When it come to 'Hines'. Pour it on...

The Steelers and star wide receiver Hines Ward are in a stalemate on his new contract extension. As reported in the Post Gazette, Hines is understandably peeved that the negotiations with the Steelers have gone so slowly thus far. This is the same team that said 12-months ago that getting Ward an extension is the #1 priority this offseason. One must wonder how much of a "priority" Ward truly is to the Steelers if #1 draft choice Heath Miller has a contract finished but the Steelers still haven't worked out a deal for their MVP.

I'm a big fan of the Rooney's and how they run the Steelers. I like that they don't bowdown to every big-name free agent and hot head (i.e. Plaxico Burress) when it comes time to assemble their roster. BUT... dealing with Hines Ward, unquestionably the best player on the team, the most popular athlete in Pittsburgh, AND exactly the type of player the ipitomizes the Steelers "working class" persona, in this hap-hazard fashion is not just stupid, it's down right insulting.

Is there a Steeler fan anywhere who thinks the team will win half their games this year without Hines Ward? Whose going to catch the passes from Big Ben? Lee Mays? The Rooney's need to wake up and realize that dangling #86 out on a limb this close to the season could turn out to be their worst move EVER. Worse than Franco in a Seahawks uniform, worse than Jamaine Stephens, and worse than letting Rod Woodson go... combined.

The ONLY headline I (and Steeler fans everywhere) want to see out of Latrobe this year is this... "Steelers, Ward work out deal. Hines in camp."

Bow down to his superior quarters skills...

I found this video clip of the world's best quarters player. It is both amazing and sad at the same time but worth watching none the less...

Quarters King

More Underrated Movie Quotes...

Not much new in my world to discuss so here's my second take on a familiar topic...

"Most Underrated Movie Quotes Ever..."

• "First prize is a Cadillac El Dorado. Anyone want to see second prize?... Second place is a set of steak knives... Third place is 'your fired'." - Blake (played by Alec Baldwin)- Glengary, Glen Ross
• "Golf is for guys with goofy pants and a fat ass. Talk to my neighbor the accountant. Probably a great golfer, huge ass." - Happy Gilmore
• "This one gang kept wanting me to join because I'm pretty good with a bo staff." - Napoleon Dynamite
• "Do you mind if I name my first child after you? Dipshit Knight has a nice ring to it." - Chris Knight (played by Val Kilmer) - Real Genius

The Pens Win the Lottery...

Is there nothing that Mario Lemieux can't accomplish in Pittsburgh?

The man who single-handedly saved the franchise on at least two different occassions, once as an 18 year old draft choice and once when he acquired the team as owner, has used his uncanny streak of good luck to bring home the NHL equivalent to Powerball lottery... Sidney Crosby.

Granted I don't follow Canadian Junior League hockey but from everything I've read and heard, Crosby maybe a younger, less injured version of the "man" in Pittsburgh himself, Mario. As someone who regards Lemieux as the greatest athlete in Pittsburgh history I say, "Let's hope so." Crosby's been refered to the NHL's Lebron James and every team in the league salivated over the prospect of drafting him.

But only one team, through the saving grace of Super Mario himself, was able to land him.

Scratch my back with a hacksaw! Super Mario scores again!

In Cuban We Trust...

Spotted a few nights ago, enjoying a game at PNC Park was media-mogul/Dallas Maverick's owner/Pittsburgh native Mark Cuban. According to an article in the Post-Gazette, fans were in full swing trying to entice the free-spending Cuban into making a pitch for the cash-strapped Pittsburgh Pirates.

Despite several requests from the local media for interviews, the usually camera-hogging Cuban declined comment. Instead, the NBA owner sat near Pirates current owner Kevin McClatchy, his lips sealed.

While both McClatchy and Cuban deny any formal discussion on the sale of the Pirates, I think it's safe to read between the lines...

• Cuban denies opportunity to be interview. Probably upon the request of McClatchy who wants to keep things underwraps until the sale is more nailed down. Let's face it. When has Cuban EVER denied someone an interview?
• Cuban and his entourage sitting in McClatchy's section. Come on. If you're trying to cover something up, at least put Cuban in another part of the stadium.
• Cuban "says" he would buy the Pirates ONLY if the team were in danger of moving or being sold. When AREN'T the Pirates in danger of that?

