh things about management, he said he was "beyond, beyond tired" of such moves.

Jack, listen to me. You have NOTHING to apologize for. In fact, I want you to go to your agent and ask to be traded. You deserve a better team, better management. Your loyalty to such a piece of SHIT organization should be rewarded with a ticket out of the hell hole.

This is what he said:
Wilson says he is 'beyond tired' of such trades

This time, Wilson, the Pirates' most tenured player, described himself as "beyond, beyond tired" of such moves.

"We know that they're looking to the future, which doesn't say much about 2009," he said. "That's probably what's so shocking. We're five games out, and we lost two or three of our everyday players."

That was a reference to the June 3 trade of center fielder Nate McLouth.

"That's what hits us the most," Wilson continued. "You can understand if it's the end of July."

And then Neal made me want to spork him with this LIE.

General manager Neal Huntington, as he did after the McLouth trade, expressed limited empathy.

"The reality is, anytime you take away one of their friends, you take two or three away in a short period of time, it's unsettling. The human element of the game is something we can't ignore," Huntington said. "But our goal is to put an excellent team on the field and not just a bunch of nice guys out there. We hope to find talented people that are very good people, as well."

Neal....You LIE. Your not even fucking TRYING to put a good team on the field you asshole. You have already given up this season. again. I am SO sick of this management.

1 damn season over .500 and we would be thrilled. Yet, they continue to undermine that chance and the player's morale. This is all such bullshit.

Pirates: Still Sucking Awesomely

See, here it is. Proof in the USA Today that the Pirates are officially a national JOKE.

Once again, Pirates waiting 'til next year

....six games under .500 and in last place, six games out in the NL Central, the Pirates became the first team to raise the white flag in 2009.

For the second time in less than a month, the Pirates dealt a starting outfielder for players they hope can help them down the road. It's wait 'til next year — again — for a franchise that hasn't won since the days of Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla and Doug Drabek.

Tuesday, the Pirates traded left fielder Nyjer Morgan and former No. 1 draft choice Sean Burnett for two players who failed to lock down jobs with the worst team in the league, the Washington Nationals. The Pirates, who are on pace this year to set the major professional sports record of 17 consecutive losing seasons, received enigmatic outfielder Lastings Milledge and reliever Joel Hanrahan.

Even the non biased reporter there thinks this is such bullshit.

Last year the Pirates dealt starting outfielders Jason Bay and Xavier Nady before the trading deadline. Somewhere, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell must be rolling in their graves. This is no way to build a winner.

Gee. You think? So does most of Pittsburgh, pal.
How much longer do you think Andrew McCutchen will remain a Pirate? He ran the bases in 11 seconds!!! I am betting he won't make it to the end of the season before they trade him for more shitty, questionable "prospects."

Now I don't know much about baseball. So, I am going to make a statement here not knowing all the playing positions of the players traded away.
If we still had:
Jason Bay
Nate McLouth
Xavier Nady
Added to Andrew McCutchen and the LaRoche brothers... Could we have a winning team? It is possible to have all these players playing together at the same time?

And if I see a variation of this statement one. more. time. I am going to spork someone.

According to Huntington, these are risky deals, to be sure. But he insists that there is a lot of upside if just two or three of the newly acquired players develop to their fullest. The Pirates are hoping to use their new young talent and combine them with their developed players and create a solid foundation for a team.

NO. They AREN'T. They keep trading every f*&%ing talented player we have away!!! There is nothing to build on you assholes! The team morale is destroyed. AGAIN. I hate the pirates management. They suck.

Pirates = FAIL

The headline says this:

Pirates, Maholm have Metrodome misadventure

Twins romp, 8-2, on 14 hits off starter, key mishap in outfield

What it should say is this:

Pirates suck in epic fashion again. As usual.

"We've got to score more than two runs," Russell said.

"We keep saying it, but we need to swing the bats better," second baseman Freddy Sanchez said. "When we do, we're a pretty good team."

