Tim Benz stories, Page 187
First call: Terry Bradshaw’s apology; ex-Penguins shine for Blues
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” a Terry Bradshaw apology, a potential tight end for the Steelers and some former Penguins stand out in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bradshaw apologizes Former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw is backtracking on some comments he made during Fox’s “upfront” presentation Monday. The network NFL host was...
76ers fans praise T.J. McConnell as time in Philadelphia possibly ends
The City of Philadelphia is awash in heartbreak following Kawhi Leonard’s buzzer-beater, which ended the playoffs for the 76ers. KAWHI CALLED SERIES AT THE BUZZER ?Presented by @TISSOT pic.twitter.com/znckcOTkn6— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 13, 2019 That miracle shot sent Toronto onto the Eastern Conference Finals and sent Philly in...
Tim Benz: Understanding what ‘Benny Snell Football’ should be for Steelers
In a three-minute interview posted on Steelers.com, Steelers rookie running back Benny Snell refers to himself in the third person three times. OK. Just so long as Benny Snell realizes that Benny Snell is still third string. For now. “Benny Snell football could be second (down) and 3 (yards to...
Tim Benz: For Steelers defense, talk is cheap when it comes to turnovers
Every Steelers fan should agree with what inside linebacker Vince Williams tweeted over the weekend. To a point. It’s easy to score points in the NFL. The game is made to score. That’s why defense is the ultimate troll move. Most defensive players are natural jerks. We love seeing things...
First call: Kawhi Leonard’s dagger, Putin’s hockey stumble, LeBron being that dad
In “First Call” Monday, Kawhi Leonard’s unreal Game 7 buzzer-beater for Toronto. Vladimir Putin’s on-ice stumble. LeBron James is every sports dad you’ve ever known. Is this the dagger? That was play-by-play man Kevin Harlan’s question on TNT as Kawhi Leonard chucked up a potential series-winning shot to send Toronto...
Tim Benz: 5 things to love about Pirates’ win to take series vs. Cardinals
There was plenty to like about Sunday’s 10-6 Pirates win over the Cardinals. It was a third-straight victory. It secured a series win over a division rival. The team came out strong early, came back after losing the lead then added on once they got it back. And Josh Bell...
Tim Benz: The biggest reason for lagging MLB fan interest
By now, you have probably read some of the alarm-bell columns discussing Major League Baseball’s attendance issues. As USA Today reports, MLB saw an attendance drop in March-April 2019, on the heels of a 4% season-long decline in attendance in 2018. That was the largest dip in a decade. Furthermore,...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden on Steelers RB situation, Pirates’ series win, Penguins model
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 the X and the Tribune-Review joins me to talk about finding interest in the NHL playoffs without the Penguins’ participation. Are the Bruins more of a model for the Penguins’ reconstruction than the Islanders ever were? We get into the...
Looking at the Pirates’ logic for keeping pitcher Mitch Keller in the minors
Nick Kingham starts for the Pirates on Wednesday against Texas. Mitch Keller pitches, too, but for Indianapolis. With the injuries in the starting rotation — Jameson Taillon and Chris Archer — some think that should be reversed. We look at Neal Huntington’s explanation as to why the Pirates are keeping...
First call: Pat Maroon plays Game 7 hero; stunning shootout goal; ex-Pirates steady
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Game 7 NHL drama. A head-scratching shootout goal. Catching up with Cutch. The Texas Rangers are your new second-favorite baseball team. Feel familiar? Whenever they see a Game 7 playoff contest go to double overtime, Pittsburgh Penguins fans think of this. Thank you, Chris Kunitz. Thank...
U mad, bro? Penguins, Steelers, horse-racing fans air frustrations
In “U mad, bro?” this week, Pens fans pop off about a lack of toughness and too much trade talk. People sure are touchy about the Kentucky Derby. And some Steelers fans want to pretend Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown no longer exist. Bob is boiling down all the Penguins’...
Tim Benz: Reevaluating Mike Tomlin’s contract situation with Steelers
Highbrow sports columnists such as myself refer to it as “having a developing opinion.” The real world says, “I’m changing my mind, n’at.” Trolls on Twitter say, “You’re flip-flopping.” However you choose to phrase it, I’m altering my view on Mike Tomlin’s contract situation based on some new information. That’s...
