Good To See Everyone Kept Their Pants On...

20 bucks says the Steelers were more productive yesterday than most of us have been in our entire adult lives.

By now I'm sure you've read all about it.

Instead of just welcoming them in, shaking their hands, pausing for a few choice photo ops, and then sending them on their way, President Barack Hussein Obama had the team pitch in to stuff approximately 3,000 USO care packages for our troops overseas...


Without making an overt political statement, all I'll say is...change we can believe in, indeed.

Frankly, I'd wax poetic about this for several paragraphs, but Tec pretty much said it all in his post yesterday.

It's only fitting that the Steelers were the first team Obama congratulated and put to work for the benefit of those who are serving our country.

Now, why Arlen Specter's face was up in all this, is another story...

...one that I think we all can pretty much figure out on our own.

But that's neither here nor there.

Anyways, instead of engaging in any type of extended discussion on the subject, I figured I would simply share with you all of the images of yesterday's festivities I could find. By the looks of it, Silverback really missed a lot.

Oh, and if the Steelers win Super Bowl XLIV too, I really think they should rename the White House, the Black and Gold House...


Now, enjoy these pretty pics, which I think provide a perfect, natural segue into Memorial Day weekend...





























Right, sorry. One more thing - GO PENS!!!

Happy long weekend, my pretties! Soak up some sun. Grill up some tasty treats. And most importantly, drink up! See ya next week.

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Put Your Hood Up...

DISCLAIMER: In case you're unfamiliar with Lil Jon's work, earmuff the little ones if you're going to hit play (and you might as well not even listen to 3:30-end)...

Well, that was a quick first round, wasn't it?

When they said the draft wasn't going to start until 4 this year, I thought everyone's Saturday night would be spent just like mine - at home, in front of the TV.

But to do it in less than four hours? Bravo, NFL. Way to do something right.

In any case, with the 32nd and final pick of the 1st round, our Steelers have taken Evander "Ziggy" Hood, Defensive Tackle from Mizzou.

First, I'd like to point out that there will be at least several blogs out there that will make a lame joke about either this guy's first name or his nickname. Not me. Screw that.

Second, I could've sworn they'd go OT here. Or at least I kind of wanted them to. I mean, you had Eben Britton sitting right there. But alas, like Brady Quinn being heterosexual, it wasn't meant to be.

Third, Hood fills what is some needed YOUNG depth along the Defensive Line. Big Snack, as much as I love the guy, isn't getting any younger. And unfortunately, neither is Chris Hoke. Nor Brett Keisel. Nor Aaron Smith. So this seems like a smart pick.

I'm not really what you'd call an expert, and I have yet to do much reading on Hood. But I have, however, heard that the Steelers plan on using him primarily as a DE, and only at DT on passing downs (thanks BTSC!).

Either way, let's be honest, Kevin Colbert has never failed us before...I doubt he'd pick today to start.

So welcome, Ziggy! You're part of the immortal Black and Gold now. Drink it in.

On a somewhat related note - Did the Browns set a record for number of times a team has traded it's pick in the 1st round? They had to have. I wonder how they feel about that in Cleveland? Too bad I don't give a shit.

They did get Alex Mack, though.

Of course they did.

If the Steelers had scouted some dude who fries the wings at Hooters the Browns probably would've picked him. Well played, Kokinis. And we'll see you on the field, Alex Mack.

Also, the Bengals, despite a major need for either a reliable parole officer or a taser to keep Chad Johnson in line, took Andre Smith. Summarily, Smith ate the card his name was written on and started to nibble the podium before he was gracefully whisked off stage. If the Bengals had a starting running back who wasn't named Cedric Benson, this pick might've really benefited them. Unfortunately, no.

And now that he's a Bungle, expect his first official business to be either exposing himself to a group of teenagers (gender of said teenagers left undefined on purpose), getting an RUI (Rollerblading Under the Influence), OR sodomizing Mike Brown. For the sake of Bengals fans everywhere, here's to hoping it's the latter of the three.

Finally, the Ravens traded up for Michael Oher. This is probably a good move for them. But since I'm too lazy to go check out their roster to confirm that, feel free to tell me I'm wrong in the comments. Either way, Oher is a great character guy. His story is a courageous one and I'm glad he's really made something of himself and is doing his adoptive family proud. Which will make it that much tougher to watch him get smoked by Silverback and/or The Wood next season.

Ziggy Hood, WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Now I'm going to to do something constructive with my life since I wasted my entire day on hockey and football.

Back to drinking, you hooligans. I'll see you for Round 2 (UPDATE: No, I won't. We traded the pick. So get shithoused and I'll see you TOMORROW).

Oh, and if you have any thoughts about this pick, feel free to deposit them where you know they belong. And by that, I mean the comments. You probably thought I was going to make a joke, didn't you? I was feeling crazy so I switched it up.

Do it.

More on Ziggy Hood:
Kiss 96.1
Scout.com
Mizzou

Highlight Reel...


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Who's Fired Up???

I love the smell of anticipation in the morning...

Pens at 3, Draft at 4. Structure your day accordingly.

Liquor stores open at Noon in most states. That gives you a full three hours of clearance. Better beer up!

Matthew Stafford. Guaranteed $41.7 million (of $72 million total). The Lions are retarded.