Really, and once the trading deadlines pass, you just go back to sucking again?

The numbers back that: When the Pirates score a mere four runs in a game, they are 24-8. When they do not, they are 6-28.

Thanks PG, for covering the obvious. YOU HAVE TO SCORE TO WIN. duh. Oh wait... I forgot doing good gets you promoted to another team.

And then this story pissed me off.

Pirates' executives answer: 'When is now?'

Nutting, Coonelly, Huntington say rich core needed for contention

Yeah asshole when is the future your building to going to arrive. Oh yeah, NEVER.

Management's view of its current talent level, in Pittsburgh and below, is that it is insufficient at pretty much every position other than third base and center field. The major league team is 30-33 and still on track for a 17th consecutive losing season and, even with recent infusions, the minor league system remains in baseball's lower half.

So, what that should say is "other than the 3rd base and center field, the rest of our players suck." You hear that players? Management thinks your all shitty. But they are keeping your shitty asses around cause your cheap to pay.

Coonelly's stance: Once he and Huntington see real contention, (read: never)the Pirates could flip from the norm and trade prospects for veterans. (don't hold your breath)
"We're looking forward to having a Tampa Bay Rays moment, a Cleveland Indians moment, an Arizona Diamondbacks moment, where we see several guys all come together all at one time, and we can add to that," Huntington said. "We're not there."

I get that wining a world series is the goal. But I think that you should try for a WINNING SEASON FIRST. damn it. Here is the punch line... Proof to me that all they really care about is making a buck while spending as little as possible:

Some internally speak of such a possible convergence in 2011, but there are far too many variables for that to be firm.

As for money, the Pirates maintain that they will upgrade payroll -- the current $51 million is far less than Milwaukee's $80 million, despite the Brewers being based in a market two-thirds the size of Pittsburgh -- once that contending core is identified. Budgets for the draft and other developmental ventures have been increased, but nowhere near enough to justify that gap.

On that count, Coonelly suggested that success will fuel payroll, rather than the other way around.

"There is no question that fielding a competitive team will allow us to support a higher payroll and retain our core players into their free-agent years," he said. "We look forward to getting to that point and, while the trades we have made to date have been difficult, we are much closer than we have been in a long time."

I am so pissed that I don't know where to start. You trade every player you might have to pay out to when they start to get good. NOTHING changes. Ever. At the end there is some bull shit about being a better organization now... blah blah blah. Win more game then you LOSE and I might believe that shit.
I have a proposal. In light of this money comment...
How about these "managers" work for my salary? $30,000 a year and when they are a successful organization, with a winning season, they can go back to getting executive pay? We will see how fast "tomorrow" comes then won't we?

WTF Brett?

You know what Brett? Here is a damn definition of the word "retire"

re·tire
Pronunciation: \ri-ˈtī(-ə)r\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): re·tired; re·tir·ing

Etymology:Middle French retirer, from re- + tirer to draw

Date:1533

to withdraw from one's position or occupation : conclude one's working or professional career.

That means you don't keep coming back you stupid shit. YOUR DONE. Damn it. Do I need to define "conclude" for you too? Huh??!! You don't retire from a team when you don't want to play for them anymore, dumb ass, you ask to be released from your f&%$ing contract!

Then I see this shit:

Favre's signing seems inevitable now

From now on, I refuse to acknowledge that he is still in football. He retired already. TWICE!!! If he signs with the vikings and we play them? I still wont talk about him. He will be "the player at quarterback." Moron who doesn't pronounce his own name right to begin with.

GO PENS! CONGRATULATIONS!!

I missed the parade and couldn't take any pic's cause I was too exhausted from the weekend to do anything. I couldn't get out of bed Monday morning.... Stupid insomnia.

With out further delay:
Pascal Dupuis's New Tattoo from the PG Online:

CONGRATULATIONS To the STANLEY CUP CHAMPS: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS!!

