SLAP SHOTS

Make me a milkshake, Malkin. It's a great day for hockey! Your Pittsburgh Penguins go for their second win of the weekend in FLA as they face-off against the Kitties tonight. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)Congrats to Pens C Sidney Crosby. The captain recorded his 700th career point with his second assist in yesterday's game. Also, congrats to Pens G Marc-Andre Fleury. The Flower posted his 26th career shutout in that 3-0 win at Tampa Bay. Celebrate with another win tonight! 2)Only one team in the NHL has fewer wins than FLA's 7. Don't take this team lightly, though. Pack lots of Goals, Goals, Goals! 3)The Pens lost to FLA back on October 11, 6-3. It's payback time! Let's Go Pens!!!

SLAP SHOTS

Get in the fast lane Grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll! It's a great day for hockey as your Pittsburgh Penguins are in Tampa Bay to battle the Lightning. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)The Pens have won 7 straight versus Tampa Bay. #8 would be great! 2)Pens C Sidney Crosby is the league leader with 33 points. C Evgeni Malkin is second with 30 points. Amp up those totals with some Goals, Goals, Goals! 3)Tampa Bay has won 2 in a row. Ride the Lightning and take one in Tampa. Let's Go Pens!!!

BLACK-N-GOLD THANKSGIVING

Since everyone will be busy with turkey n'at and watching our Steelers gobble up the Baltimorons on Thansgiving, Mrs. Black-N-Gold thought now would be a good time to give thanks. Thanks for our family and friends and all things black-n-gold.

1)The Penguins-Thanks for Sid turning in another MVP-like season. Thanks for Fleury getting over last spring's playoff meltdown (hope it lasts). Thanks for some of our players (Letang, Neal, etc.) getting healthy. Thanks for 3 Stanley Cups and counting. Let's Go Pens!!!

2)The Pirates-Thanks for finally breaking the streak. Thanks for Comeback Player of the Year, Frankie Liriano. Thanks for Manager of the Year, Clint Hurdle. Thanks for MVP, Andrew McCutchen. Thanks for 5 World Series Championships and counting. Let's Go Bucs!!!!!

3)The Steelers-Thanks for QB Ben Roethlisberger. Without him this team would not be back in the playoff hunt. Thanks for signing WR Antonio Brown and letting malcontent Mike Wallace take his act to Miami. Thanks for turning things around and giving us playoff hopes again. Thanks for 6 Super Bowl trophies and counting. Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!

THE 50-YARD LINE

Here we go Steelers, here we go! Your Pittsburgh Steelers go over the river and through the woods to Baltimore's house tonight as they battle the Baltimorons. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)The Steelers have won three in a row, each game by double digits. Let's get more with #4! 2)The Baltimorons offense is 31st in the league, averaging a paltry 4.54 yards per play. We need the D to feast on the Birds. Hit 'em early, hit 'em often, hit 'em HARD! 3)Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is 7-2 versus Baltimoron QB Joe Flacco, 3-1 against him in Baltimoronville. Score early, score often, score BIG! Also, congrats to Troy for winning AFC Defensive Player of the Week and Ben for winning AFC Offensive Player of the Month. Celebrate Thanksgiving by carving up the Baltimoron Birds! Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!

SLAP SHOTS

I'll be cow-kicked, it's a hockey night in Pittsburgh! Your Pittsburgh Penguins look to get back in the win column tonight as they faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Consol Energy Center. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)Pens winger James Neal has 4 goals in his last 2 games. The Real Deal indeed! )The Leafs are coming off of a 6-0 thrashing from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Blow the Leafs away! 3)The last time out, October 26 in Pittsburgh, Toronto came away with a 4-1 win. Bring the Goals, Goals, Goals tonight, boys! Let's Go Pens!!!

THE 50-YARD LINE

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Your Pittsburgh Steelers won their third consecutive game on Sunday as they defeated the Cleveland Clowns 27-11. Mrs. Black-N-Gold now brings to you the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from Sunday's victory.

1)The Good-You have to love the performance the D had on Sunday. They held the Clowns to a measly 11 points, they sacked Cleveland QBs 5 times and they had 4 takeaways that led to 17 points, including a pick-6 from CB William Gay, who also had a sack. S Troy Polamalu looked like the Troy of old as he forced 2 fumbles and registered a sack. NT Al Woods recorded 2 sacks as well, playing for the injured Steve McLendon. The defense also held Cleveland to 6 of 17 third downs and just 55 yards rushing. LB Jason Worilds continues to make a case for more playing time as he had 5 tackles, 3 of them solo, and 6 QB hits. A job well done, D, except.....

