Harrisons In The News

It was quite a day yesterday for Pittsburgh athletes named Harrison.

First, the bad news.  Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison 

was placed on the disabled list after suffering a broken bone in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch on Sunday.  This is the same bone that was broken last August in the same manner and that ended Harrison's season.  He is expected to be out from four to six weeks.

As I postulated in the space two days ago, the Pirates are a team that can ill afford to lose any of their starters for any length of time, but Harrison might - might - be the one guy whose loss would be felt the least.  A combination of Adam Frazier and Sean Rodriguez will be the tandem that will be expected to pick up the slack in Harrison's absence.

To replace him on the roster, the Pirates recalled infielder Max Moroff from Indianapolis.  Moroff spent time in Pittsburgh last season and accumulated 120 at bats.  Overall, the numbers on the back of his baseball card (to use a Neal Huntington-ism) were not impressive, but as I wrote on The Grandstander last winter, his 2017 progressed in such a fashion that he at least becomes an intriguing guy to look at.

https://grandstander.blogspot.com/2017/10/opening-day-of-hot-stove-league.html

Of course, at this point, we have no idea who will get most of the playing time while Jay-Hey recovers.  Frazier is no doubt first among equals here, but I'm okay if Moroff gets a legitimate shot at it.

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Meanwhile, down at the other end of General Robinson Street, former Steeler James Harrison announced his retirement from football.

A former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Harrison will go down as one of the all-time greatest Steelers, but his last year here didn't end well.  He was released by the Steelers in December, and after that there was talk that he was disruptive, lackadaisical, and a bad teammate in his final season here.  Plus, he incurred the wrath of irate Yinzer Steelers fans by signing with the Patriots after his release.  I mean, who did he think he was, signing with the hated forces of Kraft-Belichick-Brady?  Like he had a right to try to keep earning a living? (Some Steelers fans need to get over themselves.)  As Art Rooney II said in his annual post season presser, sometimes the final acts of even the greatest players' careers don't often end well.

Be that as it may, as great a player as Harrison was, and he was great, he was not an easy guy to like.  He had a penchant for borderline  and, shall we say, questionable hits, that made you cringe sometimes (and cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines by the League).  He was one of the guys that you like him when he plays for YOUR team, and you hate him when he plays for the Other Guys.  There was also a domestic violence incident back in 2008 that the Steelers looked the other way on (not one of Dan Rooney's finest hours) that cast a shadow over Harrison in the minds of many.

Still, he will be remembered for perhaps the second greatest play in Steelers history, and probably the greatest single defensive play in Super Bowl history.  His 100 yard interception return for a touchdown that was crucial in the Steelers Super Bowl XLIII win over the Cardinals.  If you are a Steelers fan, you never get tired of watching it.

A Sunday Morning Sports Brunch

A Sunday morning look at the wide, wide, world of sports.....

The NCAA tournament hopes for the Robert Morris University Colonials came crashing down at the Sewall Center yesterday with a 69-60 loss to Mount St. Mary's, and believe me, the nine point spread doesn't reflect the totality of the Mount's win.  RMU took a lead early and the Mount tied the game at 15.  Then the Mount took the lead and never again lost it.  Late in the second half, their lead went to over twenty points.   A too-little-too-late Colonial surge in the final minutes made the final score look closer than the game actually was.  Actually, from the very beginning, this game just didn't feel right for Robert Morris.  Poor Shooting + Tenacious MtSM defense = A Bad Day for the Colonials.

On the bright side, as regular season Conference Champion, the Colonials do get an automatic bid to the NIT, so they got that going for them, which is nice.

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The Pirates seem to be pretty much under the radar this Spring Training, and maybe that's a good thing.  If there are low expectations, then there's no where to go but up, right?

In taking a look at the averages in this morning's paper, however, let's ignore the fact that Jerry Sands, Neil Walker, and Pedro Alvarez are all hitting below .200, because Spring Training stats are meaningless, and instead look at the stats of Starling Marte and Jose Tabata, because good  Spring training stats offer Hope, right?

