SITE NEWS: PSAMP Has Moved

Guess what, guys? I've moved the site.

If you came here, then you still haven't taken advantage of the updated domain name of psamp.com. This page will remain up as a loving tribute to a simpler time. All the archives will also be moved to my new home at Bloguin.

I've been in contact with Derek at Bloguin since before Christmas, and it was a difficult decision to make the leap. I love the simplicity of the old digs, but I'd been looking for an updated design and software for some time. I had offers to join startup networks in the past, but none had the same good vibes as Bloguin. Plus, I have allies like my buds at The Pensblog and WHYGAVS?. As of my writing this, we have Pittsburgh representing a high percentage of the blogs at the network.

So please join me. Make fun of me for "selling out," and please insult any advertisement that should pop up. I"LL HAVE MY OWN "FIVE DOLLAR FOOTLONG," "THIS IS OUR COUNTRY," SAVED BY ZERO" repetitious ads for you to hate. I'd rather you do.

Leave comments to let me know you made the journey unscathed. And understand that we're making this jump together. PSAMP has always been about the readers and sports fans, and I trust you'll land at the other place safely. We're kinda like the baby ducks in this clip, learning to fly together:



Ahh, thanks BBC's Planet Earth. You summed it up perfectly.

I'll see you over here! http://psamp.com

And thanks to Dug E. Fresh (and his shop) for making the awesome MOVING Photoshop.

Oh, and all the rest of the posts in the archives here will have these notifications at the top and bottom.

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show. Super Bowl Episode Outtakes

So this is the final installment of the show's outtakes reel for this season. Awesome.

Cotter gives you all the info on how exhausting this thing is. Plus, the set is in a different state than me, which really adds to the tiring-ness (not a word).

Maybe we'll get at you with a show for something big, like the draft or training camp, but for now, I'm going to enjoy not having to do this for awhile.

Enjoy, and watch again over at OFTOT.

Puppy Bowl V Liveblog Thread

"Game" starts at 3 PM...this is the only thread on the Internet that you need pay attention to for the 3-5 PM time slot. Liveblog is below.

---

1:00 PM - Posted liveblog thread

1:02 PM - Come back closer to 2:45-3ish

1:13 PM - Puppy Bowl Livetweet right here!

2:50 PM - Yes! So close to puppies!

3:01 PM - Harry Kalas, doing work already

3:03 PM - Holy crap, someone need to get that Pepper the Parrot video onto Youtube

3:04 PM - Elvira looks like Predator!

3:06 PM - Eli is gonna tackle evvvveryone.

3:08 PM - Elvira not only took down Eli, but then scored! TD!

3:10 PM - A look back at Puppy Bowl 1. BANDIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3:13 PM - Tug. Of. War.

3:19 PM - Mac is awesome. What a tackle.

3:20 PM - INT MADELINE!

3:21 PM - Destroying that water

3:23 PM - That look back at Puppy Bowl II and Barry was comedy gold. That thing was standing on its back legs so hard.

*edit* or the crane kick, Sean.

3:25 PM - End of the quarter? They have those?

3:32 PM - Xander, aka Charles?

3:33 PM - Excessive barking? Get your eyes checked, ref! More like, excessive cuteness

3:33 PM - TD Moose!

3:36 PM - Puppy Bowl III looked violent. Michael Vick in intrigued...

3:38 PM - Commercial break. Anyone have any Steelers nerves?

3:46 PM - Cutest. Goaltending. Ever.

3:47 PM - Schroder is the man!

3:49 PM - Harry Kalas' puppy puns are on point

3:52 PM - 2TDs in a row for Matilda! Schroder is still sleeping at mid-field.

3:53 PM - Kitty Halftime Show!

4:03 PM - Those robot-mouse-cat-toy things are ridiculous.

4:13 PM - That tailgating crew looks like a rough bunch.

4:16 PM - PAW INTERFERENCE!?!?!? THEY ALL HAVE PAWS, DUDE!

4:18 PM - Wow, a puppy just got ejected. This is getting dark.

4:22 PM - Schroder...wake up. You're so freakin' adorable

4:29 PM - STREAKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NAKED DOGS ON TV!!!!!!!!!!!!

4:33 PM - 4 fluffiest dogs ever on Puppy Bowl IV.

4:43 PM - The Bichons are destroying Sawyer.

4:47 PM - That football-with-arms-and-legs dog toy is freaking me out.

4:50 PM - Super Bowl anxiety on the creep up...

4:51 PM - MVPuppy? Matilda, right?

