Joe Starkey Columns category
Joe Starkey: 10 minutes with 2 WPIAL coaching legends — Danny Holzer and Tim McConnell
Tim McConnell couldn’t remember how many WPIAL titles he’d won on the grounds of Duquesne University, back when they played the championship games at the Palumbo Center. “I’m not sure, maybe four or five,” he said. That’s how much winning the man did — he couldn’t even peg the exact...
Cup of Joe: Every game is Penguins’ biggest of the year now — starting in Ottawa
Cup of Joe: Starkey on sports in 400 words or less It gets real now. The Pittsburgh Penguins have survived all manner of adversity this season, including the prolonged absences of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and a ridiculously brutal March schedule. That schedule — one of the toughest stretches...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Will Steelers take 1st-round game-breaker for 1st time in nearly 20 years?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooooo …. Michael DeRosa, @MichaelLDeRosa: It has been 18 years since the Steelers took a...
Joe Starkey: Forever Young: Ex-Pitt star Sam Young a reminder of the good ol’ days
Man, do I miss Pitt basketball. Like a lot of you, I can close my eyes and put myself back in Petersen Events Center when the Panthers were humming and just listen to the noise. There was no better day than March 7, 2009, Sam Young’s senior day, when Pitt...
Joe Starkey: The Pirates will win 86 games, and thank you for asking
They thought Clint Hurdle was nuts. They probably think I am, too. Hurdle predicted 95 wins in 2013, with the Pirates mired in a 20-year losing streak. I am predicting 86 wins in 2026, with the Pirates mired in a seven-year losing streak — and I am going to be...
Beyond the Bylines: Pens push for the playoffs; Pirates win totals; missing Pitt in March MadnessVideo
“Beyond the Bylines” is back after a week off. Joe Starkey and Tim Benz dive into March Madness. They discuss the state of the Penguins’ playoff chase, their upcoming schedule, Evgeni Malkin’s history and contract status, and the goaltending. The guys also look at the Pirates’ projected win total, Konnor...
Cup of Joe: This version of Penguins’ Erik Karlsson is downright frightening
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on sports in 400 words or less When asked recently on live television what goes through his head when he sees Nathan MacKinnon coming at him, Erik Karlsson did not hesitate. “Oh (crap), here we go,” he said. Now imagine what opposing players must say when...
Cup of Joe: Oh well, at least Team USA honored the Padres
Cup of Joe: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less Yes, Team USA choked away the overrated World Baseball Classic, its vaunted lineup again coming up small in a 3-2 loss to Venezuela and journeyman pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez in the championship game. But at least they honored the San...
Cup of Joe: In defense of Evgeni Malkin, top 25 all-time player and 3rd-best in Penguins history
Cup of Joe: Starkey on Sports in 400 words or less (or significantly more, in this case) People are often quicker to rip Evgeni Malkin than give him the benefit of the doubt. And that continues to amaze me. Has this man not earned the benefit of the doubt by...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Are the Penguins primed for a playoff run?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooooo … Zach Hanczar, @zach_hanczar27: Will the Pens reach the conference final? Starkey: Why not,...
Cup of Joe: It was Fenway Sports Group that made this magical Penguins season possible
Cup of Joe: Starkey on sports in 400 words or less (or in this case more) They established themselves as a cold and distant corporate entity from the moment they arrived — and it kind of still feels like they never did arrive. They never really connected to the fan...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: How would you grade the Steelers’ 1st day of free agency?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooooo … J, @Crossland895: Hello Joe! If you would, please grade day 1 of the...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Evgeni Malkin’s suspension was a joke compared to Brandon Hagel’s free ride
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less (or more, in this case) Silly question, but might there be reasons why people keep attacking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin? And might one of those reasons be that Dahlin specializes in sneak-attack cross-checks from behind? Nah. It’s probably...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Pitt, Duquesne, RMU fight back, inject a little life into hoops scene
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less This was shaping up as a horrific year for men’s college hoops around here. It still might not be great, but things are momentarily looking up after a wildly entertaining and unexpected stretch of basketball. Pitt was tracking to...
Beyond the Bylines: Starkey, Benz debate Penguins’ trade deadline strategy; Aaron Rodgers on Pat McAfeeVideo
In this week’s “Beyond the Bylines,” Joe Starkey and Tim Benz talk about the NHL trade deadline and how Pittsburgh Penguins fans are morphing into Pirates fans when it comes to their desire to hoard draft picks and prospects. They also discuss Aaron Rodgers’ appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,”...
Joe Starkey: Why couldn’t Pat McAfee just ask Aaron Rodgers a simple question?
The biggest news from the Pat McAfee-Aaron Rodgers bro show Wednesday was Rodgers saying, “I’m a free agent.” Hmmm. I wonder if he’s thinking about the Minnesota Vikings. I would be, although at least if Rodgers returns to the Pittsburgh Steelers he won’t have to ignore Jonnu Smith again. News...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Upon further review, Ben Roethlisberger performed an absolute miracle in his final season
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less (or more, in this case) His unqualified coordinator had never called an NFL play. His top receiver sometimes ran backwards and would be run straight out of the league by his late 20s. His No. 2 receiver would be...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Who’s better — Drew Allar or Will Howard?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooooo …. Burke O’Toole, @BurkeMan513: Dr. Starkey who would you rather the Steelers try to...
Joe Starkey: She sculpted the Bill Mazeroski statue — and hardly anybody knows
Every so often, Susan Wagner will visit PNC Park to see those powerful Pirates legends statues. Last weekend provided such an occasion, albeit a sad one. Bill Mazeroski died. Dozens journeyed to his bronze likeness at the end of the cul-de-sac on Mazeroski Way, near the right-field entrance, in front...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: What is an ‘AFC North’ quarterback?
Cup of Joe: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less Steelers GM Omar Khan made sure to talk up last season’s third-string quarterback — the sixth-round pick who has never appeared in a live NFL game — in addressing reporters at the NFL Combine. Of course he did. Khan...
Joe Starkey: The Steelers are Omar Khan’s show now. Is that a good thing?
Evaluating the Steelers’ personnel decisions in recent years was always tricky, because it was often unclear whether coach Mike Tomlin or general manager Omar Khan dictated a given decision. Who was pulling the trigger on many of the main acquisitions, via the draft, trades and free agency — and where...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Steelers not alone in quarterback quandary
The ESPN.com headlines Tuesday felt like one big cry for quarterback help: • “Browns GM: Starting QB up for grabs, includes Sanders, Watson” • “Falcons GM: QB Cousins to be released March 11” • “Dolphins GM: ‘Everything’s on the table’ with Tua” • “Texans GM: Stroud trade speculation is ‘moronic’”...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Would a salary cap enable the Pirates to keep Paul Skenes?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooooo …. Chris Abt, @Chris_Abt: Why aren’t we considering that the imminent MLB lockout and...
Joe Starkey: My unforgettable afternoon with the Miracle on Ice team
The icy glares had long since melted. Herb Brooks was no longer the fiery tyrant of 1980. He was no longer the mad man who’d ordered his players to skate sprints in the dark after a lazy performance against Norway, telling them if they kept smashing their sticks on the...
Beyond the Bylines: Joe Starkey, Tim Benz on Sidney Crosby’s injury, NHL in the Olympics, Steelers PodcastgateVideo
This week’s “Beyond the Bylines” streamed on Thursday instead of Friday because Joe Starkey already needs a vacation, and he’s only been back at TribLive for about a month. So he is going to Florida to play golf on Friday. We did not discuss Joe’s golf game. We did, however,...
