Tim Benz stories, Page 161
Can Penguins’ Jason Zucker work with Sidney Crosby long term? Or will he fit with Evgeni Malkin?
Friday may be “French Language Night” at PPG Paints Arena, but TribLIVE Penguins beat writer Seth Rorabaugh and I made the executive decision to do our weekly hockey podcast in English, anyway. Or, “en anglais,” s’il vous plaît? Sorry to disappoint. But if we tried to do it in French,...
Tim Benz: New MLB postseason proposal stinks so badly, it must be on purpose
Is it too late for another “U mad, bro?” entry? How about a celebrity nomination? This one is from Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer. He’s obviously ticked at Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred because of potential plans to expand and overhaul the MLB postseason format. No idea who made...
First Call: Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger fills in as WVU mascot; Andy Dalton likely done with BengalsVideo
It’s a football-heavy “First Call” today. Ben Roethlisberger and his beard were on display in Morgantown Tuesday. It looks like Andy Dalton is out in Cincinnati. And being a Browns and Bengals fan isn’t an excuse to get high in Ohio after all. New gig? If Ben Roethlisberger is looking...
Report: Steelers QB Mason Rudolph’s $50K fine upheld for role in Browns brawl
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph’s fine for his role in the team’s brawl with the Cleveland Browns reportedly has been upheld. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Wednesday that the NFL “recently” upheld the $50,000 fine levied on Rudolph. Actually, to put a bow on this one, Rudolph's fine was upheld...
A look at Jason Zucker from Wild’s point of view — on and off the ice
What are the Penguins really getting in former Minnesota Wild player Jason Zucker? On one hand, it appears that the recently acquired forward is the most simple guy in the world. Pretty much every scouting report you hear is the same thing. A straight-ahead winger. Fast. Good shot. Honest. Good...
U mad, bro? Readers defend and attack Penguins trade, lash out at Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, Bud Dupree
This week’s “U mad, bro?” is laced with Penguins fans who don’t like the trade for Jason Zucker. Then there are those who want me to like it more than I do. We also get the usual bile for Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Bud Dupree. Also, we sprinkle in...
First Call: Bold claim about Steelers view of Ben Roethlisberger; Alex Galchenyuk’s debut with Wild
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” someone is calling for Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement. Alex Galchenyuk made his Minnesota Wild debut. A frightening NHL event. Michigan State may have its coach. “Monday Night Football” games may get flexed. You might be a little early on this Former NFL player-turned-NFL analyst Chris Canty plunged...
Mike Eruzione on how legend of 1980 Olympic team continues to thrive
I’ve gotta be on the cusp. Don’t I? Completely on the outer edge of the age range. I mean, if you are even a few months younger than me you probably don’t remember. Right? At 45 years old, my earliest sports memories were largely constructed in those few months between...
Tim Benz: Sorting through Jason Zucker trade and his Penguins debut
For almost two days now, I’ve been trying to find my bottom-line stance on the Penguins’ decision to acquire Minnesota Wild winger Jason Zucker. And after seeing him in black and gold for about 62 minutes Tuesday night in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, I’m still...
First Call: When the Browns called on Bill Cowher; saying no to Bud Dupree; praising Jason Zucker
Tuesday’s “First Call” features Bill Cowher’s dance with the Cleveland Browns, panning Bud Dupree, Jason Zucker’s impressive past, and the mean streets of the XFL. Bill almost a Brown? There was always some belief that the Cleveland Browns went after former Steelers coach Bill Cowher to coach their football team...
Tim Benz: Minkah Fitzpatrick doesn’t need to move in Steelers defense. Stats, video tell the story.Video
Is Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick perpetually unhappy with his job description? Or does he have a point? When Fitzpatrick requested a trade from the Miami Dolphins early last season, apparently part of his reasoning for doing so was that he was switching positions too much for his liking within the...
Jason Zucker is coming to Pittsburgh. Was he worth the price? How will he fit?
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford got his man. The second time. Rutherford wanted to get Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker as part of the return for Phil Kessel last summer. But Kessel rejected that deal. No such problems this time. The left winger comes to Pittsburgh in exchange for a...