Who wouldn't want to see Cuban buy the Buccos? He would instantly put the team back in baseball's "land of the living". Suddenly, ESPN would care a little more about the Bucs, other than when they were playing the Cubs or the Cardinals. PNC Park would attract more fans, more media, and MORE MONEY. As evidence of the turn around he performed with the Mavs, Cuban would help to resurrect a team that hasn't competed for the playoffs in over 10 years. Pittsburgh wouldn't be a revolving door for young talent (i.e. Barry Bonds, Jason Kendall, Brian Giles, and [coming soon] Jason Bay) because they can't afford to keep them. When good free agents become available, Pittsburgh would be a viable contender for their services.

Cuban is South Hills native who relishes the spotlight. Here's hoping he finds a big bright one on the shores of the 3 rivers.

Marty, Kovi back in Da 'Burgh?

According to an ESPN.com team-by-team status report the Pens maybe poised to "put the old band back together again". Because of their extremely low, current cap figure and potential cuts by other teams, Mario and the Pens could bring Pittsburgh favorites Martin Straka and Alexi Kovalev back to Mellon Arena.

I have to admit I'm torn on this issue. Half of me wants to see the boys back on the ice together the other half wants the Pens to move on and continue to rebuild with their "youth movement". I guess in the end, Mario will try to have his cake and it eat it to. It certainly won't hurt initial fan interest in Pittsburgh to see Mario, Kovi, Straka, and the Reckin' Ball on the ice together again. Plus, most of their core group of young talent have been locked up. for the forseeable future.

And since their looking to sign all these former players, let's see if we can't get "the Moose" back to Pittsburgh...

Most Underrated Movie Quotes Ever...

As usual, I am day late and a dollar short with this entry but for whatever reason I've been inspired today by AFI's 100 Greatest Movie Quotes of All Time list. Their list isn't all that bad, although there are some obvious omissions... "Coffee is for closers!" - Glengarry, Glenross

As usual here is my take on this subject, in no particluar order or ranking. Just some of the MOST UNDERRATED MOVIE QUOTES EVER. You are welcome to comment, however all judges' decisions are final...

"Say something, Fred." - Snowman (played by Jerry Reed), Smokey and the Bandit

"Great. Super-duper. We are making records." - Jimmy Wing (played by Judd Nelson), Airheads

"Oh really. Where they hosing him down?!?" - Pee Wee, Pee Wee's Big Adventure

"You're stuck playing nursemaid to bunch of garlic eaters." - Mr. Potter, It's a Wonderful Life

"Don't hit my sore ear again!" - young George Bailey, It's a Wonderful Life

"I like listening to your little piss-ant soldiers talk tough. They make me laugh. If Matrix were here, he'd laugh too." - Bennett, Commando

"Dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria!" - Dr. Peter Venkmen (played by Bill Murray), Ghostbusters

"If he were an ice cream flavor he'd be pralines... and dick." - Garth (played by Dana Carvey), Wayne's World

"...I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul." - High School Principal, Billy Madison

More later...

TomCruiseIsNuts.com...

No doubt inspired by my previous post, I stumbled across this new, and coincidentally very funny, website www.TomCruiseIsNuts.com. The site presents a comprehensive overview of Tom Cruise's nuttyness over the recent past.

This will now conclude my blog entries focused on Tom Cruise. All future references will be limited to his film work in the Johnstown, PA area while playing a football player at Ampipe High.

Chat Room From Hell...

Every once in a while I feel the need to roam on over to the Pennlive.com Penn State Football Chatroom and see what the naysayers are thinking these days. Reading that stuff is sort of my reality check on how many idiots still exist in the world. (As if I needed any more proof!)

Anyway, it's the typical anti-Joepa sentiment... Why doesn't he move on? Why can't we be more like USC or Oklahoma? Boo hoo, we lost another recruit to Wannestadt and Pitt. Blah, blah, blah...

Well here is an open letter that I have written for those chatroom freaks...

Dear Freaks,

What is going on in your life?!? If you spent half the energy you spend bashing Penn State football and criticizing Joepa on something constructive, you might actually accomplish something in life... like getting a date or taking a shower.

Please, for your mother's sake, stop the madness!