WOOO!!! F*&%, You Detroit Whiners!!! How do YOU like watching another team win the Cup on your ice? HUH? Sucks doesn't it? HAHAHA!! Kiss my ass!! Your fans booed like crybabies. Your players acted like sore losers complaining about missed handshakes, when there are PICTURES proving you wrong (dumb ass zetterberg). And Marion Hossa? Screw you! Go find your next cup contender and Pittsburgh doesn't want you here.

2 Superbowls and a Stanley Cup? A girl can't get much happier. Screw the Pirates. Of course, I think they will get a parade if they can get a winning season together.

I hate you Pirate Management

(Vicious Rant to follow below)
This was the Headline in the PG on Feb 18th:

McLouth's contract caps Pirates' internal goal.

The Pirates surely have not made a splash in acquiring outside talent this offseason, but the three-year, $15.75 million contract they signed yesterday with center fielder Nate McLouth buoyantly capped management's goal of securing all three of its identified core players -- along with pitcher Paul Maholm and catcher Ryan Doumit -- into what would have been their free-agency years.

The most surprising of the signings, given all that led to it, was McLouth's.

He and the team agreed in the wee hours of yesterday morning on three guaranteed years plus a club option for 2012, with the following breakdown:

• $1.5 million signing bonus.

• Salaries of $2 million this season, $4.5 million next season and $6.5 million in 2011.

• Club option worth $10.65 million for 2012, with a buyout of $1.25 million.

• Escalator clauses that increase McLouth's salary the season after he makes any of three achievements: $200,000 for an All-Star appearance this year and next, $300,000 for one in 2011; $200,000 for a Gold Glove this year and next, $300,000 for one in 2011; $100,000 for a Silver Slugger this year and next, $150,000 for one in 2011.

Maximum value of the contract is $26.9 million and, unlike most of its kind, the bonuses appear reasonably attainable: McLouth, 27, is coming off a breakout 2008 in which he played in the All-Star Game, won a Gold Glove and batted .276 with 26 home runs, 94 RBIs and 23 steals.

Followed by this on 4/13:
Play ball: At home opener, there's hope for a winning season

The Pittsburgh Pirates kicked off the 2009 season with a dramatic win in their opening game against the St. Louis Cardinals -- the bases were loaded with two outs when shortstop Jack Wilson hit a bases-clearing double for the 6-4 win.

In the week since, the Pirates have had some ups and downs, but today is a day for hope and optimism -- and baseball lovers who will fill the seats at PNC Park would love to see a victory at the home opener. It seems an eternity since the Pirates had a winning season (they've lost the last 16 straight), but today the season is full of promise.

Fan favorites are back, including Freddie Sanchez, Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche, and newcomers include his brother Andy, acquired in the deal that sent Jason Bay to the Boston Red Sox.

Apparently that is probably a sign of who will be traded next.
Followed by a W/L record of:

NL Central	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	AWAY	EAST	CENT	WEST	AL
Milwaukee	31	22	.585	-	16-9	15-13	7-5	21-10	3-4	0-3
St. Louis	30	23	.566	1.0	18-11	12-12	7-4	18-15	3-3	2-1
Cincinnati	28	24	.538	2.5	13-12	15-12	4-7	19-13	3-3	2-1
Chi. Cubs	26	25	.510	4.0	16-10	10-15	4-2	14-14	8-9	0-0
Pittsburgh	24	28	.462	6.5	14-11	10-17	10-5	9-19	4-2	1-2
Houston	23	28	.451	7.0	12-15	11-13	2-2	11-21	10-2	0-3

YES. 24 wins -- 28 losses. From 2nd place to 2nd to LAST. AGAIN.


Followed by this on 6/03:

Pirates deal McLouth in stunning trade

All-Star outfielder to Atlanta for prospects, continuing long trend

The Pirates have shipped away another All-Star, part of a long-recurring summer theme.

