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Gregg Sayer – Pointstreak Sports Technologies Inc.

Greg Sayer: Pointstreak Sports Technologies Inc.

First, can you tell readers about Pointstreak – how you got started and what the applications are?

In 2000, our founder, Aaron Bishop, was frustrated that he could not get his rec league hockey stats online and when they were posted online, they were painfully out of date. He drafted some friends to help him create a solution – which was labelled an “electronic gamesheet system” – and then approached their local league to act as a test pilot. From these humble roots we have grown to a company that services over 4000 leagues and associations around the world.

Officially speaking, Pointstreak Sports Technologies Inc. is a privately-held sports software company that provides fully integrated online registration software, statistics solutions, sports websites and video solutions for the sports of hockey, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer and others. Our founding principle was to use a touch-screen computer to replace paper score sheets used by hockey leagues, but we have since expanded into multiple sports and applications beyond just statistics.

What professional sports organizations use Pointstreak (any in Pittsburgh) – and how?

Pointstreak formed its first “White Knight” partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins in November 2010 which saw the Penguins underwrite the costs of Pointstreak’s technologies for grassroots hockey leagues in the greater Pittsburgh area, particularly the Pittsburgh Amateur Hockey League (PAHL) and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL). This type of partnership is a triple-win: the Pens get a great platform to connect with their core community; grassroots hockey associations get cutting-edge services at no cost and Pointstreak gets the business. The idea is catching on with other pro teams. We recently entered into a similar arrangement with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Beyond these strategic partnerships, we have many professional sports organizations as clients that use our real-time statistics software , live video highlights software and video analysis coaching software. Here are some highlights of our pro / collegiate clients in the Pittsburgh and greater Pennsylvania region:

Video Analysis Software:

Hershey Bears (AHL)

Wheeling Nailers (ECHL )

Robert Morris University (NCAA D1 hockey & lacrosse)

Mercyhurst U (NCAA D1)

Baseball Statistics Software:

Washington Wild Things (Frontier League)

Butler BlueSox (The Prospect League)

Slippery Rock Sliders (The Prospect League)

PONY World Series

Little League World Series

Are any teams using the software to better analyze their own performance to improve – if so, any examples?

While we certainly cannot take all the credit for our clients’ successes, it is interesting to note that the Canadian men’s and women’s hockey team who won gold and the Finnish hockey teams who won bronze at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics were all clients of our video analysis coaching software (called STEVA).

Pointstreak’s STEVA product is completely centered around the idea of helping coaches and players improve on-ice success. The product slogan is “Visualize Success”, which is a perfect summary of the whole concept: tag up video, index it, and use it to find out what you are doing well and what you could be doing better. Furthermore, the same concept can be applied against your competitors to help identify weak points or to guide preparations such as match-ups, situational tactics, etc.

Can fan/fantasy leagues use the system as well – if so, how is it being used?

Yes, we do have a ‘fantasy league’ module that we can enable for our clients. For example, the Major League Lacrosse uses our fantasy league software to easily allow fans to run their own fantasy leagues. Because we have a streamlined system to capture and organize game and player statistics, the setup and maintenance of a fantasy league is completely automated for our clients.

We also have one Strat-O-Matic Hockey league using Pointstreak. Strat-O-Matic is a sports simulation board game that has somewhat of a cult following. Our baseball platform could easily be used by Strat-O-Matic baseball leagues.

Much of your focus in on baseball and hockey – is football in the future for Pointstreak? Why/why not?

Our vision is to have a robust stats solution for all the major, global sports, so yes, football is definitely our radar. We already have football clients like the Indoor Football League, Texas High School Football, and the Flag Football World Championships. We expect that the football market is going to become a much larger part of our business in the coming years.

We have also recently entered basketball with our acquisition of CREZ Basketball, a leading basketball stats application, so that is a market we are just beginning to make our presence felt in.

Some feel that there’s too much emphasis on statistics in sports today – what do you think of this and how does your software help enhance the sporting experience versus making the focus solely on statistics?