First call: Martavis Bryant vies for reinstatement; Therrien, Yeo to coach Flyers
In “First Call” Tuesday, Martavis Bryant wants to be reinstated in Oakland. Mike Yeo and Michel Therrien are getting reunited in Philadelphia. Gerrit Cole may be finding his groove in Houston. And bees are taking over Cincinnati. Bryant back? Former Steelers — and Raiders — receiver Martavis Bryant apparently wants...
Podcast: Robert Morris men’s lacrosse coach talks return to NCAA Tournament
The Robert Morris men’s lacrosse team is heading to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season after an NEC championship victory against Hobart last weekend. LET'S GO, BOBBY MO!From 1-7 to @necmlax champs for the second year in a row, @RMUMLacrosse is headed back to the @NCAALAX tournament after...
Tim Benz: Le’Veon Bell’s funny explanation for staying away from offseason practices
It’s somehow comforting to know New York Jets fans already are getting used to asking the same question about Le’Veon Bell that Steelers fans had been asking for the past few seasons. “So, when is he going to show up?” Bell has yet to appear for offseason workouts in New York....
Tim Benz: Antonio Brown could get another clown in the Raiders circus
If there is truly a God above, this will happen. Just for the sake of our entertainment. The NFL Network reported the Raiders are working out free agent offensive lineman Richie Incognito. Here’s an interesting one. The #Raiders are working out free agent G Richie Incognito today, sources say. Incognito...
First Call: Duquesne lineman gets a kick out of Seahawks minicamp, RMU & PSU in lacrosse tourney
In Monday’s “First Call,” a Duquesne Duke has a memorable moment at Seahawks camp. Also: the NCAA Lacrosse tournament will have a local flavor, a NHL game seven, and rumors about the NFL taking the combine on the road. The more you can do When you’re a rookie free agent...
Tim Benz: Kentucky Derby controversy a warning amid NFL rules changes
It’s probably not the best strategy to start a sports column with an admission that you are utterly unfamiliar with the sport you are discussing. But here goes. I know very little about horse racing. Just because I’m built like a jockey, doesn’t mean I know anything about riding a...
Podcast: Mark Madden and Tim Benz on Evgeni Malkin, Kentucky Derby, Pirates
In this week’s “Madden Monday,” 105.9 the X’s Mark Madden and I cast a wide net over the sports world. We start with following up on last week’s podcast in which Madden told us there was some fire to the smoke when it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins considering a...
Tim Benz: Pirates can’t afford injury bug within starting staff
In his usual Sunday media scrum with reporters, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington rattled through the litany of injuries that have beset his club. “We haven’t had an at-bat from our regular left fielder (Corey Dickerson),” Huntington said to begin his mental checklist. “Our regular right fielder (Gregory Polanco)...
First Call: A safety for the Steelers?, Torts’ Tumble, a humiliating first pitch
In Friday’s “First Call,” we consider a familiar name as a fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Plus, the “Torts Tumble,” a humiliating first pitch, and people are already turning on Jameson Taillon. A safety for the Steelers? Keep this name in mind for free agency next season, Steelers fans. It’s...
Tim Benz: Penguins fans must prepare for real change … eventually
This is always a frustrating time of year to write about the Pittsburgh Penguins. Well, at least in non-Stanley Cup winning seasons anyway. The cycle is drudgery, and it is familiar. The Penguins lose a series. The fans, media, locker room, and management call for change. Rumors emerge about potential...
Friday Football Footnotes: Backing Big Ben continues
For “Friday Football Footnotes” this week, two members of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization made sure that the recent wave of support for Ben Roethlisberger continued. There has been a unified response from the organization of late, after a few months when the Steelers quarterback was slapped around in the media...
Mike Rupp on Evgeni Malkin trade talk: Penguins should at least consider it
Former Penguin Mike Rupp is chiming in on the Evgeni Malkin trade talk. Now an analyst for AT&T SportsNet and the NHL Network, Rupp was on 105.9 the X with me Wednesday, and I asked him what he thought about the idea of trading Evgeni Malkin. “I don’t see it...
Fantasy Sports podcast: Melky Cabrera’s hot start, NFL Draft impact
It’s our weekly fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. This week, we look at which draft choices could impact the fantasy football world. Kyler Murray leads the way. Josh Jacobs should help the Oakland Raiders. Those tight ends from Iowa could be worth a pick. And the New...
