THE PIRTAES JINX

"Uncle, Uncle" "Enough is enough." "WTH?" "Oy vey!" I think you get it. What else can happen to the Pittsburgh Pirates, baseball's 20-year ongoing failure/laughing stock/circus/punching bag/cannon fodder/fill-in-the-blank? Perhaps I shouldn't ask.

The latest "joke"--newly acquired pitcher  A.J. Burnett, brought it to boost the staff, if out for three months because he... I'm trying to hold back the laughs/tears, he... bunted a ball into his face. (Hearty guffaws ensue everywhere but in Pittsburgh.) Yes, that's right. He did  something any number of uncoordinated 12-year olds could avoid doing. Too much time in the AL, I guess. It's a wonder he didn't hit himself in the back of the head with the bat while warming up rendering himself unconscious. That probably would have been less embarrassing, in fact. 

The Pirates have now gone beyond laughable. Nineteen (19) straight losing seasons, many of those humiliatingly bad. I was one of those people that was panicked when the Pirates almost left Pittsburgh, before PNC Park was built. Now, x-number of years later (seemingly a lifetime) I almost hope they just close up shop and call it a franchise. I'm now convinced they will NEVER be even "good" again. Why is this idiot smiling?

MORE STEELERS VETERANS RELEASED

Trying to meet a salary cap with several highly-paid players on your roster can be an ugly thing. Several veterans have restructured their contracts to help out. Unfortunately, some most also leave the Steeler Nation behind.

AARON SMITH: I predicted this when Smith went out for the season last year which meant he had missed significant time due to injury for three consecutive years. That along with his age and improved play by others, including younger players, made him expendable. Smith was an invaluable part of the defense for several years and was highly underrated league-wide. This is, howver, a good move in my opinion.

KRIS KEMOEATU: Kemoeatu was on the block based on his continued mindless play leading to a overabundance of major penalties. Kris played well for the Steelers until about two years ago and simply seemed to have lost his mind last year when he play took on his wild man appearance. I guess the man-to-man discussions with Tomlin didn't take. I wonder if this will?  

WHO'S NEXT?: It appears James Farrior may be the next veteran to hit the bricks. He's 37 and has played excellently ever since coming to the Steelers. Farrior was a tremendous team player and will be missed in that regard. Younger players are available to take his place meaning the Steelers will need to elect a new defensive captain which should most deservingly  be passed on to Troy Polamalu since he is the true heart of the defense.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

The NHL should now start going after individuals who land head shots on playerss who have previously suffered concussions. If a player has even a questionable hit against a player who has already missed games due to a concussion he should be suspended for the remainder of the season. And if he does it again, he's out of the league. Two strikes and you're out. I think this will finally get people's attention. The NHL can't afford to have marginal players putting star players out for significant periods of time, particularly with concussions.

Letang Hit by Nystrom

Last night the Stars' Eric Nystrom put Kris Letang out of the game in a situation where he should have been playing the puck and not going for the hit. He made no move whatsoever for the puck even though it was below the Penguins' goal line. His intention was to hit Letang, even though (or particularly because) he was in a vulnerable position.

HINES WARD: IT'S BEEN GOOD TO KNOW YA

The reigning "Mr. Steeler," Hines Ward, will no longer be wearing No. 86 for the home team. Ward was one of my favorite Steelers, and might have been my favorite if not for his insistence on carry that chip on his shoulder throughout his career. He never seemed to be satisfied with having arrived and being a leader of the Steelers but contended throughout his career that he was under-appreciated and always had something to prove. 

Ward was originally drafter in the third round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He spent 14 years in Pittsburgh and became the team's all-time leader in receptions (1,000), receiving yards (12,083), receiving TDs (85) and 100-yard receiving games (29). He was the eighth player in NFL history to catch 1,000 career passes and joined Jerry Rice as the only two players in league history to post 1,000 career receptions and win multiple Super Bowls.

Like John Stallworth, the Steeler receiver whose records he broke, he was a big game player and wanted to be the go-to guy when the chips were down. Ward indicates he wants to play another season but it's hard to imagine him in another uniform. If he does, let's hope it's in the NFC.

When Jerome Bettis retired the mantle of team leader was passed on to Ward and he carried it well. And just as when Bettis retired, it's a little hard to conceive of the Steelers without Hines Ward. Ben Roethlisberger may feel that he needs to now step into that leadership roll but in my opinion it should rightly pass to Troy Polamalu. A player who leads by example and inspires others to perform at their best. The King is dead, long live the king.