U mad, bro?: Pat Narduzzi vs. Coach Prime blowback; puttering Pirates and Tristan Jarry have fans on edge

Pittsburgh Penguins fans “can’t get no satisfaction” with their goalie. College football coaches are ticked at each other. And Pirates fans are stuck in the middle about how to view this up-and-down season.

Two months from now, the Steelers will be getting ready for their first preseason game.

So for “U mad, bro?,” let’s enjoy the variety while we have it.

Joseph thought I took the wrong approach to the spat between Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi and Colorado’s Deion Sanders.

“I don’t think you get how this works. Coach Prime could care less about a Coach Subprime at Pitt. This guy has excelled everywhere he’s been. He knows real powerbrokers in sports because he is one. Don’t know how the Buffs will do but right now that program has captured the national attention. Who talks about Pitt?”

Joe, which one of us doesn’t get how this is working?

If Sanders “doesn’t care about” Narduzzi or Pitt, then how was he so acutely aware of Narduzzi’s quotes about Lincoln Riley and USC nabbing Jordan Addison through the transfer portal?

I agree that Sanders’ Q-rating is much higher than Narduzzi’s. I get it. That’s got nothing to do with who is right or wrong in this debate.

I’ll stand by what I said before, Sanders didn’t do anything illegal or even unethical. But I completely understand why Narduzzi suggesting booting kids off rosters is a bad precedent for the sport to embrace.

Bob has an idea for how the Pirates can bolster their pitching staff.

“If the Pirates want a #1 starter right now, I have two words: Trevor Bauer.”

Bob, I have two words as well: new allegations.

Look, I know he’s pitching OK so far in Japan (2.05 ERA in 86 innings with Yokohama). And I’m not here to play judge and jury on his legal matters.

But I am here to tell you that the Pirates are going to stay away.

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I get the impression that Bill thinks I was too hard on the Pirates after managing just a split against the woeful A’s and struggling Mets last week.

“Oh, those poor underachieving/overachieving Buccos. Seriously, what did we really expect?

To paraphrase (kind of) former Steeler Mensa member: “The Pirates is the Pirates.”

I’m just going to enjoy the rare good times because I know there will be plenty of bad until we ever get an owner willing to spend money on top tier free agents.”

Careful, Bill. I think JuJu trademarked that. He might take you to court.

Or at least force you to do a milk crate challenge.

Ace isn’t wild about the notion of keeping Tristan Jarry.

There's a lot of blame to go around for this season but Jarry gets the big share. He just hasn't continued to develop. If Pens decide to keep Jarry he's going to need competition. Bring in an NHL vet like Bishop, Martin or others mentioned. Make the guy work harder for his spot.

— Diogenes The Cynic ???????? (@AcePrimero) June 5, 2023

Ace, I’m not as worried about Jarry winning a competition against any of those guys as I am him getting injured during it.

If any team ends up paying Jarry what it would take to sign him, then he better be a clearcut starter, and I’m not sure how legit of a No. 2 that team would be able to afford against the cap at that point.

It’s a conundrum, wrapped in a dilemma, rolled in a riddle.

Much like Jarry’s career.

Finally, Scott had a question about our recently departed friend and colleague, Stan Savran.

Meant to ask you do you know how or who coined Stan the Godfather of Pittsburgh Sports? I can't recall ever hearing how it came about? I'm sure it came up on an Ask Stan Wednesday but I've never heard it

— Scott McClelland (@beachedchef) June 13, 2023

What I’m supposed to say is that Mark Madden just came up with it one day.

The actual answer is that, in real life, Stan was a ruthless, organized crime boss. The whole nice-guy, sports media thing was just a front. “SportsBeat” was ostensibly his Genco Olive Oil, and Guy Junker was his consigliere. A Baldwin version of Tom Hagen, if you will.

You didn’t know that? I thought everybody knew that.

But, seriously, it was an honor to give Stan the sendoff he deserved.