Tim Benz stories, Page 152
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger’s Twitter turn. D.C. for Antonio Brown?
Thursday’s “First Call” gives an update on Ben Roethlisberger’s notorious Twitter account, the latest on Antonio Brown’s job hunt, what might happen to the Steelers-Cowboys Hall of Fame Game, and someone steps into Sidney Crosby’s elite company. Welcome back? If Ben Roethlisberger’s offensive line blocked as well as his social...
Taking over a college hockey program during a pandemic … and other fun hobbies
It’s your first college head coaching job. It’s a small school. It’s Division III men’s hockey. You aren’t the biggest program in your own state, or your own city. The team is 14-58-6 in its first three seasons. And you’ve signed on during a pandemic. So, you’ve been on the...
Tim Benz: Steelers training camp at Heinz Field may not be as bad as some thought
When I first heard that the Pittsburgh Steelers are planning to hold training camp at Heinz Field, I had the same reaction many of you did. “Oh, this stinks for the Steelers! Let ’em practice on the South Side. The concerns over social distancing in the locker room are stupid....
First Call: Great Pittsburgh draft picks — not as obvious as Mario Lemieux
Wednesday’s “First Call” was inspired by the flashbacks so many were dedicating to Mario Lemieux. Tuesday was the anniversary of his draft selection by the Pittsburgh Penguins back in 1984. And that got me thinking of how many home runs the Penguins hit with their high draft choices. If you...
NHL playoff length and reseeding. Right moves? Or bad decisions?
The National Hockey League is continuing to inch back toward playing. The Penguins are supposed to resume small-group workout sessions at the UPMC Lemieux Performance Complex in Cranberry on Tuesday. This is a lightning pace toward getting back to action compared to Major League Baseball. But things are crawling along...
First Call: A dilemma for some players to consider before kneeling at NFL games
For “First Call” on Tuesday, I simply wanted to respond to a question I got in my email inbox from a reader. Albert — who emailed under the pseudonym “ALB” — posed the following conundrum for NFL players who may be planning on kneeling during the national anthem to start...
Tim Benz: Don’t underestimate what loss of college football could really mean
There have been a lot of frustrating angles to covering sports during the coronavirus pandemic. Most notably, of course, has been the complete and total shutdown of them. I’ve found that … bothersome. You? A close second, though, is the cavalier reaction from some claiming that, “Sports aren’t important at...
Tim Benz: Praising Maurkice Pouncey’s balance, fairness and objectivity
Flame wars over coronavirus. Raging battles over how to maintain law and order while eradicating police brutality. The louder both sides of the political aisle scream at one another, the less I hear them. It’s just a cacophony. Their voices sound so similar. Yet, neither side is speaking a language...
First Call: Will NBC dump Drew Brees? Or maybe vice versa?
Drew Brees just got a valuable lesson in his new career. Before his first career even ended. The New Orleans Saints quarterback is reportedly slated to become an NFL analyst with NBC when he retires. It’s presumed Brees will be hanging up his cleats after the upcoming season. After what...
Madden Monday: How MLB and NHL are getting in their own way, Steelers talk
After a week off, the “Madden Monday” podcast is back. Mark Madden and Tim Benz take a long look at attempts to reboot the NHL and MLB seasons. Why are both leagues constantly getting in their own way? From a hockey perspective, the issue seems to be how long things...
Tim Benz: Steelers players miss the mark by blaming the media for Drew Brees controversy
A lot of blame can be thrown around for a lot of different issues these days. There’s no shortage of it. A heaping tablespoon can be served to media members (and outlets) regarding coverage and commentary surrounding the covid-19 pandemic and civil unrest in the wake of George Floyd’s death...
Why Steelers WR Diontae Johnson could be a breakout fantasy star. And 1 thing holding him back.
If Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson was really injured most of 2019, how good can he be in 2020? That’s a question Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner is going to have to ask. Opposing defenses, too. Not to mention who really matters — YOU! When your fantasy football draft comes...
First Call: A subtle reason why the NFL’s 4th-and-15 onside kick alternative failed to pass
For our final “First Call” before vacation, we look at that dippy NFL proposal to have a fourth-and-15 alternative for an onside kick. Owners decided to table the proposal after an initial show of hands revealed a split 16-16 vote, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. In the...
