This mini pony is smaller than a toddler. How many horses have you ever seen that are smaller than a toddler?
My dog is bigger than a horse. That. Is. Awesome.
P.S. The filename for this pic is dazzler2. I can only hope that this little horse is named Dazzler.
Ever wonder what your favorite Penguins stars are being for Halloween? Turns out everyone is dressing up as...Colby Armstrong.
If you need a last-minute costume idea, you can't go wrong with a Pens jersey, some white face and a witch nose/beak.
And EC as Urkel? I can totally see that for some reason. And best part is Talbot saying he's going as Colby, then the camera panning to Army...who is sitting right next to Max. Priceless.
I don't care if this has 17,000+ hits on Youtube (and everyone has probably seen it), it needed to be posted. Solid halloween scares never get old.
Happy Halloween. I got another video coming up, and it actually has something to do with Pittsburgh sports. I'm good for it.
Whoa! This is the greatest picture of all time.
No other way of putting it. I say what I see.
Oh snap, they're at it again. I thought these two were outta my mind forever. I was wrong.
Come to think of it, this is like a mirror image of that Taylor pic.
Ricardo Colclough, the man-meat in that hottie sandwich, is no longer a Steeler. Sucks.
I'm pretty bummed that the best punt-fumbling, third string CB will no longer put on the Black and Gold.
/joking.
Side Note: Steelers.com has already updated the depth chart to show Anthony Madison, the Colclough-replacement signee in the third string spot. Colclough was really pushed out the door. I've been a Madison supporter while he was in training camp with the Steelers, and hopefully he can solidify the Special Teams coverage unit. Come to think of it, we should just sign Chidi. Its usually around this point in the season when he makes an appearance on the Pittsburgh sidelines.
I actually don't mind Errey on FSN. Steigy...I can't say the same about.
Hmmm...if only FSN would bring back Mike Lange for a dynamic duo of Lange and Errey. We could have all sorts of conversation which would include hacksaws, butts, grandmas, noses and rented mules! Fantastic.
My gosh, this particular pony has an astounding display of ribbons and awards. He obviously rules at being a mini pony.
...Hey, baby (that one was wrong/disgusting...I'm sorry).
For those of you (in Cincinnati) wondering, we are dey.
Actually, with this being the 7th consecutive win by the Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium (including the infamous Kimo/Palmer knee injury playoff game), the team should officially change their name to the Pittsburgh Deys. Pittsburgh fans have cheered the Steelers for 75 years, I can see another 75 years of rooting for the Deys.
Big divisional win for the Deys...I mean Steelers. Coming off the debacle in Denver, the team needed to prove that they could win on the road against a far inferior D. The 24-13 win appeared to prove that point.
Tale of the tape: Balanced, low-risk win. Underlying theme: Enough muscle to make Magnus Samuelsson proud.
Sure, the Denver game featured guys named Polamalu, Hampton and Ward, but they hardly showed up. The rust was gone for all of these players on Sunday.
There wasn't a bunch of highlight-worthy clips, just pure football dominance. Several of the post-game shows (CBS, Fox) merely mentioned the score, then moved to sexier highlights with tight scores and big plays. Go ahead, CBS and Fox, show those Peyton Manning or Brandon Jacobs highlights. We'll see how far those take their teams come late-December. Personally, I'll put my money in a D that still refuses to concede 100 yards to any particular rusher.
With that being said, we dissect.
Benji. Needs to be said...that movie ruled. It was on TV the other day and I watched it so hard. Cinematography at it's finest. On to our Benji...#7 made plays when he needed to against Cincy. Ben tried to go down field too much in Denver, and the risk/reward ratio is very slim with a D that houses Dre Bly. In Cincy, Ben toned down the passing attack, kept the deep ball to a minimum, and used his feet to extend plays. I don't care who you are, that recipe is perfect for Big Ben. The deep ball to San Antonio worked because Ben pulled the defender away with a solid pump fake. With that fake, the reward end of the risk/reward ratio skyrocketed. Ben kept the pump fake working all game, especially on Hines' first TD, when he was wide open in the front corner of the endzone. Mix all that with the beautiful escapability that caused the Bungles so many headaches, and Ben kept it simple enough to make the game manageable, then made the plays to put it away. 19/26 for 230 yards and 2 scores. The interception comes with the territory (escaping the pocket and forcing a play), so Ben ends with 4 out of 5 motorcycle helmets.
Heir-Bus. Saying this has gotten so old/cliche, but how did Willie Parker get no playing time at UNC and slip to free agency? I saw an interview with Art Rooney II, and he said that in today's NFL, a WR with John Stallworth's skill would not slip to the 4th round, as he did in '74. Apparently, Rooney was wrong, because no NFL team (aside from the Steelers) even knew who Willie Parker was when he left the Tar Heels. That allowed the team to pick up Parker without using a draft pick, and now every other team is left scratching their heads. 22 rushes for 126 yards and a score. Those are mind-boggling numbers for an undrafted free agent. The only active undrafted free agent RB with more career rushing yards than Fast Bill is Priest Holmes. Its only a matter of time before Willie overtakes Holmes. He deflated the Bengals with or without blockers in front of him, and his speed just destroyed any hope of a Cincinnati win. 5 of 5 motorcycle helmets for the Heir-Bus.
Dan Sepulveda. 1 punt. Little Sepulveda involvement means good things are happening. 4 of 5 helmets for the 37 yard punt.
Anthony Smith. Nothing but good things to say about Smith. Its unfortunate that Ryan Clark is battling spleen issues. However, games like this might ease the transition from Ryan Clark to Anthony Smith at Free Safety. Smith had 10 tackles, leading the team. Plus, when Anthony Smith hits you, you'll feel it. The dude was poppin' errbody that touched the ball, and even Ocho-Cinco was seen congratulating Smith on a solid hit. Troy Polamalu didn't want the team to get rid of Chris Hope after the Super Bowl, citing chemistry between the two safeties. Hopefully, Anthony Smith can keep playing at this level to create his own chemistry with #43. 5 of 5 motorcycle helmets for a well-executed game.