4:56 PM - Dogs are all getting tired

4:57 PM - MATILDA WINS MVP! CALLED IT!

4:59 PM - Game ova. Kalas with the sign-off, and Puppy Bowl V is history.

5:01 PM - GO STEELERS!

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show. Super Bowl

Not even typing anything substantial here. Too anxious.

Go Steelers!

Watch it over at OFTOT.

Puppy Bowl V Liveblog Reminder

Back when I planned to liveblog Puppy Bowl V, I had no idea that the Steelers would make it to the Super Bowl. Now, my Super Bowl Sunday is shaping up to be the busiest, most hectic day ever.

But maybe that's what I need.

I've been pretty level-headed throughout the past week and a half, making it through the bye week relatively unscathed and ready for Sunday to be here like never before. But the nerves are creeping in as the Super Bowl gets closer. I might be an absolute trainwreck on Sunday.

So my Puppy Bowl liveblog will be a great way to calm down and watch some badass, cute baby dogs do their thing on a fake football field. Water-bowl cam for life!

Really, I just wanted to remind you that the Puppy Bowl liveblog is still on as scheduled...Sunday, February 1, from 3-5 PM. I've never liveblogged anything before, and Puppy Bowl seems to be a tough act to start out on. I'll be updating my thoughts on the Steelers as well, but here's what the liveblog is probably gonna look like:

3:05 PM: Dude, check out that one puppy!

3:07 PM: That other puppy rules.

3:10 PM: Those one puppies are playing so hard.

3:15 PM: Getting more nervous about the Cardinals.

3:20 PM: Puppies SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

3:24 PM: That gray puppy is my new favorite!

3:30 PM: Whoa, did you see that one puppy jump?

So yeah, it's going to be a challenge, but I'll be ready. I do hope you'll join me, right here at PSAMP, on Sunday. I'll be firing up the liveblog sometime between 2:30 and 3 PM.

Puppies SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

**UPDATE** Puppy Bowl V Liveblog Thread is Posted Here.

I'm Next

Big thanks to my buddy Eric, formerly of one of my favorite, now-defunct sites, Extrapolater and now of the fantastic Storming the Floor for tipping me off about my inclusion in ESPN the Mag's "The Next: Site to Bookmark" thingy.

This doesn't change things, ESPN. One link won't redeem the entire company. But it is a nice gesture. I certainly didn't expect it.

So I'm Next, fools. I guess soon, I'll be Now, and in a few years, Forgotten.

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show. AFC Championship Game

I'm hurt up from Cotter's birthday party.

Watch this. Then watch the game.

Go Steelers!

OFTOT has it, too.

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show Outtakes

The man (Youtube) took down the show, since we used "Cleveland Rocks" without permission. Or something like that.

That still doesn't kill the outtakes.

Fight the machine!

Watch this again at OFTOT.

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show. Postseason Game 1

Finally.

We haven't had a show in awhile...the postseason hopefully brought out the best (worst?) in us.

Go Steelers.

Watch it again at OFTOT.

PSaMP is the Devil

Check out that countup timer in the top left of the sidebar.

<---- That way.

PSaMP has been online for 666 days. Thanks (?) to reader The White Boom Boom for pointing that out.

Merry Christmas 2008

This image is from last Christmas. Hope you have a happy holiday wherever you are. Be safe, and high five someone you love. Or get pulled around by a mini pony.

Site News: PSaMP Will Liveblog Puppy Bowl V!

So, the past few weeks of the NFL season have predictably brought on postseason talk, with teams jockeying for playoff position. This is only gonna get more intense as the regular season nears its end. Then, once the playoffs start, we'll be hearing about the Super Bowl nonstop.

The Steelers will inevitably play in the Super Bowl, so I'll be around a television all day on February 1st. Which brings me to the point of this post.

FIVES ON LIVEBLOGGING PUPPY BOWL V!

I wanted to do it last year for Pupy Bowl IV, but didn't have the time. But dammit, I'm staking claim to the only Puppy Bowl live blog that will matter come early February '09. The NY Post tried to do it last year, and the attempt was cheap. We're going all out for Puppy Bowl V here at PSaMP, with cuteness overload everywhere you look.

I felt today was good enough for the announcement, seeing as major networks are announcing television strategies to counteract the Super Bowl. Puppy Bowl has will be a perfect fit here, seeing my love for cool little critters 'n all.

I'll be re-announcing my liveblog plans when Puppy Bowl gets closer, but if you'd like to be re-informed via email, hit me up and I'll get you on a email chain.

