Merry Christmas

Yinzers,

So it's Christmas Eve and I am awaiting the Arrival of my Parents. There is nothing in this whole world like having A Christmas Eve with the ones you love. I wish all of you( all 7 readers) and your families the Very Merriest of Christmas's . I hope everyone get's their BB gun!

Missing Everyone in Pittsburgh, Louisville,St Louis and Especially Alabama-.......Wink!

From all of the MSM to your Family, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Wade Nixon

Mecca

Yinzers,

First off Happy Hoildays n' at. We are currently getting ready to make our Christmas trip to the burgh. It is always like going on a holy land trip or better yet my Haij, that all Pittsburghers do at least once a year to see their beloved Steelers. It is also time to pay homage to Pittsburgh Royalty once again as we will meet and see the royal families of Pittsburgh( brogs, Nevalas, kolesars,veros friesses and Fairbaughs.)
I am also very excted to eat , drink and be merry.

Wouldn't want to be a Jets fan this Weekend......

Here we GO!
See Yinz soon!
Wade

Truck Tuesday : Pittsburgh Vacation edition

Hey Yinz,

We will be on our way to Pittsburgh in 72 hours! The forecast says it will snow when we are in the burgh, I just hope we don't get snowed in! I am pretty psyched for snow though...I only get to see snow every 5 or so years, so it will be a treat!

When were were in Pittsburgh at the end of the summer, I kept singing "Pittsburgh Vacation" to the tune of "Christmas Vacation" but I never sang more than "It's that time, Pittsburgh time is here...Hip Hip Hooray for Pittsburgh Vacation" and I was reminded of that this week. So of course I decided to finish the song for this trip. The song is more appropriate now that it is the Christmas season at well...

This probably also shows that I have way too much free time and a lack of creativity, but here goes!

Pittsburgh Vacation

To the tune of Christmas Vacation by Mavis Staples

It's that time, Pittsburgh time is here
Everybody knows there's not a better place to cheer
Shout Hooray, Wade's on his way
Hip, Hip Hooray, for Pittsburgh Vacation

Gotta make it to the great keystone state
(jing-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling-ling)
Now it's getting closer I can't wait
(jang-a-lang-a-lang-a-lang-lang)
Gonna make this holiday as perfect as can be
Just wait and see this Pittsburgh Vacation

This old town, sure is looking good
Got ourselves the finest sports teams in the neighborhood

Ain’t it cold, playing in the snow
That's how its done on Pittsburgh Vacation

Lets all walk the strip and freeze to death
(jing-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling-ling)

Let a toasty totty warm your breath
(jang-a-lang-a-lang-a-lang-lang)
Give the Steelers the warmest welcome that they’ve ever had
We're so glad it Pittsburgh Vacation

And when the snow is falling on Heinz Field

We can boo Jets fans and see a win revealed

(jing-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling-ling)
(jang-a-lang-a-lang-a-lang-lang)

Pittsburgh Vacation (repeat)

We're so glad it's Pittsburgh Vacation

Mad Men Christmas party is getting near
(jing-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling-ling)
Primanti’s and Beto’s in the air
(jang-a-lang-a-lang-a-lang-lang)
Let the spirit of Myron carry us away
Hip, Hip Hooray for Pittsburgh Vacation

Fa-la-la-la-la and ho ho ho
jingle, jangle, jingle as we go
Let the spirit of Myron... (fade)

I hope yinz have a great week - I know I will! I will be posting pics from our trip next Tuesday!

Truck

'Tis the Season

For cramming for finals.

B Brog

Truck Tuesday

Hey Yinz,




Well the city of Pittsburgh seems to be doing pretty well sports wise right now. The pens just celebrated their 10 straight win, which is the longest win streak since Bylsma has been coach. Last night was a special evening because Bill Guerin (my favorite former penguin) was honored because he made the decision to retire as a penguin. Billy G has played on a lot of other teams and even won a cup with a different team, but he obviously found a connection with the team and the city of Pittsburgh. He was also presented with a picture comemorating his time as a peguin and his family was given a week long trip to Hawaii. This definitely shows how classy the pens are. This also reminded me of how much I loved Billy G and I wish that he was still playing!




The Steelers had a nice win on Sunday, thanks to Troy. The Igloo club had a nice crowd show up to watch the game too. The even more exciting thing is that only one game seperates me from seeing the Steelers live in Pittsburgh!




Well I hope Yinz have a nice week!

Charleigh

Fuse Box Monday

Yinzers,

The city of Pittsburgh does things to people...more specifically, those athletes who have the privilege of playing here. Billy "Gray Beard" Guerin retired today, but was quoted as saying his "heart is in Pittsburgh." BG the big GB was only with the Penguins since March of 2009, but fell in love with the city, his Penguin team mates and the community as a whole. He announced his retirement today, the day in which the two organizations closest to him face-off: the New Jersey Devils (the team that drafted him) and the Pittsburgh Penguins (the team that won his heart). You can read the whole article and more on the Penguins website. On to the games.

Monday November 29: Pens v. Rangers
The Pens pull a win on "King" Henrik Lundqvist. Scoring opened up in the first period when Max Talbot found a rare rebound from Henrik Lundqvist and buried it over the big Sweed's right shoulder. Tempers started flaring late in the first when Mike Rupp and Brandon Prust duked it out, throwing hay-makers left and right, but the score would stay at 1-0 in favor of the Pens after 1. Kris Letang stayed red-hot as the leagues second-leading, defensive scorer got his 5th of the season. That was followed by a Chris Connor goal and fisticuffs between Sean "Sloppy Seconds" Avery and Tyler Kennedy. Marion Gaborik did answer for the Rangers late in the second, but it would not be enough. With no score in the third, the final was set at 3-1 in favor of the good guys. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 25 of 26 and tallied another victory.