Everyone Else. Yeah, I usually only pick a few players to highlight, but the whole team played an outstanding game. Jeff Reed made the FG he was given, Casey Hampton was regularly spotted in the backfield disrupting plays, Hines had 2 TDs. James Harrison played an outstanding game, what with 5 tackles and the forced fumble/fumble recovery. All facets of the team were clicking, save for Special Teams coverage on ensuing kicks. I know Glenn Holt had 5 kickoff returns, but there is no reason that he should gain 141 return yards. As long as the entire team tightens up Special Teams coverage and gets more pressure on guys like Carson Palmer, then Pittsburgh needs to be looked at as an elite team in the AFC. None of that "Second Tier" bs behind Indy and New England. The Steelers are 5-2 and are looking good in the AFC North. 4 of 5 helmets for everyone else.
Bring on the Ravens and Jesus Lewis. I can't wait for the divisional lead to be even greater.
Wow...that's a massive feast for such little ponies.
It's not Thanksgiving yet, you greedy dweebs.
Gotta show love for my old high school for a quick minute.
The Yough Cougars bite are 3-6, but just beat rival Southmoreland 52-37. There is a warrant for this mention, though.
RB/WR Ben Hoffer became just the 9th WPIAL football player to rush for over 400 yards in a game (scroll down to the Memorable Game section). He's listed as a WR, but absolutely killed it on the ground. Great job, Southmoreland, D!
The man who created all the hassle - Hoffer (see how I did that? Hasselhoff mentions never get old) finished with 401 yards and 6 touchdowns. He did all his damage on 20 carries.
Crazy thing is...Hoffer had 331 on the ground at the half. Hoffer, you slacked off in the 2nd half. I was looking for a 662 yard game. Don't disappoint next time, kid.
Well done.
Oh, and the photo is from ESPN's video coverage of Yough getting trounced, 53-0, by the Jeannette Jayhawks and national superstud Terrelle Pryor. I had to make it myself, so that you know who Benny is. He's #5...and if you watch the vid, he's about to get demolished by Pryor, who is just waiting out of the right side of the pic.
Little blonde girl doesn't look too happy with her new pet.
Spoiled brat.
Sorry, Pens fans.
Everything was going well until the 3rd period. Prior to the game, MAF had stopped 66 of 67 shots in the past two games, both of which were one-goal victories. The Pens and Leafs were tied at 1, and I was looking like a genius for proclaiming that MAF had rebounded nicely. Then, the Two-Face MAF showed up. Actually, if MAF keeps up this inconsistent play, I might just start calling him Harvey Dent.
5-2 Leafs. Damn.
So, Pens fans, I'll accept any and all blame for the loss last night. I kept my mouth shut while MAF struggled early in the season, and I proceeded to open my face-hole right when he seemed to be playing at the level we all expect out of the former #1 pick. My foot went farther and farther into my mouth with each of the 4-3rd period goals. I think its safe to say that foot, ankle, calf and knee are now swallowed.
I jinxed MAF. I'm sorry, Penguins Nation.
** /side note - That's Lil Jinx on MAF's shoulder, for those of you who never dominated Archie Comics back in the day. And MAF's grandpa glasses are superb.
Cool old photograph.
One thing I've found since starting this site...there are a lot of pictures of mini ponies pulling things.
Oh...and the kid in the middle looks like he has a moustache. There was a kid named Frank who used to ride my school bus back in the day who had a full moustache in like the first grade. He was the man.
Remember John Duffy, the local ESPN Radio broadcaster? He pleaded guilty to child pornography charges in a federal court today.
I said that if he was found guilty, then he is disgusting. He went ahead and admitted his own guilt. Disgusting is not even a harsh enough word.
WPXI says that the prison term will likely be 51-63 months. He was supposed to face up to 10 years in prison. Duffy, you should consider yourself lucky to get off with such a light sentence.
I'm finished talking about your wretched life.
So I hear you want a Do Not Disturb sign on your door, but the words Do Not Disturb are kinda weak and cliché. Well then, kind sir (or ma'am), I will direct you to the best (and most unique) Pittsburgh sports memorabilia shop on the 'net, ChuckThomas.com. There, you can tell Do Not Disturb to shut the hell up, and instead, have MAF tell your visitors to Keep Out: Skilled Players Only! Buuurn.
Wow! MAF looks like he's 4 years old on that door hanger. I mean, he only looks like he's about 5 or 6 now, but he looks super young in this picture. Also, this might be one of the only instances where MAF is not smiling. Seriously, the dude smiles more than Donny and Marie combined.
There couldn't be a better time to buy this door hanger for only $12.95 after S/H. Especially with his recent rebound in play. For those of you counting at home, MAF has stopped 66 of 67 shots in the past two games (both one-goal wins). Yes, MAF, you are a skilled player. You can enter whatever door this hanger rests upon.
Back to Chuck Thomas...he rules. Have a look around his site, you won't be disappointed. Some of the items on the site are so out there that I have trouble wondering how Chuck got a hold of them. A Carlos Rivera game-used bat? And for only $63.70 after S/H? Awesome.
My two favorite objects, aside from this MAF door hanger, are pictured below.
Yes, that is a Tim Wakefield pewter Pirates baseball card on the left. Off the top of your head, where else can you buy that? Huh? I'm waiting...
The other is a Little Richard Troy Polamalu Steelers doll. Honestly, that thing looks exactly like Little Richard. And the proportions of the body are just creepy.
Awesome story here from reader Doug.
A disabled woman wants a mini pony as a roommate in her apartment.
I am not a disabled woman, but I, too, want a mini pony as a roommate. Seems like it would be a swell time.
I came across this bullshit website called CelebMatch by doing a simple Google search for Yancey Thigpen. Because that's what I do. I Google Yancey Thigpen like its my job.
