THE PITTSBURGH Sports CHATTER

[POJO_Risin]

I do think it's going to be a better game to watch than the Hawks and the Panthers...

I think that Panthers game might be a blow out...

[MAX]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
Broncs are just pretenders...

We'll see Poj.

In a cupla weeks it will sure be funny when The Steelers aren't in Detroit holding up that Lombardi Trophy. Instead they'll be at home pretending to hold one.

I wonder if I'll be banned from this site on Sunday night? lol

[POJO_Risin]

I'm not trying to talk smack...not in the least...

if the Broncos win...so be it...

I think both teams are near equals...

I think the Steeler Blitz and Troy P. on D will be more than enough for that offense to handle...

The Steelers are every bit as good as the Broncs run D...and I think that Pittsburgh will show the Browns line just how big a farce they are...

Plummer won't be able to face the heat...

the Steelers will be dumping off to Miller and Randal El...keeping Bailey out of the game...

Parker and Bettis will control the ground...

the Mile High advantage will be overrated...and the Steelers will win...

20-17...or thereabouts...

looking forward to the game...

and why I call the Broncos pretenders...is that I still think Plummer has yet to be forced to make those mistakes he's so renouned for. This is the D to do it.

If he overcomes THAT...I'll back off the Plummer-farce talk...

last year was such a big year for Roeth...

and he had his ass handed to him in the playoffs against the Jets and the Pats....

this year...we see how battle tested he is...

Great game potential...no doubt....

I think...the only question in this game is whether or not Plummer has enough time to throw long to Smith and Lelie...

if he has time...that matchup could KILL the Steelers...but I don't see the Pats going long ball until they have to...we'll see...

[MAX]

Fair enough of an analogy Poj.

I still think The Broncos have the edge at home. Shanny's a smart mofo and respects the fuck out of Cowher's game.

I agree that they're almost identical teams.

As much of a Mile High that I'm on right now, I'll still agree with you about Plummer. Regardless, he hasn't proven me wrong thus far this season.

I'm still thinkin' the altitude and the crowd are going to be major factors against The Steelers. If they can void them from the game, it certainly wont hurt them.

I do look forward to both an extremely good and close game.

However, it's MY team. I'm beyond stoked as I know you are.

I just cannot help talkin' a little bit of smack when we're so close to the big one.

I'll NEVER discount or discredit The Steelers though, just like I didn't with New England.

It's going to be a stellar matchup.

[POJO_Risin]

As loud as Mile High at Invesco...or Invesco at Mile High...or whatever the fuck it's called now...gets...

it's not nearly as loud as a dome......

so I'm not nearly as worried about the noise as I am the altitude...

the book on Mile High is either go a week early...and your body will adjust...

or the day before...as it will effect you far less...the Steelers are heading there Saturday...got that from the immortal book of Noll...

[MAX]

Poj,

The stadium 'tis intimidating. I'm not kidding, it's surreal. The crowd can be a factor if Pitts doesn't take them out of it.

So, old Chuck said that about Mile High huh? Well, under him they lost to The Broncs in TWO AFC Championships.

All kidding aside, I'm really thinking it's going to be a good game.

[ALinChainz]

Lemieux: Penguins are for sale

By JOE MANDAK, Associated Press Writer
January 19, 2006

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Penguins are considering several offers to buy the team, and keeping it in Pittsburgh will remain a priority but is not guaranteed.

A recent offer by a casino firm to build a new arena, an influx of young talent and the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement have made the time right to consider selling, Penguins owner-player Mario Lemieux said Thursday.

"We've had quite a few inquiries over the last few months," Lemieux said. "I think the timing was right to look at them and explore them and see what our options are. ... We've laid the foundation for the future and hopefully in a way that they'll stay here forever."

Lemieux and team president Ken Sawyer wouldn't identify the interested parties. Most of the prospective buyers approached them before Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. offered last month to pay $290 million for a new arena, if the gambling firm gets a license to operate a slot machine parlor in Pittsburgh.

Lemieux has said the team would stay in Pittsburgh if Isle of Capri gets the slots license and that any new owner would be bound by that agreement. Isle of Capri must beat out three others seeking the license, which isn't expected to be awarded until later this year.

The Penguins' lease on 45-year-old Mellon Arena, the smallest and oldest facility in the NHL, runs through June 2008, and Lemieux has said the team could leave the city if it doesn't have a new arena by then.


Asked why he's not waiting to see if the Isle of Capri deal is approved before selling the team, Lemieux said: "I said before I'm not going to be the one that's going to move the franchise, and there's a possibility of that happening."

But Lemieux said the team isn't being shopped in an effort to move it.

"There's some (interested buyers) from out of town, but that doesn't mean they're going to move the team to Kansas City or Vegas or Houston or all the towns that have been mentioned," Lemieux said.

Lemieux and Sawyer wouldn't discuss the team's value.

Mike Ozanian, a senior editor who specializes in sports franchises at Forbes Magazine, said the value of all NHL franchises has increased since before the lockout due to the salary cap. He estimates the Penguins are worth $100 million, but would be worth up to 30 percent more with a new arena.

Lemieux and Sawyer said the team isn't being sold out of frustration with its performance -- the Penguins entered play Thursday with just 31 points, the second lowest total in the NHL -- or because state and local politicians have yet to come up with a deal for a new arena.

"I hope none of you expected Mario to own this team forever," Sawyer said. "He's done more than he should ... and he's teed this up perfectly for the community to jump at a great opportunity for this team to stay here."

The team filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1998, after running up $120 million in debt under former owners Howard Baldwin and Roger Marino. Lemieux's group bought the team out of bankruptcy and he further boosted its fortunes by ending his 44-month retirement in December 2000.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Not unexpected at all..

See the NHL thread for details.... :D

[POJO_Risin]

Chuck Noll lost 2 AFC Championship games to the Broncos?

eh?

Pittsburgh never played the Broncos in the AFC Championship game with Noll as head coach...

divisional playoffs...

different story...

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Fuck, this week always DRAGS by....

Sure would be nice to experience how slow the "S" "B" weeks are again....

Not commenting, of course...

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
Chuck Noll lost 2 AFC Championship games to the Broncos?

eh?

Pittsburgh never played the Broncos in the AFC Championship game with Noll as head coach...

divisional playoffs...

different story...

Denver 24, PITTSBURGH 21 AFC Championship 1/11/98
Denver 24, PITTSBURGH 23 AFC Divisional 1/7/90
PITTSBURGH 24, Denver 17 AFC Divisional 12/30/84
PITTSBURGH 33, Denver 10 AFC Divisional 12/30/78
Denver 34, PITTSBURGH 21 AFC Divisional 12/24/77

[POJO_Risin]

Yeah...the 77 and 90 were the 2 Noll losses in the divisional against Noll...

obviously...Noll wasn't there in 1998...

[POJO_Risin]

This hasn't been that slow a week...

Sunday...waiting until 3:00...will seem like forfuckingever...

[MAX]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
Yeah...the 77 and 90 were the 2 Noll losses in the divisional against Noll...

obviously...Noll wasn't there in 1998...

Oof...

My bad.

My memory 'tis not as good as it used to be. lol

I remember two of the Super Bowl years we played Pitts in the playoffs. Last one I remember with Noll was the game in '90 when Merril Hodge played and Bubba Brister was the QB.

[POJO_Risin]

...yeah...the game in which Atwater had that great line where he fucked up Hoge's name....and said something like..."That Hoag is running all over us..."

or some shit like that...