October 2024 – Pine Room Studios

College Football…it’s just a damn game!!

October 23, 2024 by Chris Pavlic

College football is a billion dollar industry run by millionaire alumni, conference commissioners, ADs, and coaches. It’s a high pressure business where the only acceptable outcome is WINNING. Win, win, win or else changes will be made.

Such is the case with WVU football and it’s head coach Neal Brown.
Expectations were high and excitement abound upon Brown’s arrival. He replaced Dana Holgorsen in 2018 after a successful 4 year stint at Troy. However, the results have been underwhelming in the 5 1/2 seasons he’s been at the helm. His 34-33 overall record and 22-26 conference record have people wanting him on the chopping block.

Sure, these result have been disappointing and unacceptable to a lot of the Mountaineer faithful. He’s faced harsh criticism and rightfully so. However, the vitriol Brown has faced and the angry mob mentality calling for him to be fired is over the top. I’m not lobbying for him to keep his job. If the university’s administration wants to make a change….fine. Let them do it. But these fans and boosters go to great extremes to get the message out there that they’re not happy with Brown and want him fired. It reminds me of the spoiled kid who cries and whines when he/she loses; stomp their feet until they get the result that makes them happy. Website, social media and a plane hoisting a banner “Fire Neal Brown” aren’t necessary. Neal Brown by all accounts is a wonderful man, husband, and father. I wish him nothing but the best and if he’s fired at season’s end he will be just fine. Remember, it’s just a damn football game. But let’s not crucify him. Let’s Go Mountaineers

My blog My New Favorite Player!!

October 19, 2024 by Mark Delbrugge

General

I am, by no means, a New York fan in any sport!! As a matter of fact, I dislike them very much! I think the city sucks, the people in general are pompous, unfriendly, and downright rude. I have zero interest in ever visiting there. But, I have a new found new York Mets baseball hero. And it’s not because of what he did. It’s because of what he didn’t do or never does. I’m talking about the Mets leadoff hitter and SS Francisco Lindor. In today’s world of “look at me” celebrations and stupid antics in all sports, Lindor is the consummate, humble superstar that our world and ,especially, our sports world needs.

Today’s players and our young athletes, especially, should pay attention to how Lindor acts when he does the job he is paid to do! The particular incident that sold Me occurred Wednesday, October 9th in game 4 of the NLDS with the Mets up 2 games to 1 against the Phillies. The Mets trailed 1-0 but had the bases loaded in the 6th inning with one out. Lindor stepped to the plate and delivered a go ahead grand slam that propelled the Mets to a 4-1 victory and into the NLDS against the Dodgers! What happened after he hit the grand slam is why he is my new favorite player. Instead of staring at the home run, or bat flipping, or beating his chest, he simply tossed his bat down, ran around the bases business like, and went in the dugout like he had done this before!!!!!!!! No need for ‘look at me’!!! It was soooo refreshing to watch in this crazy world of ego maniacs!!!!! And he does it All The Time!!!!!

Thank you Francisco!! Your parents must be very proud!! I know I am!!!! Oh, by the way, he hit a leadoff home run in game 2 of the NLDS to propel them to a 7-3 win.

Win Win for the Steelers QB situation

October 16, 2024 by Brian Campbell

General

I’ve been a Steeler fan since I can remember. Before I knew how to write my name. Before I

knew how to cook grilled cheese. Before I knew how to drive a car. It’s been 26 years rooting for

the black and gold and for almost two of those decades I’ve got to thoroughly enjoy QB play. For

18 seasons Big Ben trotted out to Heinz Field. He would consistently throw for 300 yards, shake

off defenders like they were in pee wee, and lead 4th quarter comebacks. Now what do we get

on Sunday vs the Jets? A pivotal moment in the 2024-2025 season.

Look, the last couple of years have not gone well. If it wasn’t for a hall of fame coach, I don’t

think we would have made the playoffs 3 of the last 4 seasons. We don’t get any amusement

getting in and then losing in the wildcard, which is why Sunday is so massive. It’s also why it is a

win win for every Steeler fan across the globe. We have a 35 year old future hall of fame

quarterback that we were able to sign for dirt cheap. We also have a 25 year old freak athlete

who just proved for 6 games that he is able to get us in the win column. So why is this a win

win?