Remember, the definitive Puppy Bowl V liveblog will be here at PSaMP.

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show Outtakes

Most of the outtakes are of us watching some show about the Deadliest Stunts Gone Wrong, or something like that. I'm a sucker for exxxxxxxtreme video shows like that.

So enjoy.

Pretend like you didn't watch this here, then watch it again over at Cotter's pad.

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show. Week 14

We're back to talk about the game against the Cows.

Go Steelers.

OFTOT has this exact same thing.

Listen to PSaMP on the Radio

Check me out, sometime tomorrow morning on 660 AM in Pittsburgh. You can hear me on the Kegs and Eggs Morning Show. I'll be calling them sometime between 7:30 and 8 AM. So I'll be easing your early morning school or work trip.

660 AM has been all about bloggers, my buddies from The Pensblog hitting up the station yesterday. I'll be talking sports and blogging, or something like that.

Be sure to tune in!

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show Outtakes

Enjoy all the stuff that didn't make it into the Pregame Show.

The part about Stevie Wonder's braids is my favorite.

Watch it again at OFTOT.

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show Outtakes

We're wearing ourselves down trying to get two videos published before gametime. The outtakes are now coming at you during the week.

Enjoy.

Cotter has this, too!

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show. Week 11

Character game today?

Kinda need a win.

Go Steelers.

Watch it again at OFTOT.

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show. Week 10

What's up kids? I'm just popping by to post this week's show for Tecmo because he's still tied up with his sister's wedding.

So here it is...


And the outtake reel...


Now, why not watch it again at OFTOT?

Inside the Athletes Studio: An Interview with Former Steeler Amos Zereoue

Not even gonna lead into it with anything cute...Cotter and I met up with former Steelers RB and restaurant owner Amos Zereoue at the end of last week, and it was badass.

Let me explain.

A few weeks back, Cotter came across an interview Amos did with Crain's New York Business about his Manhattan restaurant. Being the intuitive bloggers that we are, we decided to try and get ahold of #21. I sent out some emails, contacted a few people, and eventually got ahold of the people at Zereoue, Amos' restaurant. We decided to meet at the restaurant after work last week.

Now, you rarely get to meet guys that you grew up watching, so it's easy to imagine them to be some egotistical prick of a celebrity. Not the case with Amos. Almost every restaurant review gave gushing praise to the host/cook/owner. And they were warranted. We chatted at the bar in as casual a setting as one would imagine.

Amos still keeps up with the team, and tried to make it to the Giants game...since he was in Morgantown for the WVU game just days before. He gave praise to Mike Tomlin and some of the guys on the team, as well as reminisced about guys like Joey Porter and Bill Cowher.

Apparently, Joey's a great guy. Who woulda thunk? I was also a bit surprised about Amos' take on Cowher's success:

"Bill always surrounded himself with great coaches."

Not that it was a slight to Bill's individual brilliance, but a rather telling point about why our team has possibly been inconsistent the past 2-3 seasons. Maybe Tomlin's staff isn't as great as we'd like to think. One guy he loved was Dick LeBeau.

"We woulda won that AFC Championship game against the Patriots [2001] if we had LeBeau [Was head-coaching Cincy then]."

But the former Steeler did play for the Patriots after 5 years with Pittsburgh and 1 with Oakland. Of course we had to ask him about New England.

"It was different up there. You could just tell things didn't feel right. The feeling was different from Pittsburgh."



We talked Hines Ward, too. Hines was drafted in '98, the year before Amos was drafted out of WVU, so Amos knew Hines as well as any other player in the game. I had to ask about the notion of late about Hines being a dirty player, and Amos quickly refuted that. "Hines plays whistle to whistle." Amos admitted that he didn't throw around jarring blocks like Hines does, but that's just the way Hines knows how to play the game. He said the Steelers did a great job of stressing blocking during his and Hines' time together.

We talked restaurant, too. Amos had the idea for the restaurant after, during his playing days, he and his teammates would regularly meet up and cook dinner. He says he still gets several former Steelers in and around his restaurant, and loves the challenge.

"It's like football. With the restaurant, you gotta react to what's happening, what's going on."

Now, we didn't want to take up all of Amos' time (although we really could have), so we skipped out without trying the food. But from what I hear, it's pretty awesome. Next time.

Email me if you're in the NYC area and we'll grab a bite. How often are you greeted at a restaurant by a former Steelers RB?



Check out Cotter's take on our chat.