2)The Bad-The Defense allowed Cleveland WR Josh Gordon 14 catches for 237 yards and a touchdown. Gordon is a star on the rise, one of the few that Cleveland has. The Steelers will face this young man twice a season for many years to come so they'd better find a way to cover him. Keep an eye on Gordon in the final week of the season when these teams meet again.

3)The Ugly-What can I say? It was Cleveland. For a team that is/was in the playoff hunt, they sure didn't look it. Before getting knocked out of the game, QB Jason Campbell was 14 of 22 for 124 yards, no TDs, 2 sacks and a 78.6 passer rating. His understudy, Brandon Weeden was even worse, going 13 of 30. He did manage the 1 touchdown to Gordon but also through the pick to Gay. He finished with a paltry passer rating of 64.4

All in all, it was business as usual for Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. Ben is now 16-1 versus Cleveland, winning 6 straight as the offensive line allowed no sacks. Job well done.

The Steelers have little time to celebrate this divisional win as they ready themselves for a Thanksgiving road trip to battle the Baltimorons, who also won. Cincy was idle. That means, at 7-4, Cincy is still in the driver's seat in the AFC North. The Steelers and Baltimorons are now tied at 5-6. And it is Cleveland in the basement with a 4-7 record.

Get ready to feast on Flacco and the Baltimorons on Thursday. Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!

SLAP SHOTS

Holy cheese and crackers, it's a great day for hockey! Your Pittsburgh Penguins faceoff against the Bruins in Beantown tonight. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)It's a battle of 1 and 2 teams in the Eastern Conference as Boston has 32 points and the Pens have 30. Ruin the Bruins! 2)The Pens have beaten Boston 8 straight in the regular season. #9 would be fine! 3)Boston has given up the least goals in the league with 43. The Pens have scored 69 goals this season. Pack up the Crue and the Goals, Goals, Goals! Let's Go Pens!!!

THE 50-YARD LINE

Here we go Steelers, here we go! Your Pittsburgh Steelers travel to the mistake by the lake today as they battle the Cleveland Clowns. These are your keys to today's game. 1)The Steelers have won 10 out of their last 12 games in Cleveland. Eleven would be heaven! 2)The AFC Offensive Player of the Week, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, is 15-1 in his career versus Cleveland. Score early, score often, score BIG! 3)The Steelers defense is 28th in the league with 18 sacks. Time to add to that total. Hit 'em early, hit 'em often, hit 'em hard! Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!

SLAP SHOTS

Mrs. Black-N-Gold is smiling like a butcher's dog because it's a great day for hockey! Your Pittsburgh Penguins travel to Montreal tonight to faceoff against the Canadians. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)The Pens go for 4 wins in a row and 7 out of 8 versus Montreal. Don't forget to pack the Goals, Goals, Goals! 2)In last night's 4-3 victory over the Isles, C Sidney Crosby recorded the 250th goal of his career with the game-winner. Sid has 3 goals and 2 assists during the Pens winning-streak. Congrats to the captain! 3)C Evgeni Malkin scored his 1st goal in 16 games to go along with 2 assists last night. Go, go Geno! Let's Go Pens!!!

SLAP SHOTS

Look out Loretta, it's a hockey night in Pittsburgh! Your Pittsburgh Penguins faceoff against the New York Isles of Misfit Toys tonight at Consol Energy Center. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)When Pens C Sidney Crosby records a point, the Pens are 14-3. When Sid is held scoreless, the Pens are 0-5. In Sid we trust! 2)In Wednesday's 4-0 shutout of the Craps, the Pens allowed just 18 shots on goal. They're giving up an average of 25 shots per game. De-Fense! 3)The last time these teams faced off, the Isles won 4-3. Although New York is 8-11-3 with 19 points, don't nap on them. Bring the Goals, Goals, Goals! Let's Go Pens!!!

BLUES N'AT

Two of the greatest rock/blues guitarists in history celebrate their birthdays within a week of each other. The bad news is, neither is still with us to celebrate. The good news is that they each left their own indelible mark on the guitar world as well legacies that have spanned generations. Duane Allman, of the Allman Brothers Band, was born on November 20, 1946. Jimi Hendrix was born November 27 1942.

