The Pens are rolling. After back to back wins over Montreal and Detroit it’s pretty obvious that this is a team that can make a long run in the playoffs. We saw what Jason Zucker can add to this team with his breakout game vs the Canadiens. He’s fast and he can score. And to think he is signed for a few more seasons. Unfortunately, the injury bug struck again vs the Red Wings. Zach Aston-Reese had to leave the game. Hopefully his injury isn’t long-term. Then again, with the way the Pens have overcome injuries this season, his injury might not even hurt the team.
• The IUP women actually lost this week. Their nineteen game winning streak ended at rival Cal. Maybe that will be a good thing and get them re-focused as they head down the stretch. Their bounce-back win over Gannon Saturday night improved their record to 22-2. The men are also rolling. They’re now 21-2. Look for a big crowd Wednesday night at the KCAC when the two teams host Edinboro on Chamber night. Hopefully these two great teams get the fan support they deserve.
• I like the approach new skipper Derek Shelton is taking at his first Pirates spring training. He’s not worried about anything but building relationships with his new players and telling all who listen that he’s just trying to get everyone to get better every day. As I wrote previously, I was really impressed with Shelton when I met him at the Pirates radio seminar at Seven Springs. He’s a good baseball man and I think he will bring a lot of positive changes to the organization. He doesn’t have the talent that other teams have, and he knows it, although he won’t admit it. I look forward to watching Shelton during his initial season.
• It was a great atmosphere at the Bryce Jordan Center Saturday night when Penn State and Ohio State squared off on the wrestling mat. I’ve gone the last here years to the match they stage at this venue. It was a real battle between these two Big Ten and national powerhouses, with the Nittany Lions earning a hard fought win. Penn State has won eight of the last nine national championships, but I’m not sure they can do it again in Minnesota. They’re really good, but I just don’t think this team has the talent all throughout the lineup to win another national title. I hope I am wrong.
• Don’t look now but Penn State has won twenty basketball games this season. The Lions are one of the top teams in the Big Ten and are drawing big crowds to cheer them on. Penn State has never been a basketball power, but there’s no reason they can’t field good teams year in and year out. I hope Pat Chambers has turned this program around for good.
• While driving home from Penn State on Saturday night, I heard several national sports talk shows weighing in on the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. This story won’t go away anytime soon. Major League Baseball is not going to strip the Stros of their World Series championship, nor should they. That’s doesn’t mean other teams won’t try to punish the Astros. I do expect payback in the form of throwing at hitters and other antics on the diamond this season, even if Commissioner Rob Manfred warns against it. The Astros won the title, but it may end up costing them big-time for years to come.
• Speaking of baseball, I hate the idea of the expanded playoffs. There are enough teams in the playoffs already. MLB doesn’t need to water down the field anymore. No fan wants to see a team that shouldn’t even be in the playoff field get hot and win the World Series. And to think, there once was a time when only the National and American League champions got in the playoffs. It was called the World Series. Remember?
• So now Antonio Brown has authored an apology to his former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Yea, sure he wrote it. He may be sincere, but knowing AB it smells of desperation to get back to the NFL. I still wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole if I was running a team.
• A new golf season and still more Tiger Woods overkill. I actually watched ESPN on Friday and the only golfer they showed in their long highlight package was Tiger. It was if he was the only golfer in the field at Riviera. Ridiculous!
