Headline of the Day...

Ding dong, the witch is dead.

And also, Tony Kornheiser is finally out as 1/3 of the Monday Night Football commentating extravaganza.

Now, I'm a PTI fan. The entertainment value of watching Kornheiser and Wilbon bicker, for me, soars high above such other TV gems like "Tool Academy," and "Party of Five." But sadly, I think Kornheiser's short stint in the booth proves that his only entertainment value lies in his disagreeable nature.

Which is to say that I was among what I perceive to be the majority of level-headed football fans who wanted to punch themselves in the scrotum every time they heard TK's voice.

So now the crack team in the booth consists of Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Kornheiser's replacement, Jon Gruden.

While they're a far cry from the Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf of the early 90's, I DO feel like these three are infinitely less likely to make me mute the television and listen to the Macarena on repeat rather than expose my ears to their obnoxious penchant for disagreeing with [insert whoever is talking that is not Tony Kornheiser here].

Although, Gruden isn't exactly the least opinionated human on the planet. So perhaps I'm wrong...

Ask me if I really care.

Actually, you know who Tony Kornheiser kind of reminds me of? Bob Smizik.

Am I wrong?

Anyways, these links are here to stay because, unlike Tony Kornheiser, they're not afraid of flying (PS - I dare you to find me a more laughable excuse)...

We all knew Ovechkin wouldn't get suspended for his shenanigans, but will Matt Cooke fall victim to Bettman's double standards? [PSaMP]

Hines, Ben, Max Starks, Merrill Hoge and Rocky Bleier played golf for charity. They're such givers... [WPXI]

Silverback's White House boycott is just another link in the chain of civil disobedience in sports.../see: satire [The "We Hate The New England Patriots" San Diego Sports Fan Collective]

Big Ben gave the Cambridge Springs PD's K9 unit a boost...but was that really even necessary? [Staal Tactics]

Can someone explain to me why Ed Rendell was judging the "Why I love the Pittsburgh Steelers" essay contest? Last time I checked, the Gov was an Eagles fan...has that changed recently? [PRLog]

Stefan Logan may be short in stature, but he's tall on perseverance... [Trib]

The Ravens are the new Browns...well, technically they're the old Browns, but they ARE our biggest rivals and apparently we're the other 1/2 of the biggest rivalry in the league [Sporting News]

On the list of Top 5 Clutch QBs, MJD's got Ben ranked #2 behind Tom Brady...and Donovan McNabb made the list at #5. I guess he missed Super Bowl XXIX... [Shutdown Corner]

The Saints, who you'll remember dumped Deuce McAllister (pun intended) earlier this offseason are now considering signing Edgerrin James. Uh, downgrade. [AP]

The NFL and Comcast have kissed and made up. Unfortunately, I don't have Comcast. So this news makes me bitter and spiteful. Which is to say - business as usual [ESPN]

Pens win, Pens fan shows Canes Coach a different kind of flightless bird [The Pensblog]

I missed this on Friday, but Sean has graciously recapped the story lines relevant to the Pens-Canes series [Sean's Ramblings]

Brian Engblom looks hot with a can of Pringles on his head [You Lay On The Ice Like A Broad!]

This may confirm that Hannah Storm is a Seinfeld fan. So, you know, now you know...? [Moondog Sports]

R.I.P., Dug E Fresh Rants. But the Get Fresh Designs blog rises from the ashes [Get Fresh Designs]

I'm not even sure what this is satirizing, but I'll be damned if that picture of Rip Taylor isn't the perfect visual complement to this fake news [Carbolic Smoke Ball]

Listen, just because you don't have a job anymore doesn't mean your dick has to be flacid...bravo, Pfizer. Well played... [Grumpy Old Dog]

Submit your "Best Song to Fall Asleep to" to Sheena Beaston by Friday at 5 [Sheena Beaston]

Apparently I'm still posting on my other blog...this is where the REAL magic happens [The Dude Abides]

Sorry, no pretty pictures today. Tuesday feels like Monday.

You know what to do.

Obligatory Footer - If you haven't already, become a fan of OFTOT on Facebook, join the blog network and follow me on Twitter. Or don't. Your choice, really.

Casey At The Bat...