Also, somewhere in Northeast Ohio, Brady Quinn is in the fetal position, crying.

I'll bet that's the same look she gives him when they're having sex.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

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I've Got ZERO Ability to Concentrate Today...

Clearly nothing productive is happening in the Burgh today. Nothing productive from a business standpoint, that is. I'd certainly argue, and I imagine most would agree that rallying is productive in some sense. But of course, it isn't going to pay the bills. Either way, I call next on this tricky game right here (see above).

And for all of you like me who are detached from the Burgh, here are some other random pics I was able to secure from today's pep rally...


Chick on the left needs to update her jersey. Faneca done gone, sweetheart.


What are YOU doing, lady? Get out there!


Nothing of interest here. Just some run of the mill dudes waving towels.


Fur coat express is fired up. So is her leopard print hat. I can hear that thing roaring from here.

Rawr, here we go, STEELERS!!!

Have No Fear...

"Ward's Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Will Be Shipped to Tampa"

Phew, thank God!

For a minute there, I was worried...

A hyperbaric oxygen chamber, dude?

Well done, Hines.

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show - Post Season Episode 2 Outtake Reel...

Today's the 1st day of my spring semester. Which means, as you might imagine, I'm just God damned thrilled. Not.

Either way, I had a hectic day yesterday getting ready for all this nonsense. So I didn't have a chance to write anything meaningful...not that anything I ever write here is meaningful, but whatev.

Instead, I give you the Outtake Reel...a day late.

The good news is, the Steelers are still going to Super Bowl XLIII. So I figure this shouldn't much disturb things.

Try not to lose too many brain cells watching this.

PS - This is much more bearable in High Quality, when you watch it over at YouTube. So, you know, do that. If you want...?

Oh yeah, and you probably want to keep the volume at a moderately low level if you're at work or around impressionable young minds.

Ok, I'm really done now.

Quoth The Raven Steelers, Nevermore.

Let me tell you a story about the time the Steelers played the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC Championship. Better yet, let me tell you a story about the time the Steelers BEAT the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC Championship.

What a win!

Today, it's hugs all around...


Tighten that grip a little there, Ben.


Hope that hug didn't herniate a disc in Marvell Smith's back (disclaimer: that is a joke).


Bromance.


Man, that's like a Matrix style hug.


There are so many reasons why this is awesome.


These two put their tongues in each others mouths right after this.

I said it last night and I'm going to say it again this morning for good measure - you can't beat a team three times in a season, huh? HA! I guess nobody told Mike Tomlin and the Steelers that.

For the second Monday in a row, I find myself quite pleased. There were certainly less "highs" in last night's game than the San Diego game. But the only thing that matters is that Tomlin ultimately got the Gatorade bath.

We knew the Ravens were going to be a hard sell, but all in all, I'd say anytime you hold an opponent to under 200 yards of total offense, you can't really complain.

Plus, this makes two weeks in a row that Ben has made some pretty good plays. He was getting pretty good protection, and most importantly, he didn't make any major mistakes.

Oh, and guess what Joe Flacco fan club? Flacco - 13/30, 141 yards, 0 TDs and THREE INTERCEPTIONS!! Big Ben - 16/33, 255 yards, 1 TD, and NO INTERCEPTIONS!! You're a good man, Joe Flacco. This just wasn't your year. But hey, At least your unibrow got some good play.

PS - Fire your PR rep. And your genetics. That or resolve yourself to a lifetime of celibacy. Your choice.

Ed Reed?

Ish don't think so.

That said, I mean, the Ravens secondary was down to like guys who were working at Sizzler last week. So, does that matter? Who knows.

I'm not going to make light of it too much. But I will say that I hope Willis McGahee is alright. That was a hell of a clock cleaner, and he didn't look too hot. My thoughts and prayers go out to him.

Anyways, here are this weeks "Things That Were Awesome," "Things That Were Not Awesome," and "Things That Made Me Wish I Had Gone To Church"...

THINGS THAT WERE AWESOME
1. Our 1st offensive drive for 3


2. Stopping them on 4th down after Willie's Fumble


3. Deshea's pick


4. Ben to Santonio on the 1st play of the 2nd Quarter


5. Silverback's hit on McClain


6. Sweed's haymaker to Corey Ivy's jaw


7. Heaths play on 2nd and 24


8. Troy's pick six!


9. Anthony Madison = Special Teams Ace


10. Tomlin kept it real


THINGS THAT WERE NOT AWESOME
1. Willie fumbling


2. Hines hurt...though, he was cool to high five everyone afterward


3. Not spiking the ball quick enough at the end of first half


4. Longest. Game. Ever.

5. Joe Flacco's unibrow

THINGS THAT MADE ME WISH I HAD GONE TO CHURCH
1. Letting them hang around until late
2. Mitch Berger shank punt special
3. Special Teams run back that led to Ravens 1st TD
4. Letting them get 7 in the 4th quarter
5. Willie Colon - two false start penalties

Who gets canned first - Andy Reid or Donovan McNabb?

What an epic facial expression.

Get ready for Arizona, kids!

The Whis and Kurt Warner have already started their mobile make out session. This ought to be a fun two weeks.

We've got a whole new ballgame on our hands, now. I can't friggin' wait!

Only one thing left to do...


So, how awesome was that?