The reality is, for the youth and young adults of the world, an online experience is an integral part of anything they do. By creating a rich online experience for these athletes we strengthen their ties to their sport and make it more likely that they will continue to participate in their sport. Combine that with the fact that we offer parents the opportunity to stay connected to their child’s sporting activities in real-time even when they cannot make the game, and we feel we have a lot to offer sports organizations.

At the professional level, especially with the release of the recent movie Moneyball, there has been plenty of discussion on how much should statistics be used in the role of scouting and player evaluation. The general consensus is that the old school method of simply watching a player can be enhanced with the use of statistical analysis. The majority of MLB teams now employ a department that manipulate the statistics for their own scouting purposes. Pointstreak shares data with a few MLB teams as well as having an official partnership with NHL Central Scouting.

Are there plans to open this up to consumers so that anyone can use this to track their own individual players/sports of interest rather than this being a team/league centered offering?

We do offer a Pointstreak iPhone app / iPad app for $9.99 that allows consumers to score their own team’s games or for scorekeeping hobbyists who like to score along with MLB games (we even have built in MLB rosters that one can download). We also have something called Team Locker Room, a free online tool that helps amateur teams and coaches manage their team (schedule games, track attendance, enter basic stats). However, Pointstreak’s core business is on helping entire leagues streamline their stats collection and improve the player or fan experience.

Could this be applicable to non-sports applications. Say, helping businesses get statistical analysis on their operations, etc.?

Yes, the principles are the same: Streamlining data collection, crunchin numbers, posting to the Internet, etc. However, there are plenty of companies focused on that space, so our plan is to specialize in technology that meets the unique needs and challenges of sports organizations.

What’s next in terms of offerings/applications?

About a year ago we released a product called Pointstreak Live Publisher. This is a revolutionary idea that married our traditional hockey/baseball scoring software with our then recently acquired video indexing software (STEVA). The result is a seamless system that automatically captures a video clip from a baseball or hockey game, indexes it to the relevant statistical event (e.g. goal or home run), and then uploads it to the web in real-time.

We had good adoption of Live Publisher with leagues like the Central Hockey League (CHL), the North American Hockey League (NAHL), Central Canadian Hockey League (CCHL), but what we are extremely excited about is the R&D that is under way to bring this idea of automated video highlights down to the grassroots hockey and baseball leagues. Imagine as a parent of a young hockey player, for example, having a highlight clip of every one of your child’s goals from the start of their competitive hockey career. Imagine if we could have that sort of historical video archive for a great like Sidney Crosby?

Any other thoughts for readers?

If anyone reading this participates in a hockey/baseball league and you think or KNOW the league needs to catch up on technology, join our Facebook page and join the conversation about how Pointstreak can help.

Michael Quartey – National Bowl Game

Michael Quartey – National Bowl Game:

First, can you tell readers about the National Bowl. When it takes place and who’s invited?

The National Bowl is an invite only All Star Game for standout College Seniors played annually in Allentown, PA. The aim is to showcase players with less exposure and/or from small schools that are looking for exposure. The game is followed by the D2-D3 Pro Day & National Scouting Combine in January and February. College football standouts from all divisions are invited to attend but the rosters tend to focus on Division 2 and Division 3 players.

How difficult was it to organize the game – to get schools to commit to players attending and scouts to come?

It is extremely tolling on the individuals involved, I have to thank my wife Jacole and partner Jonathan Tilly for the unwavering support over the years.The planning is done 9 months in advance and most of the executing is done a couple of months before the game and time is of the essence because players seasons are ending and coaches go on the road and some players are thinking they will never strap on the pads ever again until they get a call from their coach. W just try and honor the players and give them at least one more time!

How do you select the players and coaches – what’s the process?

Coaches and scouts are selected through our extensive network we have built thru East Preps as we have placed over 40+ players on different teams in every league and all over the world so we try and leverage our relationships and coaches respect what we are doing so they say that kid from Pace they sent us was better than our 5th rounder…lets see what East Preps has going on.

