Charlie Batch Money in the Pocket for Charity.

November 12, 2008
From talent NETWORK NEWS
From Steelers.com
By Teresa Varley
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Competitive spirit comes out

There is no doubt Steelers players are competitive and that spirit came out in full force at In The Pocket With Charlie Batch, an event that benefits the Best of the Batch Foundation.

Guests were able to compete against players in a several activities and the players did not want to lose to those who cheer them on every Sunday.

“We have such a competitive team and I wanted to do something fun like this,” said Batch. “I wanted people to take off their ties and have fun. I wanted the fans to be able to come compete against their favorite player for bragging rights while raising money for a good cause.”

James Harrison and Justin Hartwig were taking their game of ping pong against fans very seriously, while on the other side of the room Casey Hampton, Orpheus Roye, Arnold Harrison and Larry Foote were among those who were focused on their pool game.

“It shows how competitive they really are with each other, like who is going to get bragging rights in the locker room,” said Latasha Wilson, the foundation’s executive director. “They were talking about you can’t beat me in ping pong. It was funny to hear the big linemen talking about ping pong. It’s fun to see a different recreational side of them and not just the professional side. No matter what, it’s always a competition between them.”

The event also include a silent and live auction, featuring such unique items as two pool tables signed by the Steelers players who were on hand at the event. Also auctioned off as a package each were the autographed jerseys of the starting offense and defense.

The proceeds go towards helping the foundation’s reading and computer literacy program, which is one of the strongest programs that they support.

“It gives us an opportunity to do our small part to help raise the reading levels across the state,” said Batch. “If we can start here small in the city of Pittsburgh and other people can build off of what we do, it will help a bunch of kids.”


talent NETWORK NOTE: Pittsburgh entertainment and talent agency, talent network, inc. donated the Texas Hold 'em Dealers as well as WDVE Radio Personality Jim Krenn.

Click photo to visit the Batch Foundation

Charlie Batch shoots Pool for Charity

Autographed jerseys by the Defense went for almost $3000

Ben Roethlisberger plays Ping Pong for charity

WDVE's Jim Krenn Emcees for Charlie Batch Foundation

Hines Ward and talent network casino dealer Megan Venezie

MORE PHOTOS ON STEELERS.COM

Big Ben has a New Endorsement Deal- Turnovers

November 10, 2008
From The Pens Blog
By J. Schiff
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Ben Roethlisberger turns his On-Field play into a new endorsement.

Pittsburgh Penguins - "Great Day for Hockey" - Video

October 27, 2008
From NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins
Music by The Clarks
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Penguins Unveil New Marketing Theme
'A Great Day For Hockey' reflects the organization's optimism

The Pittsburgh Penguins unveiled a new marketing theme today, in advance of the team’s home opener at Mellon Arena Saturday night.

“A Great Day For Hockey” symbolizes the optimism of Penguins hockey and the Penguins’ fan experience, blending the echoes of past success with the promise of an exciting future.

“There is such a feeling of optimism around Pittsburgh Penguins hockey these days, from our tremendous young talent on the ice, to the phenomenal support of our fans, to the extensive community outreach by our players – and it all adds up to a growing bond between our team and the Pittsburgh region,” said David Morehouse, the Penguins’ president.

“Penguins fans know it was the late Badger Bob Johnson who coined the phrase, ‘It’s a Great Day For Hockey,’ but we believe that Badger Bob’s optimism is perfectly applied to Penguins hockey of the 21st century. With a growing young, tech-savvy fan base and a state-of-the-art arena on the horizon, we believe the Penguins reflect the energy, drive and innovation of the new Pittsburgh.”

The campaign will include elements of video, print and arena signage.

Hockey Hit Shatters Glass.

October 24, 2008
From You tube
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Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Boston Bruins. Less than a minute into the 2nd period Lucis hits Van Ryn into the boards. The glass shatters cutting at least two spectators

Leafs at Bruins - Lucic Hits Van Ryn, Shatters Glass

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49'ers will hire Mike Holmgren as Head Coach in 2009.

October 21, 2008
From Move the Needle
By Frank Murgia
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The Niners head coaching Job has Mike Holmgren written all over it. He is done in Seattle at the end of this season, turning the team over to Jim Mora Jr. and has already expressed he would like to coach again.

WHY: Runs the West Coast offense, used to be on the staff back in the Niners glory years. He is Good with young Quarterbacks (Montana, Young, Farve and Hasslebeck) and Homlgren was born in San Francisco.

Unless Mike Singletary gets the 49'ers into a nice playoff run Mike Holmgren will be the Head Coach of the San Francisco in 2009.

Steelers Sunrise

Steelers fans are unquestionably best in the NFL

From SI.com|Ross Tucker
Sent in by Henry Kuhn
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The news out of Jacksonville Monday morning that approximately 25 percent of the fans for Sunday night's Steelers-Jags contest were waving yellow Terrible Towels came as no surprise to me. The Steelers have the most dominant fan base in the National Football League and their ability to consistently travel, en masse, and infest other team's stadiums gives the Steelers a competitive advantage that no other franchise can claim.

For the record, I grew up in eastern Pennsylvania, was an Eagles fan during my youth and subsequently played for five NFL squads that were not located in Pittsburgh, so I have no allegiance whatsoever to the Steelers or their fans. I just call it like I see it.

