Breakfast With Benz category, Page 182
Hockey News writer says Penguins will miss playoffs in 2020. Hear why.
The Penguins missing the playoffs in 2020? Pfft! That’s not going to happen. I mean, they haven’t missed out since 2006. Then again, the Penguins made the playoffs by only four points in 2019. And it took until Game 81 to clinch a berth. And they couldn’t win a playoff...
Tim Benz: What Penguins coach Mike Sullivan didn’t say about Phil Kessel is telling
This is the second of our five posts examining the “money quotes” from Mike Sullivan’s interview on 105.9 the X with Mark Madden this week. On Thursday, we focused on what the Penguins head coach had to say about Evgeni Malkin. On Friday, we look at his comments about the...
Tim Benz: Cubs’ Joe Maddon hints at tense series vs. Pirates. Do they deserve it?
There’s a growing opinion about the Pirates across the National League. They throw up-and-in too much. This isn’t really a new thing. That reputation has been attached to the Pirates for a while. Going back years. There was the beanball war with Arizona in 2018. And there was one between...
First Call: Pirates’ price for Felipe Vazquez becoming clear; robot umpires debut
In “First Call” Wednesday, we catch wind of what the Pirates’ asking price is for Felipe Vazquez. It’s “Tacko Time” in Boston. And robot umpires make their debut. Fishing for Felipe We’ve talked about what it would take for the Pirates to get Madison Bumgarner if they stay in the...
Podcast: MLB’s weak explanation on baseballs; Pitt’s Kenny Pickett bulks up
A lot happened during Major League Baseball’s All-Star week in Cleveland. Much of it had nothing to do with the game. Our Jerry DiPaola was on hand to cover all the angles. He’s back in Pittsburgh after the American League’s 4-3 win. We discuss commissioner Rob Manfred’s double talk...
First Call: Steelers Hall of Fame locks; 1 prediction has Penguins missing playoffs
Hall of Fame talk dots “First Call” today. Will the Penguins really miss the playoffs in 2020? And a look at how baseball financial inflation is out of control. Who besides Ben? This isn’t the most scientific NFL list of all time, but it may be worth a debate. The...
Andrew McCutchen’s wife, Maria, throws him an All-Star partyVideo
Former Pirate Andrew McCutchen went to the All-Star game five times during his years in Black and Gold. He hasn’t been back since 2015. And he probably wouldn’t have made it this year either as a member of the Phillies. Even though McCutchen had 10 home runs through June 3,...
Pirates players insist their July output is sustainable
During the All-Star break, we discussed how Pirates management may view the recent surge by their players now that they are within 2 1/2 games of first place in the National League Central. They sound optimistic. But I bet the jury is still out. It should be. Because for as...
Tim Benz: Cubs manager Joe Maddon thinks he’s figured out Pirates, NL Central
When the All-Star break ends, the second half of the season will resume the same way the first half ended for the National League Central. Division rivals will be jockeying for position as all five teams reboot the schedule within 4 ½ games of each other in the standings. The...
Tim Benz: How Alison Riske nearly seized opportunity at Wimbledon
There was no raising of the Jolly Roger at Wimbledon’s Centre Court. No one waved a Terrible Towel. And “Renegade” was never played. London ain’t ready for that much Pittsburgh n’at, anyway. Peters Township product Alison Riske gave it her best against Serena Williams during the Wimbledon quarterfinals. But the...
First Call: Steelers a playoff sleeper in 2019?
In “First Call” for Tuesday, optimism for a bounce-back Steelers season. The TV ratings are good for the Women’s World Cup. And creative use of a player’s day with the Stanley Cup. Don’t sleep on the Steelers Some in the media and the fanbase seem to think the Steelers will...
U mad, bro? Readers blast Tim Benz over USWNT opinions
People are so mad at me over my recent columns about the United States Women’s National Team, I thought we should have a special edition today of “U mad, bro?” And because the vast majority of the responses I got were negative ones from women or on behalf of women,...
Alison Riske’s WPIAL coach talks Wimbledon upset, quarterfinals vs. Serena Williams
Peters Township tennis product Alison Riske upset the top seed and world No. 1 at Wimbledon. Her reward? A quarterfinal match against legendary champion Serena Williams. It’s at 8 a.m. Tuesday. And it’ll be played on Centre Court. No pressure. Riske, the No. 55-ranked player in the world, stunned French...