U mad, bro? Readers rant about Steelers outlook, college football, NHL reboot, Antonio Brown
I’m not mad today. I know. That’s rare. I’ve got a week of vacation coming up. So I’m in a good mood. As good of a mood as one can have given the circumstances of the present day. But, apparently, some things in the sports world still have you fine...
How and when you watch the Penguins in the rebooted NHL may be a little different
Nothing about the partially completed plan to resume NHL play is normal. Hub cities. Quarantine. Buildings without fans. The playoff structure itself. Just to scratch the surface. Something else that may be odd is how we watch the games. From their start times to how they are called. We’ve all...
Tim Benz: Don’t underestimate what the loss of college football could really mean
There have been a lot of frustrating angles to covering sports during the coronavirus pandemic. Most notably, of course, has been the complete and total shutdown of them. I’ve found that … bothersome. You? A close second, though, is the cavalier reaction from some claiming that, “Sports aren’t important at...
First Call: Antonio Brown working out with Redskins QB; more Minkah Fitzpatrick honors
Thursday’s “First Call” tells us which quarterback is flirting with Antonio Brown now. Anthony Chickillo talks about his new home in New Orleans. And more praise for Minkah Fitzpatrick. Mr. Big Chest goes to Washington? Well, not yet. But it seems as if he’d like to. The latest quarterback to...
Tim Benz: The NHL’s return to play address wasn’t a plan. It was more of an update.
When NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made his return to play announcement Tuesday, was I the only one who walked away feeling like Clark W. Griswold in “Christmas Vacation”? Many of us were expecting details, dates, locations and playoff systems. Instead, we got a subscription to the “Jelly of the Month”...
First Call: A deeper look at Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s odds for coach of the year
Wednesday’s “First Call” looks at why there was no push for Mike Tomlin in the NFL Coach of the Year gambling odds. We fix a “Super Snub.” And a little free advice for Peyton Manning. Money on Mike? You may have seen that NFL Coach of the Year odds are...
Tim Benz: If Minkah Fitzpatrick starts moving around, which Steelers move with him?
Minkah Fitzpatrick has made his opinion known. The Steelers safety would like to move around on defense more often. At the Pro Bowl this year, Fitzpatrick said he may like to do something besides just play the deep middle or one half of the field. It’s Fitzpatrick’s belief that his...
First Call: ESPN’s ‘Lance’ documentary isn’t ‘The Last Dance.’ And that’s OK.
For Monday’s “First Call,” we review Episode 1 of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary about Lance Armstrong. “Lance” depicts the complicated story of the cancer-beating, EPO-using, self-absorbed cycling champion-turned-cautionary tale. And if you are coming to the 9 p.m. Sunday time slot to find the sequel Michael Jordan’s “The...
Tim Benz: Sorry, Penguins fans. A 2020 NHL relaunch was never going to be perfect.
Let’s get this out of the way right now, Penguins fans. From everything we are hearing about the return-to-play format for the NHL, it does put the screws to your favorite team. It may result in the Pens being eliminated during a play-in round. This despite finishing the pre-pandemic regular...
Mark Madden on ‘superficial’ Steelers, ‘cowardly’ Pitt, ‘creep’ Vince McMahon
This week’s “Madden Monday” podcast comes at you a day later than normal because of the Memorial Day weekend. But that just gives us more content to unearth. We start with Mark’s column over the weekend. It examines the Steelers’ locker room culture. Mark believes it has become too superficial....
Debate rages over Gov. Wolf’s comments about return of sports in Pa.
I feel like Dante in the movie “Clerks.” “I’m not even supposed to be here today!” Yeah, this was supposed to be an off day. Extend the holiday weekend a bit. But I got a call from one of our editors last night, asking if I’d be willing to do...
Tim Benz: Gov. Wolf’s comments about sports fans were arrogant and inaccurate
While exploring the prospect of major sports events returning to Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf put his foot in his mouth. Even while wearing a facemask. Yup, for this guy, that’s possible. Apparently, Wolf isn’t satisfied telling Pittsburgh’s quarterback whether he can get his haircut. He’s also telling Pittsburgh fans whether...