Seemingly minutes within signing with a new team, a player will be told by someone within the organization that, unequivocally, they have the best fans in the world. And though there are thousands of die-hard fans in Green Bay, Washington, Dallas, Buffalo, Cleveland, New England, and every other NFL city, the simple truth is very evident to every player in the NFL: Steelers fans are the best in the business.

My thoughts on NFL fans were confirmed in a recent straw poll of a couple active players who said the Steelers fans far and away do the best job of taking away a home team's advantage. None of the players wanted to state their feelings publicly and disenchant their own fans, and for good reason, but the fact remains there is nothing quite as powerful in the NFL as Steeler Nation.

I realized this for the first time in 2004, while playing for a resurgent Bills team that was one win away from a playoff berth. Running out of the home tunnel and seeing the smattering of Terrible Towels and black and yellow in the stands was disheartening. The Steelers had already clinched homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, so this final regular season game was meaningless to them, yet their fans had made the trip in droves.

Though playing at home doesn't assure a team a victory, there are typically four significant advantages to playing in the friendly confines. There is no travel involved. The field and facility are familiar. The players can certainly feed off the energy of the home crowd. The noise can make it difficult for the opposing team's offense to call audibles or utilize the snap count to their advantage. Ask any offensive tackle how much fun it is blocking elite rushers on a silent cadence. They flat-out detest it.

The significant presence of Steelers fans in opposing stadiums, whether they are Steel City transplants or folks who traveled in for the game, effectively eliminates the last two advantages. It is difficult to feed off the energy of the home crowd when you look up in the stands and see that a significant portion of the crowd is actually cheering for the other team. Plus, the noise is not nearly as deafening when less than 80 percent of the fans in the stands are screaming in unison.

All of this adds up to the Steelers having a significant competitive advantage based upon their fans' ability to partially, if not completely, eliminate some of the basic reasons teams are so happy to play at home in the first place.

I know exactly what everyone is going to write in their e-mails to me. First, people are going to comment on the Jags having arguably the worst fans in the NFL, and I will not dispute that in the slightest. People in Jacksonville would probably be more excited to watch an SEC clash between Kentucky and Vanderbilt. But it is not just Jacksonville. Seemingly, no stadium is truly immune to the Steelers culture.

Secondly, I am well aware that the Packers, Raiders, Cowboys and Redskins, just to name a few, have great fans who pop up in away stadiums every time their team is on the road. Trust me, it does not compare to Steelers fans. I have played for some of those teams and it is not even close. The Steelers have the best fans in the NFL.

(Have a beef with Tuck's Take on Steeler Nation? Share your thoughts here.)

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have
been waving Terrible Towels since 1975.
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Denny Neagle 40th Birthday Roast. Frank Nicotero Lays the Lumber.

From YouTube
By Move the Needle
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Denny Neagle, former MLB pitcher had his 40th birthday roast last week in his hometown of Colorado. Frank Nicotero a comedian and former host of the game show "Street Smarts" and current host of Yahoo TV's "Primetime in No Time" is a long time friend of Neagle from his days back in Pittsburgh. nicotero was invited to be on the roast dais by Denny's ex-wife but still friends Jenny Neagle.

Denny Neagle has seen a few problems in his days in the MLB. Hookers, Steroids, etc. Well, as in any roast no stone was left unturned and Frank Nicotero is a master roaster and he lays the lumber to Neagle.

Denny Neagle 40th Birthday Roast - Part 1


Denny Neagle 40th Birthday Roast - Part 2


Denny Neagle 40th Birthday Roast - Part 3


More of the Roast at Youtube HERE

Denny Neagle Wikipedia Page

More Frank Nicotero on YouTube

Frank Nicotero on Yahoo TV

Frank Nicotero booking Info: Talent Network, Inc

Our Cell Phones Pop Popcorn. Holy Crap.

From Daily Motion
Sent in by Rachel Murgia
09/17/2008
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Holy Orville Redenbacher we are microwaving are brains. You have to see this video of people popping popcorn with their phones. I fyou are ever in a room with 3-4 people talking on their cell phones at once, run.

Pop Corn téléphone portable micro-ondes
Uploaded by sassiere

NFL Late Game Betting Predictions

By Frank Murgia
09/14/08
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My college 5 star, 3 star and 1 star games won yesterday. I got a late start today but here are my predictions for the late game chasers.


5 Star
NONE


4 Star
Steelers at Browns (Take the Steelers -6)


3 Star
NONE


2 Star
Atlanta at Tampa Bay (The line is Tampa -8.5. Tease Tampa down)
49ers at Seattle (Take Seattle -7 Buy the half point and make it -6.5)
Chargers at Broncos (Take the Chargers -1)


1 Star
Miami at Arizona (Take Zona -6.5)



Top-Shelf Teaser Bet
Tampa Bay - 1.5
Pittsburgh + 1

Knock-Knock... Next Door Nikki is back.

From Freeones.com
09/13/08
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Next Door Nikki is back with a bang. All of the photos you need to keep you in the neighborhood. Free Ones.com is the best resource for great free photos.


Click either a photo to Knock on Nikki's Door.







More Nikki in our Archives HERE