Marte is following up a torrid winter League campaign and is hitting .421 (8-for-19) this spring.  Tabata is hitting .333 (6-for-18) with four doubles, a home run, and five RBIs.  Both of these lines are encouraging, but the more intriguing story to me is Tabata.

After a disappointing season that saw him injured and sent back to the minors in 2012, he seems to be a forgotten guy, one who will be, at best, the fourth outfielder for the Pirates.  He is still, however, only 24 years old, and maybe being out of the spotlight has removed some pressure, or maybe he just gets it that this could be his last chance to make it with the Pirates, but what if this hot Grapefruit start isn't just another spring training flash in the pan?  What if this is the year that he breaks out and becomes the player that everyone hoped he would be?  How great would that be?

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The biggest sports story in the city today however involves, you guessed it, the Steelers, and their releasing of James Harrison.  He's 35 years old, he's been injured, and he was making too much money.  He was also, probably, still the team's best linebacker, but that third factor - "making too much money" - is what spelled the end for Harrison as a Steeler.   As all NFL teams do, they decided that it was time to reduce that contractual obligation, but Harrison balked, so bye-bye, James.

A one time Defensive Player of the Year, and the author of one of the greatest plays in Team and Super Bowl history, that 100 yard interception return for a touchdown, Harrison was also, how can I say this, a thug on the field, a guy with numerous illegal hits, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines to his dubious credit.  There are lots of guys in all sports who you like when they play for "your team" but you dislike intensely when that play for the "other team."  Steelers fans will realize this the first time Harrison, playing for another team, goes helmet-to helmet  with Ben Roethlisberger or Antonio Brown.

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The Pitt Panther hoopsters begin the Big East tournament this week in New York against much nostalgic weeping (literal and figurative) because this will be the end  Pitt's association with the Big East Conference.  Hey, it was great run, but please let's stop with the gnashing of teeth over this.  Last I looked, the conference to which they are headed has a pretty good reputation as a basketball conference, doesn't it?  I would think that games against Duke, North Carolina, NC State, and Wake Forest will soon be the equal of games against Georgetown, Connecticut, and Villanova.  Plus, Pitt will still play Syracuse, so we'll still have Jim Boeheim to  kick around.

Of course, the "Big East" will survive as a basketball-only conference consisting  of, for now at least, the seven Catholic universities in the conference, and this, Ironically, is what the Big East started out as in the first place way back when.  I heard sportswriter Bob Ryan on the radio the other day saying that he absolutely loves this, and that the fact that this is occurring at all is the extension of a huge middle finger by college basketball to the "Football Is Everything" culture of college athletics.  Great line.

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I have been trying to watch the World Baseball Classic, but it's hard to get into.  Maybe if the USA advances that will make it pick up the interest quotient.  On the other hand, it seems that the WBC may best be remembered for that Pier Six brawl between Canada and Mexico yesterday.  If that is the case, perhaps the concept needs to be re-thought.

Short Subjects: NA Strings, Casey at the Bat, Baseball Thoughts, and James Harrison

Selected Short Subjects.....

We had ourselves a real treat this past Monday evening when we attended the North Allegheny Orchestra's Winter Concert. The concert featured the NA 9th grade, 10th grade, and Senior Orchestras and closed with a performance by the NA "Golden Strolling Strings." We have heard for years about the Strolling Strings, but last night was the first time that we had seen them. I said last night that their performance was breathtaking and that it left you speechless, so I will not even try to put into words how terrific it was. Amazing performances by a group of amazingly talented kids.

The North Allegheny School District is to be commended for its promotion and support of The Arts among its students. Too bad that these kids don't get the publicity that the football team gets.

Oh, and special kudos to niece and Goddaughter Monica Pike, ninth grade violinist extraordinaire!!

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Yesterday afternoon we also took in the new Martin Scorsese movie, "Hugo." If you are a Scorsese fan, don't go expecting another Raging Bull, Goodfellas, or The Departed. Do expect to see a rather engaging family movie that tells a very cute story about fitting in and what your life's purpose might be. Do expect a loving tribute to the movies, particularly the very earliest days of the movie art. Do expect some amazing visual shots. (Such visuals would be enhanced by seeing the 3D version of this, which we did not, due to the fact that 3D was not available at the dumpy Rave Cinema on McKnight Road.)