What is the player experience during this week – what processes do they go through before and after the game?

The National Bowl weekend is 2 days Saturday and Sunday with 3 practices and Gametime. We have some great charities we are playing for, Austim Society Lehigh Chapter and Tommyland.org both PA foundations for autistic kids. The players get to give back and are also cheered on by some of the nations best cheerleaders. Our game is a high-end game with a great product with a sweat and equity budget.

Most players pay their own way or find a family member or family friend to sponsor them so we limit the weekend to 2 days and keep our sign up costs lower than even most HS Bowls so these seniors get the opportunity to PLAY and socialize with other All Americans and All Conference Players. 2 teamates can split one of our discounted bowl rate hotels and only pay $35-$70 for housing for the weekend. Last year we had longer days and only used half the practices. We want these players to come have fun so we don’t do a formal dinner but rather a comfortable mixer where coaches, players, staff, and families can chat and have Fun which is the focus of the weekend. These are the best of the best, they know the basics they just need to let loose.

How is the game funded, and who usually sends scouts to view the pregame practices and game itself?

The first game we funded through player sign up and out of pocket. We still do not have a major sponsor and are always looking but our business plan is solid and we have made it so we can still pull it off without one. We believe we have to prove our worth and the sponsors and TV contracts will come. We have some great Hotels, Restaurants, and News broadcast people that have given so much to us. Its a busy time of year so many scouts can only make the game itself. Fortunately for us and the players our coaches come from the AFL, IFL, and UIFL and bring staff and scouts. They get other teams involves because no team wants to miss an opportunity on a player they didn’t have on their board.

We have been lucky, right before this interview a major CFL team the Montreal Alouettes just confirmed its attendance so that puts us in a separate class that I have our clients that have been in NFL camps begging to play!

Are there plans for expanding this and having an actual combine-like experience as well for teams and players?

It’s our philosophy to not test these Players in early or mid December. For small school players publishing times to pro teams after they have been banged up and played their hearts out and haven’t had 8 weeks or more to train is unfair and downright detrimental to their futures. That is why the NFL and Pro Days don’t test until late February and all of March. We created run the D2-D3 Pro Day & National Scouting Combine that has been attended by several pro teams that players compete at East Preps Regional Combines across the country (all divisions) and the top 100 players are picked to attend the National D2-D3 Combine in New Jersey.

We are in our 3rd year and last year we had a young man, Michael Galatas from D3 Millsaps College run a legit 4.25 40 yard dash at our Houston TX Regional Combine. (Top 5 fastest times ever run) He was 3 time Special Teams Conference player of the year and just a fluid runner. D3football.com reported that he turned heads at our Pro Day and signed a free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints. Now if we test in Dec4 or Dec 15….and he runs a 4.4 does he get into camp or stand out? To be honest, if he doesn’t come to the combine and get tested does he get noticed from his film alone? From coming up against the NFL glass ceiling we used years of experience to precisely calculate what is needed to try and make it to the next level and the National Bowl is the first step but not the last.

What was last year’s game like – who shined and how did it end up?

Last years game was thriller and came down to a field goal with 30 seconds let kicked by Chaz Jones. Beau Reed from Fairleigh Dickinson U won the MVP with 1 touchdown and 2 sacks. He got a private workout with the UFL. Leonard Stevenson of Wesley College was runner up MVP with several catches and a TD and he signed a free agent contract to the Reading Express of the IFL who will also be in attendance at this years game.

Who are some of the exciting players you expect to attend this year?

All of them!! LMAO….I can’t answer that just yet and rosters will be announced On Thanksgiving of this year. I will tell you this their will be some players.. and on any given Sunday sometimes your surprised by who it is but thats why we play the games!

When you see these Division II and III players, are there any thoughts in your mind as to whether these college athletes should get paid or at least be offered stipends, as Beano Cook recently suggested (//pittsburghsportsdailybulletin.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/beano-cook/)?

