Dejuan Blair Gets Rookie Nod, Other All Star Observations

Dejuan Blair got the recognition he fully deserves for his play so far this season, as he was named to the NBA Rookie Squad. The rooks will team up to play against the NBA sophomore stars during the All Star Weekend, and as of now are looking like a good competitor for the second year players.

This year's rookies are playing out of their mind, with Brandon Jennings averaging 17.8 points for the Bucks, Tyreke Evans tearing it up with the Kings, Blair pulling down rebounds like they're candied apples, and Stephen Curry excelling as a Warrior. Who'da thunk that these guys would be the standouts, as the top two draftees-Blake Griffin and Hasheem Thabeet-are pretty much no-shows this season.

Anyone else think that Dejuan is going to tear the court up amongst his fellow rookies? He's playing with all the guys drafted above him, and has the motivation and talent to put on quite a show. He could end up embarrassing many-a rookie and sophomore.

After my rants on the NFL's pro bowl mistakes, I think its fair to say that the NBA has done much better with their all stars. The dunk competition makes for great entertainment, and the players all show up to play in the actual game.

Of course, the dunk competition would be much better if Lebron James and Kobe Bryant would compete. These guys would tear up the competition, but it'd be quite a sight to see those two battle it out JAM style. Throw in Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, and Derek Anderson and we've got the show of a lifetime.

Ross Ohlendorf Gets SI Spotlight

Pittsburgh got yet another national spotlight. In this week's edition of Sports Illustrated, Pirates RHP Ross Ohlendorf was the topic for a feature article written by Mark Bechtel. The article highlights some of the stories that have already been brought up on "Ohly," including his rancher background, his princeton education, and his government work over the summer at the Dept. of Agriculture.

Ohlendorf is definitely one of the most promising Pirates on the current roster, and his late season push enabled him to earn 10 wins before any other Pirate pitcher (most were thinking Duke would get there first..). The Princeton grad noted his late improvement on pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, who changed his pitch from a slight sidearm to an overhead pitch. Ohlendorf is young and improving, and could prove to be one of the more dependable guys on the Pirates' pitching roster.

The article is very well written, and combines all of the things that make Ohlendorf such an intriguing baseball player. Definitely something to get Pirate fans excited for next season.

Taking the "Pro" out of Pro Bowl

The pro bowl wasn't the biggest deal to NFL fans before this year. But now? I'm beginning to think that the NFL is actually trying to see how badly they can screw up the event.

After years of holding the pro bowl the Sunday immediately following the super bowl, the NFL moved the already-unpopular matchup to the Sunday before the super bowl. Other leagues have their all-star games in the middle of the season, giving a weeks rest to the majority of their players and showcasing their talent in an uncompetitive, entertaining manner. But alas, the NFL has to do things differently. But in the powerful yet narrow mind of Roger Goodell, the decision was made to put the game in the only week in which the best players on the two best teams in the league, the ones going to the championship, wouldn't be able to compete.

Making the Pro Bowl competitive and entertaining is a lost cause, but now, the NFL is losing the only value it had in the pro bowl: its honor. Being named to the PB has always been an impressive honor, even if they game isn't the greatest thing to watch. But with 17 players dropping out, most of them to play in the super bowl, the honorable club of pro bowl attendees has fallen to a long list of backups. It was bad enough having injury and family excuses exclude several all star athletes, but having the super bowl as one more exclusion makes the pro bowl list just plain said. David Garrard is going to the pro bowl. Let that marinate for a bit...David Garrard.

He's 17th in league in passer rating and 16th in overall yards. WHAT is he doing in the pro bowl.

Check out the list here, and see how many substitutions are scattered in the roster.

Having the PB before the super bowl is seriously invalidating its elite honor.

Of course, there would be trouble having the game mid-season. The grind of playing in the NFL is already a toll-taking process for players, and taking away a week in the offseason could be damaging. But would a week of rest for most players and we non-competitive game be that bad for the league? The biggest problem I see is that 5-6 games is a short amount of time to decide the league's best players, given that the NFL is much streakier than the NHL, MLB, and NBA. Still, I don't think it's a reason to keep it at its current, and dare I say embarrassing position.