If Russ comes in on Sunday and plays lights out, just like another vet hall of famer has been

doing (Joe Flacco) then we have our guy for the rest of the year. You take a QB that has been to

multiple Super Bowls and is still in his mid 30s and give him a top 10 defense. I watched Russ

throw for 26 TDs and 8 INTs last year playing for a team that didn’t even know what day of the

week it was. But what happens when Russ comes in and struggles for two weeks in a row?

Well, our defense has already proved that it can single handedly win us games when the QB

struggles. If we find out Russ is not the answer, you go back to Fields who went 4-2 for us

through 6 games. The 25 year old can still learn a ton sitting behind a future hall of famer. Do

we all love that Fields is a freak athlete and can change the game with his feet? Of course we

do. I think Arthur Smith and Russ could win some big games this year while we prepare for

Fields to be the long term answer.

Steelers finish 11-6 and win the AFC North for the first time since 2020.

My Sunday Night Football Experience

October 15, 2024 by Jarrett Delbrugge

General

Last Sunday I was sitting in my room watching the end of the 1PM NFL games when I got a text from a friend that said “Wann go to the Steeler game I have an extra ticket?” Of course, this was no ordinary Steeler game. This was Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys. After some thought, I said why not? So I got up, took a shower, got dressed, and took a drive down to the South Side of Pittsburgh where I met my friend. From there, we took a walk across the 10th Street Bridge down to the 1st Avenue T station. We then took a short train ride across the river to the North Shore and Acrisure Stadium.

At this point, things were going great, it was an easy ride over and an easy entrance into the stadium thanks to some Pirates connections. Not to mention the free parking, free T ride, and a free ticket. Once we got up to the concourse near our seats we grabbed some drinks, 2 Coors Lights for $20 actually wasn’t too bad. However, as we started to walk to our seats and as I cracked open my first beer, the skies decided to open up with not only rain, but violent lightning too which meant that fans had to vacate their seats into the concourse. You could probably imagine what that was like. It was the 5th highest attended game in Steelers history.

Finally, after being packed into the concourse like sardines for an hour and a half, we were able to make our way to our seats. It honestly was amazing, I don’t think that one of the 67,380 fans that were there left during the delay. I don’t need to explain how the game went, but it was an incredible game and an incredible atmosphere. Unfortunately the Steelers lost on essentially the last play of the game and it didn’t end till after 1AM. It was a battle to get out of the stadium and back onto the T. It wasn’t until about 2:30AM I got back home.

It sounds like I am complaining and didn’t have a good time, but besides the delay and the Steelers losing, I can’t thank my friend enough for inviting me, it was an awesome experience, a ton of fun, and pretty cool to say I have been to a Sunday Night Football game in the City of Pittsburgh.

Here We Go Steelers,

Jarrett

I am a realist and understand that we don’t live in a rainbow and butterfly society…

October 9, 2024 by Matt Watson

General

When did the substandard become the standard for success at the college level?

The college experience now a days is creating weakness and it shows in our society. If you choose college for your future profession, then it should be an experience that challenges you to help create a standard, backbone and strength to help you become successful down the road.

I know I have already discussed my thoughts on students being able to take a full curriculum of online classes and won’t bore you again with that element but this blog is about public speaking and speeches.

My son had a speech this week in class and he was reviewing with my wife and I his topic, which was CTE. He developed cue cards to help assist him. Luke had a crazy week with tests, along with the speech, which I absolutely love because it helps build toughness and create structure with time management. I do not wish ill will on him and his weeks but think it’s great because it’s called life and life is hard. I asked Luke, how he was keeping everything straight along with memorizing his speech and he proceeded to tell me that memorizing or barely glancing at his cue cards are not a requirement but that he and the other students are able to read word for word from their cards.

