As we approach Thanksgiving, there hasn’t been very much to be thankful for in the Pittsburgh sports world lately.
The Steelers just lost in Cleveland … again. Pitt’s football team has lost four in a row, and the Penguins are one of the worst teams in the NHL.
I suppose if there’s one thing to be thankful for, it’s that we are still about five months away from baseball season and our first extended losing streak of the spring for the Pirates.
I’ll celebrate that. Pass me a drumstick and some extra stuffing.
Now, allow me to sweeten the pot with an early edition of “U mad, bro?” since the holiday is looming on Thursday.
Obviously, the main course is the Steelers. But I’ve got a Penguins side dish and some Pirates treats for dessert.
Dave has some opinions he’d like to share about the Steelers’ loss in Cleveland on Thursday night.
”Hey Tim, I told you so. The Steelers got their 8 (wins) so no losing season. so stop trying. In addition, Madden is right. Our new offense is the same as the old offense. It wasn’t Canada’s offense it was/is Tomlin’s offense, always was and still is. We may get a pity playoff vote, but it will be 1 and done.”
A couple of things, David. First of all, no one “votes” on the playoff bracket in the NFL. That’s college. However, if the Steelers get to host a first-round game against Arizona State or Indiana, I like their chances.
Secondly, this is 2024. There are now 17 games, and there have been since 2021. So a winning record is not secured with eight wins because — stay with me — they could still lose nine.
And I’m pretty sure no one will “vote” them into the playoffs with an 8-9 record.
I mean, it’s not like they play in the SEC or anything.
David replied to my post about the depressing Penguins.
Going to get much worse before they get better
— David Anthony Castelveter (@AviationVet) November 27, 2024
If it can get worse than ruining Sidney Crosby’s 600th goal night by losing 6-1 to Utah, I don’t want to know what that looks like.
During my “Monday Night Quarterback” show on Fox Sports Pittsburgh 970 AM, Chris sent this message advancing an idea as to what went wrong with the Steelers in Cleveland on Thursday night.
@TimBenzPGH listening to the Monday Night QB show.
Question, has anyone discussed that they were a tired football team and were just emotionally exhausted. That was my first thought during and after the game. Good show tonight.— Chris Lee (@Cjaglee) November 26, 2024
Aww. Those poor Steelers. They were just tired and worn out and needed a nap.
So, the Browns weren’t tired from playing in New Orleans the week before? They aren’t emotionally exhausted, having lost eight times in 10 weeks while going through all that Deshaun Watson garbage?
C’mon, Chris! Don’t make excuses for them. They lost to a team that is 3-8.
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During the Steelers-Browns broadcast, I made a comment about how Amazon digitally altered the picture so people could see the yard lines through the snow. Unfortunately, the Steelers’ white jerseys were disappearing whenever they approached a yard marker.
All the players are disappearing like Michael J. Fox at the end of Back to the Future
— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) November 22, 2024
Here’s how this guy replied.
Just like the elite defense….
— MDubs (@MDubsPGH) November 22, 2024
Does that mean we should never play “Earth Angel” around Minkah Fitzpatrick or T.J. Watt?
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the five finalists to sign free agent slugger Juan Soto are — shocker! — the Red Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, Mets and Blue Jays. I joked that the Pirates were probably the sixth team that barely missed the cut.
Nutting would have to cut the periogies salary in half to sign Soto.
— RB7501 (@RB75012) November 26, 2024
No, I actually think he’d literally cut a pierogi. It’d be like that scene in “Moneyball” with Billy Beane and Mike Magnante.
Nutting: “Bacon Bart, I need you to stop getting dressed.”
Bart: “Trade?”
Nutting: (shakes head “No.”)
Much like the real Magnante, Nutting wouldn’t care about Bacon Bart being designated for assignment four days before his pension fully vested.
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Luke wanted to chime in on that topic too.
Their offer was a signed skenes jersey and home plate tickets for 30 years
— Z (@lukez_2) November 26, 2024
Since I already brought up Brad Pitt movies, in the words of Aldo Reign from “Inglourious Basterds”: “I’d make that deal. How ‘bout you, Utivich? You make that deal?”
Finally, on Tuesday, I wrote about Adam Schein’s comment that the Steelers would win a maximum of two more games this season.
Adam Schein is almost as stupid as you
— skip (@Skip1288) November 25, 2024
Ha! Take that, Adam! “Almost.” Not quite. “Almost.” I win.
Don’t worry, Schein. Your day will come eventually.