Rest in Peace, Marquise Hill

The Patriots lost DE Marquise Hill in a jet ski accident. Hill had been missing for a day on Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. After being reported missing, the Coast Guard, Wildlife and Fisheries, the New Orleans Police Department and Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department all became involved in trying to find Marquise. His body was found today, and positive identification by family members is still being awaited.

An unidentified woman was found and flown to Tulane Medical Center. She stated that Hill repeatedly calmed her as the two clung to a pylon. The strong currents caused Hill to drift away from the woman, who was found yesterday. Neither the woman nor Hill were wearing life preservers.

This is the 2nd time in a month that PSaMP is forsaking the homer mentality to show support for a highly despised rival. My support is still with the Cardinals, who recently lost pitcher Josh Hancock. Now the Patriots, a team that always had Pittsburgh's number when it came to the AFC Championship, are facing an uncertain time. All thoughts and prayers go to the Patriots, as well as the family of Marquise Hill.

Marquise played for LSU's national championship team before being drafted in the 2nd round in 2004. Hill had spent much of his time helping Katrina victims in the area rebuild their homes. He will be missed by the entire sports community.

Wednesday Catch-Up

Real quickly, I wanted to update on some 'Burgh stories that warrant some kind of attention. However, I'm not trying to spend all that much time, seeing as how I'm a little late with them. My flight from New York City to Pittsburgh was delayed, but only after I was on the plane. As quick as a NYC-PIT flight is (about 55 minutes), we sat in the plane on the runway for much longer. I missed episode 1 of Rob and Big, which I was very heated about. MTv will replay it about 400 times in the coming days, so I'm over it, though. Anyway, here is the scoop on what is happening in our sports community.

- Porn. Sent by Steelers' assistant coaches. In e-mail format. To every front office in the league. And their secretaries. And Roger Goodell. That is all I'm saying about the situation.

- LaMarr Woodley made it onto the field during the Steelers' OTAs. Guess he figured out the roadways and wasn't 20 miles away at the start of practice.

- The Sporting News names Sid as NHL Player of the Year. Its not the Hart (yet), but it will do for now.

- The Buccos (haven't talked about them in awhile) couldn't beat a Cardinals team that entered the game on a 5-game skid. Score, 9-4 Redbirds.

- JoePa came up with a great disciplinary measure for a team that has several players in trouble for startin' shit at a party. I love it. Too many college athletes are way too full of themselves, and JoePa is making sure they know who is boss.


Oh, and flying out of Laguardia, I was able to get a great view of the inside of Shea Stadium from about 5,000 feet. Metschick, from Ladies..., kicked off the How to Make Love to a ____ Fan series with How to Make Love to a Mets Fan post. I don't care how many people hate Shea, I would definitely make love in it.

Ok. Caught up.

'Burgh sweet 'Burgh...

MSNBC Concerned About Circular Weed?

What? MSNBC doesn't seem concerned that there was weed, but that the weed was strangely circular. Marijuana reportedly round in small tin of pitcher's SUV, reads MSNBC's inquiry into the unfortunate passing of Cardinal's pitcher Josh Hancock.

The gaffe has been fixed, and it now reads, Marijuana reportedly found in small tin of pitcher's SUV. Looks like someone at MSNBC's Sports Ticker was reading a little too much Engrish.

I'm not trying to poke fun at a horrible accident, and I've already let you know my feelings about Hancock's passing. If the report is true, and Hancock was under some influence, I hope the unfortunate events surrounding his death don't become the only way that people remember him. Sure, he was a mostly unheard of guy, who seems to have made a mistake. But mistakes are universal, and we are all only human. None of us have any any credibility to chastise Hancock's choices, because its always easier to point out someone else's flaws. Especially when that person plays such a visible sport like Hancock did.

Alright, enough lecturing. That post started out as a poke at a typo, and ended up strangely serious. I promise that this is the last typo that leads to a serious discussion. Typos should always be absurdly sophomoric.

Many thanks to Sheena Beaston for supplying the pic.

Rest in Peace, Josh Hancock

As a Pirate's fan, I am steadfast in my love for the team, and disgust with everyone else in the NL Central. The Cards winning this past World Series was a kick in the chest. However, there are moments that transcend sports, and unyielding support and prayers must go to hated teams.

The St. Louis organization lost Josh Hancock, a relief pitcher who helped the team win it all last year. He was killed in a car accident, which is something that hits close to home for me.

On Thanksgiving of 2005, my best childhood friend was killed in a car accident. Alex was a year younger than me, and was an outstanding person. I graduated 8th grade from a small parochial school as the only boy in a 10 person class. In fact, I was the only boy in that class from 6th-8th grade. Alex was one of only 2 boys in the class behind me, and the two of us became fast friends. Losing him stays with me to this day.

Only 3 months after Alex was taken from this Earth, my college buddy Paul was tragically killed in a car crash as well. Paul was about 6 foot 5, 275 pounds and awkward as hell. He loved basketball, and I have many memories of watching the NCAAs with Paul, then playing pickup games after. Despite his obvious size advantages, Paul couldn't shoot, and you would have a hard time sliding a piece of paper under his vertical leap. Paul had just graduated college the year before, and his fiancee gave birth to the couple's first child, who was several weeks premature, only 3 weeks before Paul was taken. Paul, too, will forever be with me.

I apologize for the sentimental post, but car crashes really tear at me, and Hancock will be truly missed. The Cardinals, despite being a thorn in the Pirates' sides for many years, are a first-class organization. This is terrible news, and the Cardinals, as well as the Hancock family, will be in my thoughts and prayers.