This is another movie that had garnered some Oscar buzz and has already been named to many Top Ten lists. It will probably win lots of technical awards, and Scorsese's name might carry it far during the Awards season. Good movie , but I don't put it ahead of "The Descendants."

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The Pirates are in the news with the announcement of the trade of the ulcer-inducing Jose Veras to Milwaukee for infielder/outfielder Casey McGehee. On the face of it, I like it. After all, who's going to miss Veras? McGehee has been a pretty good hitter over the years, but the red flag comes up when you see how his numbers have declined over each of the last three seasons, particularly in 2011. Still, he provides insurance, certainly better than anything currently available to them, at third base in the event that Pedro Alvarez' 2011 flame out continues into 2012.

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Speaking of the Brewers, Ryan Braun gives us yet another reason to dislike him with the news of his positive test for PED's. It's gonna be a different Brew Crew without Prince Fielder and without Cryin' Ryan for 50 games next year. What a shame.

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One more comment on Albert Pujols. If ever a perfect situation existed, it seemed that marriage of Pujols to the baseball-mad city of St. Louis seemed to be it. I naively never imagined that Pujols wold ever leave St. Louis. Another case where, as it always is, it was all about the money. It's the only way that these guys keep score. The ONLY way.

I am guessing that $210 million in St. Louis would have bought Albert a whole lot more than $250 million will buy him in Los Angeles/Anahiem, but, as I say, that's not how these guys keep score.

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If Pujols manages to help the Angels win a World Series or two over the next five or six years, perhaps Arte Moreno won't mind paying a 40+ year old Pujols $25 million a season at the end of that contract.

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If you had any hope at all of the Pirates keeping Andrew McCutchen or Neil Walker over the long haul, I am guessing that, like me, you have been disabused of that notion after (a) the terms of the recently agreed to CBA, and (b) this latest wave of free agent signings in baseball.

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Looks like the NFL has handed down a one game suspension to James Harrison for his illegal hit on Colt McCoy last week. I am going to avoid the talk shows today, because I am sure that the Yinzers of SteelersNation will be up in arms. All I can say is that if James Harrison played for any other NFL team, particularly, Baltimore, Cleveland, or Cincinnati, he would be the most hated man in the city of Pittsburgh. He's a great football player, but he got what he deserved today.

Selected Short Subjects: Harrison, Ward, Schwartz, and Some "Enough Alreadys"

Back on October 18, 2010 (you could look it up), I posted the following comment in this space:

If James Harrison played for another team, he'd be the most hated man in Pittsburgh. That hit on Joshua Cribbs SHOULD have been flagged, and while I can't honestly say that I saw the second hit on the Browns WR, it sounded like it was even worse from reading the paper today.

Following the latest brouhaha over Harrison resulting from his Men's Journal interview, I stand by this comment more that ever. Enough Already with James Harrison.

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Speaking of Enough Already, let add the following:

Enough Already with the debate on what to do with the Civic Arena. Does anyone really, truly believe that if the Arena is preserved, it is going to be anything but a big empty building in dahntahn Pittsburgh.

And Enough Already with letters to the editor about no more jazz music on WDUQ-FM

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A speaking of the Steelers, the Hines Ward DUI arrest can only be described as something that is hugely disappointing. Ward has certainly been a good ambassador for the Steelers and within the community over the years (he has done great work for the Highmark Caring Place, e.g.), so an offense like DUI is, as I say very disappointing. Lucky for everyone that all he hit in his car was a curbstone, and that a police officer was there to prevent possible tragedies.

Ward's agent should shut up about how he wasn't impaired, and Ward should humbly accept his punishment and agree to serve as an example of what not to do, which I suspect he will.

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And Enough Already with sports agents weaseling about their client's boorish behaviour, as both Ward's and Harrison's have been doing of late.

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To Absent Friends. Did you see in the paper news of the death of Sherwood Schwartz? He was the creator of legendary TV sitcoms "Gilligan's Island" and "The Brady Bunch", and he also was the writer of those shows' equally legendary theme songs. No one will ever confuse Schwartz with George Bernard Shaw, but I'll bet there are more of you out there than are willing to admit that can sing every line of those theme songs!