There's no reason the league can't do something to fix their system. The Pro Bowl is a necessary honor and motivating feature to the league, and its integrity needs to be sustained.

Hard Hits and the NFL

*Originally printed in The Dickinsonian

Almost 90 years after the National Football League’s inception, one of the most popular organizations in America is struggling with the one component that established its popularity: the hard hitting.

Football has always been known for its physicality, to the point where “smashmouth” and “football” might as well be white on rice. From the play-to-play lineman pad-smashing to the grass-mouthed quarterback sacks, pigskin is a sport in which people pay big money to see men hurt each other for every single minute of a stop filled hour. There are millions of jerseys ironed, pizzas ordered, and beer hats filled waiting for 1 p.m. on Sunday to see pure body smashing. But the NFL doesn’t have a problem with the fans when it comes to brutality; the problem lies with the players. With defensemen like Houston’s Mario Williams and Denver’s Elvis Dumerville being bred for size, quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers are being dragged off the field by the dozen. Star quarterbacks Tom Brady and Carson Palmer were removed for the season for low hits by these men that are paid to hurt, and you bet the NFL knows the impact this will have on jersey sales. They know that fans also open their wallets to see Tom Brady zing a perfect pass to Wes Welker, two victims of recent hits that have echoed in NFL conference rooms.

Ryan Clark, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ safety who recently said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he will “go try and hurt some people” in his next game, hit Wes Welker into next weekend with a blindsided hit last season that stirred up plenty of controversy about hitting defenseless receivers. The league has picked up on the mentality, and they’re cracking down. Clark didn’t get a penalty for the concussion causing crash, but the league fined him after the game. Penalty flags are flying and fines are being charged to defensemen left and right.

But player reaction is mixed. Steeler teammates Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward have been constant critics of the league’s apparent attempt to transition. As reported on www.pittsburghlive.com, Polamalu has gone so far as to say the NFL is becoming a “pansy league” with its new rules and floating fines. Players are no longer allowed to play the game they have grown up playing. Heck, Ward got his own rule put in place this past season. After breaking the jaw of linebacker Keith Rivers from a legal offensive block, the league is now prohibiting high blindside blocks. They’ve both remained adamant that hard hits are part of the game they’re taught and paid to play, and plenty of players agree. Yet many players are concerned with the physicality that has developed throughout the years, and are happy that the league is cracking down. These days the defensemen are bigger, stronger, faster and prone to do damage.

Quarterbacks are sprinting to save their bodies from season-long injuries. Recently, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer told Peter King in the Sept. 7 issue of Sports Illustrated that “the truth is…someone is going to die here in the NFL. It’s going to happen.” Palmer continued with reasonable worry, “Everyone talks about the good old days, when guys were tough and quarterbacks got crushed all the time, but back in the day, there weren't defensive ends that were Mario Williams -- 6’-7’’, 300 pounds, 10 percent body fat, running a 4.7 40.” Further concern has echoed from recent results of brain studies relating to football players. Congressmen are concerned with the long term effects of constant helmet banging, as these studies have shown that it’s extremely detrimental to the mental well-being of these athletes. One congresswoman went so far as to compare the NFL to tobacco companies in the pre-90s, pretending that the violent nature of the sport is not an issue or not their problem.

The league is dealing with a double edged sword. If they continue to lessen the physicality of the game through hard fines and strict rules, the game will change completely. The fans that thrived on pad-busting body smashes will have to settle for bland tackling and offensive shootouts. The NFL will lose the core of its audience because it will lose its identity. But if the league lets loose the 6’-6’’ 240 pound defensemen to bring terror, can they do it without injuring or perhaps killing people? Can they crack down in the right ways to maintain the ever popular physicality and destroy any notion of a tragic collision?

Probably not.

These men are paid big money to play the game. With the money, comes the risk of being injured, and the agreement that they will compete with the biggest and best in pro football. With bigger defensemen come bigger receivers and more elusive quarterbacks, and thus the game adapts in that manner. But the league might want to stop and think before it changes the physicality of the game because some things have stayed the same for a reason. The beer hats, the jerseys, the tailgating and, most importantly, the physicality are components that the league need to maintain for the sake of the nature of the game. Injuries or not, it’s football. Smashmouth football.

