Mark Madden Columns category, Page 23
Mark Madden: It’s easy to see Pirates navigating a .500 season
Refreshing Pirates notes. I haven’t done this for a long time because the Pirates haven’t been relevant for a long time. So here goes: • At 16-7, it’s hard to imagine the Pirates stumbling to 90 losses. It’s easy to see them navigating a .500 season. But that might change...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Why isn’t Bucco Fever spreading faster?
The Pittsburgh Pirates returned from a 5-2 road trip that ended with a three-game sweep at Denver to play in front of a mere 14,051 at PNC Park this past Thursday. Bucco Fever isn’t spreading that quick. Perhaps people still are wearing masks. Or maybe the inevitable reality of 162...
Mark Madden: Don’t rule out Steelers making insane decision during NFL Draft
The NFL wants to be everywhere 24/7/365. To be a constant in the news cycle. The NFL Draft is proof of the league achieving that. The draft used to take place in hotel ballrooms with GMs clutching legal pads. But in 1980, fledgling all-sports network ESPN wanted to televise the...
Mark Madden: Trading up is right move for Steelers, who need to draft a great player
The Pittsburgh Steelers are stuck in the mushy middle. Finish middle, draft middle, stay middle. That happens when you set the bar at your coach never having a losing season. The biggest worry is “draft middle.” Drafting high is how you escape the cycle. But finishing middle doesn’t allow that....
Mark Madden: Peace must be made between Fenway Sports Group, Penguins icon Mario Lemieux
On Friday, Fenway Sports Group’s Dave Beeston gave the impression that the new Pittsburgh Penguins ownership was reconciling with the old Penguins ownership, namely franchise legend Mario Lemieux. President of business operations Kevin Acklin said Lemieux had talked directly to FSG. CBS Sports posted this headline: “Penguins ownership expects Mario...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Penguins have to extend or trade Jake Guentzel this offseason
The Penguins’ offseason will be one of difficult decisions. One of the primary ones involves winger Jake Guentzel. Guentzel, 28, is heading into the last year of a contract that pays $6 million annually. He had a quietly effective season, collecting 36 goals and 37 assists in 78 games. Listed...
Mark Madden: Here’s a starting point for the Penguins’ next GM to fix this mess
As the Pittsburgh Penguins begin a crucial and difficult offseason, a lot must change. It started with GM Ron Hextall and president of hockey ops Brian Burke being fired. A good replacement GM won’t be easily found. It’s not an attractive job: An elderly roster encumbered by eight players with...
Mark Madden: Penguins’ loss to Blackhawks in must-win game was one of worst in franchise history
The Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t good. Listing their blown leads and losses to rotten teams would take too long, and it adds up to a simple description: horse manure. Tuesday’s 5-2 home defeat to Chicago was one of the worst losses in franchise history, given what was at stake and the...
Mark Madden: Tiger Woods is golf’s most popular attraction, so make some exceptions to sacred rules
If Tiger Woods can still make the shots but can’t walk, the PGA and the four major tournaments should let him use a cart. (Here’s betting LIV Golf would.) It would violate one of golf’s most sacred rules and give Woods an unfair advantage over the rest of the field....
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Sidney Crosby doing everything he can to save Penguins’ season
The Pittsburgh Penguins have played 80 games and won 40. They’re an average team at best, clearly flawed in many aspects, and have a lot of bad players. But if the Penguins miss the postseason and their playoff streak ends after 16 years, don’t dare place even an ounce of...
Mark Madden: Remember how this ends, Pirates fans
Friday was opening day for the Pirates’ home schedule. Or Opening Day. Depending on how you feel about it. (Thanks, Jim Bouton.) There is a groundswell of enthusiasm for the Pirates given their 5-2 start after a 13-9 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Friday was supposed to be a...
Mark Madden: NCAA women’s basketball final will be remembered, but at what cost?
Women’s sports too often can’t get out of their own way, not least when the spotlight shines brightest. The U.S. women’s soccer team fell off its perch as America’s sweethearts via too much politicizing. What did that accomplish? Now a women’s basketball Final Four that started out sizzling thanks to...