The site shows your physical, emotional, intellectual and total compatibility with desired celebrity by simply entering your birthday. The internet is wonderful.
After looking for several celebs, I decided to search for Big Ben's fling, Missy Peregrym. If I was compatible enough, I would swoop in to make my move.
I am not compatible enough.
Physical - 46%
Emotional - 78%
Intellectual - 98% (Word!)
Total - 74%
Less than 50% physical compatibility? What the hell? She's hot. I'm...decent. But I guess our brains got in the way of our bodies.
Now, back to Yancey. Since I found this site through his name (for whatever reasons), I figured to see what's up between me and Yancey.
Physical - 92%
Emotional - 33%
Intellectual - 100%
Total - 75%
Obviously, me and Yancey are made for each other, save for the emotional baggage that would come with the tryst. However, we could talk about some stuff, or just fall back on our near-perfect physical attraction.
How the hell am I 1% more compatible with Yancey Thigpen than I am with Missy Peregrym? And all this noise came to fruition because I entered my birthday. I guess people born in mid-August are more likely to dig black male athletes rather than hot female actresses. Weird.
In case you were wondering, my best matches included:
Kim Smith - 98% (Hot!!)
Mischa Barton - 98% (Hot as well!!)
Priyanka Chopra - 98% (?? but extremely hot!!)
Ellen Page - 97% (Hotter than Yancey Thigpen)
Rachel Nichols - 97% (ESPN hot)
Sorry Yancey. I'ma go hit up Priyanka Chopra instead.
What's up, folks! I'm back from my short hiatus...how about that?!
I'm not going to discuss the Steelers loss at all. Its over and done. I was pleased to see the Penguins get back to a plus-.500 record in my absence, and they only sit 4 points behind the stupid surprising Flyers.
I must send a massive thank you to your PSaMP fill-ins, amateur Cate, who posted as doxastic, and Eddy Spaghetti. Applause must go to both of 'em, because it might be the first time in blogosphere history that an amateur sportsblogger and a Penguins blog both made the Post-Gazette's Blog 'N' Gold, the awesome Steelers blog (and one of my must-reads) run by a major newspaper. Well done.
My trip went well, but it feels good to be back in Southwestern PA. I tried to look for hilarious town or road signs, a la Beavis and Butthead Do America (huh huh...Butte), and the best I could do was a road named:
Slaymaker Hill.
The only reason it was funny in my mind was because there is a Haymaker Road out in Monroeville, and the word slay just kills me.
While I'm on the subject, the best road name near me is Slaughter Hollow. I'm still not sure why anyone would name a road that.
Back to the contributors...they treated you well, no? It appears that I may need to take several more extended trips in the coming weeks/months, so if you liked the contributors, be sure to tell me to bring 'em back. Hell, this is PSaMP for the People! Its all about you, the readers.
I just wanted to check in so that you know I'm back. I hope you didn't plan a coup to have Eddy Spaghetti permanently take my place here at PSaMP miss me too much.
I either saw these very fellows (or ladies) last week while hanging out in the Bluegrass State, or I saw a DIFFERENT tiny white pony four-in-hand. I would like to think that there is a wee little queen who uses them to pull her tiny carriage.
Hey y'all! Thanks to the pony-master for letting me try my hand at blogging. I'm an enthusiastic amateur and Pittsburgh sports blog lover who has been given the huge task of trying to describe a game most of us would rather forget this morning.
I didn't want it to be this way--mostly because, unless your team is constantly terrible (*cough cough buccos*), it's hard to wring a laugh out of failure. And friends, I knew something was going to go wrong. The weird weather in Denver was an ill wind indeed, and Rockies fever was contagious. Finally, the SNIFNIA commentary asking if the Steelers are in the same league with the Colts and Pats sealed the deal. The jinx was ON.
I'd like to think I'm not superstitious, but I know some bad mojo when I see it, so I made sure to wear my Yoi and Double Yoi shirt, which in its debut contributed to the solid drubbing of the Seahawks, just in case. The shirt was not enough.
Let's look at the breakdown:
Ben: This was a tale of two Benjamins: it was the best of times and the worst of times. The game began with a nearly flawless first drive, started the second quarter with a bang and ended strong. In the middle of these slices of heaven however was a nasty Rex Grossman filling. I don't know if Ben went to Chicago or just ate a Chicago-style pizza, but some of the long bombs were vintage Sexy-Rexy-style terrible judgment, which is particularly frightening because Dre Bly was hawking balls like picks were on senior discount. Seriously, did he eat Champ Bailey and take his powers? 2.5 helmets out of 5 for half a great game and half a terrible one.
O-Line: The offensive line looked terrible last night. Now, here's the $64,000 question--is the line not holding, or is Ben taking too long (and as a subset, are WRs not getting open downfield)? I think it's a little of columns A, B and C. It WAS clear however that the line was only giving enough time for quick outs to be successful, and that's a recipe for a one-dimensional game. As far as the running game went, there wasn't a lot happening up the middle, but they did spring Willie for some nice gains. I'll be tough and say 2 helmets out of 5. Feel free to disagree.
Fast Willie and the Dumptruck: Is the name of a buddy comedy that I would totally go to see. Willie's numbers are deceptive for this game. Yes he was held to 93 yards, but he also had his biggest receiving game to date. Additionally, last night illustrated that a good passing game is critical to a good running game, and when the passing game opened up, Willie had some great gains. However, I expected more on the ground against the worst run defense in the NFL, even if they DID eat their Wheaties Sunday morning. As for Dump? Well...Big Ben had more yards...3 helmets out of 5
"Tim" Spaeth: There when he needed to be, not there enough to get called the right name. 4 out of 5
Heath Miller: Always Mr. Consistent. 4 out of 5 and needs the ball more often.