Top 11 Steelers of the Decade

Here's an article I wrote BEFORE the Steelers 2010 Season....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The decade of the New Milennium has been a momentous one for the Steelers Organization. There have been many highs, lows, changes, and of course, championships. The Steelers Management has a reputation of not overpaying players, and letting guys go when they become free agents. In this decade, it has proven a successful strategy for the team. Relying on the draft has created competition, youth, development, and depth within the organization, but it makes it hard for a player to last. Well, except for the great ones.

These are the players with that Steeler Mentality. The true essence of Black and Gold. The quintessential hypocycloids, if you will. The guys that don't get overpaid, but overperform, so that their contributions lead the team to success year, after year. Based on their attitudes on and off the field, statistic contribution, consistency, and team success while playing, these players have stood out as the best of the BG. Some are gone, some are retired, and some are suiting up as we speak. Given that there are 11 guys on the field for a team at any time, doing 11 guys only makes sense. These guys are the top 11 steelers of this decade.

11. Deshea Townsend-CB
Although not the most talented, nor flashy player on the team at any point in the decade, he made the list because of his hustle, leadership, and most of all consistency. All of these contributions can't be shown through statistics, but he is such a great component to the team because he can be so under-the-radar, yet make big plays at crucial times. Also, his coverage has never been doubted, and the skills he's learned in his 11 years as a Steeler have enabled him to keep up with today's passing game. The skill and leadership that he passes down to younger cornerbacks is unmeasurable.

10. Dan Kreider-FB
Krieder was the player most missed by Steeler Nation, following his release in 2008. The fullback position played a crucial role in the running game from 2000, his rookie year, to 2005. However, Bruce Arians has since devalued the position's contribution. Kreider was a force in front of Jerome Bettis, and his loss hurt the Steelers in the 2008-2009 season, when they suffered the worst running attack since entering the AFC in 1975. Willie Parker was continuously caught in the backfield, and Kreider's blocking skill was hurtfully longed for. Kreider was a tough competitor, who played without recognition. He triumphed when his running attack triumphed-and playing Steeler Football, he got his share.

9.Joey Porter-LB
Porter only played in 7 years of the decade, but in those 7 years he defined himself as a player with significant passion, work ethic, and performance. Talking trash was a large part of his game, but backing the trash up was just as important to Porter. He got into people's heads, then he destroyed them on the field. Porter played a signficant role in the playoff runs of 2001, 2004, and the road to the super bowl in 2005. "Peezy," was the team leader in speeches and motivation of all kinds. Possibly his most influential contributions came when he sacked Peyton Manning twice in a row to smother their comeback attempt, leading the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game. Porter also led the Steelers in sacks in 2002, 2005, and 2006. Although he left the team in 2006 to play for the Dolphins, he will always be remembered as a Steeler.

8. Alan Faneca-OL
Faneca was the Steelers most well known offensive lineman, and most recognized for his tough mentality and nitty gritty playing style. He was a six time pro bowl selection with the B n G, because of his consistency, and ability to run block. His most famous block came in the 2005 Super Bowl XL, when he cleared the hole for Willie Parker to make the longest run in super bowl history. His relationship with the Steelers soured in 2007, when he felt he should be resigned, but the Steelers didn't want to overpay him after his playing peak. Faneca signed with the Jets, and continued to produce pro bowl blocking. Faneca makes the list because he held the offensive line together for the Steelers, and established the run blocking game that enabled them to continously run the ball the Steeler Way. His six pro bowl invites are the kicker.

7.. Jerome Bettis-RB
Bettis has made a case as one the best running backs in Steeler History-behind Franco Harris, perhaps, as second best. "The Bus" was quick on his feet but hard on his hits, and could destroy a defense in the 4th quarter. He could run out the clock single handedly, and rushed for a 5th best 13,662 yards in NFL history. Bettis is only 5th on this list because he retired after the super bowl run in 2005, and only has one ring with the Steelers.

