Breakfast With Benz category, Page 160
First Call: NFL players mock former Penn State coach Bill O’Brien for DeAndre Hopkins trade
Monday was full of major NFL moves on the first day of free agency. Here’s a look at some of the ones that happened late at night that you may have missed. And if you did, I don’t blame you. Based on all the coronavirus news, I would’ve hidden under...
Can this NHL season survive a 45 day pause? If so, how can the playoffs work?
No hockey. No problem for Brian Metzer and me during our weekly hockey podcast! Eh, who am I kidding? It’s a problem. But Metzer — the Penguins Radio Network host on 105.9 the X — and I make the most of it. We pontificate over how the NHL could survive...
Tim Benz: Browns, Ravens improve as Steelers crawl to cap compliance
We’re used to seeing it. On Day 1 of the NFL’s 2020 free agency period, the rest of the league took a headfirst dive into the deep end of the pool. Meanwhile, the Steelers are simply in a doggy paddle toward cap compliance. That’s the case every year, right? But...
First Call: Coronavirus crisis may keep Raiders in Oakland; Tom Brady’s options narrowing; Xavier Johnson staying at Pitt
In “First Call” for Monday, we defend the NFL’s decision to move forward with the start of its league year. Coronavirus may impact the Raiders’ ability to move to Las Vegas on time. And potential landing spots for Tom Brady are disappearing. Look a little deeper The NFL took heat...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss the new NFL CBA, sports alternatives for coronavirus shutdown
The coronavirus has stopped sports. But it hasn’t stopped us from talking about them on “Madden Monday.” In this week’s podcast, Mark Madden and I discuss what you can do to occupy your time without sports on television. I suggest “Brockmire.” Listen for Mark’s recommendations. There are also good ESPN...
Tim Benz: Players, teams that could suffer most under coronavirus sports shutdown
The coronavirus sports shutdown may be worse than originally thought. On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control recommended “that for the next 8 weeks, organizers … cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.” That means sports. All of ‘em. The NCAA...
How fantasy sports, gambling are affected by coronavirus; odd team surfaces for Tom Brady
Sports is a multibillion-dollar business. So is sports gambling. So is the fantasy sports industry. And a lot of people in those lines of work are being impacted by the absence of sports because of the coronavirus outbreak. Much like the casual players and big-money investors. Our friend Jeff Erickson...
Tim Benz: Path to coronavirus sports cancellations confused, confounded and contradicted
I’m not a huge fan of “The Office.” It’s OK. Not great. The humor is forced. The characters became two-dimensional characterizations of themselves after the third season. And I found the plot lines repetitive. There. I said it. Unpopular TV hot take for you. But I ran through five episodes...
First Call: How MLB, NHL, NBA can salvage their seasons
In the wake of the coronavirus sports shutdown, sadly, the 2020 NCAA basketball tournament could not be saved. Maybe that could’ve happened with more time to plan. But arena availability is at issue. Many venues are in a state of flux between attempts to reschedule pro sports, events, and shows...
First call: Video shows Rudy Gobert mocking coronavirus before testing positive, shutting down NBA; will NFL Draft pull out of Vegas?
It’s all coronavirus talk in sports. Nothing else. The NBA is done. For now. Many think the NHL and college basketball will soon follow. In Thursday’s “First Call,” we look at how Rudy Gobert’s diagnosis brought down the NBA. What may become of the NFL Draft. And how one college...
Tim Benz, Seth Rorabaugh break down Penguins issues, impact of coronavirus on NHL
Full disclosure. TribLive Penguins beat writer Seth Rorabaugh and I taped this podcast before the NBA announcement to suspend its season upon the realization that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert had the coronavirus. And by the time you listen to this, 50 more things may change with the NHL and...
Tim Benz: What’s wrong with the Penguins? Here are 2 theories to debunk
The optimistic way to look at the Penguins is to hope that Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils will be the kind of victory that gets this recently rudderless team back on a Stanley Cup course. Unfortunately, their current stretch of losing eight times in 11 games suggests...