THE D: Just another example of how schizophrenic these Steelers were last night. The D made big plays occasionally, but also had a series of mental mistakes that ultimately cost the game. Letting the Broncos get into field goal range after back-to-back TDs was inexcusable. Jay Cutler burned the D with mid-range passes all night, to Brandon Stokley in the first half and then to Brandon Marshall and Glenn Martinez in the second. Confidential to Steelers secondary: Beware guys named Brandon. Seriously though, this looked nothing like the team that had otherwise allowed only 5 touchdowns all year. When Jay Cutler looks like John Elway, there is something very very wrong. 2 helmets out of 5. I'd have gone with the dreaded ONE HELMET were it not for the key interceptions by Smith and Foote, and holding Travis Henry to 51 yards.
NBC camera guy: 5 helmets out of 5, as in get him five, and make sure he wears them all at once.
Soooo, the shirt is .500, which might mean that it has no magic powers. I refuse to test it any further. I can't take a 50% chance that the Steelers might lose next week. I owe it to the nation to retire the shirt to civilian (non-game-day) duty only. But in honor of that 50%, the half a good game and half a bad, I pronounce yesterday's effort a 2.5 helmets out of 5. Thanks for letting me ride the pony, and if you're still bummed, keep away from sharp objects. And remember, there's a light at the end of the tunnel, a light which is vintage Bungles. Now I need to find a new shirt...
As I said in the Penguins post earlier this weekend, the Eddy Spaghetti squad has a hard time rationalizing slamming coaches that seem to be doing their job. Michel Terrien knows his team, he can handle them as he wants to. Every Pirates coach since Barry Bond left? Not so much.
So this isn't an attack on Mike Tomlin, whose team just dropped a second game on the road against a far inferior opponent, these are just a couple observations.
• Even if the team was prepared, they were cocky. In both loses this year the Steelers went up by 7 early and then committed mistakes until they found themselves in a hole. To their credit, they came back in the second half and played like they should've. Still, the AFC is too tough this year to not slam the door on bad teams early.
The attitude of a team is a coach's main concern. I've been a fan of Tomlin's demeanor thus far, but this is an important flaw.
• The final PIT touchdown drive. I'm not saying that it wasn't effective. It was. But next year, if Tomlin is the coach I hope he is and he learns from his mistakes. He runs Parker/Davenport until there is 30 seconds left instead of running a touchdown route for Miller, who we all know is money inside the 20. A few running plays would have been worth it just to spook a timeout from Shanahan.
• Blowing the "call a time out as the kicker kicks the final field goal so he has to kick it again" play. This really isn't a mistake as it is just kind of embarrassing. I mean every coach has done this since Shanahan did it in Week One. If I were a Pop Warner coach I'd be calling this during every final field goal. Then I'd scream "Kick it again, Tubby!" Then I'd point at the blobby kicker's mom and make obscene hand gestures as to insinuate we've previously copulated likely will soon after his ham slab of a foot connects with the ball.
Also, Coach Tomlin got a little trigger happy. It happens (but not always on national television).
Final Weekend Scorecard:
2 Penguins Wins: Tremendous
1 Steelers Loss: Crushing
The Eddy Spaghetti Team's Illogical And Unreasonable Connection Between Mood And The Outcome Of Professional Sports Contests: Confirmed
P.S. We normally root for the NL team in the Series, but this time we've really jumped on the Colorado Rockies bandwagon. Anyone rooting for the Red Sox are categorically vapid maroons and deserve nothing but the intense, repeated heart break of attending the funeral of an infant, but with baseball. Oh, and Josh Fogg pitches for Colorado. Remember him?
That headline is a joke. In fact, as the blogosphere is apt to do, We think this off-and-on, 2-3 start has been taken a bit too seriously. Already we have reports that Shero is shopping for back-up goalies (which wasn't an awful idea in the off-season either), the predictable yet mystifying Fire Terrien current is starting to pick up and even the level-headed lads at Pensblog are curious about the Recchin' Ball's playing time.
Let's all take a deep breath and look at the facts...
So relax gang, things are going to be a-okay. Unless we loose to Carolina and Washington this weekend in that case we're scrambling for the exits in the burning theater no matter how many special needs kids we have to run over.
Hello folks, we're Eddy Spaghetti from the aptly titled EddySpaghetti.com. Mr. Bowl_Jackson was nice enough to let us help out with the site while he's out of commission and we're all atwitter over the opportunity.
Although we are pretty much a Penguins blog, we've been itching to talk about the other Burgh sports topics including, but not limited to: if it's acceptable to watch Reaper on the CW because Big Ben is dating the female lead, if the new Pirates leadership will trade for the oldest player on every roster that broke .500 last season like the last one did, how fun it is to say San Antonio Holmes in a bar and then watch everyone else wonder if they've been saying his name wrong for the last year and a half.
Above is a mini pony just to show we care and want to start off on the right foot. Also, it looks like it just got woken up out of a crate in Pulp Fiction. Maybe, that's just us...
Mmmmm. Jackets = delicious.
Is this girl packin' some hay, or sugar cubes or something?
By the way, that horse is kickass.
Slow clap for the Pa. House of Representatives.
The lawmakers are urging the MLB to retire Clemente's #21 across the entire league. As of now, Jackie Robinson's #42 is the only league-wide retired number.
Here's the snag.
Jackie's widow, Sharon Robinson and baseball great Frank Robinson are opposing the request. By retiring Clemente's #21, Robinson and Robinson (who are not related) feel Jackie's #42 would become watered-down. I think that is a bit of a double standard, and Sharon and Frank are being extremely greedy. Here's an excerpt from the P-G article:
[Sharon Robinson and Frank Robinson] have argued that Jackie Robinson's contribution was unique in the sport, and that a similar honor for Clemente might diminish baseball's tribute to Jackie Robinson.
Are you serious? I understand that Jackie Robinson had more balls than most men, but retiring Clemente's #21 shows honor to a fallen legend, and is not proposed solely to destroy Jackie Robinson's legacy.