After leaving the U.S. Army, where he reportedly slept with his guitar (that's dedication!), Jimi Hendrix cut his teeth performing on what was called "chitlin' circuit", backing up such acts as Little Richard and the Isley Brothers. Jimi was discovered by the Animals' Chas Chandler who wanted to leave performing and became Jimi's manager. Chandler soon teamed Jimi up with drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding. He dubbed them the Jimi Hendrix Experience. They were every bit the power rock trio. Jimi burst onto the American music scene when the Experience played at the Monterrey Pop Festival in 1967. Jimi wowed the crowd with his playing and his pyrotechnics. He blew them away with his performance and left them awe-struck when he capped his set by setting his guitar on fire. From there, Hendrix's career was on fire. Unfortunately, Hendrix was like a meteor, burning bright and then flaming out. The Experience experienced growing pains and disbanded. Hendrix formed Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, turning in a stunning performance at Woodstock. That band morphed into Band of Gypsys. Management issues hampered Jimi's ability to make music. He eventually retreated to London, the city that first embraced Jimi as a guitar god. Ultimately, Jimi died far too young in London at age 27 on September 18, 1970.

Duane Allman was born on November 20, 1946 in Nashville, TN. Duane was an in-demand session guitarist before hitting it big with his own group, the Allman Brothers Band. Duane laid down the lead for such artists as Boz Scaggs, Aretha Franklin and King Curtis while the Allmans toiled in virtual obscurity. They finally developed a following of their blues-jazz masterpieces while touring extensively. Duane and Eric Clapton formed a mutual admiration that led to Duane playing some of his most inspired work with Derek and the Dominoes. The Allman Brothers Band became a favorite act of legendary concert promoter Bill Graham. So much so that Graham chose the Allmans to play the final set at the historic Fillmore East. Like Hendrix, Duane left an extensive body of exceptional work after an unexpected death at the age of 24 on October 29, 1971.

Both guitarists leave behind countless hours of blistering licks and have influenced multitudes of fret masters. To "experience" classic Hendrix, check out his three albums with the Experience,  1)Are You Experienced 2)Axis: Bold as Love 3)Electric Ladyland and Band of Gypsys, recorded live at the Fillmore East in 1970. To get your Allman joy, try the Allman Brothers' Idlewild South and At Fillmore East as well as Derek and the Dominoes' Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Both artists have plenty more music out there but these albums highlight why both Jimi and Duane are typically  mentioned in the conversation of greatest of all time. Get your guitar god on with these two. Gone but not forgotten. Until next time, boys and girls. Keep it bluesy.

SLAP SHOTS

Slap me silly, Sidney. It's a great day for hockey. It's Rivalry Wednesday as your Pittsburgh Penguins are in the nation's capital to faceoff against the Washington Craps. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)The Pens with 26 points and the Craps with 25 are 1 and 2 in the Metropolitan Division. Veto the Craps! 2)The Pens have capped the Craps the last 4 times they met. #5 would not be jive! 3)The Craps go for their 4th win in a row and their 7th straight at home. The Pens need to go out and win 2 in a row and don't forget to bring the Goals, Goals, Goals! Let's Go Pens!!!

THE 50-YARD LINE

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Your Pittsburgh Steelers won their second game in a row on Sunday as they tamed the Detroit Lions 37-27. Mrs. Black-N-Gold now gives you the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from Sunday's victory.

1)The Good-A win is always a good thing. What was good about it? Let me count the ways. #1-The Steelers jumped out to a 14-0 lead using the no-huddle offense. #2-WR Antonio Brown had a big day with 7 catches for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns. #3-QB Ben Roethlisberger completed 29 of 45 passes for 367 yards, 4 touchdowns, no picks and a 119.4 passer rating. The patchwork offensive line only let Ben get sacked once and hit one other time. Ben led the offense on a 97 yard drive late in the 4th quarter and found FB Will Johnson in the endzone to put the Steelers up for good, 30-27.

2)The Bad-Although the defense did sack Lions QB Matthew Stafford twice and hit him 5 times, they also surrendered 27 points in the second quarter. CB Ike Taylor dropped 2 interceptions and whiffed several times on Lions WR Calvin Johnson. However, give props to the D for turning it around in the second half, holding Detroit to 65 yards of offense and 0 points. What looked like another record-setting day for the D turned out ok as they recovered 2 fumbles and S Will Allen had a key interception in the second half. If this unit, and the entire team for that matter, could play consistently for 60 minutes, there's no telling what they could do.

3)The Ugly-The Steelers continue to leave points on the field. Antonio Brown had a monster game today but could have had a Megatron-like day when he dropped a 3rd touchdown pass. Also, the Steelers were in the red zone 3 other times but had to settle for 3 Shaun Suisham field goals. Again, imagine where this team could be if they played an entire 60 minutes. Oh, the possibilities.

As the Steelers travel to the mistake by the lake that is Cleveland next Sunday, let's see how the rest of the AFC North fared. The Bungles defeated the Clowns today so Cincy is still atop the division with a 7-4 record. The Clowns and Baltimorons both lost, putting them in a three-way tie with your Steelers at 4-6. Here's a chance to make hay in the division next week. But beware the trap game! Don't set yourselves up for a loss after this week's big, come-from-behind win. Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!

SLAP SHOTS

Buy Sam a drink and get his dog one, too, it's a hockey night in Pittsburgh! Your Pittsburgh Penguins look to get back in the win column tonight as they faceoff against the Anaheim Ducks at Consol Energy Center. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)Pens Captain Sidney Crosby has a meager 1 goal in his last 10 games. C Evgeni Malkin is even worse, going goalless in his last 13. Somebody fire up the Motley Crue and let's score some Goals, Goals, Goals! 2)The Pens are on a 1-4-0 run. It's time to start stacking wins! 3)This is the last game of a 4 game road trip for Anaheim, who are 0-2-1. Send 'em home without a win! Let's Go Pens!!!

THE 50-YARD LINE

Here we go Steelers, here we go! Your Pittsburgh Steelers look to make it 2 in a row as they battle the Detroit Lions at Heinz Field today. These are your keys to today's game. 1)The Steelers are 3-0 when their opponent rushes for under 100 yards and 0-6 when giving up more than 100 yards rushing. Hit 'em early, hit 'em often, hit 'em HARD! 2)Detroit hasn't won in Pittsburgh since November 13, 1955. Tame those Lions! 3)The Lions have a wide receiver you may know, he goes by the name of Megatron. Calvin Johnson has 53 receptions and is 2nd in the league with 904 receiving yards. The Steelers also have a wide receiver that's pretty good, #84, Antonio Brown. AB leads the NFL with 56 receptions and is 5th overall with 805 receiving yards. Score early, score often, score BIG so we don't have to play "catch" up. Although it's not an AFC opponent, the Steelers can ill afford to continue to collect losses. Don't let the Lions loose in our house! Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!

SLAP SHOTS

Holy cheese and crackers, it's a great day for hockey! Your Pittsburgh Penguins take their show on the road to New Jersey as they battle the Devils tonight. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)The Pens haven't fared well in New Jersey, of late. In their last 12 games there, the Pens are 2-8-2, averaging just 1.75 goals per game. Don't forget to pack the Goals, Goals Goals! 3)The Pens made 2 visits to New Jersey last season and lost both games. They did defeat the Devils in this season's opener, at home. Turn our luck around in New Jersey! 3)After scoring just 3 goals in their last 3 games, all losses, the Pens were able to find the net last night in a 4-1 victory over Nashville. Meanwhile, the Devils were shutout by the Kings, 2-0. Let's get back-to-back, baby! Let's Go Pens!!!

SLAP SHOTS

Scratch my back with a hacksaw, it's a hockey night in Pittsburgh! Your Pittsburgh Penguins look to get back in the win column tonight as they faceoff against the Nashville Predators at Consol Energy Center. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)The Pens have scored a measly 3 goals in 3 games, leading to 3 losses. What we need are some Goals, Goals, Goals! 2)The Predators has also lost 3 in a row. We've got to score, score, score & give them loss #4! 3)The Pens have won their last 2 versus Nashville. If it's 3 it's for me! Break out of this slump in a big way and send Nashville on their way! Let's Go Pens!!!

