Mark Madden stories, Page 51

Mark Madden: These Steelers could benefit from Hall of Fame expansion

In 2020, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will induct a one-time-only class of 20 new members to commemorate the NFL’s 100th anniversary. Ten senior-era players will be included. Nine players from the Steelers’ dynasty in the 1970s are enshrined in Canton. Does this decision open the door for more?...
Mark Madden: Throwback wrestler Harley Race’s death both sad, symbolic

Hulk Hogan’s real name is Terry Bollea. Steve Austin is Steve Williams. Richard Fliehr stylized his name to Ric Flair. But Harley Race was born to be a wrestler. Harley Race was his real name. Harley, like the motorcycle. Race, as in “who’s fastest?” It’s a dangerous, exciting name. You...
Mark Madden: JuJu Smith-Schuster with perfect start to Steelers training camp

Antonio Brown showed up at Oakland’s training camp in a hot-air balloon. No lack of irony there. He immediately was put on the non-football injury list. JuJu Smith-Schuster practically sneaked into Steelers training camp. No cameras, not even his own. He entered via a side door. “I am just here...
Mark Madden: In grand scheme, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s extension means little

The extension of Mike Tomlin’s contract through 2021 (with an option for ’22) was business as usual for the Steelers. The usual timetable dictated and was followed. If it’s me, I don’t extend Tomlin. He was signed through 2020, so he would not have been a lame duck in ’19....
Mark Madden: Steelers’ chances to win AFC North hinge on Chris Boswell

As Steelers training camp at Latrobe fast approaches, the biggest issue involves somebody who’s not really a football player. If kicker Chris Boswell finds his form from 2017, the Steelers win the AFC North. If Boswell had maintained that form last year, the Steelers would have won the division. Instead,...
Mark Madden: Steelers-Browns example of hope vs. hype

With NFL training camps fast approaching, the AFC North’s main rivalry is abundantly clear. It’s hope vs. hype. The Steelers hope rookie inside linebacker Devin Bush fills the hole left by Ryan Shazier when he got hurt 20 months ago. The Steelers hope losing Antonio Brown’s noise helps more than...
Mark Madden: Pirates in race to trade deadline, not postseasonVideo

This year, like last year, the Pittsburgh Pirates are in the race. But it’s a different kind of race. The Pirates’ payroll is $71 million, their lowest since 2012. Given that picayune amount, the Pirates aren’t really trying to contend. But they want to create the illusion of contending so...
Mark Madden: How Jim Bouton’s ‘Ball Four’ changed my life

When I was 10, I loved baseball. Then, I read a particular book about baseball. This book didn’t affect how I felt about baseball. But it changed my life. The book was “Ball Four.” Its author, Jim Bouton, died Wednesday at the age of 80. There had never been a...
Mark Madden: Women’s soccer, especially in the U.S., worthy of more attention

The U.S. women’s national team won the World Cup, as expected. Now, we forget about women’s soccer until the 2023 World Cup. Perhaps there will be a little interest for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. That’s a shame. Women’s soccer is worthy of more attention. The nine-team National Women’s...
Mark Madden: Penguins power play set for reshaping

The acquisition of Alex Galchenyuk in exchange for Phil Kessel puts the Penguins’ No. 1 power play in line for a major realignment. More deals might be made, but all the components for the man-advantage unit are currently in place. Kessel had 36 points on the PP last season. As...
Mark Madden: Phil Kessel hit his sell-by date; Penguins GM Jim Rutherford acted

Five years ago, Jim Rutherford traded a point-per-game player for a guy who wasn’t. On June 27, 2014, the Penguins sent winger James Neal to Nashville for winger Patric Hornqvist. Neal had 61 points in 59 games the season prior. Hornqvist had 53 points in 76 games. Neal’s production can’t...
Mark Madden: Don’t chastise U.S. women for excessive celebration

When the U.S. women’s national soccer team beat Thailand, 13-0, on Tuesday and celebrated each goal like scoring had cured a horrible disease, critical things were said. Among them: “Act like you’ve been there before.” The U.S. women have been. They acted like that then, too. They have the best...
Mark Madden: New promotion AEW creates electric time in wrestling

Prior to WWE expanding nationally in 1983, there were 30-some pro wrestling promotions scattered across North America. Each had its own TV show, troupe of performers and schedule of events. It was quaint and decidedly local. But it worked. After 1983, wrestling hit a peak in the mid- and late-’90s...
Mark Madden: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford’s deadline deals unlikely to matter much

Every time the NHL trade deadline comes around, Penguins fans want the team to trade for Ron Francis again. Like in 1991. That’s speaking metaphorically. But local hockey nostalgia holds that a blockbuster trade is a harbinger for winning a Stanley Cup, especially since it happened again the next year,...
Mark Madden: Pirates owner Bob Nutting, others specialize in absurdity

With sports media and social media bleeding into each other (think bloody mess), content is at a premium. It doesn’t have to be good content. It doesn’t have to be true content. It just has to be voluminous. As a result, a lot of nonsense gets put out there. (Ahem.)...
Mark Madden: Antonio Brown only thinks he runs the Steelers

As we brace for the summit meeting between the man who owns the Pittsburgh Steelers and the man who thinks he owns the Steelers, the question begs: Is Antonio Brown’s behavior carefully calculated to ramrod his way out of Pittsburgh, or is he just nuts? Here’s betting the latter, because...

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