Clemente entered the league 8 years after Jackie Robinson. Truth be told, the racial tensions of 1947 were not cleared up by 1955. It would be ignorant to believe that Roberto Clemente, the first Latin player to be inducted into the Cooperstown and the only man inducted without waiting the mandatory 5-year span, faced less racial hatred than Jackie Robinson. Plus, Clemente's legacy, which was heightened by his untimely passing in which he was flying to aide Nicaraguan earthquake victims, is deserving of a league-wide number-retiring.
The next issue to look at is statistics. It can be argued that Jackie Robinson, although Rookie of the Year and one-time league MVP, was inducted into Cooperstown based primarily on his symbolic breaking of the color barrier. He played just 10 seasons with an career average of .311, 137 homers and 734 RBIs. Would former Pirate Joe Randa be inducted into the Hall of Fame based on his career stats, which eerily mirror Robinson's? Now, Joe Randa wasn't RotY of even league MVP, but based on pure numbers and seasons played, he stacks right up with Jackie Robinson.
Now, let's look at Clemente. Roberto wasn't RotY, but he did capture an NL MVP award. Add that to 12 Gold Gloves and 12 All-Star appearances, 2 World Series rings (one in which he was World Series MVP), 4 batting titles, a .317 average, 3,000 hits and 240 homers. Compared to Jackie, Clemente got his bling on...all while enduring the same racial tensions of the 50's. Now, Bob didn't break the color barrier, but he did prove that minority athletes could thrive in a setting that was formerly off-limits.
Sharon Robinson and Frank Robinson need to open their eyes. Retiring Clemente's #21 will not dilute Jackie Robinson's legacy. As long as ESPN is around, Jackie Robinson will not be forgotten. Jackie Robinson was a man who fought to be respected by his peers. Jackie Robinson was not some demigod who needed to be placed on some pedestal, pooing on players that didn't stack up to him in his wife and friend's eyes. Clemente carried the torch that was started by Jackie Robinson, and he deserves to be acknowledged for his contributions to the sports and to the world.
The shirt picture was found here, a place that also wants #21 retired.
Newborn mini ponies are awesome. There's nothing more you ca nreally say about that situation.
...Hey, baby.
So yours truly will be out of the PSaMP offices for the next few days, meaning there will be little, if any, posting to the site. I promised to help my folks move (out of state), and won't be anywhere near a computer.
This is rather short notice, but I'll cut you a deal. If anyone out there wants to write for PSaMP, the greatest website in the world, for a few days, drop me a line at psampmail@gmail.com.
I'll be leaving tomorrow, so I don't expect anyone to respond. However, I wanted to at least put the offer on the table. If there are no responses, then you gotta find some other way to pass the time while I'm away.
Ball's in your court.
Control the anger. Control the anger.
I'm sure you've heard this already, tnaks to some other guys, but 2 days ago, October 14th, was the 15-year anniversary of that Fransisco Cabrera hit. It was also the 15-year anniversary of the Barry Bonds throw. That also makes it the 15-year anniversary of the Sid Bream run/slide. What, did you think I'd forget that part?
I still get sick when I flip through my old baseball cards and see Bream in a Pirates uni. I think I'm mad because I haven't burned those things in the past 15 years.
15 years!
I know you remember that day like it was yesterday. I do. Did we really know what we were in for when Bond's throw came in wide right? Did we even imagine being a sub-.500 club for the next 15 years? Thanks, Sid.
So Mr. Bream, Where'd Yinz Go?
Sid has benefitted greatly from that slide (Wikipedia even refers to it as The Slide) 15 years ago. This picture above is from the 2004 GOP rally in Saxonberg, PA. Sid Bream was the Mster of Ceremonies. Sid Bream. The Master of Ceremonies. I think I know what's wrong with the Republican party.
Bream had 90 career home runs and a career batting average of .264. But out of all celebrities, he was picked to emcee a GOP rally for the presidency. What, Dick Cheney couldn't find Kordell Stewart or Kent Graham, or maybe Derek Bell? The best they could do was Sid Bream. In Pennsylvania.
He's also a motivational speaker. Really. Maybe he motivates slow runners to beat throws home by Barry Bonds. Maybe he motivates kids to beat their former teams. Maybe he motivates others to deflate a major league baseball team for a decade and a half. That seemed to work for him rather well.
I'm done with this. I need to forget all of this immediately.
Fantastic warpaint, girl.
Also, I'm not digging the devil eye on the mini pony on the left (my left, warpaint girl's right). Click for a bigger view. And for night terrors.
I just saw this on Deadspin, and wanted to see if there was any visual evidence. There is.
Some "time traveller" asked a remarkable question to Bill Belichick after the big win in Dallas. Anything that flusters Belichick is cool in my book.
That is all.
This could be epic.
The Deshea Townsend Show? Never heard of it.
Apparently, this thing is taped live at dejAVu in the Strip. A quick glance at the website makes me assume that Deshea, although clearly ripping off good buddies Hines Ward and Jerome Bettis, has yet to tape a show. Tons of stuff seems to be works in progress.
Deshea has already proved a lot of people wrong this season by holding Bryant McFadden from taking his job all while showing that he isn't too small or old to play decent coverage. Maybe the show will prove us all wrong, too.
Cool Shot! Photography rules.
If you squint, those little boys look like massive cowboys.
Try it...its fun.
This little dude looks so unstable...
...And by unstable, I mean cute as hell. Just so you know.
Closin' out the work week, today's MPotD comes from Doug at Get Fresh Designs.
Doug took this picture at the Manheim Farm Show in Manheim, Pa. Manheim is the hometown of Danny Kreider.
Perfect Pittsburgh sports/miniature equine connection. And you thought the site name was just a random combo.
9897694861
Some of these visitors are weird.
"Everything Ben Hogan thought in 1.5 seconds." Man, I don't even know why that search query leads to PSaMP. Even more concerning...why would someone be searching for this in the first place? Too many questions, New York Mills.
VotW #2, I don't know who the black lady is from that commercial. The Jets fan (Sheila) is Natasha Leggero, though.