BLUES N'AT

2013 marks the 30th anniversary for Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble's debut "Texas Flood". To commemorate the occasion, a Legacy Edition has been released. This features the original album on disc one as well as a bonus track, "Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place in Town)". The second disc is a recording of the band's appearance at Ripley's Music Hall in Philadelphia to promote "Texas Flood" from October 20, 1983. Typically, when asked to name her favorite guitarists, Mrs. Black-N-Gold names the usual suspects: Clapton, Allman, Hendrix, Page. After rediscovering the late, great, Stevie Ray Vaughan with this double-CD, how could she have turned a deaf ear to the bluesman from Texas? SRV and Double Trouble weren't in the majority in popular music when this album was released. At the time, MTV was still in it's infancy (and still, actually, played music) and featured bands such as Culture Club, Men at Work, and Eurythmics. But Stevie Ray believed in the power of the blues and was anxious to get the word out to the masses. Disc one has many tunes that listeners of classic rock radio and the blues know and love: "Love Struck Baby", "Pride and Joy" and the title track, "Texas Flood". Stevie Ray pulled out all the stops on his Strat for his debut. And the rhythm section of bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris "Whipper" Layton lays down a beat that can't be beat, matching SRV note for note. Mrs. Black-N-Gold's favorites on disc one are the Isley's instrumental, "Testify", Buddy Guy's "Mary Had a Little Lamb", and another instrumental, the SRV original, "Rude Mood", which really gave Stevie Ray a chance to shred all up and down the fretboard.

Disc number two shows the world what a fantastic live act Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble were. No lip syncing or synchronizers here! It's just an all-out assault of the blues senses from the word "Go". They perform most of the "Texas Flood" album as well as pay homage to one of SRV's guitar heroes, Jimi Hendrix, with scorching versions of both "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" and, the closer "Little Wing/Third Stone from the Sun". Yes, Stevie Ray had a lot of Hendrix in his playing but he also puts a big, ol' SRV stamp on these tunes, as well.

This collection is a good reminder that Stevie Ray Vaughan should be mentioned among the greats of blues/rock guitar. If you don't think so, pick up "Texas Flood", the two-disc Legacy Edition and you'll hear why. You'll be glad that you did. Long live SRV and long live the blues. Until next time, boys and girls, keep it bluesy.

SLAP SHOTS

Eddie Spaghetti, it's a hockey night in Pittsburgh! Your Pittsburgh Penguins faceoff against their interstate rivals, the Philthedelphia Cryers, tonight at Consol Energy Center. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)Philly is coming off of a rare win as they blanked Ottawa last night 5-0. Just say "no" to two in a row! 2)Philly's road record this year is 3-7-0 while the Pens are 7-2-0 at home. Roll out the "welcome" mat for our "friends" from across the state. Score early, score often, score BIG! 3)When scoring three or more goals, the Pens are 11-2-0. When they score less, the are 0-4-0. They have only scored two goals in their last two games, both losses. Crank up the Crue and score some Goals, Goals, Goals, baby! Let's Go Pens!!!

AS THE BLACK-N-GOLD WORLD TURNS

The black-n-gold world is spinning out of control. These are some of the thoughts that are on the minds of the black-n-gold faithful.

1)Does Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger want out of Pittsburgh?

Ben, his agent Ryan Tollner and the Steelers all released statements refuting the NFL.com and NFL Network reports that Ben would ask the Steelers to explore trading him this offseason. Mrs. Black-N-Gold would hate to see Ben go as he's one of the few elite players the Steelers still have in their arsenal. Also, his big cap numbers could prevent any possible trade. The trade rumor had Ben going to Pittsburgh West to join former offensive coordinator Bruce Arians in Arizona. If it ever did come down to it, the Steelers better darn well make sure that they're compensated with plenty of draft picks to help re-stock the team.

2)Will Penguins C Evgeni Malkin ever get his mojo back?

It's no secret to Pens fans that former MVP Malkin, with only 3 goals in 17 games, is in dire need of finding some offensive output. It's not something that has suddenly happened overnight, either. In the shortened season of last year, Geno only managed 9 goals in 31 games after tearing up the KHL during the lookout. Everyone is holding their breath, hoping the return of injured wingers Beau Bennett and James Neal will also see the return of the Geno of old. Otherwise, he may be on his way out of the 'Burgh.

3)Will Pirates free agent RH A.J. Burnett be back?

The Pirates did not tender a qualifying offer of $14.1 million to the veteran right hander. A.J. has said that he will play for the Pirates next season or retire. He has since, backpedaled from that statement. By not tendering an offer to A.J., the Pirates lose out on a draft pick, had A.J. signed elsewhere. There is a rumor floating that A.J. may sit out until June or so, and come back later, should the Pirates need him. Mrs. Black-N-Gold knows that A.J. exhibited tremendous leadership while with the Bucs, but was he wearing out his welcome in the latter part of the season? Also, the rotation looks like this: LH Wandy Rodriguez, LH Francisco Liriano, LH Jeff Locke, RH Gerrit Cole, RH Charlie Morton. Sure, there are question marks. Can Locke find his first-half form of last season? Will Wandy be healthy? Can both Cole and Liriano give the Pirates a full season? But with Taillon, Cumpton, McPherson, Irwin, Johnson, etc. down on the farm, is A.J. really worth it?