I played football at Franklin & Marshall College “00 and was a captain, 3 time all conference player and USAfootball.com All American and I loved every minute of it and still miss it so that may be what drives me. The essence of small schools is that you play your hearts out regardless of external motivations, Scouts, Money, or even Fame and the schools tend to produce well rounded student-athletes. No one plays football forever and getting paid for a lifetime as a result of a good college major is better than getting paid a lot of money in a short period of time because those guys learn that your earning over a lifetime.

After I graduated in those days, there was almost NEVER any D3 player making an NFL camp and so I got my law degree from Rutgers. Now our kids have options and they can go to Med school or play in the AFL.. not a bad future. Our #1 overall performer Brandon Wright of Arkansas Tech at last years combine out of 140 players now works in the Corporate world in New York City. Its funny in a year he may come back and say Mike I want to try and play overseas.

When your talking about big schools, the dynamic is much different and there is a lot of money exchanging hands with TV contracts and conference guaranteed money but its an “amateur sport”. However, many Great players actually have a measurable and projected future business deal waiting for them in the Pros, but the players and agents are demonized for cutting similar types of business deals for the next step in the players future. Now you see musical conference chairs with these teams leaving conferences just to see the “free agent” conference cash and I think the sport suffers. Smaller schools embody the tradition of college football but lets see what happens now as a lot of these players are going pro.

Any last thoughts for readers?

We would just welcome the readers, fans, and supporters of these players to check out our website (//www.nationalbowlgame.com/), (//eastpreps.com/) and (//www.d3proday.com/) and see how these young men are impacted and how they pass it on to the next generation. Sport is about dreaming one day you can be Cam Newtown or James Harrison so we will see one of them may be playing on December 4th.

Rich Erenberg, Steelers Running Back, 1984-1986

First, can you let readers know what you are doing now professionally – about CC Realty Advisors and how you got started in the business?

CC Realty advisors is a real estate investment and development company specializing in acquiring distressed and semi distressed income producing properties throughout the US. We also do some limited development work and have a construction company as well. I have been working in the real estate business since leaving football back in 1987.

I can attribute getting started in the real estate business to Andy Russell. I went to see him at the end of my rookie year to do some networking. While there he mentioned that he knew several people in the local real estate business that he could introduce me to. One of those guys was Ron Puntil who was the President of the local Grubb & Ellis real estate office. Andy called Ron, made the introduction, and the next thing I knew I was working in the commercial real estate business in the off seasons.

Continue reading “Rich Erenberg, Steelers Running Back, 1984-1986”

Darnell Stapleton, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 2007-2009

You’ve been doing a lot of coaching – can you tell readers about your recent coaching jobs and why you decided to get into coaching?

Well ever since I started playing football I knew I wanted and had the drive to play professionally as well as some day coach professionally. So last year when I retired due to injuries I started my search for my first job coaching, the first opportunity that I came across that spring was a chance to be the head coach of a professional women’s football team called the New York Shark’s which has been and continues to be a great experience for me.

During the season with Sharks two of my assistant coaches asked if I would be interested in coaching the O and D line at Montclair Kimberly Academy, the high school were they coach at in the fall! So for that last couple months I have been teaching them the little that I know hahaha. So between running my website designing company and coaching I stay very busy!

Continue reading “Darnell Stapleton, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 2007-2009”

Ray Seals, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1994-1996

First, can you tell readers what your are doing with yourself these days?

I have some great stuff going on – some if it in Pittsburgh. I’m working with a new coffee business – it’s healthy coffee that doesn’t give drinkers the jitters and shakes. Bene traveling around the country getting it started – coffee’s a multi-billion dollar business!

Do you even drink coffee?!

I never did (laughs). But this coffee is smooth so it sits well with me!

What else are you up to?

I’m teaming up with Toys for Tots in my cousin’s (Johnny Gamage) honor. I was just in Pittsburgh last weekend and we are going to do a charity function. People may not know but I won the E for Effort charity award from the NFL years ago – it was the highest honor the NFL gave. Well we’re doing more for Toys for Tots in Johnny’s memory soon.