In my opinion, this is complete BS and the reason is this is not real world.

Whether you are giving a presentation at work, reading in church or for Luke’s case, when he has to explain to a patient or family what is occurring with their medical condition, the idea of having no eye contact, having a general knowledge base or flat out creating boredom with your audience by reading word for word, should not be the standard.

Educators, I am not asking that you be irrational or even be a prick but I am asking that you help our students create strength, confidence along with a strong knowledge base for them to be independent productive members of society.

Cooley’s Gambling Advice

October 8, 2024 by Tyler Cooley

General

What’s going on guys! Today I am going to be talking about betting. Over the last few weeks, I have learned a couple lessons when it comes to betting on sports.

1. Don’t ever listen to Soup. Soup picked Kirk cousins under 235.5 yards. He finished with 509 yards!

2. Don’t bet with your heart. Right before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into overtime I bet on them to win and they lost immediately.

3. Do not bet the unders. I don’t care how “smart” people say it is or what the Sharps do. It’s boring and I hate it. There is absolutely nothing worse than when you lose an Under bet in the first quarter and you no longer have anything to root for. Now before I leave, I just want to give you guys one lock of the CENTURY. It is today’s MLB playoff game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers. HAMMER THE GUARDIANS MONEY LINE!

Let’s go & have a great day everyone!

⁃ Cooley

Drop the Puck

October 4, 2024 by Chris Pavlic

General

Fall has always been my favorite time of year. The cooler temperatures, the colors, falling leaves, Halloween, and to the dismay of many, the clocks “falling back” and becoming dark just past the 5 o’clock hour. Those things and others bring me joy and I seem to have an extra bounce in my step.

However, the biggest reason I enjoy the fall so much is it marks the beginning of the NHL season. I love the sport of hockey and have been a fan of the NHL and most notably the Pitsburgh Penguins for 50 years. It’s a wonderful sport to watch but even better if you’re there live and in person. If you’ve never attended a game, I highly recommend you give it a try.

Significantly, the players in the NHL rarely get caught up in all the social media discord so common with the NFL, NBA, and WNBA. Those league’s players (not all of them of course) utilize social media platforms to voice their bitterness, jealousy, anger, and other vitriol and ill will. It’s a turn off and I’m overjoyed when those seasons end. Who’s the lone moron that didn’t give Caitlin Clark a first-place vote for Rookie of The Year? Sorry for that tiny rant…but just saying.

The 2024 NHL season starts today. Drop the puck and Let’s Go Pens!

CPav

The Pain is Finally Over

October 2, 2024 by Jarrett Delbrugge

General

I didn’t think that I would be writing another blog about the Pittsburgh Pirates this year, but here I am. I’m not going to go crazy and get super deep into it like I have in the past, but I thought I would give some final thoughts on the season. Yesterday, the Major League Baseball playoffs started and of course the Pirates were not one of the 12 teams that made it. At this point, it’s something that I’m used to. It’s almost hard to believe that it has been 9 years since they won 98 games and got beat by NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta and the Cubs in the 1-game Wild Card round (They might have won the World Series that year if it wasn’t for that stupid format). And it’s been 11 years since that fateful Cueto Game.

Since then, the Pirates have had 1 winning season and have finished in last place 5 out of the last 6 years. Not to mention the 28th losing season of 32. In fact, they had the same exact record they had last year at 76 – 86. That’s honestly hard to do with Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, a healthy O’neil Cruz, and a solid year out of Bryan Reynolds when you think about some of the lineups they put out last year. Like I’ve said before, I could go on and on, but that isn’t good for my health. I’m glad they fired the strength and condition coach yesterday, that sure is the answer!

Let’s Go Bucs. I guess.

Jarrett

Monthly Archives: October 2024

College Football…it’s just a damn game!!

My blog My New Favorite Player!!

Win Win for the Steelers QB situation

My Sunday Night Football Experience

I am a realist and understand that we don’t live in a rainbow and butterfly society…

Cooley’s Gambling Advice

Drop the Puck

The Pain is Finally Over