In a stunning move, the team last night traded Nate McLouth, their Gold Glove center fielder with 35 home runs the past two years, to the Atlanta Braves for three prospects -- outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and pitchers Jeff Locke and Charlie Morton -- none of whom will play in Pittsburgh immediately, maybe not for years in two cases.

Those BASTARDS that run the ball club claim this:

"I know how it's going to be received back home," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said by phone from Bradenton, Fla., where the team is preparing for the amateur draft next week. "Believe me, it was the most difficult move I've made, but we believe it was the right baseball move, and we believe it firmly."

Hey Neal? Bob Nutting? Fuck you both. You claimed to be NEW management. NEW leadership. Last year you said you would do things DIFFERENT. Oh yeah it's different all right. You started sending all the talent away sooner.

"Baseball Move" ??

MY ASS.

It looks like you didn't want to have to PAY Nate that contract of 26 million. Despite how reasonable it was for this season. You NEVER had any intention of keeping him around after that signing. You Lied to fans. You got basically NOTHING in return for Nate. As Usual. You claim you WANT the team to win. That is a LIE. You want to make easy money. I know how this shit works. You figure as long as the ball club still makes a little, you can keep on losing and spend as little as possible. Then once the fans finally start to abandon ship you will claim we don't support you and then you will sell or move the team.

Why don't you ask the fucking Rooney's and Mario how much MORE MONEY they make with winning teams? Huh? Mario operated at a loss once or twice and now we are in the Cup finals. AGAIN. Guess what playoff games equals MONEY. Dumb ass motherfuckers. You break the hearts of fans over an over again. 16 losing seasons. Working on the 17th. Signing good players to long term contracts and then trading them away by the all star break.

If you hate the team that much that you want to doom them to wishing they were the Detroit Lions, then get out of the fucking business. Stop pretending you CARE. I know your both LIARS.

I won't buy a ticket to PNC Park, I have never been there out of protest towards poor team management. I refuse to support a ball club run this way. No wonder the players can't get it together. I hate how you destroy team dynamics and the fan base repeatedly. It makes me fucking sick. What decent player in their right fucking mind would want to come to Pittsburgh to play baseball?

The joke of it is... Look at the Brewers. Small market too. They are winning. They are in FIRST PLACE.

Welcome to the fucking 17th losing season of the Pirates.

Stanely Cup Finals (and other bitching)

Here we go. Detroit and Pittsburgh go at it again. I want a CUP damn IT!

Pens Sweep Carolina

Honestly, I was not surprised that we swept Carolina. When we reached 5,6 and 7 goals in a game, I knew Pens were in a ZONE. We faced super hard and major rivals in Philly and Washington. Now we face our 3rd biggest rival these days: Detroit. I think we are a better team than last year. I think that we can we win it in 6 games.

A rant:
I have serious issues with Mr My Teeth Are A White Beacon. You always root for the hometown when it is sports. Especially Pittsburgh sports. The ONLY exception is the Damn Pirates cause they live in the world of SUCK. Apparently, I am not the only one who is pissed.

He grew up here, he coached here, he won a Superbowl here, he was talked up as being a huge Pens fan. But suddenly he is "Raleigh's Own"?? Oh Carolina, you forgot to mention what City he coached to a Superbowl. That's right... the same city that beat your ASS in 4 games.

PITTSBURGH. Don't you f&%$ing forget it.

Here is what other new outlets are sayin:
USA Today: Pittsburgh fans angry Bill Cowher supported Hurricanes over Penguins

Trib Cowher sounds the siren for his Hurricanes (the death siren, that is)

Cranking the Hurricanes' warning siren with his right hand and grasping a white Carolina rally towel with his left hand — sans his Super Bowl XL ring — Bill Cowher no longer bleeds black and gold.

Cowher did admit that he would jump on the Penguins' bandwagon if the Hurricanes were eliminated.
"I'll take this white (Carolina rally towel) and replace it with a gold one," he said. "Absolutely. I'm an Eastern Conference guy. Whichever of these teams comes out, I'll be pulling for them.