Thank you.

Signed,
Normal (Joepa-loving) Penn State fans

Zack Mills Out at the World Series of Poker...

According to an article in the The Daily Collegian, former PSU Quarterback Zack Mills won a seat at this year's "World Series of Poker" and stayed alive through the round of 1,900.

In doing some further research, I see that Zack has since been eliminated from the tourney.

I cannot yet confirm if Zack was forced out of the tournament by an on-slaught of Wisconsin Badger D-Lineman. I'll keep you posted...

Tom Cruise IS nuts...

I've read several blogs recently commenting on Tom Cruise's recent ventures into nutty-ness and I'm finally ready to make my own rant on his wack-o "religion" and the Hollywood schmucks that practice it.

By now it's no secret that Tom Cruise has taken on the cause to spread the word of the "church" of scientology. For those of you still wondering about this pseudo-religion, let me sum it up for you... Anyone ever see the movie "Battlefield Earth" with John Travolta? (cricket chirps) No? Well, that crap film was written by the same nut-job (L. Ron Hubbard) who created the "church" of scientology and from what I understand many of the principles and history of the "church" are outlined in that abyssmal film.

In scientology, Hubbard proposes that an alien-lord named "Xenu" sent bad spirits to exist on earth over 75 million years ago. Scientologists believe that these "bad" spirits cause most of the mental illness and other issues we suffer from as residents of this planet. Furthermore, they believe scientology is the only religion that can address and "cure" us of said illnesses. (Pause for uncontrollable laughter.)

I know what you're thinking, WHERE DO I SIGN UP??!!

Truth be told, scientology has about as much to do with faith and religion as visiting Krispy Kream twice a day has to do with losing weight. The "church" requires large financial donations to join and even more donations to show that you are making "progress" on your quest to eliminate what scientologists call "preclears". They use ridiculous electronic devices to measure your well-being and strictly forbid psychiatry (as evidenced by Tom Cruises tirade on the "Today Show") for treatment of mental illnesses.

If you ask me the whole thing smacks of an Amway-style pyramid scheme... you join, pay us lots of money for useless products/services and receive all these "benefits" (i.e. spiritual enlightenment), then you convince other friends/ family to join, they pay us even more money and you receive even more "benefits" (spirtual enlightenment)! That makes Tom Cruise the equivalent of that sleazy neighbor whose always dropping by your house to talk to you about a "great new business opportunity".

Unfortunately, the once quite-cute Katie Holmes has signed up for this spirtual-Amway. Let's pray she comes to her senses before these scientology wack-os have her peddling their "religion" to Dawson and Pacey!

Here's a short list of celebrity scientologists so that the next time you see one of these folks on TV or in the movies you can say to yourself, "Dude, what's up with Xenu?"

• Tom Cruise (celebrity wack-o #1)
• John Travolta (celebrity wack-o #2)
• Leah Remini ("King of Queens" and Zack's summertime girlfriend on "Saved By the Bell")
• Greta Van Susteren (creepy-faced chick from Fox News)
• Kirstie Alley (bloated, Diane-replacement from "Cheers")
• Giovanni Ribisi (ironically, in most of his acting roles he "acts" mentally challenged. How does your precious scientology feel about that Ribisi?)

"Blood drives are a pyramid scheme perpetuated by Dracula and his night slaves."- Master Shake (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)

Lions Beginning to Rise from the Ashes...

While traveling this weekend I stopped by an airport newstand and skimmed the always popular (and ridiculously early) preseason College Football Magazines. Looks like some folks in the "know" are starting to put the Nittany Lions back on the national landscape...

• Phil Steele (who claims to have the most accurate preseason rankings among all the mags.) has Joepa's boys ranked the highest at #19
• Lindy's puts the Nitt's at #25 in the nation.
• CollegeFootballNews.com - #26 (read a complete run down from the site here.)
• NationalChamps.net - #25 (more info) - I can't take much stock in this one, even though I appreciate the top 25 ranking. These guys have Anthony Morelli as the "Offensive Star" and an expelled EZ Smith as the starting center.

If anyone out there has any other preseason predictions of note for the Lions. Please post your comments.

Best Billboard Ever...

Anything that makes Michael Moore look like more of an idiot than he already is you got to love!