Tim Benz: Ray Shero’s sense for the moment served him, and the Penguins, quite well
When I heard about the untimely death of former Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero Wednesday afternoon, a specific memory of interviewing him quickly came to mind. I think about it often, independent of hockey, the Penguins, or, up until Wednesday, even independent of Shero himself. In over 30 years...
First Call: No Aaron Rodgers reveal at ‘Big Night Aht,’ ‘Sell The Team’ chants with Paul Skenes on stage
Thursday’s “First Call” recaps an uncomfortable moment for Paul Skenes at Pat McAfee’s “Big Night Aht” event. Ben Roethlisberger gets candid about Arthur Smith. Justin Fields avoids specifics about his time in Pittsburgh. And an opponent for the Steelers’ trip to Ireland may not be set in stone just yet....
U mad, bro?: April anger from Pirates fans is already boiling over
We are way beyond April Fools’ Day. But there are plenty of fools in Pittsburgh Pirates management. They seem to be proving that on a daily basis. Obtuse quotes from the owner. One public relations fumble after another. And the construction of an offense utterly incapable of extending a rally....
This weekend’s Frozen Four will have a heavy Western Pa. influence
As college hockey crowns a men’s national champion at this weekend’s Frozen Four in St. Louis, the event will have a significant Western Pa. influence. Nine skaters from the region will be on rosters from the four teams participating. Wexford’s Brian Kramer will be on defense for the Western Michigan...
First Call: Shedeur Sanders and Donovan McMillon to visit Steelers; Jaxson Dart meets with Browns
The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to meet with Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Meanwhile, Jaxson Dart met with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday. The Steelers are also trying to learn more about Pitt safety Donovan McMillon. One of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets is holding off on reworking his contract in New...
Tim Benz: Paul Skenes’ rough outing continues typically dreary start for Pirates
On Tuesday night, Paul Skenes actually looked human. Fortunately, there was barely anyone in the ballpark to see it. Even the draw of seeing the Pittsburgh Pirates ace in his 2025 home debut wasn’t enough to lure more than 8,291 out to PNC Park on a 38-degree night against the...
‘Eternal’ and ‘evergreen’ game of Sidney Crosby has aged as well as many predicted
After scoring three goals against the Dallas Stars on Saturday, Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby was asked if netting a hat trick ever gets old. “No,” Crosby replied via audio provided by the team. “They don’t come along often. They are definitely fun to get.” Crosby’s hat trick over the...
First Call: Aaron Rodgers’ decision expected before draft, but not before Pat McAfee appearance
Tuesday’s “First Call” tries to figure out when a contract between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers might be signed. There’s another defensive lineman on the Steelers’ draft radar. Paul Skenes is facing a familiar opponent in his 2025 home debut. And some Penguins goaltenders are getting recognized for their...
Tim Benz: Ben Cherington’s Paul Skenes-Pedro Martinez comp misses a crucial ingredient
During his weekly radio show on Sunday afternoon, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington was asked if he had ever seen anyone like Paul Skenes. The name he pulled was Pedro Martinez. “I was with the Red Sox during part of Pedro’s prime. They’re very different pitchers. They do it...
First Call: Steelers among teams with most interest in QB Jaxson Dart; Penguins stars congratulate Alex Ovechkin
Monday’s “First Call” has congratulations for Alex Ovechkin from the Pittsburgh Penguins’ biggest stars. The Steelers appear intrigued by a quarterback prospect in this year’s NFL Draft. The St. Louis Cardinals make their first visit to Pittsburgh this week. We honor the life of a former Steeler who died over...
Madden Monday: For Alex Ovechkin, there’s a difference between most goals and greatest goal-scorer ever
Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin set the all-time NHL goal record Sunday afternoon, scoring on a power play against the New York Islanders to net the 895th of his career. With the goal, Ovechkin passed Wayne Gretzky for the all-time mark in 1,487 regular season games. Gretzky played exactly that...
Tim Benz: Ben Cherington tells Pirates players to ‘take a breath’ as fan rancor swirls
It’s a little early to start thinking about the Pearl Jam concerts at PPG Paints Arena on May 16 and 18. But Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington wants his players to channel their inner Eddie Vedder and “Just Breathe.” “In the clubhouse, what I see is maybe just taking...
