Monday’s Daily Five: On Jovan Belcher; Tomlin/Harbaugh incident, Batch; Arians coach of the year?
MONDAY’S DAILY FIVE *Musings & Opinions* 1. John Buccigross of ESPN said it best over the weekend about how the Jovan Belcher tragic murder/suicide was being portrayed by some people. “Note to tv people: Kasandra M. Perkins didn’t “lose her life”. It was taken away in a brutal, bullying, cowardly way. Murder. That’s all,” Buccigross said. Kasandra Perkins indeed had her life taken away from a coward and now a three month old child is left without any parents. Anyone who tries to sympathize for Belcher on issues he might have had is just making excuses for him and we’re seeing some reporters try to analyze how this could happen by pointing to shots to the head and concussions Belcher might
Friday’s Daily Five: Statistics show Russell Martin is a small upgrade over Rod Barajas
FRIDAY’S DAILY FIVE (PIRATES EDITION) *Rumblings, musings & opinions on today’s hottest topics* 1. The Pirates dished out the biggest contract in franchise history Thursday night to catcher Russell Martin as the two sides agreed to a 2 year, $17 million contract. The deal makes Martin the fourth highest paid catcher in the game. Is he a top-5 catcher in the game? Absolutely not, but when you’re the Pirates, you have to overpay by $3 to $5 million to land marginal free agents. 2. I don’t have a huge issue in the Pirates giving Martin $17 million over two years but the sense on Russell Martin is this: The Pirates have upgraded over Rod Barajas but not significantly enough to
Winter Classic viewed as do or die point in CBA? Holt, Ravens, & NFL opener
WEDNESDAY’S DAILY FIVE *Rumblings, Opinions, & musings on five of today’s hottest topics* 1. WINTER CLASSIC VIEWED AS DO OR DIE POINT?: As the NHL is headed towards another lockout, I get asked all the time when I think the NHL will be playing again. Since around June I’ve constantly heard from those in NHL circles believing hockey won’t be played until late November, early December and as the CBA deadline looms, there’s still a doom and gloom feeling around the league that things appear headed towards a month or two month work stoppage. The key date to keep an eye on is the Winter classic which is to be played on January 1st. According to one veteran player, the
On Pirates-Astros, Garrett Jones a core hitter, Lockout & waiver talk for players sent to AHL during possible lockout
MONDAY’S DAILY FIVE *Rumblings, Opinions & Musings of some of today’s hottest topics* 1. SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE: The Pirates have lost 9 of 12 games and since August 9th, are 7-16 and there’s only one National League team with a worst record during that span……. the Houston Astros who are 5-17 during that span. Something has to give here in a critical three game series for the Pirates who have to take advantage of beating inferior teams with a six game homestand against the Astros and Chicago Cubs. What at the end of the day could become the Pirates achilles heel on missing the post-season for the 20th straight season is their struggles to beat teams with losing records down
On Pitt’s debacle, Penn State, WVU, Pirates struggles vs below .500 teams & Doan
SUNDAY’S DAILY FIVE *Rumblings, Opinions & Musings on five of today’s hottest topics* 1. PITT’S DEBACLE VS YOUNGSTOWN STATE: The Paul Chryst era started bad when Chryst suspended six players including starting DT Tyrone Ezell and freshman running back Rushel Shell prior to the game and then things got worse after kickoff as Pitt’s 31-17 loss to Youngstown State was pathetic and their first ever loss to an FCS team. Pitt’s defense was atrocious as the Penguins converted six of its first seven third down attempts in the game and finished 11 of 16 on third downs. A division 1-AA team shouldn’t be able to come on road and move the ball at will for much of the game. What