Monday Igloo Update

Yinzers,

First off, happy Labor Day. Thank you to all those who are employed and keep this country going through the economic swamp we call "the market." I hope you all enjoy your day off of work because you deserve it.

I am in the burgh for the holiday, after Penn State both scared me and pleased me yesterday. This weekend was the Pittsburgh Rib Cook-off at Heinz Field and Willi's annual Labor Day ski sale. So, I have been eating ribs for nearly 24 hours and I don't regret it. Driving around dahntahn, I finally drove past a completed Consol Energy Center and I must say, it is the most impressive arena I have ever seen. The glass wall that sweeps around the front of the building allows patrons to see the beautiful city skyline and lookers-in to see the massive mural of Sidney Crosby. I can't wait to attend a game in the new place.

As for Penguins' news, Jordan Staal will miss just about all of training camp but should be ready for the season opener. If ynz remember, Staalzy was injured in game one of the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Montreal Canadiens when he suffered a lacerated tendon in his foot. Everything was going according to plan until the laceration got infected, preventing doctors from performing the corrective surgery. Now, with the infection all cleared up, the docs can repair the Line 3 (respect this hustle) centerman in due time to begin the season.

In more trade news, Ray "Jukebox" Shero has tried my spirits in a roster move. On Friday, Jukebox picked up Mike Comrie from the New York Islanders for one year and $500,000. Comrie's pick-up is most likely to try and fill the void that Billy Guerin left in front of the net. We're gonna miss Billy G, but Comrie is not afraid to get his 5'9" frame into the tough positions and get the dirty goals.

More news is that the Penguins are going to sponsor what I believe is to be one of the greatest community events a professional sports team can. The Pens have launched a campaign called the "Ultimate Home Game" for the September 25 preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In thanks to the myriad of students that make the Student Rush such a wild and profitable success, the Penguins are putting up the money to have the "Ultimate Home Game" for the September 25 contest in order to have all students and youth hockey players attend the game free of charge. College students are to register for the event this Thursday and on top of getting the free tickets, the students will have a chance to sit with employers from the Pittsburgh area and get information about jobs in Pittsburgh. It's one of the city's ways to keep the great, bright students to stay in Pittsburgh.

Let's go Pens,
B Brog