NFL Refs 
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Written by Rob Rogers

The NFL referees are back after a much-talked about bad call at the end of Monday night's game. This cartoon was drawn yesterday [Wednesday] before the late night deal, but the point is still relevant. Governor Scott Walker, the man who fought to break the union in Wisconsin, called for the return of the unionized NFL refs. So did Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney. So, unions are OK as long as it is just in the NFL?

One of the worst kept secrets in Pittsburgh came to light over the weekend. The rumors were true. Kevin McClatchy was a terrible owner/president of the Pirates.


And he was gay, too.

In my opinion, car alarms should be illegal, especially those that go off when a bus or a bread truck passes the car. Like house alarms before them, no one pays any attention to car alarms, except to be annoyed by the incessant wailing of them. No one calls the police. They just ignore them. It's time to get rid of them altogether.

With the first game against the Peyton Manning-led Broncos mercifully behind them, it is time for my annual prediction of what the Steelers' final season record will be. I see a challenging season ahead for the Steelers, and I don't think that the team has improved itself over last year's team, which was good, but not great. Therefore, my prediction is 11-5. I just hope that this season the Steelers can at least split the season series with the hated Ravens. Getting swept by the Ravens last season was a bad omen.

Here are the top nine comments made by NBC sports commentators during the Summer Olympics that they would probably like to take back:

1. Weightlifting commentator: "This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw her snatch this morning during her warm up, and it was amazing."

2. Dressage commentator: "This is really a lovely horse, and I speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother."

3. Paul Hamm, gymnast: "I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father."

4. Boxing analyst: "Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious."

5. Softball announcer: "If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again."

6. Basketball analyst: "He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't like it. In fact, you can see it all over their faces."

7. At the rowing medal ceremony: "Ah, isn't that nice. The wife of the IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew."

8. Soccer commentator: "Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've got eleven Dicks on the field."

9. Tennis commentator: "One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them. . . . Oh my God, what have I just said?"

Here it is, Mr. Blondie.

Other than part of the Opening Ceremonies and the Closing Ceremonies, I didn't watch any of the Olympics, other than two relay races on Friday. Fortunately, Mr. Blondie was kind enough to point out what I had been missing. Leryn Franco.

After 19 losing seasons, I admit it, I got a little caught up in the Pirates this season. But much to my chagrin, they are starting to come down to earth and look beatable. I recently admitted to Mr. Blondie that I didn't think that they Pirates were going to make the playoffs, which is a shame, really, after such a great first half to the season, and Andrew McCutchen looking like the MVP so far. After 19 long years, with the image of Sid Bream sliding into home in '92 seared into my brain, I had gotten a case of Pirate fever. But now it seems that I'm just struggling with a summer cold.

Playing Dead 
Tuesday, 24 July 2012 
Written by Rob Rogers

Where are the political leaders calling for gun control following yet another massacre by someone using assault weapons? Don't hold your breath. The NRA, like some sort of kryptonite, makes congressman and presidential candidates weak and ineffective.

Despite the stern and ominous warnings from the NRA and the conservative right, Obama never "took away their guns." In fact, he has made no attempt whatsoever to tighten gun control laws. Maybe he should have. It probably would never have worked, given how guns are an everyday part of American life and how strong the gun lobby is in Washington. But make no mistake, guns are EVERYWHERE. That prospect has even affected how I behave, knowing that at any given moment I am around people with guns. I don't want to rub the wrong person the wrong way at the wrong time. It's simply not worth it. And I just don't understand our fascination with the damn things. I just don't get it.

Bain vs Bane 
Friday, 20 July 2012
Written by Rob Rogers

"The Dark Knight Rises" hits theaters this weekend. The movie pits Batman against Bane, a villain who first appeared in D.C. Comics in 1993. Rush Limbaugh actually came out and accused Hollywood of creating this villain as a comparison to Mitt Romney's time at Bain Capital. Yes, Rush ... and The Riddler was created as a conspiracy to question what's in Mitt's tax returns!

Made In China 
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
Written by Rob Rogers

Politicians in Washington are upset about the fact that the U.S.A. Olympic Team will be wearing uniforms that were made in China. They say it is "Un-American." Are they serious? Not only does China own all of our debt ... just about everything we use in our daily lives is made in China. Olympic uniforms made in China ... what could be MORE American?

If you're going to use the express self checkout lines at your local Giant Eagle, then it should be a rule that you at least know HOW TO USE THE MACHINES. If you've never used them before, then use a regular line with a checkout person. When there is a line of folks with just a few items behind you, that is definitely NOT a good time to use the machines for the first time.

I feel like I've complained about this before, but I really cannot stand drivers who go through blatantly red lights. And they seem to speed through them, creating a greater chance of a terrible accident. It seems to be worse at certain intersections in the East End, such as Fifth and Penn.

Also, did you happen to see that over the weekend another great white shark got a surfer? I admit that I'm afraid to go in the ocean. I could NEVER get into the water out in the deep ocean. I would have an anxiety attack. I can maybe wade into the water near the beach until it's up to my knees, but even that makes me nervous. Sharks eat humans. Scientists come up with all sorts of reasons why this happens because the sharks supposedly mistake us for seals, and we're always told that we have a better chance of being hit by lightning or some such rarity. But I'm scared to go in the water, and I admit it.

Jenny Dell is definitely not in Kansas, anymore.

Why, I think that's Jenn Brown. How did she sneak into Jenny Dell's week in the blog?

This is Jenny Dell at the original Starbucks in Seattle. Maybe you didn't notice the Starbucks in the background. Perfectly understandable.

I guess it's common these days for baseball teams to have attractive "sideline" reporters. For instance, I have recently discovered Jenny Dell, the reporter for the Boston Red Sox. Believe you me, she is no Trenni Kusnierek, former such reporter for the Pirates. Unfortunately, there are no photos of her on Google in a bikini. But there are plenty of photos of her looking quite fetching. Enjoy.