Is this mini pony smiling? Yes, I think this mini pony is smiling.
When I get a mini pony, I'm going to make sure it knows how to smile. On command.
Oh no, Fast Bill is on the cover of the latest ESPN the Magazine. I don't read ESPN the Magazine, so I'm sorry if this is old news to you. I stick with Sports Illustrated. However, as long as there is no ESPN the Mag curse (as there is with SI), I'll allow the photoshoot.
Willie's starting to make waves now that he's leading the league in rushing through the first five weeks. There's even a slim chance Willie could still be atop the list after this coming bye week, that is, if guys like Willis McGahee, Edgerrin James, Ronnie Brown and LaMont Jordan have subpar games. Travis Henry, who is second on the list and only 9 yards behind Parker, is also on a bye. And he could still be suspended for smoking pot.
If he keeps up this pace, he could do something that his predecessor, Jerome Bettis, never accomplished. Bill could take the league's rushing title. I know its early, but its fun to dream.
If he does that, he'll need a Bus-like nickname. I'm thinking Heir-Bus (get it, heir-bus = airbus). The only way to prove that you're an heir to a team legend is to do something that will be remembered in the league (think Steve Young asking for the monkey to be taken from his back in the Super Bowl).
Or we could just stick with Fast Bill/Willie. That works, too.
This sucks.
Earlier today, I received an email from a woman named Rhonda-Lynne that was titled, Mini horses need your help!! I'll do my best, Rhonda-Lynne.
In Uniontown, Kansas, there is a small farm where mini ponies are being abused and mistreated. I am sickened by this situation.
If you are like me, you would make sure that people find out about this. There has been literally no media attention on these neglected animals. I have one blog. The best I can do is bring this to your attention.
If you are particularly moved by these abused mini ponies, you should call the local sheriff's office and demand action. Their number is 620-223-1440.
Mini ponies should never be hurting.
Show 'em some love, people!
Somewhere, Bill Cowher is scowling.
Hey, baby. Hey, baby.
The tipsy fool (if you can trust Webshots) between these two gorgeous mark ass tricks, also known as Bill Cowher's scapegoat (other than Ricardo Colclough), was named Defensive Player of the Week.
Ike's 5 tackles, four passes defended and one goal line pick secured his spot as the best defensive player in the league last week.
Even though James Farrior had a monster game, it was fitting that the honor went to a DB. The win was the first-ever shutout at Heinz Field, primarily due to the blanket coverage provided by Pittsburgh's secondary.
Applause to you, Ike. See if Coach Tomlin wants to bench you as quickly as Cowher did.
If you're like me, you constantly ask yourself things like, "I wonder if awful, mainstream, wanna-be hip hop artists are good at keeping up with the national sports scene..."
Don't lie. You've thought of that word-for-word. You can admit it. I don't judge.
Above is a screenshot of the new video for Shawty is a 10, by flavor of the month The Dream. These dudes obviously don't watch baseball.*
Dude on the right is lookin' fly in his pinstripe Hotlanta Braves lid cocked ever so slightly to the right. Only problem is that the Braves finished the season with a record of 84-78 (.519), putting them 5 games behind the Phillies in the division and 5.5 games back in the wild card. Sure, they made a splash by picking up Teixeira, but they couldn't keep up with the NL top-feeders. No playoffs...no respect from PSaMP.
Fatty on the left did a little better by riding the Phillies bandwagon. At least his choice made it into October. His pea-soup-green Phillies hat, also cocked (with more emphasis than his Braves-loving boy) to the right, says that he don't mess around with no non-playoffs teams' hats. Philly was 89-73 (.549), which magically won the East. Once they got to October, the Phillies were owned by the Colorado "Used To Employ Dante Bichette" Rockies. In game 1, Philly got straight worked by Jeff Francis. John Madden has dropped Brett Favre cliches that are older than Francis looks. Plus, the hat is pea-soup-green! In a black-and-white shot! How the hell did he do that?
The combined winning percentage of these two teams represented is 173-151 (.534). In the National League, that winning percentage is only better than one NL playoff team, the Cubbies (.525). For those who forget, the Cubbies won the Central, possibly the worst division in baseball. The Cubbies also got swept.
Without the nearly unprecedented Mets collapse, we are talking about two non-playoffs teams with a combined winning percentage that barely eclipses the cursed Cubs.
But I guess if we're supposed to look at the bright side, they weren't supporting the Nats and Reds (or...dare I say...the Pirates),
Great choice of headgear. I'm certain your music will have a shelf-life of more than 15 minutes.
*Me being stupid. I don't need the hatemail from people defending these tools who are probably reppin' fo they hoods. Sorry.
Jumping mini ponies...always a plus in my mind.
Oh, and jumping mini pony pictures with chicks in them...even better.
...Hey, baby.
How can you look at this picture and not love the Steelers?
This article was in yesterday's Trib, as I happened to stumble across the Fanfare section with the lovely Jean Horne. Mmmmm...Jean Horne. In honor of Jean, every namedrop of a local celebrity or high roller will be in bold. I'm just cool like that.
The Steelers had some big fashion show, which is an annual-type deal, with the proceeds going to cancer research. The team has raised over $2 million in 6 years.
The event was chaired by Art Rooney II and his wife Greta. Kendall "Big Bucks" Simmons showed off his matching unis with his daughters Kensley and Laila. Also on hand from the team were Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch, Jerame Tuman, Mike Tomlin, Casey Hampton, Deshea Townsend, James Farrior, Clark Haggans, Ike Taylor, Santonio Holmes, Jeff Reed, Matt Spaeth, Gary Russell, Lawrence Timmons and Larry Foote.
So there you have my dirty little secret. I stay away from trashy celebrity blogs and gossip mags (save for the occasional What Would Tyler Durden Do? web-check), but I am a sucker for the Trib Fanfare section. I just can't help myself when I read about a ton of rich people that I don't know who obviously live near me and love going to extravagant parties and having their names bolded in Horne's column.
