Mark Madden Columns category, Page 44

Cleveland’s Myles Garrett accused the Steelers’ Mason Rudolph of using a racial slur in the moments preceding Garrett swinging Rudolph’s helmet at Rudolph’s head. Garrett’s indefinite suspension nonetheless was upheld. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league investigated Garrett’s claim and “found no such evidence” it’s true. But that doesn’t...

The Pittsburgh Penguins have played terrific. Structurally and fundamentally, they’ve been at their best since the 2016 and ’17 Stanley Cup seasons. Their defense and penalty-kill are top-notch. Their speed and energy are high. They are 11-7-3 and hold the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot despite a crippling slew of...

A tale of two quarterbacks (if I may use that term loosely): • Mason Rudolph should have been suspended for one game after that melee at Cleveland on Thursday. I am not outraged by Rudolph being merely fined, and I agree with the other discipline handed down. But Rudolph started...

Mid-decade, the New York Islanders’ forward unit of Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin was dubbed the “best fourth line in hockey” — even though it often played more than their third line. Better to be a great fourth line than an OK third line. But that line was...

If Ben Roethlisberger returns at 100% next season and the Steelers’ defense maintains its current elite level, 2020 could be a special year. But it’s still 2019, and the word that currently applies is “weird.” The Steelers might make the playoffs without beating a team that makes the playoffs. Their...

BALTIMORE — Less people are watching pro wrestling than ever. But those still viewing spend more money on it than ever. That’s why more and more wrestling programming gets crammed on network and cable television. WWE is on USA on Monday. Impact is on AXS on Tuesday. On Wednesday, All...

Brr! It’s cold in here! There must be refreshing Pittsburgh Penguins notes in the atmosphere! They warm you up as the temperatures drop! • The Penguins have had a totally healthy roster for two periods this season. Staying afloat at 8-6-1 speaks to the team’s resilience and the organization’s depth....

The Steelers are 4-4, have won three straight and are in the playoff hunt because the standings say so. But I can’t take them seriously. Their first three wins came against teams with a combined record of 5-20. Sunday’s victory came against a third-string quarterback. The Steelers kept trying to...

We are experiencing a new breed of athletes. Gerrit Cole’s primary goal in baseball isn’t to win a World Series. It’s to hit free agency. Antonio Brown cares about branding more than playing, not figuring that the latter facilitated the former. (Brown might realize that now as he sits at...

The rebranding of the Pittsburgh Pirates sailed through calm waters when owner Bob Nutting met with the media Monday. The lure was cast. The media bit. Fished in, just like “Wayne’s World.” The changes made will prove cosmetic. Mere rebranding. Business will be conducted like always: Profit über alles. I’m...

Rarely does a team build momentum during a three-game losing streak. But the Penguins did exactly that, then won 3-0 on Saturday at Dallas. Now, with two marquee home games looming — the old enemy from across the state Tuesday, Connor McDavid on Saturday — the Penguins are getting healthier...

Indoor soccer barely exists anymore. There’s a low-level “pro” loop, the Major Arena Soccer League. Some of its members trace their names back to the game’s peak in the ’80s: Baltimore Blast, Dallas Sidekicks, San Diego Sockers. But it’s not the same. The Major Indoor Soccer League (1978-92) and North...

Antonio Brown set a standard for every star player in the NFL, however chaotically so. It had nothing to do with his talent. That might be on ice for keeps because Brown ultimately outsmarted himself. But Brown set wheels in motion that will turn the NFL into European soccer. Whenever...

For a third-string quarterback from a small football college who didn’t get drafted, Devlin Hodges has made considerable impact in Pittsburgh. Between his duck calls, duck T-shirt and duck tweet that included a duck video, Hodges seems ready to establish a duck dynasty. One obstacle: The moment Mason Rudolph is...

The Penguins made one mistake with rookie defenseman John Marino: He should wear No. 13. Penguins jerseys with “Marino” and No. 13 on the back would have great potential for sales, especially in Oakland. Get Brandon Tanev a different number. Otherwise, all systems are go with the rookie pro out...

It took a little over 24 hours to truly sink in. But once Johnny Manziel Jr. stunk out the joint in Cleveland’s 31-3 loss at San Francisco Monday night, the Steelers found themselves staring straight down the barrel of wasted opportunity. The AFC North really does reek. The Steelers could...

In 2015-16 and 2016-17, the Penguins could have survived losing Evgeni Malkin for a month or so at season’s start. But now, they probably can’t. The news of Malkin’s long-term injury hits the Penguins like a sucker punch. A solid playoff bet prior, that status is now extremely tenuous. The...

I’ve been told all week via Twitter that throwing the ball an average distance of three-and-a-half yards doesn’t translate to a popgun offense. In fact, I’m told it equates to Tom Brady’s offense with New England, or the Steelers’ offense during Ben Roethlisberger’s rookie season in 2004. Those Steelers went...

Are the Penguins going to win the Stanley Cup in 2020? Let me answer that question with a question: Did anybody predict St. Louis would win the Stanley Cup in 2019? The NHL is wide-open, with salary cap-dictated parity seeming to grow by the year. But I can predict without...

It was some year for the Pirates. The black cat that crossed their path was a rabid panther on meth. The Pirates went 25-48 after the All-Star break, finishing last in the NL Central. There were three fights between Pirates personnel that we know about. Closer Felipe Vasquez got arrested...

If you’re thinking rationally, you know the Steelers’ chances of significant accomplishment this season lie in a bloody heap. Being 0-3 is the head of the spear. Ben Roethlisberger being out for the year twists the knife. Either of those facts bodes poorly. Combine them, and it’s time to get...

Dominik Simon’s role with this year’s Penguins isn’t yet determined. But one thing seems certain: Simon will have one. Last season was the Czech-born winger’s first full NHL campaign. He had eight goals, 20 assists and a plus-8 mark in 71 games. Simon didn’t score in his last 14 games....

“When in doubt, write about the quarterback.” A wise, old sportswriter said that. The Steelers quarterback situation is obviously in major flux. Between that and the acquisition of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, other headaches are lost in the shuffle. Like James Conner’s pathetic 2.6-yard rushing average. JuJu Smith-Schuster not yet blossoming...