RIP Sherwood Schwartz.

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Maybe the Steelers need to institute a rule that prohibits their players from going to Georgia in the off season.

On Girl Groups, Golf Outings, Harrison, Hines, Haddix, Virtual Chips and Other Matters

Cleaning out the Mental In-Box....

• Marilyn and I took in the show, "The Marvelous Wonderettes" at the CLO Cabaret yesterday. A terrific and fun show that featured much of the "girl group" music of the 1950's and 60's. The four young actresses who played the leads were delightful. It's amazing to see such talented people, especially when you have no such musical talent yourself!


• The show began as an Off-Broadway production, and as I understand it, has been and is being performed all over the country. I wonder if Loyal Reader and musical aficionado Big Poppy has seen a production. I know that he would enjoy it.


• Anyone can get a flavor for the show by going to YouTube and searching out "Marvelous Wonderettes."


• It has been a crazy eight days: I have driven into downtown Pittsburgh six of those eight days, including the last four days in a row. It's like I'm working again. Yikes!!


• But, of course, it's not like work at all. Four of those six days were comprised of two Pirates games, a trip to the Rivers Casino, and the Wonderettes show.


• Back in the Fall, I mentioned that if James Harrison played for any other team in the NFL, he would be one of the most despised men in Pittsburgh. Harrison's inane tweets this week over the NFL rules changes only further prove my point.


• And to all of the blind Steelers loyalists out there, if the NFL was really out to get the Steelers, then how go you explain Ben Roethlisberger's fumble-that-wasn't-a-fumble that enabled the Steelers to beat the Dolphins last season?


• Speaking of the Steelers, congrats to Hines Ward for winning the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy on Dancing with the Stars this week. Ward is one of my all-time favorite Steelers, but I confess to watching not a single minute of the show.


• Speaking of Ben Roethlisberger, assuming that they are invited, will King of All Creation Roger Goodell allow Steelers front office officials and members of the coaching staff to attend Big Ben's July wedding? Can't just see Roger hitting Dan Rooney with a $100,000 fine for going to his locked-out QB's wedding?


• Hope that all long-time Pirates fans paused to remember Harvey Haddix' 12 innings of perfect pitching on the 52nd anniversary of the event yesterday. SABR and Facebook friend Jim Haller admits to this being his biggest disappointment in the history of his Pirates Fandom. Yes, even more disappointing that Bob Moose's wild pitch or Francesco Cabrera's pinch hit.


• People will also recall that yesterday was also the 52nd Anniversary of the Minadeo Rodeo (pronounced row-day-o). (This is an inside joke among certain family members.)


• Great story by Dejan Kovacevic in the PG today about how the Pirates pitching staff has turned it around in comparison to last season.


• Now, when are these guys going to start hitting? Lots of great pitching going to waste due to guys who, in the immortal words of Munhall's Bill Madden, "can't hit an elephant in the ass with a handful of rice."


• The first St. John Neumann Golf Outing this past Monday was a huge success. So much so that I think we are safe in saying that it can be called the First Annual such outing. By some miracle, we avoided the rain that seemed like such a sure thing that day. We had 106 golfers play in the event. The final tally has not been completed but it looks like funds in the neighborhood of $13,000 were raised to benefit the parish's Youth Ministry programs.


• So, the Miami Lebrons will take on the Dallas Dirks in the NBA Finals this year. Yes, yet another set of predictions that I had wrong this year.


• Played blackjack at the Rivers on Tuesday night at a table that featured a video screen at each spot on the table. There was a scanner in the shoe that reads the card as it was dealt. You tapped the screen to indicate your bet, whether you wanted to stand, hit, double down etc. You were given real chips only when you cashed out; the only chips you got were virtual chips that appeared on your screen. I didn't like it. Half the fun of playing is experiencing the tactile feel of your chips and you stack them, play with them, and watch them grow when you win a hand.


• Only a few tables use these video screens, but I was told that the dealer can deal 30% more hands per hour under this system, so how long until ALL of the tables have this feature?


• For the record, I dropped fifty bucks playing that night.

Best wishes to all for a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend.