Tim Benz stories, Page 153
From ‘fringy’ to fabulous, one tool turned Pirates 1st-round pick Nick Gonzales into the NCAA batting champ
Many Pirates fans have become familiar with the story of Pirates first-round draft choice Nick Gonzales. From underrecruited walk-on at New Mexico State to NCAA batting champ to Cape Cod League MVP to seventh overall pick in the MLB draft in just three years. But his former coach at New...
First Call: Ditching the Hall of Fame Game isn’t a catastrophe, but it’s something
For Friday’s First Call, let’s take a look at the cancellation of the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game. It was supposed to feature the Steelers against the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio. Because of the coronavirus, that ain’t happenin’. Neither is the induction ceremony that would’ve included...
Tim Benz: Jarome Iginla, Marian Hossa, tainted history and butterfly effects
When former Steelers Troy Polamalu, Bill Cowher and Donnie Shell were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame a few months ago, the news was met with celebration in Pittsburgh. A practical Black and Gold caravan was planned to leave Western Pa. and head to Canton, Ohio, for induction...
How will MLB reboot rules impact fantasy baseball interest, Pirates DH, roster strategy
Major League Baseball is coming back! In real life. We think. So that means it’s coming back for fantasy sports players as well. Jeff Erickson of RotoWire joins us to discuss if he’s seeing many leagues canceling because there is only going to be a 60-game season. For those that...
U mad, bro? Readers fed up with sports and politics, MLB finances, Antonio Brown
It’s a Killer B’s edition of “U mad, bro?” Who is on the dart board for our irate readers this week? Baseball, Benz, Baltimore and “Big Chest.” The #SticktoSports crowd is feeling particularly mouthy this week as well. John from New Cumberland LOVED my column about the second round of...
First Call: Two huge developments on topic of NFL seating in the fall
For Thursday’s “First Call,” we take a look at two major developments when it comes to the prospect of having fans at NFL games in the fall. I know what you’ve been thinking during this pandemic. How … how, dear Lord above … will we be able to emerge from...
Penguins, Pirates announcers on challenges of remote play-by-play
Pirates play-by-play man Greg Brown has been calling baseball games since 1989. But never in the way he’s about to try once Major League Baseball returns to play. The covid-19 pandemic is restricting travel for baseball franchises to the point that local broadcasters will only be calling games — in...
First Call: Rumors heating up about Antonio Brown in Baltimore and Seattle
We warned them! When it comes to former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, we told them this would happen. If you don’t say “no,” that means “maybe.” And then “maybe,” turns into “could.” And “could” very well “could” be a nightmare for your franchise. On numerous occasions in recent months,...
Tim Benz: Figuring out Ben Roethlisberger’s message about his addictions and recovery
When I heard Ben Roethlisberger’s soundbite admitting that he had battled addictions to alcohol and pornography, I had two immediate questions. The first was, how was this story so far off the radar for so long? Roethlisberger was a speaker for the “ManUp Pittsburgh” Christian men’s program, which was streamed...
Hockey podcast: Hub city jealousy, or not; Penguins memories; NHL reboot issues
Can I make a confession? I’m not at all jealous of any destination that becomes an NHL hub city. I know Pittsburgh was perceived to be a hub city candidate at one point and still hasn’t been completely ruled out. It’s far from a leading candidate, though. And that’s fine....
First Call: Martavis Bryant wants back in NFL; Aaron Donald wants goal line touches
Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at the idea of Martavis Bryant returning to the NFL. A former Penguins brawler is retiring. A difference of opinion in Baltimore. And Aaron Donald wants to be a two-way player. Bryant back again? Sirius Radio contributor Rudy Carpenter says that Martavis Bryant wants back in...
Tim Benz: The intangibles behind great Pittsburgh sports memories
Full marks to my radio colleague Adam Crowley at ESPN Pittsburgh. On Monday, Crowley put up a web poll — clearly designed to tweak the masses. A tactic I fully embrace, by the way. More overrated Pittsburgh sports moment— Adam Crowley (@_adamcrowley) June 22, 2020 Psst! Adam, there’s a Mr....
First Call: Hall of Fame talk for former Penguins; Ravens in mix for big name trade?; Overlooking Chase Claypool?
Monday’s “First Call” takes a look at the Hall of Fame chances for a pair of former Pittsburgh Penguins. The Steelers first pick of the draft appears to be off the radar compared to some position peers. And the Baltimore Ravens may be in the mix for a big fish...