Hopefully, these questions, and many more will be answered as the Black-N-Gold World Turns.

THE 50-YARD LINE

Winner, winner, chicken dinner. Your Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Buffalo Bills yesterday, 23-10, to up their record to 3-6. Mrs. Black-N-Gold looks at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from yesterday's victory.

1)The Good-It's always good when the Steelers pick up a win. True, QB Ben Roethlisberger threw a pick on the opening drive. But it was knocked down by the wind. Plus, the defense held Buffalo to only a field goal on that drive and for most of the game. The Bills only picked up a touchdown with less than 5 seconds on the clock. Congrats go out to Ben for winning his 100th game as a Steeler. Also, congratulations to LB Jarvis Jones who recorded his first NFL sack (one of 3 on the day by the Steelers D).

2)The Bad-Here is the tough part. We're the Steelers that good or are the Bills that bad. After giving up over 600 total yards of offense last week, the Steelers held Buffalo to 225 total yards this week, 82 in the first half. Again, it's always good to get a win. However, keep in mind, Buffalo was 3-6 coming into this game. There is still a long way to go, Steeler fans.

3)The Ugly-As bad as Buffalo was, they still managed to sack Ben 4 times and hit him 3 more. Also, the Steelers continued to get bogged down in the red zone and had to settle for field goals. This is not, nor will it ever be, a good trend. Stop with the 3's already.

Now it's time to take a look at the rest of the AFC North division. Cincy lost to the Baltimorons but are still the division leaders at 6-4. Cleveland had a bye this week and are tied with the Baltimorons at 4-5. The Steelers are still bringing up the rear at 3-6. Have the Steelers improved after last week's debacle in New England? This week will be a better test as they face the 6-3 Detroit Lions at Heinz Field. Get ready to tame the Lions, guys. Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!

THE 50-YARD LINE

Here we go Steelers, here we go! Your Pittsburgh Steelers look to get back in the win column today against the 3-6 Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field. These are your keys to today's game. 1)The Steelers have lost 11 of their last 15, dating back to last season. They have lost 6 of 8 to start this season and are 1-2 at home this year. What happened to the house that black-n-gold built? Fortunately, the Bills are 1-3 on the road this season. Shuffle 'em back to Buffalo with a loss! 2)The Bills are 7th in the league in rushing. The Steelers have allowed 12 rushing touchdowns, most since '03 when they allowed 14 all season. The Steelers run D is ranked 31st in the NFL. Time to get back to Steelers football. Hit 'em early, hit 'em often, hit 'em HARD! 3)The Buffalo D has 29 sacks, 11 from DE Mario Williams. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked 31 times this season. We must protect this house and this quarterback! Score early, score often, score BIG! Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!

SLAP SHOTS

Get in the fast lane, grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll! It's a great day for hockey as your Pittsburgh Penguins are in St Louie tonight to battle the Blues. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)Both the Pens and St Louie have 22 points. Make St Louie blue by taking 2! 2)The Pens are 4-3 on the road, getting outscored 15-5. St Louie are 6-1-1 at home. Pack up the Motley Crue and some Goals, Goals, Goals! 3)St Louie have won 5 of their last 6. The Pens have won 4 of their last 5. Score early, score often, score BIG! Let's Go Pens!!!

SLAP SHOTS

It's a great day for hockey. Your Pittsburgh Penguins are off to a great start (except for that little three-game skid and that speed bump at MSG on Wednesday night vs. the Strangers), meaning every day is a great day for hockey. The Penguins have a commanding lead in the new Metropolitan Division, in the Eastern Conference. Their 22 points are 6 better than the nearest team, the Washington Craps. As a matter of fact, the Pens lead all of the Eastern Conference (Tampa Bay, Toronto and Detroit are tied for the lead in the Atlantic Division with 20 points). Captain Sidney Crosby is having another MVP-type season, leading the league with 23 points. Sid and winger Chris Kuntiz share the team lead with 8 goals each. Much-maligned goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is tied atop the NHL with 10 victories. The Pens are also seeing encouraging signs from rookies D Olli Maatta and forward Jason Megna. Even rookie G Jeff Zatkoff is getting in on the action, picking up his first NHL-win last week. The Pens have suffered their share of injuries in the early going. D Kris Letang is back in action but D Rob Scuderi in now on IR. C Evgeni Malkin continues his low production as he waits for linemate James Neal to return from injury. That should be soon as the Real Deal has been spotted skating at recent practices. The regular season is a marathon, not a sprint but Pens fans have to be optimistic about their hot start. Just wait until they get the rest of their weapons back in action. Things will really heat up then. Let's Go Pens!!!