6. Ben Roethlisberger-QB
Roethlisberger joined the Steelers in 2004, and made one of the best Rookie Campaigns ever in the NFL. He won 15 straight games as the "manager" of the steeler offense, and led the team to the AFC Championship Game. Although he only played 6 years in the decade, his contributions to win the team's two super bowl wins in the decade surely make him worthy of the All Decade Team. He's defined the Steeler Offense in the past two years, making clutch plays and "getting it done." Roethlisberger continues to make his case as one of the best quarterbacks in Steeler History. He makes the list above Bettis because he has earned two super bowl rings in the decade.

5.Casey Hampton-NT
As the nose tackle in the Steeler Defense, Hampton held together the core of the infamous 3-4 defense for every year in the decade. His ability to take on double teams and move back the line of scrimmaged enabled continous pressure and run stopping year, after year. "Big Snack" earned 4 pro bowl selections, and made significant contribution to the Super Bowl runs of 2005 and 2008. He is a key component to why the Steeler Defense has been elite throughout the decade. Hampton has two super bowl wins, and has played with the team throughout the decade.

4.Troy Polamalu- S
Drafted by the Steelers in 2003, Polamalu improved the Steelers Secondary instantly with his impact. His playing style enables him to be "all over the field," and he consistently makes plays that are unthinkable, and unexpected. He is a nightmare for an offense. Earning 5 pro bowl selections in only 6 years, he has defined him self as one of , if not the best safety in the league. He earned 2 super bowl rings with the team, and made big plays on both super bowl runs. But he makes the 4th spot on this list, because he transformed a below-average secondary into an elite passing defense through his consistency and big plays.

3. James Farrior-LB
Farrior is the current captain of the Steeler Defense, and his perhaps the best Free Agent signing of the decade for the Steelers. Playing from 2002 to the present after being signed from the Jets, Farrior has consistently led the team in tackles, terrorizing defenses as both a pass rusher on the line and a run stopper in the secondary. Although is one of the oldest members of the team, his ablity to stay in shape has made him the Steelers' most consistent tackler of the Decade. He earned 2 pro bowl selections and 2 super bowl rings, and his role as Defensive Captain puts him above Casey Hampton on this list.

2. Aaron Smith-DE
Smith is the most underrated player in Steelers history. Known perhaps only to Steeler fans, this gritty, hard working, and incredibly skilled defensive end has been the core of the Steeler Run defense for 11 years, throughout the decade. He was most recognized when he was injured midseason of 2007, and the Steelers run defense deteriorated. He has two super bowl rings, and sadly only one pro bowl selection. He is recognized league-wide among players as one of the best defensive ends in Football in the decade. He makes the list at number two because of his play without recognition, his consistency through 11 years, and his ability to hold together the run defense.

1. Hines Ward-WR
Ward is the epitome of a Steeler. His tough playing style, work ethic, consistency, clutch play-making, leadership, and personality make him the best steeler of the decade without question, and one of the best Steelers in history. As a wide reciever he is underrated because of his speed, and as a player he is feared because of his blocking. Ward is one of the best blocking wide recievers in NFL history, and is hated for it by un-expecting cornerbacks and linebackers. Playing from 1998 to present, he has showed no signs of decline, given that his skill at route running makes up for his lack of speed at the position. His leadership on the team and among wide recievers is unmeasurable, and his dedication to the Steelers is a large part of why the team has been so successful in the decade. He was MVP of Super Bowl XL, and although he was injured in the 2008 super bowl, he still played, as well as made significant contributions in the road via in 2008.

Honorable Mention: Ike Taylor, Willie Parker, Jeff Reed, Jeff Hartings, Larry Foote, Clark Haggans

Looking to the future: Santonio Holmes, Ike Taylor, James Harrison, Lamaar Woodley, and Lawrence Timmons.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looking at this list after the Steelers' disappointing 2010 performance, there are a few changes, reconsiderations, additions, removals-whatever you'd like to call them-that I think any observant fan would make.

