Headline of the Day...

Let's be honest, as a contributing member of the Pittsburgh sports blogosphere, I'd be remiss if I didn't send the Pens a big time congratulations for taking Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday, thus securing their first cup in 17 years!

The Pens run up to, and through the NHL playoffs was not altogether that dissimilar from the Steelers run up to and through the NFL playoffs en route to Super Bowl XL. But what the Pens did was really incredible. A month out of the playoffs, no one thought they'd even get in. Their record certainly suggested that, and they had recently supplanted the veteran HCMT with noob HCDB, who himself was only several years removed from being a player. And yet, just a few months later, they now stand as league champions!

I'm sure they were all waiting for this post to really feel accomplished about it, too...

Anyways, besides the fact that at this time of year, there's more going on in your garden than there is in the world of sports, yesterday's lack of posting was mostly my acknowledgment that even if anyone read this blog in the first place, no one would have cared what I had to say yesterday - a fact to which the 375,000 people attending yesterday's victory parade certainly gave credence.

As for Game 7, I spent it in good company - with Tec (whom you can see right at the beginning of the video below) and Christmas Ape (whom it was great to finally meet in person!) - at Foley's, the Penguins bar here in Manhattan. Here are a couple of highlights (because I know you care)...




It was a great game to watch, albeit a nerve racking one. But in the end, the Pens had an answer for almost everything the Wings tried to throw at them. Go rewatch even the first period and count how many times the Pens shut the door on the Wings. They played with conviction and fire - this year, they weren't going to be denied. And in the end, that intensity and discipline brought them something they'll never forget.

Congrats, Pens! This post's for you!

And for no particular reason, here's a bonus photoshop of HCDB wielding a lightsaber...


Now, here are a bunch of links to keep all of YOU occupied until I can get my act together...

Mitch Berger doing his best Jeff Reed impression [Deadspin]

Big Ben shot an 81 at Bethpage, with ROCCO MEDIATE as his caddy! Also, Ben > Tony Homo, Michael Jordan and Justin Timberjoke [Post-Gazette]

NFL franchises certainly shouldn't need a rule telling them to interview minority candidates for front office positions, but if that's what it takes, then kudos to the league for extending the Rooney Rule [AP]

The Arizona Cardinals Ben Patrick has been suspended for four games for Adderall...First, Go Blue Hens! Second, this is further proof that I wouldn't last a day in the NFL [AP]

You think you're a Pens fan - well then, pop quiz... [Sean's Ramblings]

As the Legend puts it, now we wait... [The Legend of Cecilio Guante]

A note on fandom [WHYGAVS]

Words cannot properly describe how hilarious this song about trading Nate McLouth is...and yet, it's not as funny as the fact that some guy actually wrote a song about trading Nate McLouth (PS - many of you may have already seen this) [Walkoff Walk]

The Pirates old school uniforms - coming in at a respectable #7 on this list of the ugliest uniforms of all time...Sidenote: there's no way you can rank the Bucs unis higher than Syracuse football jerseys and old school Padres unis...there just isn't [Moondog Sports]

If you haven't seen it, be sure to check out Artie Lange on Joe Buck...Joe Buck = Stunned [Sports Crackle Pop]

Two solid old school WWF videos...Somewhere today, Koko B. Ware is thanking Deuce of Davenport for reminding people that he once existed (no word on whether he still exists) [Deuce of Davenport]

Even liquor stores can be clever marketers, I guess [FAIL Blog]

New week, new beat from Maticulous! [Maticulous Music]

PSA for Tuesday: Be patient with old people driving...sooner or later, that'll be you [Grumpy Old Dog]

Now, on a completely unrelated note - I don't know if it's just because it's the offseason or what, but for the last several weeks, I've really felt off of my game. Every time I go to write a post, it's like each sentence is a struggle to overcome some kind of mental block. And while, frankly, my writing was never going to win a Pulitzer or anything, it's definitely seen better days.