First Call: Gronk to WWE?; NFL overtime may change; Penguins get help; Duquesne basketball snubs
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a new gig for Gronk. Is NFL overtime changing again? Gerrit Cole basks in Yankees stardom. The Penguins get some help in the Metro Division. Gronk to wrestling? The Steelers need a tight end. Well, there is a pretty good one from Woodland Hills that’s getting...
Tim Benz: Coronavirus reaction robs Ivy League players of joy Robert Morris experiences
It’s the one time when bad body language can look good. The piece of net around Josh Williams’ neck appeared to weigh 500 pounds. The Robert Morris guard slowly leaned forward to pick up the microphone to answer postgame questions after his team beat St. Francis (Pa.) 77-67 in the...
U mad, bro? Penguins fans have no patience. Steelers fans have no questions. Pirates fans have no sense of humor.
Yeesh! You’d think that after losing almost non-stop for 40 years, Pirates fans would have a sense of humor. “If you don’t laugh, you are going to cry.” That type of thing. Based on my Twitter feed this week, I guess I’m wrong. But they aren’t alone in their anger....
First Call: 2 Pirates get thrown out at home plate on same playVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” gives you a glimpse at how the 2020 Pirates season is going to go. It’s only March. It’s still spring training. But the club’s highlight of the year may have already occurred. Let’s set the scene. The Pirates are in the process of losing an otherwise innocuous...
Trying to figure out how to make Penguins ‘connections’ work again
Brian Metzer is the Penguins Radio Network host. He does that job so you don’t have to. I know Metz loves the work. But with the way the Penguins are going right now, would you want that gig? I mean, it’s not doing play-by-play for the Pirates. But it ain’t...
Steelers ‘Believe it or Not’: Team’s belief in James Conner bouncing back in 2020
The building of the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers is about to begin. NFL free agency starts March 18. The NFL Draft begins April 23. So we have been taking a look at some of the things the Steelers have told us about what they plan to do this offseason. And if...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell visits Pittsburgh, Mike Sullivan on Penguins problems, Barry Bonds is sad
Monday’s “First Call” looks at Mike Sullivan’s characterization of his struggling Penguins. Also, Le’Veon Bell’s return to Pittsburgh, Robert Morris hockey stays alive, and a positive spin for Duquesne hoops. Aw. And Barry Bonds is sad. Bad connection? Uh oh. The last time we heard about something being “disconnected” in...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden: Stumbling Penguins, Steelers questions, Pirates disinterest
So much for the Penguins getting back on track. That was the hope after the Pens won back-to-back games against the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres last week. Those victories stopped the bleeding of a six-game losing streak. However, any hope that the team had found its footing for a...
Steelers ‘Believe it or Not’: Shutting the door on an Antonio Brown reunion
Editor’s note: The building of the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers is about to begin. NFL free agency starts March 18. The NFL Draft begins April 23. So we have been taking a look at some of the things the Steelers have told us about what they plan to do this offseason...
First Call: Mika Zibanejad’s 5-goal game highlights wild night in Metropolitan Division
Friday’s “First Call” is dedicated entirely to a wild night in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference. And there was a lot of impact on the Penguins. Some of it helped. Some of it didn’t. First and foremost, the Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres for the first time this...
Duquesne aims to avoid Atlantic 10 tiebreaking rule with win in regular-season finale
The Duquesne Dukes finish their regular season Friday night at PPG Paints Arena. Richmond is in town. There is a lot on the line. The Spiders take the court in second place of the Atlantic 10. The Dukes are in a three-way tie for fourth with St. Bonaventure and Saint...
Steelers ‘Believe it or Not’: Does the team really want to keep Bud Dupree?
It’s the third installment of our “Steelers Believe It or Not” series in preparation for NFL free agency starting March 18 and the NFL Draft opening April 23. We’re taking a look at some of the things the Steelers have told us about what they plan to do this offseason...
Why the Sabres are such a problem for the Penguins
Perhaps the most glaring issue during the recently snapped six-game losing streak for the Pittsburgh Penguins was their failure to beat inferior competition. When they went out west to face the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks, the Pens lost all three games to those clubs. They...
