SteelerWatch

By now, you've most likely heard of Brian Jackson, the Pittsburgh (Bretwood) resident who has spent the last three years "impersonating" three Steelers — Ben Roethlisberger, third-string QB Brian St. Pierre and Jerame Tuman (his latest and greatest).  You're probably also sick of hearing about it, because it's not big news.

The Tribune-Review is now also guilty of impersonation, mocking the story's developments with this satirical take on the situation.  In my opinion, it's probably the most accurate sports story to come out of the T-R this year, but that's just my opinion.

Let’s hope this is a little foreshadowing of things to come from Pittsburgh football this fall.

The Pittsburgh Passion, the city’s National Women’s Football Association franchise, took it to the Columbus Comets yesterday in the league championship game, shutting out their Ohio foes 32-0.  In doing so, ‘Burgh Ball, Women’s Division stepped up and showed the world that it doesn’t matter who dons the City’s pigskin colors — we’ll still stomp any Ohio football team into the ground.

The championship caps an amazing 12-0 season including playoffs.  During the post-season, the team defeated opponents by an average score of 44.5 to 7.  Their utterly dominant defense gave up a total of 53 points during the regular season; by contrast, their offense scored at least 52 points in five of their eight games leading up to the playoffs, including a 77-0 stomping of their in-state rivals, the Central Pennsylvania Vipers.

Now, let’s hope Ben Roethlisberger can lead the other professional football team in Pittsburgh to a similar fate.  Heck, after last season’s let-down we’ll settle for a wildcard berth in the playoffs.

In March I reported that DeShea Townsend — the Steelers’ uber-shyguy and about as violent as Mahatma Gandhi — was being charged with assault after being involved in a fight. He ardently opposed the charges, saying he wasn’t a participant, and he has now been exonerated.

According to the Baltimore Sun, four of the six witnesses said he wasn’t involved; the other two weren’t sure.

The judicial reprieve means that Pittsburgh will remain free of felonious footballers. I’m trying to come up with a shot at Baltimore (former home of Jamal “Smoky” Lewis and current home of Ray “Got Away With It” Lewis) and Cincinnati (home of the NFL’s felon du-jour) but there are so many jokes in my head right now that I can’t settle on one. We’ll just Mad Lib this thing and let you fill in your own:

I got ________ed (crime) by __________ __________ (name of Raven or Bengal) and all I got was this lousy SteelerWatch shout-out.

Okay, after a weekend excursion to Raleigh, N.C. (no, I didn’t see Bill Cowher anywhere) I’m back. Seems like very little went on in the ‘Burgh this weekend, football-wise. Here’s a brief rundown:

• - Left guard Alan Faneca skipped all offseason workouts and this weekend’s minicamp. Rumor has it he may consider holding out because of what he calls a contract dispute. However, his disagreement with the front office on their pick for head coach probably plays an even bigger role in his absences thus far.
• - Wide receiver Hines Ward has spoken with Faneca, but has no insight on Big Al’s future. However, he believes it is now time for the team to accept the fact that Chin and Peezy are gone and start acting like a team. He also called on more veterans to step up and be leaders.
• - Cowher says he may never return to coaching again, but refuses to completely rule it out.
• - Elsewhere in the ‘Burgh, the Penguins closed a fantastic season with a whimper, losing to the Ottawa Senators in five games in the first round of the NHL playoffs. They’re young and most players were in their first postseason series. Good luck next year, guys — and congrats on a fine season.
• - After starting the season on fire, the Buccos are looking more like the Pirates we’ve come to know and (hate to) love.

Expect the second half of the SteelerWatch mock draft this afternoon, barring any further delays.

Even though there has been football practice every August at St. Vincent College, the school hasn’t had a football team for almost 45 years. That will all change this fall for the Bearcats, and they will play their home games on a field named for former Steelers head coach Chuck Noll.

The college, which annually hosts Steelers training camp, will restart its Division III varsity football program for the first time since 1962, and they have begun constructiuon on seating for the field that will hold a modest 1,050.

The college has other structures named for Steeler-related personalities, including Rooney Hall, a dormitory used by the Steelers each summer during training camp.

Information from this post gathered from Steelers.com

At least one Pittsburgh Team made the playoffs in a season that started in 2006.

The Penguins locked up a playoff berth for the first time in six years last night with a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals, moving their season record to 44-23-10. Stud of the Future Sidney Crosby and the oft derided Michel Oullet each scored once, and Ryan Whitney added two more.

According to Mondesishouse.com, Penguins henchman Georges Laraque dropped gloves with the Caps’ Donald Brashear, in a moment I wish I’d seen because all the other good boxing matches are on pay-per-view these days.

Every now and then something happens that just needs to be shared, football or not. Today’s entry for Not Football, But… is news that our Penguins are staying put — or so the sources say. I won’t get too excited just yet, because sources have an amazing way of being wrong (for instance, saying Russ Grimm had already signed a contract and would be announced the coach the following day). However, it is good to know that NHL commish Gary Bettman was able to step in and put an end to the squabbling.