Usually this happens when I'm manufacturing posts or when I haven't been writing as much. Maybe right now it's a combination of the two. Either way, if you've read this site for more than just these last several weeks, you'll remember that at some point, it won't completely suck anymore (maybe).

Anyways, I just felt like that needed to be said.

Thank you all for sticking with me in this time of emotional distress. Your allegiance will not be forgotten.

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.

Good Luck Pens!

Congrats to Sid and the Pens for sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes in epic fashion with a 4-1 win last night.

With those four goals, the Pens rounded out the Eastern Conference Finals with an average of five goals a game...

Next up, the Stanley Cup finals against either the Red Wangs or the Blackcocks.

If I had to sum up the Eastern Conference Finals in one picture, this would probably be it...


And lastly...

Looks like sour grapes city to me.

Stanley Cup finals, hoooooooooooooooooo!

Go Pens!!

/Steelers news is not happening today

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.

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.

I Stand Before You, A Free Man...

The gauntlet has been run.

I came. I saw. I shat on some pieces of paper with unrealistic questions on them.

I am now officially a 3L.

One more year of this soul sucking exercise and I'll finally be qualified to take an exam that will allow me to add an ESQ at the end of my name.

Like anyone cares.

Expect the normal, everyday assault on your superior intellects to resume Monday.

Possibly sooner.

It depends on how much beer my credit cards can buy between now and then [ just kidding, Mom, hehe :-) ].

Lost season finale tonight, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Might wanna fire up the DVR, though...

Go Pens.


Bruce Boudreau is ready for you, Geno. Ice it.

No Man, Not Swede. S-W-E-E-D...

Alright, let's be honest - approximately no one is going to read this post today. I recognize what I'm up against here. I'm a realist. So let's just get it out of the way now...Go Pens!!

Nevertheless, I really AM going to try and come up with something to entertain you this morning. What might that be, you ask? Take a wild guess...Yep, oddly enough, the most blog-worthy "reporting" I can come up with is - Limas Sweed.

In addition to being a 2nd round steal and having one of the most unique names in recent Pittsburgh history, apparently he's also been particularly impressive at the Steelers OTAs. Of course, I had to read a Browns report to get this inside information. Which certainly presents a whole host of questions. But I imagine the Pittsburgh media have their hands pretty much full with that whole Stanley Cup business right now...so I'll let it slide...this time...

Anyhow, not only has Sweed impressed Steelers Offensive Coordinator (and whipping boy) Bruce Arians, but he's also made quite an impression on fellow receivers San Antonio Santonio Holmes and Nate "Hotrod" Washington.

Holmes had this to say about Sweed -

"We can get somebody that's as physical as he is to come in and bring a different threat to the program...Being a big guy and very explosive, it's going to help us a whole lot...If I can stretch the field, we can have Hines in the middle and we have another guy who can also work the middle with Hines and take hits and be physical in the middle. It'll help us with the tight ends and all."

While Nate The Butterfingered Wonder Great said -

"If we're in the game at the same time, they can't just double me going deep, because Limas will be back there somewhere. If there's a bailout situation, you can just throw it up to him."

Now I just want to point out that if I were an opposing defense, I'm pretty sure Nate Washington would NOT be the first guy I'd double. But I see his point.

Basically the verdict sounds a lot like this - a big, fast receiver, who is but one more threat in an Offense that featured an uncharacteristically fruitful passing game in '07 just makes it all that more difficult to defend everyone...and I kind of feel like we've said this before...good thing I'm too lazy/strapped for time to go back and check.

So, as long as one of his 99 Problems ain't a bitch (See Cedrick Wilson and/or Santonio Holmes), we should be good...

Normally, here's where I'd ask you all what you think about Sweed. But since I'm sure you're preoccupied with the chase for Lord Stanley's Cup today, I'm more than willing to make the comments section of this post a forum for discussing last night's game and Saturday's upcoming Game 4...either way - have at it, friends!

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Around The AFC North [TheOBR.com]
Limas Sweed [Wikipedia]