Mark Madden: With Penguins needing every point possible, Evgeni Malkin must wise up
In Sunday’s 4-2 home win over Philadelphia, a Penguins player took three separate minor penalties in 6 minutes and 52 seconds. That’s amazing, not least because four minutes during that time span were spent in the penalty box. All three fouls were innocuous and lazy: Hook, hook, high stick. Those...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Pirates should give Bryan Reynolds what he wants
The Pirates and outfielder Bryan Reynolds have reportedly agreed on money and term, namely an eight-year contract that would pay $106.75 million. Reynolds has dropped his demands by over $27 million. The sticking point: Reynolds wants an opt-out clause after the fourth year. The Pirates should give it to him....
Mark Madden: Lamar Jackson saga makes you appreciate Kirk Cousins
The Lamar Jackson drama cascades on. The most insufferable part is the ex-jocks who carry water for Jackson. Robert Griffin III is that pack’s leader. He’s a failed Jackson, a Dollar Tree version. He’s trying to live vicariously through Jackson’s desired payday. At least we finally know what that is,...
Mark Madden: GM Ron Hextall deserves blame for Penguins’ goaltending disaster
It gets boring to continuously crucify GM Ron Hextall and president of hockey ops Brian Burke for their part in mangling the Pittsburgh Penguins. They’re not on the ice. But it’s also hard to ditch such criticism, not least after Tuesday’s damaging 7-4 loss at Detroit. Goaltending lost that game....
Mark Madden: Casey DeSmith provides Penguins adrenaline, deserves run in net
Tristan Jarry has had an injury-prone corpse of a season for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Dealing with the “can he or can’t he?” is exhausting. Casey DeSmith isn’t as talented or even very talented. But he battles like a bulldog. It’s time to go with the bulldog. Enough is enough with...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Injury-prone edge rusher Bud Dupree not the answer for Steelers
The Steelers will meet with Bud Dupree with an eye toward bringing the edge rusher back for a second stint with the team. He played with the Steelers from 2015-20. Bad idea. Having a quality third edge rusher is critical given that T.J. Watt, 28, is and will very likely...
Mark Madden: Tristan Jarry just can’t be trusted to be available for Penguins
A lot can happen between now and the end of the Penguins’ season. But in the case of Tristan Jarry, it probably won’t. Now, as he slogs through his fifth injury inside of a year, the Penguins must plan to cut ties with their goalie when his contract runs out...
Mark Madden: Fantasy camp brings back memories of Mario Lemieux’s 5-goal greatness
The Mario Lemieux Fantasy Hockey Camp wrapped up Wednesday. Once again, Lemieux’s team won the four-team competition. That’s happened every year since the camp debuted in 2012. But that’s because Lemieux plays for all the teams at least once. The founder of the feast works overtime. The camp is an...
Mark Madden: Badly broken Penguins don’t deserve to make playoffs
The Pittsburgh Penguins are mired in a four-game losing streak. On the season, they have had losing streaks of seven, six and four (twice). The ongoing skid is a good bet to be extended when the Penguins play at Colorado on Wednesday and Dallas on Thursday. That’s 21 losses tied...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Free-agent signings nice, but Steelers still face uphill battle
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a solid free-agency period so far. By the team’s established standard, cornerback Patrick Peterson is an unusually big-name signing. He’s an upgrade over Cameron Sutton for 2023, anyway, and less expensive. The rest of the arrivals and departures are via the Steelers blueprint. Whether you’re...
Mark Madden: Hockey leagues should have banned fighting long ago
Hockey is a great game. The best, to my mind. But it’s got a way of maneuvering itself into some frustrating cul-de-sacs. The concept of fighting in retaliation for a clean bodycheck, for example. There’s never been less hitting in the NHL. It’s not far removed from men’s league no-check....
Mark Madden: No sugarcoating this Penguins mess
A Syracuse radio host got fired for being too negative about Syracuse University’s sports teams. His station’s boss said, “I’m an SU fan. I bleed orange.” It read like a story from The Onion or The Babylon Bee. Like satire. Analysis quashed by fanboy drivel. Then again, real news has...
Mark Madden: Drew O’Connor, Alex Nylander deserve to stay in lineup and other noteworthy Penguins items
An unimpressive 7-1-1 run is better than sparkling despite a loss. Enjoy this decidedly impressive run of refreshing Penguins notes. Go ahead, bite the Big Apple. • Wingers Drew O’Connor and Alex Nylander have been solid, should stay in the lineup and should have been in the lineup all season....