Continue reading “Ray Seals, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1994-1996”

Donnie Iris – Pittsburgh Rock Icon

Donnie Iris:

First off, can you tell readers what you’ve been up to lately and about your new album and upcoming gigs?

Starting sometime after the first of the year, we will start working on a new CD.

You’ve been a stalwart of Pittsburgh’s music scene for many years. How did you get started and what advice would you give other local musicians who want to make it as well?

I started singing at a very early age. My mother played piano, and she taught me how to sing.

You’ve been a stalwart of Pittsburgh’s music scene for many years. How did you get started and what advice would you give other local musicians who want to make it as well?

My advice to people who would like to get into the music scene would be to work hard and long, whether just singing or playing or writing. And don’t quit.

Many see the life of a musician as all bright lights and glamour, but it’s a tough business. What’s been the most difficult aspect of the music business for you and how have you been able to overcome it and stay active for so long?

The toughest part of the business has been the financial aspect. It sometimes can be very difficult to make a living in music. Many artists give up because they can’t make ends meet just doing music. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to follow my heart and make a living at music, VERY fortunate!

Who influenced you most in terms of your approach to music and how have you been able to use that influence to create your own sound as opposed to just “copying” another’s?

My influences have been varied. People I looked up to and influenced me most were Marvin Gaye, Tony Bennett, The Beatles, and many more.

The Pittsburgh music scene has been growing in prominence but hasn’t launched that huge local artist recently. Is anything missing from the local scene to foster more musical talent?

I think the Pittsburgh music scene is alive and well. Many wonderful artists occupy this area. Whiz Khalifa is a prime example.

On to sports….are you a sports fan – and if so, what teams to you follow most and just how avid a fan are you?

I am a huge Pittsburgh sports fan! Steelers, Pirates, Penguins. It don’t get no better!

Have you had any experiences playing for/around some of the area athletes or hanging out with them? If so, what were those experiences and players like?

I played at Deisel acouple of times and hung with Big Ben, Brett Keisel and Aaron Smith. Great guys.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Parting words for my Pittsburghers: We are really lucky to live here! My take is that Pittsburgh is truly a special place.

Andrew Conte – Breakaway: The inside story of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ rebirth

Andrew Conte of the Tribune Review on his new book – – Breakaway: The inside story of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ rebirth

First, what inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to find out what really happened in all of the closed-door negotiations over the team. I spent a lot of hours as a reporter for the Tribune-Review covering meetings and discussions that took place in secret. Breakaway tells about what happened in all those private discussions. Fans who followed this narrative as it happened can finally get the full story.

Where can readers purchase the book?

Breakaway is available at Barnes & Noble stores across the United States, and at Chapters and Coles book stores in Canada. Many independent book stores around Pittsburgh are carrying Breakaway, such as the Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley. It’s also available online from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and the book’s website www.breakawaypenguins.com.

What surprised you most about the team’s “rebirth” as you did your research?

The team came very close to leaving. One short-lived plan had the Penguins going to Los Angeles, and the LA Kings going to Kansas City.

Who were the key players behind the scenes that readers may not have been aware of – and how so?

Team owner Ron Burkle played a much larger role in the team’s on-ice decisions than fans realize. He was the catalyst for the Penguins to acquire Marian Hossa in 2008, and then for bringing up Coach Dan Bylsma in 2009 before the Cup run. Burkle does not tell the team leaders what to do, but he brings a business mentality to the organization and encourages them to do what they need to win.

Much is said about Sydney Crosby “saving the franchise.” How much of this is true, in your opinion?

None of this happens without Crosby. When the Penguins win the rights to draft Crosby in the post-lockout lottery, it changes everything. Until that point, the owners plan to sell the team and actually have a purchase agreement in place. Immediately after the lottery, they decide to make a play to keep the team — and to keep it in Pittsburgh. One team insider said it was like selling a house and then finding gold on the property.