THE 50-YARD LINE

I know that a lot of people have been coming down hard on your Pittsburgh Steelers for their horrendous 2-6 start. Mrs. Black-N-Gold hates to pile on but she can't help but wonder if the Steelers even know what they're doing anymore. They don't run the ball like they used to. They don't terrorize opposing QB's like they once did, either. They certainly aren't striking fear into their opponents like in seasons past. But the one thing that Mrs. Black-N-Gold can't help pondering is why the Steelers see a need to bring back so many former players that weren't vital pieces to championship teams in the first place. In the past year alone, the Steelers have brought back the likes of CB William Gay, TE Matt Spaeth, RB Jonathan Dwyer, LB Stevenson Sylvester, S Will Allen and, just this week, CB DeMarcus Van Dyke. I don't think the Steelers got the memo, but there is a reason these guys were on the scrap heap. They're not very good. With the exception of LB Larry Foote who was brought back last season and is currently on the IR, the Steelers are only bringing these players back as a means to fill the roster. These players have not, nor will they, make any significant contributions to this, or any other, team. I realize the Steelers have more holes than they do draft picks but come on! Surely, there are some fresh, young players that may actually develop into solid players, out there, somewhere. The Steelers rarely, if ever, displayed this type of sentimentality in the past. They did bring LB Chad Brown back several years ago when they were trying to make a playoff run. I think that went over like a lead balloon, as well. Don't get me wrong. I still love the Steelers and I still bleed black-n-gold. However, considering the lack of success the Steelers have had of late going back to the future, they may want to reconsider next time they decide to go dumpster diving. Bring in some fresh blood, fellas. Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!

SLAP SHOTS

Make me a milkshake, Malkin, it's a great day for hockey! Your Pittsburgh Penguins look to take a bite out of the Big Apple as they travel to NYC to faceoff against the Strangers. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)The Pens go for win #9 out of their last 10 at MSG. #9 would be fine! 2)The Pens have won 4 in a row. #5 would not be jive! 3)Pens Captain Sidney Crosby leads the NHL with 23 points. Winger Chris Kunitz, who has goals in each of his last 4 games, is tied with Sid for the team lead in goals with 8. Bring the Goals, Goals, Goals to the Big Apple! Let's Go Pens!!!

BLUES N'AT

Have you ever heard of the Delta Wires? Neither have I. Not until I got their Anthology CD. Now I'm "wired" for blues. The Delta Wires are a Northern Cal blues band that has been kicking it since the '70's. And they've got it all. Harp? Check. Keys? Right on. Horns? How about some sax and trumpet? The Delta Wires are the brainchild of blues aficionado Ernie Pinata who provides vocals and harp. He's been the mainstay since the band's birth in 1970. His brother, Stephen, who plays rhythm guitar, has joined him through the years, as have many other talented, bluesy musicians. They all bring their own spice to this brand of blues stew. Anthology is a mix of live and studio recordings that span the decades with both original tunes and some spins of some blues mainstays, Delta Wires-style. They cover the likes of Willie Dixon, and Sonny Boy Williamson II, to name a few. There is something for everyone in the blues department on this CD. And the live recordings have not been heard since their original broadcasts, bringing you a taste of live "Wires". The Delta Wires have competed at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, are members of the California Blues Hall of Fame and have performed with the likes of Freddie King, John Lee Hooker and Dr. John, among others. They got their name "Delta Wires" from the blues scene that came out of the Mississippi delta plugging in and going electric with their full-body, high-energy sound. If you want some blues power, check out the Delta Wires Anthology CD. You won't be disappointed. Until next time, boys and girls, keep it bluesy.

THE 50-YARD LINE

My, oh my! Your Pittsburgh Steelers lost their 2nd game in a row as they fell to the New England Patriots 55-31. Mrs. Black-N-Gold has the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from yesterday's loss..

1)The Good-Was there anything good about the latest Steelers defeat? If you are WR Jerricho Cotchery, there was. QB Ben Roethlisberger connected on 3 touchdown passes to the veteran wideout who finished the day with 7 catches for 96 yards. You could also say that Ben had a good day, going 28 of 48 for 400 yards passing. But it's hard to be a glass half full kind of person when your quarterback losses a fumble, throws 2 picks and the offense again has to play catch-up when they're down 7-0 after 1 quarter and 24-10 at the half.