First Call: Jameson Taillon starts road to recovery; Ivan Nova helps Pirates
In “First Call” Monday, Jameson Taillon starts his road to recovery. Ivan Nova helps the Pirates. Charlie Morton continues to shine. And the home run contest may have gotten a little easier for Josh Bell. Baby steps Pirates starter Jameson Taillon ended up playing catch at PNC Park before the...
Tim Benz: USWNT won the World Cup and lost a dumb argument
The United States Women’s National Team won the World Cup. And it lost one stupid argument. The first thing is more important. The second thing is their own fault. Prior to her team’s 2-0 victory over the Netherlands to win the World Cup, American star Megan Rapinoe complained that her...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden talk USWNT, Mike Sullivan, Pirates, Twitter suspension
Mark Madden may be suspended from Twitter (#FreeMarkMadden), but he isn’t suspended from the “Breakfast With Benz” podcast page. We talk at great length about the United States Women’s National Team. They won the World Cup. Have the politics and self-generated sidebar stories surrounding this team outweighed their accomplishments? It...
Fantasy sports podcast: NHL keepers hurt by new teams; MLB run barrage
It’s our weekly fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. This week we get into major player changes affecting hockey and basketball fantasy leagues. We’ve seen a ton of player movement in the NHL. Jeff and I each give you one player that has changed teams who could kill...
First Call: Antonio Brown’s gaudy new jewelry; JuJu goes to London
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” the latest major jewelry purchase by Antonio Brown is hilarious. JuJu Smith-Schuster goes to London. Myles Garrett shows us why he is a beast. I see what you did there Antonio Brown has some new jewelry. It’s a dedication to Muhammad Ali. And himself, of course....
U mad, bro? Readers rip Neal Huntington, react to Phil Kessel trade
It’s been a week since I’ve checked my inbox for “U mad, bro.” And a lot has built up while I was on vacation. Penguins fans chime in on the Phil Kessel trade to Arizona. Pirates fans don’t seem to like the idea of dealing Felipe Vazquez. And Neal Huntington...
Tim Benz: Alex Morgan sipping tea is fine; pandering double standards aren’t
The U.S. women’s national soccer team has gotten its fair share of attention for celebrating too much and showing up its opponents during the Women’s World Cup. Even their own social media account was getting cocky after the 2-1 semifinal win against England on Tuesday afternoon. PARTY LIKE IT’S 1776...
First Call: Pro Football Hall of Fame expanding next class; T.J. McConnell could stay with 76ers
In “First Call” Tuesday, T.J. McConnell may be staying with the Philadelphia 76ers. The NFL could expand its next Hall of Fame class. And we keep an eye on Long Island. Staying put in Philly? T.J. McConnell may stay in Philadelphia after all. At the end of the NBA season,...
Tim Benz: All-time Steelers roster misses some marks
The guys over at SteelersWire.com put together their all-time Steelers 53-man roster. Most of the choices are beyond dispute. Although making Scott Campbell the backup to Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback was a bit odd. Kidding. But there were a few strange omissions and choices almost nutty as that one that...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden ponder Penguins’ future post-Phil Kessel
I’m back from Europe. Mark Madden is back from Vegas. It’s a day late. But our “Madden Monday” podcast for the week is up. And there is plenty to talk about concerning the Penguins. We get Mark’s response to the Phil Kessel trade from the standpoint of how the Penguins...
First Call: Phil Kessel thanks Pittsburgh; how Mike Tomlin’s son got to Maryland
In “First Call” Monday, Phil Kessel says goodbye to Pittsburgh. The MLB London series was insane. And the winding story of Dino Tomlin’s recruitment to Maryland. Kessel’s goodbye There have been a lot of reports about acrimony on the way out the door between Phil Kessel and the Penguins. But,...
Tim Benz, Jonathan Bombulie examine Phil Kessel trade, new-look Penguins power play
Not only am I adjusting my body clock back to the Eastern time zone, I’m adjusting the podcast schedule, as well. With my American Airlines debacle of a flight home from vacation, and with Mark Madden traveling back from Las Vegas, we’ll do our usual Madden Monday podcast on Tuesday....