How close was this team really in moving?

Very close. Even at the last meeting at a New Jersey hotel where the owners and public officials sit down with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to work out the details of an agreement, the whole thing nearly blows up. The Kansas City deal was comparable with the one in Pittsburgh, but the arena there already was built.

In your opinion – what did the prior ownership do wrong that the team was in such difficult shape?

Howard Baldwin’s group faced a difficult situation: They bought a team that had just won the Stanley Cup, and they were determined to keep the team intact. But after winning the Cup, the players could command more money than the team really could afford. To come up with money, the team ended up selling a lot of long-term revenue streams in the Civic Arena, and so the financial problems worsened.

How involved was the NHL in the discussions and what role did they play?

Commissioner Gary Bettman ultimately was the guy who brought everyone together. When the team was for sale, the league quietly let potential suitors know that it would do everything possible to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh. No one knows whether the league actually could have kept the team from leaving, but I believe that was one of the key reasons Lemieux and Burkle could not sell the franchise. Then, when the deal for Pittsburgh nearly fell apart, Bettman was the one who convened the secret meeting where the final agreement was reached.

Some were skeptical of Lemieux’s role on the discussions. Do you think he was aware of this – if so, how did it affect him?

At one point, Gov. Ed Rendell says how hard it is to negotiate with Burkle, a friend from politics, and Lemieux, a player he admired as a fan. Everyone had a role to play, and Lemieux played a key part. Ultimately, I believe Lemieux’s biggest contribution was insisting that the Penguins stay in Pittsburgh if at all possible.

What was the “turn around” moment for this team? When ownership knew it was going in the right direction?

Oddly, it might have been before the 2008 playoffs when Crosby got injured and Malkin and the other players had to step up to fill the void. The owners already had agreed on terms for an arena, and they started winning without their best player. Team insiders had to wonder how great they could be when he came back. It was at that moment that Burkle pulled together team leaders and asked whether they had a chance to win. When the answer was yes, he pushed for them to do whatever they needed to win a championship. Even though the team lost in the final that year, they knew they could win the Cup after that.

How important was the new stadium for this team? How difficult was it for them to have it torn down?

The new arena makes it possible for the team to make enough money to stay in Pittsburgh and pay players up to the salary cap. At the Civic Arena, the team had to compete for local fan dollars with two relatively new stadiums — Heinz Field and PNC Park — and the building had many flaws that did not make it ideal for any of its intended uses. At Consol Energy Center, the Penguins should make enough money to be competitive for a long time.

Any last thoughts for readers?

The fans played a bigger role in this whole story than maybe even many of them realize. When the Penguins were competing for the casino license, the fans turned the Gaming Control Board’s meetings into pep rallies for the team. And then when the team nearly left, the fans compelled reluctant public officials to realize the importance of this franchise to the region. Ultimately when the Penguins had competitive deals to stay and leave, the owners chose to stay because of the fan support here. Breakaway really tells the fans’ story.

Andrew’s book launch and signing events:

@AndrewConteTrib

Book Launch: 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, T.G.I.Friday’s at Consol Energy Center.

Signing event: 1-3 p.m. Penguin Bookshop, 420 Beaver St., Sewickley, Pa. 15143. 412-741-3838.

Signing event: 5-7 p.m. Pensgear Powered by Reebok, Consol Energy Center, near the Trib Total Media Gate, prior to the game.

Mike Bires – Times Online, on the Steelers

Mike Bires – Times Online

Do you think Tomlin feels its too early to consider starting some of the younger players over more established vets? Is the team overvaluing the importance of experience over talent?

The answer to your second question is “no.’ The answser to your first question is that Tomlin will play the players he thinks give the Steelers the best chance to win, regardless if they’re 21 or 36. For example — last year, Maurkice Pouncey started at center at the age of 21. Rookie wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Antonion Brown had more touches that veteran Antwaan Randle El.

In your opinion, what current starters should be seeing less playing time, if any? And what are the odds of this happening?