First off, Troy Polamalu, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton, and Hines Ward have all proven that they belong on the list.

Polamalu and Smith were both out for most of the season, and their absence was felt harshly (they didn't make the playoffs, and largely because of their defense). As of now, Aaron Smith has missed a large part of two seasons, and in both of those seasons (2007, 2009) the Steelers failed to win a playoff game. These two players are the quintessencial "valuable" guys, in so far as, if we don't have them, we simply are not a playoff team.

Ben Roethlisberger, Casey Hampton, and Hines Ward had outstanding seasons yet again. Casey Hampton made the pro bowl regardless of his aging body, while Hines Ward proved the haters wrong with yet another 1,000 yard season. Big Ben turned down a pro bowl invite because of a shoulder injury (he was the alternate for Tom Brady), and many thought he should've made the initial pro bowl team. Although he didn't lead his team to the playoffs, his performance was the main reason the Steelers remained in contention at all.

Deshea Townsend gets an honorable mention for proving his worth-he replaced a disappointing William Gay very adequately, and showed that his veteran savvy can top young speed any day.

No one played their way out of a spot on this list, but Santonio Holmes is really knocking on the door, and he's assuring himself a spot on next decade's roster. James Harrison had a fairly disappointing season and isn't really a "future" type guy anymore.

Woodley and Timmons are becoming the core of the Steeler D, further proving their spot as "future" candidates.

As for guys that were left off...

Rashard Mendenhall had over 1,000 yards with very little carries, and had several breakout games and plays to show that he will be a solid back in the future.

Brett Keisel also showed that he should be at least an honorable mention on the list-he's the definition of Steeler Football, and really the "Alan Faneca" of the defense.

This Steeler team still has a very promising roster for next year. There have been very few times when the Steelers have failed to make the playoffs in back to back years, and I can't imagine them doing it with this roster, with this young talent, with these proven veterans, and with Tomlin at the helms.

With the '00 decade dead and gone, here's to yet another successful decade of Steeler football. The Teens!!!

NHL vs. NBA Stars

ESPN First-Take pointed out something very intriguing this morning, pointing out that the best stars in both the NHL and NBA will be squaring off against each other tonight. That's right, the Lebron's Cavs are knocking hardwood with Kobe's Lakers, while Crosby's Pens are icing it out with Ovie's Caps. Jay-Z and Nas must be rap battling somewhere out there tonight-anyways...

These match-ups lead to the inevitable comparison between these heated rivalries, which First-Take will be doing within the hour, and which I intend to within the paragraph. Let's start with some similarities.

Although both of these sports, hockey and bball, are "team sports," the intimate nature of the respective leagues allows individual performances to shine, and great players to excel. NBA and NHL arenas are smaller than football and baseball stadiums, and they only play 5-6 players at a time in both leagues. Even the crowd can pinpoint what players are faster, who has "the ups," who has the killer slapshot. As soon as I turn on a game, I can pinpoint Crosby and Ovechkin because of their speed and puckhandling, while Kobe and Lebron stand out mostly because of their strength and precision.

It's fairly obvious that these four players are the dominant forces in their leagues. Crosby has already won a cup with his team in his fourth year, while Lebron carried the Cavs to the 07 NBA Conference Finals in his fourth year. Both are arguably playing at their best level at this point in their careers.

Kobe and Ovechkin are on opposite sides of this comparison. Kobe has already won 5 championships, and has proven himself as one of the best players of this decade, yet he had the strong support of O'Neal, Derrick Fisher, etc while Lebron's Cavs are still looking for championship level support. . Ovechkin has yet to win a championship, but doesn't have the support of Malkin, Staal, Fluery, etc. to win a cup yet, but things could very well change this year. Kobe and Crosby may very well win another championship, while it's very clear that Ovechkin and Lebron are heading toward trophies of their own in the near future.

It's clear that each player has a different style, with Lebron and Crosby being the court-vision, assist-prone, makes everyone around them better-players and Kobe and Ovie being flashier, higher scoring, shoot the the lights out-guys. (this is arguable) Still, whatever they do leads them to consistent success with their teams, and constant attention for their leagues.