That second quote was after it became apparent that we were stomping on Carolina. And while I am at it, I am so f&%$ing sick of every city having a "rally towel" or some other bullshit to copy PITTSBURGH. Your all losers.
Let's give Bill a f&%$ing Detroit crying towel or whatever the hell they have so that they will lose too. I don't want him cheering for us. Only real Pittsburgh fans are allowed here.

Pirates? You Suck.

What happened? Winning set too many expectations? Didn't want to get used to being liked in this town? Is a winning season a thing of nightmares? Is this a evil pigeon-driven plot to make Jane Pitt go mad from trying to *like* you?

You have lost the last 9 out of 10 games. 9!! Your record is now 12-16. Here is what is being said about your return to Loserville.

The Trib:
Bucs' offense stays stagnant

The Pirates, hitting .198 as a team in the past eight games, dropped their fifth consecutive game and fell to 1-9 in their past 10.

"I think everyone is pretty frustrated," said Hinske, who started at first base and went 0-for-4. "We're not hitting as a team. ... It makes it hard."

One day after hitting 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position in a frustrating 4-2 loss, the Pirates rarely got the chance to fail under pressure. They advanced only three runners past second base. Thirteen of their final 14 batters were retired.

"I don't know what to say," said Moss, who went 0-for-4 to fall to .195 this season. "It's just going tough right now."

Wait... I don't get it. Didn't you guys WIN against one of the best teams in baseball this season? WTF you suddenly FORGET how to hit the damn baseball? Wasn't in NICE not to need 50 excuses for why you sucked?

Pro players... paid tons of money, just once, just once, I would like to see you (as a team) ACT and PLAY like Pros for the WHOLE DAMN season. Now i remember why I loath baseball. Your all a bunch of whiny sissy bitches who could never cut it in the NFL or NHL. I am not like Jane pitt, I don't want to like you at all. You can't suck me in and break my heart with your lousy bullshit.
Losers.

Pirate Baseball

From second place to second to last.
12-12 w-l record
Way to go.

The Wacky World of Sports: Part 2

The USA Today seems to agree with my last post about this: Wacky World of Sports

Analysis: If Brady earns less than Stafford, system is broken

As much as the NFL does right — and few have a business model that works nearly as well as professional football — the one thing that doesn't work, that needs desperately to be changed, is the way the NFL pays its rookies.

Right now, it's a free-for-all.

It needs to be capped, regulated, somehow worked the way it works in the NBA, where picks are slotted into established salaries and first rounders don't make more than established stars.

Put it this way: Matthew Stafford, who hasn't thrown a pass in the NFL, makes more money than three-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

Now isn't that CRAZY? I hate Tom Brady, but some untested rookie shouldn't be making more than him.

The way it is now, if a team is wrong on a high, first-round pick, the franchise is doomed for years. If Stafford turns out to be Joey Harrington, the Lions will be hamstrung for years to come — in much the same way as the San Diego Chargers, who were terrible for years after whiffing on Ryan Leaf.

If I'm in the union, I'm thinking, "Wait a minute, I want to be sure there's a place for me on the back end of my career after I've established myself as an NFL player. Let the rookies wait their turns."

As it should be. Pay for play. Not for how you might play, hopefully. Yes, there is risk in this, but seriously, the highest paid quarter back ever (or close to it) and he had never played a single NFL game? Yes, this is a problem. Totally.

Here are my humble suggestions:
There has to be some kind of maximum rookie contract based on the round you were picked. (years, amount and bonus included) It should be flexible to allow for rise in salaries. I included bonuses in the max, because I have seen excessive signing bonuses. I would suggest 3 year contract is reasonable.

They would need to keep the minimum rules about being out of high school for at least 3 years as incentive for college play and to allow players to mature. Maybe even include a College Graduate bonus in pay structure. This would help players be better able to move on once their NFL career ends. Especially for the ones who never make it.

So, that is my 2 cents worth.