Defensive end Aaron Smith, who’ll miss his second straight game Sunday with a sprained foot. It’s time for Ziggy Hood, a first-round pick in the 2009 draft to start. Smith’s body is breaking down. He’s missed so much time the past two years.

Is this team doing enough to adapt it’s schemes to the talents of the players- is there any feeling that players are being fitted into schemes that don’t best utilize their talents?

The schemes aere just fine. They’ve to the Super Bowl twice in the last three years.

One theory (ok, mine) is that Ben’s foot injury actually helped force Arians and Ben to scheme and play smarter – to take what the defense gave the offense rather than relying on Ben’s escapability to make big plays. Any thoughts on this?

No doubt. I also think that Ben knows that given the way health and performance of the O-line in those early games this year, he was an injury waiting to happen. He had to change.

Why do you think this team has been so seemingly uninspired when it comes to Starks. Even before his injury he seemed to be treated like an lesser necessity rather than a key OL component.

The Steelers saw Max Starks at Big Ben’s wedding. He weight 410 pounds. He was coming off a neck injury. He wasn’t ready for training camp. And he was due to make $5.14 million

How do you think Worilds is developing at OLB. Would you start him at OLB over Timmons if healthy? Why/why not?

Worilds has been OK. I would never start Worilds over Timmons. Timmons is close to being great

Who is the heir apparent opposite Ike Taylor. It seems to be a hodge-podge of players there but who’ll be the guy that you think ultimately secures the starting spot long-term?

I think the Steelers have three interesting corner prospects in Keenan Lewis, Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen … Obviously, Lewis is ahead of the two rookies right now … but I know the coaches like both Brown and Allen.

What effect do you see first-year DB coach Lake having so far with the DBs?

I don’t know. Polamalu has already said he appreciates Lake’s expertise. And I will say this, Gay and Lewis are playing better than they did last year.

The AFCN – toughest division in the NFL?

It is right now — no teams has a losing record (Ravens 3-1, Steelers 3-2, Bengals 3-2, Browns 2-2). But don’t dismiss the AFC East even with hapless Miami (0-4). The Bills and Pats are both 4-1, and I’m not counting out the Jets (2-3) just yet. And how about the NFC North with the unbeaten Packers and Lions?

Is coach Tomlin more or less involved in the game day strategy than Cowher used to be? What exact is Tomlin’s role in regards to developing game strategy?

I tend to think Cowher had a little more say. But Tomlin is involved. He lets his coaches coach, but he’s in all the meeting listening and offering his input.

Any last thoughts for readers?

I can’t wait for Oct. 30 and Nov. 6 when the Patriots and Ravens come to town.

Maine Prince, Philadelphia Sports Training Center

Maine Prince, Philadelphia Sports Training Center (March 30, 2011):

Tell us about your center and how it differs from other athletic training centers?

Philadelphia Sports Training Center (PSTC) is an Academic & Athletic Sports Performance Training Facility for all levels of athletes.

PSTC is different from other facilities because as scientific sports trainers we focus on the biomechanical analysis of an athlete to improve their overall sports performance in their respective sport.

How did this all get started and how are you funded?

This started from a conversation with a client, Marc Jackson, former NBA veteran/Temple University standout/Roman Catholic High School graduate while we were talking about the many sports training facilities that I’ve started and developed.

Four different facilities; Aspiring Champions Sports Performance Center in King of Prussia, PA; Summit Sports Training Center in Bryn Mawr, PA (owned by Pat Croce / Ed Snider (owner of Comcast); and Velocity Sports Performance Training, Cherry Hill, NJ; & Rockford YMCA Sports Training Program in Rockford, IL.

We are funded through the revenue from our clients, grants & sponsorships to our youth program, as well as investors from various professional levels.

What specific services do you provide to those that enter the program and at what age are athletes eligible to enter?

In terms of the normal sports training program, our programs start at age 12 with a modified weight lifting program to demonstrate the proper techniques on weight lifting, which also includes our patented Anatomy of Speed Program that I’ve developed over the past 15 years of training athletes.