As for their respective rivalries, they are very different. Yet both make strong cases for being the better of the two.

Sid and Ovie match up alot more than Kobe and Lebron, because they are in the same conference. Because of this, it's more likely that the two will face each other in many a playoff series. Last year's 2nd round was one of the most exciting match-ups the NHL cup playoffs has witnessed in a long time, and they owe it all to Sid and Ovie. Meanwhile, Kobe and Lebron haven't had an intense match-up of any similarity. They have yet to meet in the championship, and have yet to have a big game come down to the wire with both guys scoring high numbers (you know, the equivalent of Crosby and Ovie getting hat tricks on the same night..in the playoffs...)

Still, there are benefits to not playing each other a lot. It means anticipation. It means predictions. It means when they do the NBA is going to wet themselves. Constant comparisons are made between the two-hell, they even have puppets for it. I guess that when they meet it's going to be a very special event, because it IS going to be a championship, with the highest stakes possible. Sid and Ovie will never play at those high of stakes (except maybe in this year's olympics..heehee)

That being said, there is no guarantee that they will ever meet up in an NBA championship. Kobe is much older than Lebron, and because of the age difference, there isn't as much time for the NBA to cherish this rivalry..

Seeing Sid matchup with Ovie consistently may lessen the wow-factor a bit, but the truth is, these players put on a show every night, and playing against each other is never a downer. I don't think this rivalry will ever wear out. We can only hope that Lebron and Kobe match-up soon, because seeing both players in their prime is an anticipation that fully fuels this rivalry. It's something that needs to happen for the NBA.

Regardless of the differences between the rivalries, it's clear that both have fueled their respective leagues' successes in the past few years. In both the NBA and NHL, having these individual rivalries is a special opportunity for fans to witness elite competition and amazing performances. Kodak moments all around.

Playoffs?! Divisional Observations, Championship Expectations

It's funny how many Pittsburgh connections one can find in this year's playoffs.

Gene Collier wrote a bold article predicting a Chargers victory this past Sunday against the NY jets. I must say, it takes some courage to write an entire article predicting the outcome of one game, given that if the other team wins, your piece of writing is entirely discredited. This is exactly what happened to Collier this week, and unfortunately it was fully deserved.

In the article, Collier makes a short reference to Pittsburgh's elimination of the Chargers in last year's playoffs, and then jumps to say that the Jets have nowhere near the talent to do the same. He was on the right track comparing this year's Jets to the Steelers of old, but to say that the they are incapable of winning? Wrong Collier, and you should know better.

He should know, from covering Pittsburgh sports for years, that the #1 defense can smother offensive hype any day. He should know that a good secondary and pass rush can make any game close. He should know that a team that runs the ball consistently can kill a defense with one drive. He should know that no matter how bad a team was in the first half of the season, they can still win the superbowl. Does this sound familiar to Steeler fans?

And Mr. Collier-how dare you fail to mention a Mr. Darrelle Revis. Not only is Revis the defensive player of the year (by my standards, step aside Charles Woodson), but he his also the most successful Pitt football product since Larry Fitzgerald. Revis has played shutdown defense against the league's best wide receivers. Hey Gene, did you catch that interception he had on Sunday? Polamalu like, perhaps?

These NY Jets have the complete package to dismantle a streaking offense and a good quarterback like Carson Palmer, Philip Rivers, and dare I say Peyton Manning. Of course, i'm writing this after their defeat of the Chargers, after they embarrassed Gene Collier and his Pittsburgh roots. Hind sight is 20/20, but Collier's prediction seemed far too blind and stubborn for even that excuse.

I'm not going to be as stubborn and bold to predict that the Jets will dismantle a team as good as the Colts, but this team will definitely give Peyton Manning some problems. No, the Jets don't have Troy Polamalu, Aaron Smith, or James Harrison. But they do have Revis, Bart Scott, a familiar Alan Faneca, Thomas Jones and breakout rookie Shonn Greene. I don't care what kind of offense you have, this team can slow you down, force mistakes, and keep it close; maybe close enough to reach a Super Bowl...