2)The Bad-Oh, there was a lot of that! The offense could only convert 5 of 13 3rd downs while the defense allowed the Pats to go 7 for 12 on 3rd downs. There were also 8 penalties for 96 yards. And let us not forget that Ben was sacked 5 times and hit 7 more. While we're at it, why was Ben kept in the game late in the 4th quarter when the game was clearly out of reach? The Steelers always talk about protecting their $100 million quarterback but then they leave him on the field to get smacked around some more?

3)The Ugly-There's plenty of ugly to go around. It was another historical game for the Steelers defense and not in a good way. The defense allowed a whopping 55 points, the most in Steelers history. They also surrendered 610 total yards, another franchise record. They did manage to force a fumble and recover it, setting up a Shaun Suisham field goal. They also recorded 3 sacks. It was hardly enough as they allowed RB Steven Ridley to run 26 times for 115 yards and 2 TD's. And don't forget that they gave up over 100 receiving yards each to TE Rob Gronkowski, and WR's Danny Amendola and Aaron Dobson. It was a small miracle that the Steelers were even tied at 24 in the 3rd quarter considering how bad the defense performed. But let's not let the D get all of the accolades. The special teams gave up a 43-yard punt return that set it up for the Patriots to run away with the game. There is also the fact that this team continues to look totally unprepared and clueless for the entire 60 minutes of a game. What's even worse? I still don't think the Steelers have hit rock bottom yet. Yes, I think it will continue to get worse before it gets better. People are now not only calling for OC Todd Haley's job but DC Dick LeBeau's as well. And there are those that want to see Coach Tomlin given the pink slip, too. I do think both coordinators will be gone at the end of the season. However, I believe the Rooneys will stick with Tomlin. Who will they blame if/when Tomlin can't win with his own players and coaches? Hopefully, it doesn't come to that.

Meanwhile, the AFC North title continues to be a pipe dream. Although Cincy lost on Thursday, they still lead the division at 6-3. Cleveland, of all people, are in second at 4-5 thanks to their win over Baltimore who are now 3-5. The Steelers bring up the rear at 2-6 as they, hopefully, prepare to take on 3-6 Buffalo at Heinz Field on Sunday. Back to the drawing board, boys. Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!

THE 50-YARD LINE

Here we go Steelers, here we go! Your Pittsburgh Steelers take their show on the road this week to New England as they battle the Patriots. These are your keys to today's game. 1)The Steelers have never defeated QB Tom Brady in New England. Sounds like they're due. Hit him early, hit him often, hit him HARD! 2)This season the Steelers have been outscored in the first quarter 54-19. That's why it's so important to get off to a good start and take their fans out of the game. Score early, score often, score BIG! 3)The Patriots are 4-0 at home while the Steelers are 1-3 on the road. Again, it sounds like the Steelers are due for a big win The Steelers need to get back to stacking wins if they hope to make the playoffs. Time to beat Brady and his bunch! Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!

SLAP SHOTS

Great balls of fire, it's a great day for hockey! Your Pittsburgh Penguins continue their home-and-home series with the Blues Jackets tonight as they travel to Columbus. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)Pens winger Chris Kunitz got the scoring started in last night's 4-2 win. Kuny has recorded a goal in 3 straight games and the Pens are 7-0 when he scores. Put it on the net! 2)Against Columbus, the Pens have won 4 of their last 5 games, scoring at least 4 goals in 4 of those games. Goals, Goals, Goals, baby! 3)The Pens have on 3 straight while the Jackets have lost 2 in a row. We want more, more, more, get win #4! Let's Go Pens!!!

SLAP SHOTS

Holy cheese and crackers, it's a hockey night in Pittsburgh! Your Pittsburgh Penguins faceoff against the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at Consol Energy Center. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)This is a home-and-home series, meaning the Pens play the Blue Jackets at home tonight and in Columbus tomorrow night. Make the Jackets Blue, take 2! 2)This season, Columbus is 2-5-0 versus teams that went to the playoffs last season. Gee, the Pens were in the playoffs last year. Light 'em up with lots of Goals, Goals, Goals!  3)The Blue Jackets have 15 goals in their last 4 games, including 3 from leading scorer Marian Gaborik. Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is 6-1-0 with a 1.56 GAA at home. Something has got to give. Flower Power! Let's Go Pens!!!