Thursday December 2: Thrashers v. Pens
The Pens recorded their 8th straight win on Thursday when the Atlanta Thrashers came to Consol Energy Center. The first major event in this one was a major penalty for the fight between Aaron Asham and Chris Thorburn. Atlanta opened up the scoring in the first period by getting the first power play goal on the Penguins in 30-something odd situations. Bryan Little got the goal, but it would be the last time Atlanta had the lead. Sidney Crosby then rolled off a natty hatty (natural hat trick - all three of his goals, uninterrupted), giving the Pens a 3-1 lead half way through the second period. Nikolai Antropov would get another goal for Atlanta, but it would be the last. The Pens took this one 3-2. Marc-Andre Fleury had 20 saves and the Pens continued their streak.

Saturday December 4: Pens v. Blue Jackets
The Pens made the trip to that God-awful state of Ohio on Saturday to take on the Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets were looking to bounce back from losing to the first seed in the Eastern Conference, Washington. But they were looking in the wrong place. The Pens made it 9 straight with their rout of Columbus. The final ended up at 7-2 with 6 different Penguins getting goals. Sidney Crosby had two and each of Paul Martin, Tyler Kennedy, Mike Rupp and Deryk Engelland added one of their own. Samuel Pahlsson and Chris Clark had goals for Columbus. Mike Rupp was an assist shy of the Gordie Howe hat trick. Rupp added a fight to his goal when he slugged it out with Jared Boll. Marc-Andre Fleury turned away 21 of 23.

Games this week start tonight at 7:00 pm when it's a hockey night in Pittsburgh as New Jersey comes to town. The dirty Jers will be trying to re-equilibriate since they have started off a measly 6-18-2 this season, with only the Islanders below them in the division. Then, the new-look Maple Leafs are in town on Wednesday night at 7:00 and back to Buffalo on Saturday night.

Let's go Pens,
B Brog

Steelers News

Yinzers,

This is a doctored pic from an "In the Bleachers" cartoon, but I think it correctly reflects the feelings of Steeler nation.

Here we go,
B Brog

Great Weekend of Football!

Hola Yinz,

THis is for sure a Great Weekend for Football!!

C-A-R-O-L-I-N-A GOOOOO COCKS!!!!

and Steelers....Kill those Ratbirds!


I'm sorry for the hiatus.

Labuda on the Left Coast

Steelers Lab

Yinzers,

Well, that was a scary one against the Buffalo Buffaloes. I am really not sure we deserved to win that one, but "Thank you" to Stevie Johnson for dropping the ball in the end zone in overtime and "Thank you" to Shaun Suisham for earning his first game check. Did anyone else notice how much the announcers for CBS REALLY wanted the Bills to win that game? "AND So what's happening this week?

The Baltimore Rat Birds host our Pittsburgh Steelers
All us Steeler fans know what this weekend is all about. "It's the old Browns. They're our biggest rival. They're are stiffest competition in the North. etc, etc." All of said statements are correct. These two teams are just as equal this year as they have been in years past. It also does not matter if both teams lead the division at 8-3 and are on two-game win streaks; they have 250 (BAL) and 254 (PIT) points-for; they have 188 (BAL) and 175 (PIT) points-against; rank 4th (BAL) and 5th (PIT) in the power rankings; or are XX (BAL) or XY (PIT). In the end, the stats mean absolutely nothing when these two teams come together because they always play their best against one another. Why? That's what rivals do. The keys for Baltimore this weekend will be the exploitation of the weak Steelers offensive line. If they can get Haloti Ngata to go one-on-one with either of the Steelers' guards, the Steelers are in for a long day. Without Dan Kreider anymore, the Steelers have had a hard time with skilled linebackers, which Baltimore obviously has. Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason have been a deadly one-two punch on the outsides for Joe Flacco and Ray Rice will undoubtedly be a 1000-yard rusher.

This is exactly the same game plan the Steelers have to follow...that AND have the offensive line actually show up. Surprised? The Steelers' one-two punch with Mike Wallace (whom the CBS announcers consistently called 'Mike Williams' on Sunday) and Hines Ward has also payed great dividends for the Steelers. Rashard Mendenhall only needs 38 yards to be a 1000-yard rusher. For the Steelers, they will need to do the exact same as the Baltimore Ravens. Get in the backfield and stop Ray Rice in his tracks and get Joe Flacco on the ground. The Ravens, like the Steelers, like to control the clock with their rushing attack and play the pass off of it. If you can disrupt the run, it takes away their clock management because Joe Flacco is no Ben Roethlisberger under duress.

As for the injury report, BRETT KEISEL HAD A FULL PRACTICE, as did Flozell Adams, Nick Eason, Bryant McFadden and Troy Polamalu. If all these guys play this weekend, the defense should look even better than ever. Ben had a limited practice due to the ankle, but nobody foresees it keeping him sidelined. James Harrison appears to be a marked man by Roger Goddell, being fined another $25,000 for his hit on Ryan Fitzpatrick. "He led with the crown of his head and hit him under the chin," is what all were saying. When you are running forward, you lead with your head, it's basic momentum. As for hitting Fitzpatrick under the chin, yes, he hit him under the chin...in the STERNUM. For my money, any other player would have been given a pat on the back for that hit, but Harrison got fined.

Game time is 8:20 pm on NBC's Sunday Night Football after "Football Night in America" (I still call it "Sunday Night Countdown"). Bill Hillgrove, Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley will be at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, broadcasting live on DVE and all your other Steelers' networks.

Here we go,
B Brog