PITT Cracks the Top 10

At the end of last season, Pitt fans were troubled with All-American and Big East POY Dejuan Blair's decision to go pro. Finding solace in the high school tapes of High School McDonald's All American Dante Taylor, Panther followers like myself could only hope for an invitation to the big dance, much less a top seed in the tournament.

Yet, the way Pitt is executing this season-solid defense and clutch offensive streaks-it looks like Pitt is making another run at the Final Four; Ashton Gibbs, Brad Wanamaker, Jermaine Dixon, Nasir Robinson, Gilbert Brown, and Gary McGhee have ALL proved their ability to make big plays in big games, especially in Pitt's most recent comeback win against Louisville.

Pitt has cracked the top 10 in the AP poll for the first time this season with wins against #15 UConn and Louisville. After losing their top 3 scorers in Dejuan Blair, Sam Young, and Levance Fields, Pitt's success is nothing less than a tribute to Jamie Dixon's outstanding coaching and detailed recruiting.

Ron Cook wrote a fantastic article on the play of Gary McGhee, the Pitt center who went from nothing more than a practice player to the big-man replacement for Dejuan Blair. McGhee's ability to fight of Dante Taylor for a starting role is a statement in itself, but Jamie Dixon has coached this tree of a man to guard the paint against any Big East frontcourt.

For now, we can enjoy these under-recruited, well-coached players embarrassed the All-Americans. We can watch Brad Wanamaker get what he deserves after 3 years of unselfish bench play. Let's face it, Pitt's success is an unexpected gift to all Pittsburgh fans, and a lesson to all of us to never underestimate this team.

This team is the essence of Jamie Dixon, and his players are showing their eagerness to prove it night after night.

Dejuan; Space Eater Extraordin-Blair

Dejuan Blair is proving is mettle as an NBA starter with the San Antonio Spurs. Here is a post written a few months ago on the undersized, big-hearted Big Fella.

"I'm a space eater"- Spurs Rookie Dejuan Blair, who was drafted 37th in the 2009 NBA Draft

What a nickname. It's neither catchy nor quick, but Dejuan Blair is, indeed, a space eater. He's hungry for space. Looking to devour anything in the way of his basketball, he grows hungry when anything resembling opposition enters the painted area that can now be labeled his 'space." Served on a silver platter, space is the distance between Dejuan and deBall; something that he can chew up in a matter of milliseconds.

This begs the question-what truly satisfies him? Getting the ball, or the simple act of denying the treasured pigskin-to follow the space metaphor-"planet"-from other species of bigmen. Much to his tasteful delight, these two actions run in sequence.

I think we've discovered Dejuan's secret to losing 30 pounds in 2-3 weeks. May I introduce the "Dejuan Diet"; Forget burgers and fries when he can eat space. Calorie and sugar free, there's no unsaturated or trans fat in space, but eating it is perhaps the most satisfying treat a bigman can enjoy. All the more satisfying, are the calories burned during space-eating. It could be compared to celery, on a much larger scale-forgive the pun.

Perhaps we should release our assumptions, and ponder the possibility that Dejuan doesn't suffer from enduring pull of gravity during his space eating habits. This might be the only way to explain his unique abilities in his comfort zone-and his suction cup hands to boot. Gravity has been realigned, and the center now exists in the palms of his hands. People-this is a nobel prize worthy discovery.

But seriously, Dejuan thrived in his first summer league game. He had a double-double in 17 minutes of play, and he shot 5-6 from the line, ending with 10 rebounds and 13 points. Number 45 is at it again people.

This may serve as a warning; If you're in his space, don't be surprised if you're in his ever-shrinking stomach before you can blink

Since this post, Dejuan has posted a 7.1 ppg average with 5.8 rebounds to boot. He put up 28 points and 21 rebounds against the Oklahoma City Thunder, becoming the first rookie to log a 20/20 game since guess who? Tim Duncan in 1997. Ray Fittipaldo wrote a front-page article on Blair in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The article is a little late and a little mild by my standards, but it's a needed recognition for one of the most successful products from Pittsburgh's inner city.