File this under things I wish I could see.

This past Saturday, the Steelers played softball along with KDKA's Sonni Abatta and Allison Morris and WPXI's Rich Walsh and Scott Harbaugh in what was cleverly billed as "Steelers, Local Celebs Play Softball."

I guess the four TV News personalities constituted the "Local Celebs" part. What, Ronnie Florian was too busy combing his hair?

Anyways, I can't be sure. But I'm willing to bet even this all-star crew could beat the Pirates. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether that's a cheap shot at the Pirates or an affirmation that Big Ben could crush Nate McLouth. Either way, this had to be something to write home about.

If anyone bore witness to this historic occasion, please e-mail me.

Oh, and one of these days I'll get around to figuring out how to make white skin black in Photoshop. 'Til then I respectfully ask you to use your imaginations...savvy?

Now here's a roundup of what you missed while you were digesting the outcome of last week's Game Six...

• MJD names the Steelers' helmet "The Coolest Helmet In History." Bless your heart Matthew J. Darnell. PS - Big up to Notgomu for sending this one in.
• Ed Bouchette pours some salt in the wound.
• Plans to build an entertainment complex big enough to house Jeff Reed's ego?
• Tomlin praises Ryan Malone for taking that puck to the melon. Big Ben sympathizes. Offensive Line sulks.

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Steelers, Local Celebs Play Softball Game [KDKA]
Steelers, Channel 11 Personalities Bat For Charity [WPXI]
The Coolest Helmet in History [MJD]
Penguins Will Learn Success Has A Price [Post-Gazette]
Steelers' Developer Hosts Tour of Columbus Pavilion [Trib]
Steelers Have Plenty of Praise for Penguins [Steelers.com]

That's Just Troy Being Troy...

As I'm sure you all well know by now, Troy Polamalu is not at Steelers OTAs this year. Rather, he's out in California training with Marv Marinovich - famed father of two troubled sons (Todd and Mikhail), and purveyor of this crazy holisticness.

Needless to say, there are some who question the effectiveness of letting a player train on his own, in an unorthodox fashion, with Marv Marinovich. Count Trib writer John Harris in that camp.

On Saturday, Harris wrote an interesting article asking the question...

"If the Steelers are so comfortable with Polamalu missing OTAs to train on his own because they are only voluntary workouts, why bother having OTAs at all? Why not permit players to train on their own?"

The same day, Fanhouse's Michael David Smith then posted a reply that can be summed up in one line (taken directly from the post)...

"The Steelers are not comfortable with all their players working out on their own because not every player is Troy Polamalu.

I pretty much fall into the Michael David Smith camp, with one important caveat - not every player has Troy Polamalu's motivation.

Yes, a large part of the Steelers accepting Polamalu's unorthodox methods is his superior ability. Just as a large part of the Steelers treatment of James Harrison was his superior ability (kidding...sort of). But even more importantly to me is that he is clearly powered by a notably stronger internal drive than most. He and the Energizer Bunny have that in common. Hence, he'll get the same or better out of whatever workout regimen he feels is best for him.

So to answer the question Harris poses - it certainly would NOT be beneficial in my mind for all of the Steelers to do their own thing. Some players, rookies in particular, need a structured workout. Or at least I would think (though I'm obviously not drawing from any personal experience on this one). They either haven't been at the pro level long enough, or haven't been strict enough with themselves to establish a routine that will prepare them for the grueling five to six months between late July and late December to late January (in our case, hopefully the latter). Not to mention the fact that working out on one's own can never help establish chemistry with one's team.

Nevertheless, for Polamalu, his independent training should afford him the same benefits as OTAs might for others. He certainly needs no work at his position. And no matter what workout he's maintained he's always been a beast. So I wonder, why would anyone rather he do something he has decided doesn't feel right?

Of course, OTAs are, as Harris says, "voluntary." So really, why all this discussion?

You guys have any thoughts on this? Anyone know anything further about this Marv Marinovich what-have-you? Where do you align - with Harris or Smith (and me)?

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Steelers OTAs Being Questioned [Trib]
If Polamalu Jumped Off A Bridge, Would The Other Steelers Do It Too? [Fanhouse]