Tim Benz: Trump’s love-hate of NFL will continue for months
When you combine the National Football League, a pandemic, social upheaval, President Donald Trump, and an election year, you are going to see some rather odd intersections of reality. Such was the case over the weekend. Within the span of one tweet — and the span of 36 hours —...
Madden Monday: ‘Steelers making the playoffs this year is far from a sure thing’
Well, we’ve made it to triple digits. We are now beyond 100 days since major American team sports shut down. We’re at 103 now. So if you think it’s easy to do this job without melding the coronavirus and its surrounding society-wide quagmire into the mix, you are insane. During...
Cam Heyward: NFL Hall of Fame Game doubtful, thrilled about his dad’s Pitt honors
Defensive end Cameron Heyward is the Pittsburgh Steelers NFLPA union rep now that Ramon Foster has retired. And, given the coronavirus uncertainty, he seems dubious of the chances that the NFL can pull off the Hall of Fame Game between the Steelers and Cowboys. “It’s just my point of view,”...
First Call: Antonio Brown to 49ers? See NFL covid-19 helmet idea. Praise for Steelers defense
Friday’s “First Call” features yet another potential destination for Antonio Brown. High praise for Steelers stars Minkah Fitzpatrick and T.J. Watt. Plus the mock-ups of the NFL’s covid-19 helmets are… …well…. Let’s just say we provided a photo. Have a nice weekend. A.B. to S.F.? Thursday afternoon, the San Francisco...
Tim Benz: On Mike Tomlin, Steelers playoff droughts, NFL comps, history lessons
Given the Pittsburgh Steelers’ track record since 1972, NFL fans in the city may have a slightly skewed vision of success versus failure. That’s my nice way of saying, “Yinz know, Stiller fans are spoiled, n’at, right?” Granted, if the Steelers fail to make the playoffs again in 2020, that’ll...
RMU’s Chris King delves into financial, logistical impact of conference moves
Thursday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast features Robert Morris athletic director Chris King. We talk at length about RMU’s move to the Horizon League from the NEC for basketball in 2020 and to the Big South from the NEC for football in 2021. Like many institutions these days, RMU is dealing...
U mad, bro? Fans fume about Pirates, MLB labor. Some Steelers angst sprinkled in, too.
I feel like we are experiencing a reverse Michel Therrien when it comes to apathetic baseball fans in Pittsburgh. “Dey prenten’ dey don’t care. But I know dey care.” Baseball fan anger wrapped in disillusionment in the wake of the ongoing labor dispute. That’s the theme for this week’s “U...
Tim Benz: If NFL players’ message about kneeling gets ‘hijacked,’ options exist
If athletes who kneel during the national anthem want their message against police brutality to be more firmly understood by a wider swath of America, they may want to try a different approach. Because the same script which led to a redirection of that message is playing out exactly as...
How hub cities and NHL’s ‘family dynamics’ could impact a reboot
From babies to bears. That’s what you get in this week’s “Breakfast With Benz” hockey podcast. Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network joins me to talk about the latest hurdle to the hockey reboot. Offspring. Not the band. The newborns. According to ESPN, numerous hockey players are dealing with...
First Call: ‘Madden Curse’ for Lamar Jackson? Reliving Jaromir Jagr’s draft. Pro Bowl to Vegas.
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” we relive the Jaromir Jagr draft of 1990. The Pro Bowl has a new home. Will the Madden Curse strike Lamar Jackson? And looking at Tom Brady as a Buccaneer. On Tuesday, the Penguins celebrated the 30th anniversary of drafting legendary winger Jaromir Jagr. On this...
Tim Benz: Congrats, MLB! You’ve somehow made me enraged at my own apathy.
I’m angry about my lack of anger at Major League Baseball. Does that make any sense? On Monday night, I watched MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on ESPN. He was attempting to tap dance through an explanation over the game’s flailing attempt to reboot from the covid-19 shutdown. He did so...
RMU coach Andy Toole discusses jumping to Horizon League, recruiting challenges, travel
That Robert Morris Northeast Conference championship game back on March 10 was a send-off in a number of ways. The Colonials 77-67 victory over St. Francis (Pa.) not only was the final sporting event in Pittsburgh prior to the covid-19 shutdown. It also turned about the school’s last game in...