‘The book is guys like Judge’: Paul Skenes, Aaron Judge similar in ways beyond stature, skill
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton doesn’t profess to know Aaron Judge beyond a cordial hello. What he has heard about the New York Yankees slugger, though, makes him think of the superstar in his own dugout who might be on a similar career arc. “I have many friends on the...
Tim Benz: Opening Day crowd should open the ears of the Pirates (and the owner)
Losing is one thing. How you lose and when you lose is another. Ask the Pittsburgh Steelers. For many NFL franchises, a 10-7 record and a playoff berth might sound like a pretty good year. When you lose five poorly played games in a row to close out the season...
3rd time’s a charm: Winding road leads former RMU skater, Wexford native Brian Kramer to Frozen 4
When the Frozen Four gets underway next week in St. Louis, nine college hockey players with Western Pennsylvania ties will be on the ice. Seven of them will be on Penn State’s roster, as the Nittany Lions have qualified for the national semifinal for the first time in program history....
First Call: Finances may be a holdup for Aaron Rodgers; Steelers miss out on depth QB trade target
Friday’s “First Call” wraps up the week with news that complicates the Aaron Rodgers storyline. The Pittsburgh Steelers missed out on a young, project quarterback they liked. An ex-Steelers receiver is heading to Chicago. The Pirates are bracing for the New York Yankees’ offense on Opening Day, and the Penguins...
First Call: Paul Skenes reacts to his GQ photo spread with Livvy Dunne; Steelers pulled back on Kirk Cousins inquiry
Thursday’s “First Call” has pictures of Paul Skenes’ GQ photo shoot with Livvy Dunne. The Pittsburgh Penguins have a daunting task in St. Louis. The Steelers apparently pulled back from a quarterback inquiry. Plus, Alex Ovechkin scored again. But now his Washington Capitals are suddenly struggling. Smile pretty for the...
U mad, bro?: Perpetual position problems, Tony Award-level QB drama fatigues fans in Pittsburgh
It’s Final Four week. But we’ve got many more entries than that for this week’s “U mad, bro?” None of them reference college basketball, though. With so much going on surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB hunt, Penguins goaltending uncertainty and early Pirates woes, our blind rage over Duke making another...
Predictable offensive woes already showing for Pirates
The Pirates have opened their 2025 season at 1-5 in Miami and Tampa Bay. Some preseason warnings have manifested as reasons for the slow start. Through the first six games, we’ve seen the predicted fielding concerns, bullpen issues, and back end of the rotation worries. However, the red flags many...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger has some QB advice for the Steelers; watch Alex Ovechkin score yet again
Wednesday’s “First Call” has advice for the Steelers from former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He also questions the franchise’s full faith in Mason Rudolph. DK Metcalf apparently wanted to leave Seattle long before he was traded to Pittsburgh. And you can watch Alex Ovechkin’s latest step toward breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL...
Tim Benz: There’s 1 clear benefit to Aaron Rodgers’ prolonged decision process
Steelers owner Art Rooney II provided an update on how long his franchise will wait for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to decide if he wants to join the 2025 roster in Pittsburgh. “Not forever, but a little while longer,” Rooney told reporters in Florida Tuesday afternoon. Gee, Art, I’m sure that’ll...
First Call: Video shows Aaron Rodgers throwing to DK Metcalf; Jets discuss plans for Justin Fields
Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at video of Aaron Rodgers’ throwing session with Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf. Aaron Glenn discusses the Jets’ plans for former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields. Alex Ovechkin’s goal-record chase continues. A pair of former Penguins stand out in Dallas’ latest victory. And the Pirates square...
Tim Benz: Pirates already show anything less than elite from starters will get them burned
The Pittsburgh Pirates have enough flaws that they don’t need much help to be highlighted. Less-than-stellar starting pitching will do exactly that, though. As the Pirates limped through a 1-3 start in Miami, the starting pitching offset the rest of the team’s shortcomings to at least make the Buccos competitive...
Admitting it or not, 1 specific pre-draft goal should exist for Steelers GM Omar Khan
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan said so little in his media Q&A at the NFL league meetings in Florida on Monday that he made Mike Tomlin’s comments on Sunday read like a State of the Union address. Take, for instance, what Khan had to say when he was asked...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin’s latest comments illustrate Steelers’ QB planning problem
Of all the responses Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin gave about his team’s current quarterback situation during a Q&A with reporters in Florida on Sunday, one resonated with me well beyond the others. “I don’t know if we’re identifying anything as ‘Plan A, Plan B or Plan C.’ We’re just...
