Hats off to the IUP basketball teams. Both teams prevailed on Sunday to win the PSAC Tournaments. In doing so IUP becomes the first school to win both the men’s and women’s titles since 1987. That is really impressive. Coaches Joe Lombardi and Tom McConnell have each built programs that win both on and off the court. Kudos to them, their players and coaching staffs on their tremendous accomplishments.
• Hopefully this is just the beginning for both IUP teams. Each team seems to be playing its best basketball of the year when it counts. Joe Lombardi has taken his team to two national championship games. Tom McConnell’s women’s team made it to the Elite Eight just a year ago. It’s March Madness, so anything can happen. That said, both of these teams could very well make a nice run in the tournament. Can’t wait.
• Antonio Brown won and made the Steelers look like a bunch of idiots. He talked his way out of town and will now wear the Black and Silver in Oakland, and then Las Vegas when the team moves there. He also has a new contract with a ton of guaranteed money. I honestly believe Antonio Brown was the greatest wide receiver in team history, and I was lucky enough to see Hall of Famers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth play, while also covering them during the Super Bowl 13 and 14 seasons. Brown may have been more talented, but he was no Swann and Stallworth when it came to character and being a team player. He leaves Pittsburgh as one of the most despised players ever to wear the Black and Gold. Here’s to hoping his Raiders continue to win no more than four or five games a season.
• It’s pretty obvious the Steelers gave Brown away for just a third and fifth round draft pick, when they wanted at least a first pick for their star receiver. It’s not all that surprising that’s all they got. Brown’s ridiculous antics over the past few months scared off a lot of teams who simply didn’t want anything to do with him. On the surface, it’s a loss for the Steelers, who will also take on over twenty million dollars in dead money on their salary cap. Then again, maybe the Steelers will be better off getting rid of the narcissistic Brown. Only time will tell.
• Wouldn’t it be something if when his career ends Brown asks the Steelers to retire as a Steeler? I wouldn’t put it past him. If it does happen I hope Art Rooney tells him where he can retire, if you get my drift.
• One positive, if there is one, from the Brown trade is that the Steelers picked up multiple picks in the deal, although I don’t consider a third and fifth round adequate compensation. That means the Steelers now have ten picks entering the draft. In my opinion that completely changes what Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin will do when they make their selections in April. I fully expect the Steelers to wheel and deal, and wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Steelers use some of the extra picks to move up in the first round if there is a defensive player they covet. They did that years ago when they went after Troy Polamalu. We all know how that worked out. Don’t be surprised if the Steelers try the same strategy again.
• The Pens have to be a little tired after playing three games in four nights. Guess two out of three ain’t bad, at least that’s what Meatloaf once sang. Every game is playoff hockey-like for the Pens at this point. They looked great in winning against Columbus and were pretty impressive in their win against red hot Boston. Those were two nice wins for the Pens. Every point is magnified this time of year. Not a bad stretch for the Pens. They just need to keep it going.
• Matt Murray is starting to look like the goaltender who backed the Penguins during their last two Stanley Cup championships. Murray made some incredible saves against Columbus over the weekend, even though they Pens lost the game. Great goaltending is what wins Cups. Murray has been there. If the Pens are going to make any run in the playoffs, provided they get there, Murray needs to be great. Lately, he’s been just that.
• RIP Dan Jenkins. If there was a Mount Rushmore for sports writers Dan Jenkins would certainly be on it. Jenkins first love was college football, but was probably most famous for his decades of writing about golf. He covered 68 Masters tournaments, if you can believe that. Dan Jenkins knew how to spin a phrase and never disappointed with his laugh out loud humor. The press room at Augusta this year just won’t be the same without him.
