PENGUINS
The big news from our Penguins this weekend was not good news, at all. C Evgeni Malkin has been lost for the remainder of the regular season and well into the playoffs, should the Pens make it. Thanks to a left arm injury suffered in Friday night's contest in Columbus, Geno will be out 6-8 weeks. Now Mrs. Black-N-Gold was going to take the opportunity to, again, rail on F Phil Kessel and his lack of production, reminding all of Black-N-Gold Nation that the honeymoon is, indeed, over between Pittsburgh and the Toronto cast-off. Then yesterday, the Pens went to MSG and knocked off Metro division-rival the New York Rangers 5-3. That win was thanks to the 2-goal performance of F Conor Sheary.
Yes, Kessel and his merry-band of under achievers need to step up in Geno's absence. But we don't even have to worry about the contingent from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. That's because the "Baby" Pens have been growing up right in front of our very eyes. Conor and Company have injected the shot in the arm this franchise has needed for several years. There's youth and speed and grit. Oh my! These youngsters are not afraid to do the dirty work that's required to help this team win. And they're loving every minute of it. What a joy it is watching these players develop into bonafide NHL players during the heat of the playoff push. And these are just the guys to help push us over the edge. Let's Go Pens!!!
PIRATES
Actually, this "Takeaway" will be more of a broader subject than specifically about our Pirates. Earlier this week, HOF RH Goose Gossage spoke out regarding MLB stars Jose Bautista and Yoenis Cespedes, suggesting they are a "disgrace to the game". This came out the same week that Bryce Harper stated in an interview that "baseball is a tired game". Mrs. Black-N-Gold is old-school, herself. She remembers Gossage's brief stint with her beloved Pirates during the 1977 season. She also remembers the World Series winning Pirates of 1979. That team featured another future HOF RH, Bert Blyleven. Well, Blyleven disagreed with Goose regarding his comments.
While Mrs. Black-N-Gold's epitaph will surely be "Act like you've been there before", she has to side with Harper and Blyleven. Didn't we all enjoy seeing Joey Bats bat-flip his way into our hearts in Game 5 of last year's ALDS? It reminded Mrs. Black-N-Gold of a former teammate of Goose's from his Yankee days, a certain Mr. October that liked to enjoy the majesty of the mammoth shots he would blast into the bleachers at Yankee Stadium. Don't we Pirates fans clamor to see RH Gerrit Cole get fired up after striking out a hitter in a crucial situation? Or see CF Andrew McCutchen, 2B Josh Harrison and the guys dancing and getting loose in the dugout before the game? And like him or not, it is fun to see a player such as Harper enjoying himself when he's making a great throw to nail a runner or Jose Fernandez get fired up when he fans a hitter. They're excited, therefore, we're excited. And isn't that what it's all about? Sure, a hitter shouldn't pump and preen if he hits a solo homer when his team is down 10-0. Same as a pitcher shouldn't bark from the mound and whoop and holler if he strikes out a batter in the 9th inning while his team is down 8-2. Save it for the big moments, Bryce and Joey Bats and we'll enjoy those moments with you. And, of course, if the big moments involve our Pirates, all the better. Let's Go Bucs!!!!!
STEELERS
More disconcerting news regarding Steelers WR Martavis Bryant was made public this weekend. First it was reported that Bryant would be suspended for the entire 2016 season for failing another drug test. You'll recall, Bryant missed the first 4 games of the 2015 season for failing a drug test for marijuana. As this story developed, it was announced by Bryant's agent that he did not fail another drug test. He failed to take a required drug test that is issued by the league as part of their mandate in the CBA. The agent said that Bryant is suffering from depression and has coping issues and will soon enter into a rehab facility to help with his problems.
Many members of Black-N-Gold Nation feel this may be a ruse on Bryant's part as he would not have passed the drug test had he taken it. Others feel that the young man has more serious problems to deal with than whether or not he can catch a pass in the corner of the end zone. Yes, when Bryant returned from his original suspension he was contrite, telling all that would listen that he'd made a mistake and it wouldn't happen again. Well it did happen again. To some extent. Should he be given the benefit of the doubt? Mrs. Black-N-Gold feels that if Bryant and his representatives are sincere, then he has more to deal with than football. Depression is a serious health issue that millions of people deal with every day. Bryant's health and well-being come before football, even Steelers football. Get well soon, Martavis.
No comments:
Post a Comment