Oh, and several players/coaches have some mighty fine wives (and by wives, I mean wives and models who rolled down the catwalk with the players). Ben had a model draped over both arms (wonder how Missy liked that) while Shaft Reed looked goofy as normal. Jerame Tuman has a gorgeous wife, as does Omar Tomlin/Mike Epps. Here's a solid pic of Tomlin and his lovely wife and kids.
As a massive Pittsburgh homer, I had to wave the white flag on this one. Oh, and that is me above, for those of you wondering what I look like. This warm weather gave me a rash.
A while back, Pittsburgh City Paper Sports Editor and mini horse-lover Jody DiPerna emailed PSaMP and several other local sportsblogs with a question for an article. That article ran last week. I meant to link to it earlier, but I got sidetracked.
I often find myself venting about teams/players that I hate. The Patriots, Ray Lewis, yada, yada, yada. As a change of pace, I am working on a column about players/teams/coaches that Steelers fans actually like.
My own personal list includes but is not limited to, Jeff Fisher, Steve McNair (kills me that he signed on with Baltimore), Frank Gore, Steve Smith, John Fox, Brian Dawkins, [Mack] Strong and Vince Young.
Are there players that you root for despite the uniform?
As a matter of fact, the answer to that question is yes. It's hard to have positive feelings towards opponents, especially when all I want is for my team to succeed. For whatever reason, I am able to push my homer mentality to the background and appreciate certain players for certain reasons. Here was my list.
I've always had several players in mind that I've always liked, no matter the team. Actually, I'm cool with everyone on your list, save for McNair and Jeff Fisher. I still can't let the old AFC Central rivalry with the Oilers/Titans die, and the McNair/Fisher combo killed me. I''ve softened on Fisher since they changed divisions, but I still can't stand McNair.
I was pleased to see you like Frank Gore. He's one of the guys I've always liked. Even back from his days at the U. I mean, he played with Najeh Davenport, Willis McGahee and Clinton Portis. He seemed to have the least amount of spotlight during his time at Miami, and I liked that underdog mentality. I thought he could succeed in the NFL, but not nearly at the level in which he currently is dominating.
And Dawkins...awesome. That guy might be the scariest player in the entire NFL. He can hit, intercept and cover like a beast. I got nothing but love for the inter-state rival, and Dawkins epitomizes their defense. Even when their D struggles, Dawkins doesn't let down.
Chad Johnson. Although I might be exposing a crack in my Steelers-homerism, I love Chad Johnson. What he brings to the NFL is outstanding. In today's NFL, there are 2 polar opposites. At one end, we have the Pacman Joneses, who push the envelope too far. The other end houses Roger Goodell and his firm-fisted, bland NFL. Chad sits somewhere in the middle, but with a little lean towards the Pacmans. I never expect Chad to go to extremes, and everything he does is in sheer fun. Even when he claimed that he and Joey Porter were going to fight before a game, we knew he was playing. Chad and Joey are friends, and were creating a playful level of interest in the game.
Any of the Browns...kidding.
Larry Johnson. I've never been down with the "you have to be a Pitt or Penn State fan. Not both" argument. I like both teams. LJ tore up Happy Valley, and I hoped the Steelers would've drafted him when he declared. However, the Steelers had a better record than the Chiefs that year, and ended up trading up with KC to get Troy Polamalu. The Chiefs used the Steelers' former pick to get LJ. I knew he would be available if we didn't trade up, and thought he could be the heir to The Bus. However, everything works out for a reason. LJ has his multi-year extension in KC, the Steelers locked up Troy, and Willie Parker is looking good as the heir apparent.
Randy Moss. I don't know what it is. People hate him because he doesn't put full effort into every game. However, his first 4 or 5 seasons were the best start to a career by any wide receiver. Ever. His talent is unmatched in the league. Its easy to look at a guy's faults, but I'd rather look at talent. Moss is unbelievable.
LaDainian Tomlinson. He went to TCU. He wasn't a Longhorn or a Gator or a Trojan or a member of the Crimson Tide. He was a Horned Frog. Enough said.
Vernon Davis. I hope this love of current 49ers doesn't jinx the Steelers this weekend. However, in his final year at Maryland, I picked him as my darkhorse Heisman favorite at the beginning of the season. None of my friends knew who I was talking about. He was still going by the name Duke Davis at the time, and couldn't be tackled. Then, he ran some incredible time in the 40 at the combine and blew people's minds. In time, he will be a force in the NFL, and will be Alex Smith's security blanket.
Tatum Bell. He has Barry Sanders-esque moves. Plus, he came up in Mike Shananhan's system. Mike Shanahan has proven himself to be able to take unknown RBs and make them stars. He might never reach his full potential, but I always find myself supporting him.
Jason Campbell. Loved him at Auburn. I didn't know if he'd make it in the NFL, to be honest. I thought he could be a third stringer or even a practice squad guy, so I have nothing but respect for the guy now that he's Washington's #1. He kinda reminds me of Big Ben, in that he's not asked to do too much. You won't see him throw for 400 yards a game, but he's good at what he does. Also, sticking with Washington, I like Mark Brunell. Sure, I don't like McNair because of the old AFC Central, but I never had a problem with Brunell when he was with Jacksonville. I really don't know why, but I've always supported the guy.
This was a solid question and I gave an honest reply. Am I alone in rooting for several personal favorite players across the league? I hope you won't strip my Pittsburgh-homer badge from me.
This little dude (or chick) is named Lilliput Acres ShowMe Glamour. I know, right?
This picture comes from old reliable.
It was way too warm for winter coats today, but this horse seems to be just fine. Winter coats are nuts.
Right now, there are so many animated gifs on the site that you might have a seizure. However, It would be the sweetest seizure of all time.
For those of you wondering what the hell is going on, this is a Tecmo Bowl-inspired animation of Najeh Davenport. It comes from one of my all-time favorite sports satire sites, SAS Wiki. And yes, that is Najeh Davenport dropping fecal matter into a basket of dirty clothes. Full Dump Truck glory.