First Call: Antonio Brown dissed in boxing challenge; potential Penguins trade target scores; Larry Fitzgerald winsVideo
In Monday’s “First Call,” Antonio Brown’s potential boxing opponent throws an internet haymaker. The XFL’s ratings are off to a good start. A crazy mascot dunk. Larry Fitzgerald wins a title. And watching a potential Penguins trade prospect. A.B. KO’d in video Former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is passing...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Penguins injuries, Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick quotes, MLB news
We are all over the map when it comes to our “Madden Monday” podcast this week. Mark Madden and I touch on the Penguins, Steelers, Pitt football and two major baseball issues. We start with the Penguins splitting two games in Florida and how they will deal with their latest...
Tim Benz: Ex-Pirate Charlie Morton accepts scorn for Astros’ cheating. More need to do the same.
In the wake of the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, one player I’ve been anxiously waiting to hear from is Charlie Morton. After his stint in Pittsburgh, Morton was traded to Philadelphia then to Houston where he ended up winning Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. It is that 2017...
First Call: Outlet tabs Steelers, Chiefs as potential trade destinations for Le’Veon BellVideo
Friday’s “First Call” features some wild speculation about Le’Veon Bell and the Steelers. The Penguins’ next opponent is sliding. And Charles Barkley has an epic insult for one of his former teams. Green means … go? If the New York Jets do trade Le’Veon Bell, the Steelers and the Super...
Fantasy sports podcast: Impact of the Mookie Betts trade, Josh Bell’s future, quarterback movement
Hey, Red Sox fans. Welcome to how the other half lives. OK, maybe not the other “half.” How about the bottom of the lower third? Whatever. This is what it is like to be a small market team, Boston. Selling off your best players in the prime of their careers....
Tim Benz: Antonio Brown’s interview was maddening. Now let’s talk about where he was right.
Antonio Brown’s first Pittsburgh radio interview since he left the Steelers was 22 minutes of rambling inconsistencies, inaccuracies and illogical denials. That being said, let’s try to do what you may think is impossible. Let’s talk about where Brown was right. Because, believe it or not, A.B. was actually on...
Antonio Brown apologizes to Steelers, while making excuses in rare Pittsburgh radio interview
In an interview that was as inconsistent and wandering as his behavior for the past 14 months, Antonio Brown made his first live radio appearance in Pittsburgh since his football career came off the rails. Brown appeared on “The Fan Morning Show” on 93.7 FM Thursday morning. In a 22-minute...
First Call: Jim Rutherford cooling on Penguins trade talk?; Pat Narduzzi on MSU rumors; Duquesne wins
This edition of “First Call” gives us Jim Rutherford’s view of Matt Murray and the trade market. Tom Brady keeps playing coy. Pat Narduzzi is talking himself in circles. And a big road win for Duquesne. Standing tall During his Wednesday night radio show on “105.9 the X,” Penguins general...
Tim Benz: Penguins’ Bryan Rust’s ‘foundation’ for his goal-scoring surge on full display
This is what Bryan Rust’s season has become. On a shift where the Penguins winger scored a goal, the actual scoring of the goal wasn’t the most impressive part of the play. And, during the same game, a play where he almost scored an overtime game winner may have been...
U mad, bro? Pittsburgh fans jump on Hall of Fame voting, Penguins’ trade talk, Pirates roster
If nothing else, our readers show their great emotional range in this week’s “U mad, bro?” They are angry over Hall of Fame snubs. They are angry over Hall of Fame snubbers. They are angry at the idea of the Pirates trading away veteran talent. They are angry at the...
Penguins vs. Lightning preview; marveling at Alexander Ovechkin; assessing the NHL Eastern Conference
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning are going to see quite a bit of each other over the next few days. The teams play each other Thursday in Florida. Then they face off again at PPG Paints Arena next Tuesday. So we check in with Pittsburgh native and Lightning...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell on idea of reuniting with Antonio Brown; Penguins goalie trade talk
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Le’Veon Bell talks about his future and Antonio Brown. Trade rumors for a Penguins goalie. And Super Bowl celebration hilarity. Whatever you say, Le’V Remember when New York Jets coach Adam Gase refused to directly answer a question about whether the team would be keeping Le’Veon...
Tim Benz: I’m not ripping Peter King for his Troy Polamalu snub
“Football Morning in America’s” Peter King admitted that he didn’t vote for Troy Polamalu for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, even though he felt Polamalu was worthy of being in the top five. His rationale? King felt Polamalu had the votes to get in anyway (which proved true), so...