Najeh is pictured primarily because he kicked some major ass against the Seattle Mocha Lattes. Although Najeh is in Green Bay colors, here, it was worth it to use this graphic.
What better way to forget last week's travesty than with a good, old fashioned shutout. 21-zip Good Guys. Take that, bitchy Seattle fans who can't let go of the Super Bowl XL loss.
Tale of the tape: Big Ben's efficiency. Underlying theme: Dominance despite injuries.
If Seattle hadn't failed to show up, Big Ben had a chance to erase Bubby Brister from the franchise record books. He finished with 13 straight completions, two shy of Brister's record. Unfortunately for Bennifer, the game was all but won, there was no need to risk a pass, and Charles Batch cleaned up the game.
All in all, the game was a remarkable turnaround from last week. The team started off rather sluggish, but absolutely dominated from the end of the second quarter through the end of the game. And this without several key starters.
Let's digest:
Ben. After starting the game 5 for 9, Ben completed his next 13, allowing him to finish 18 for 22, with 206 yards and a score. That, my friends, is a 120.8 QB rating. That, my friends, is how you win ballgames. Even with a ragtag receiving corps that was without Hines Ward and San Antonio Holmes, Ben was able to get the job done, distributing passes to nearly everyone else on the team. Fullbacks, Tight Ends, former Punt Returners...everyone decided to get in on the action. The biggest stat might be zero...as in turnovers by the Quarterback. Ben's counterpart threw the costly interception on the goal line this game. Ben didn't. 4 of 5 motorcycle helmets for the efficient game.
Bill Parker/Dump Truck. What a wicked combo. Willie will get his yards, 102 on 28 carries, and Najeh will be there on 3rd down/short yardage. One of the biggest question marks this past offseason was who would fill the void left by Bettis two years earlier. Najeh worked well last season, and has done nothing but progressed since. Dude broke so many tackles against Seattle, and scored twice. Combined, Fast Bill Davenport rushed 35 times for 160 yards and those two scores. 5 of 5 motorcycle helmets. This is what needs to happen week in and week out.
Receiving Corps. Last week, San Antonio shined...and that was it. This week, Hines remained on the sidelines, and San Antonio joined him. This could have been disastrous for the Steelers, but everyone else decided to step it up. Heath and Ced both caught at least 4 passes while averaging at least 11 yards per, and guys like Carey Davis and Willie Reid came to play as well. Najeh grabbed his share of passes, and Nate Washington got in on the act, too. I nearly blew a fuse when I heard San Antonio wouldn't be playing after injuring his hammy in pre-game warm ups, but the receiving corps made the game easier to watch. Seattle should have been able to exploit the fact that our top two receivers were prowling the sidelines. They didn't. 4 of 5 motorcycle helmets for the other guys.
Dee. This week, the D wanted to keep pace with the O in key players watching from the side. Casey Hampton and Troy Polamalu kicked it lightly on the side while the guys who came to play did just that. For those of you counting at home, the D has allowed just 47 points through the first 5 games. That's the fourth-best start in franchise history, bested only by three Steelers teams that played in the '30s. Who says the Steel Curtain died in the '80s? Who said Joey Porter shouldn't have been let go? Who said our Defensive Backs were too small? The D pitched a shutout, all while holding Seattle to under 150 total yards offensively. I can't give anything less than 5 of 5 motorcycle helmets for that. Job well done.
The only thing wrong is that we get no Black and Gold next week. I might lose my mind...
Solid newborn.
I want one of these cool critters real bad.
Smallest. Picture. Of. A. Mini. Pony. Ever.
I like your hat...
Strugglin'.
Espn.com has had its share of realtime stats troubles, but this is just getting ridiculous.
Here is a screenshot from 9:51 P.M. on Friday night ( my life is mucho exciting), roughly 20+ minutes after the completion of the Pens/Canes game. According to Espn.com, only 2 minutes and 6 seconds has gone by in the game, and the puck currently sits in the crowd. As you can see through my MS Painting (click on the picture for a bigger, clearer view), I'm concerned as to why the crowd won't give the puck back. I've also highlighted the actual time of night, which drastically conflicts with Espn's take on the game.
I know tWWL is trying to kill hockey, but this is just ridiculous. And no, I wasn't relying on the big E for game coverage. I watched it with my eyes on the godsend that is FSN Pittsburgh. I only came across this tidbit through the comments section of Pensblog. If you click on the pic, you can see that I've got Pensblog opened as well.
We don't need no steenking Espn hockey coverage. Give me FSN Pittsburgh and Pensblog all night.
P.S. Ducks are going down tomorrow.
You put your back-left hoof in.
You put your back-left hoof out.
You put your back-left hoof in, and you shake it all about.
You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about...
-
This dude froze up at the put your back-left hoof out part. Poor guy.
Its Friday, so indulge my out-of-'Burgh sports pleasures. I first saw this video via Deadspin, and it absolutely killed me. The nightmare bunny tops it all off. If you're feeling lazy or just need a solid laugh, read the comments from the Deadspin link. That made my week. Period.
This week, I'm proud to give you the best of the best. I can't believe I was able to pick just one visitor. I feel confused.
To be fair, multiple visitors used this same search query, so this visitor from the 'Burgh represents for so many others.
"Mike Tomlin badass." Those three words seem to go rather well together. I mean, its simple, to the point, and encompasses all that is Tomlin. I honestly can't think of another word to replace badass that would completely sum up Iron Mike.
Cool? Too simple.
Amazing? Too generic.
Fabulous? Too Brady Quinn-ish.
Kickass? Yeah that would probably work, too.
So badass pretty much takes the cake. That, or any other word that includes _ass. Like kickass...or hardass. But not dumbass. Definitely not dumbass.
This cool little dude is trying so hard to escape from his forced enclosure. You have my full support, little guy. As for the chick...
...Hey, baby.