The NFL Combine Training Program is only for those student-athletes leaving college that have been invited to participate in the exclusive NFL Combine held in Indianapolis, IN at the Indianapolis Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium.

The NFL Combine training is typically an 8-16 week training program for 5-days a week with 2-3 hour training sessions per day.

How do athletes learn of your program?

Athletes learn of our program through our direct marketing accomplished through typical recruiting practices. We reach out to local student-athletes from the tri-state area of Philadelphia, then we get referrals from the sports agents that want their clients to have the best opportunity to get the most impactful training available.

What’s next for you and the center?

We have programs that run at minimum every 8-weeks for the sports training program. We are now going to be working with several past clients that are NBA Prospects as well as professional baseball players.

We also have an ongoing College Recruiting Seminar that I do nationwide from coast to coast to present the college recruiting process to middle school and high school student-athletes and their parents.

We are also planning LeSean McCoy’s Community Day on May 14th in his hometown of Harrisburg, PA. This is a free event that he wants to give back to the community where he grew up.

Do you work only with those in the Philadelphia area or are you nationwide?

I work with clients in the Philadelphia tri-state area and nationwide. I have conducted a sports training program for the NBPA MBA Program at Stanford University which is a program that instructs NBA players, coaches, past players with the opportunity to receive a Stanford University Certificate of Completion in their MBA Program. My small part if to continue keeping them in shape through the 4-week course.

How do you define “success” as it pertains to a student athlete?

Our facility/company motto of Philadelphia Sports Training Center is….”Where Academics plus Athletics equals Success?” The term of success as we define is a student-athlete that enter high school as a freshman, graduates as a senior, and has the opportunity to participate in their respective sport at the next level…then graduate from college and obtain employment in their chosen career.

How do you work with athletes to prepare them for the pressure and lifestyle found at the college and professional levels?

At our facility, we are blessed that my wife is also a 2-time Academic All-American soccer player from Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA. She focus her efforts as the Director of our Student-Athlete Counseling & Tutoring Program which is an open dialogue with student-athletes to help them as a 3rd party when they have a need to discuss any dilemmas.

We provide them with individual time to discuss what they may be facing and what to look out for in terms of the lifestyle of a college student-athlete and the rigors of playing professionally.

You work with athletes once they turn professional as well. How do you do so and what are they usually interested in focusing on?

When working with professional athletes, their focus is on improving their sports performance to sustain their progress in their sport.

Many times, professional players would rather do without “BIG Brother” watching their every move when they workout and they are always seeking an objective opinion on how to improve. One of the determining factors in a professional players longevity past the average 3-years is the ability to continue to get faster, flexible, stronger, athletic, and maintaining their weekly weight goal.

Every NFL player has a weight maximum and a weight limit where they must be during the 26-weeks of the season including pre-season.

For our Pittsburgh audience, have/do you worked with any players that went on to Pitt/Penn State or that have gone on to play for the Steelers? How so?

I have worked with a few basketball players, Brad Wanamaker, graduating senior, NBA first round draft prospect…we are entertaining the possibility to work with LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles, former PITT Panther…due to the recent situation with the NFL Lockout. I am good friends with his old high school coach Corey Jett, a Penn State Nittany Lion.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Sports Performance Training is becoming a necessity for middle school and high school student-athletes around the country.

The criteria for athletic scholarships is growing, while the amount of scholarships seems to be reducing, which means that the academic requirements that have already changed from 14 core credits to 16 credits for division I schools is only a mere fraction of the changes that are being made.

If a student-athlete can focus on their grades as much as their athletics then they would be guaranteed a partial academic scholarship, as well as an athletic scholarship which equates to a full scholarship. I believe that sports performance training can be the initiating source to help those high school student-athletes reach their own personal success.

Matt Bodenschatz – Faceoff Factor

Can you let readers know what’s new at the //www.faceoff-factor.com/ – there’s a new site design for starters.

First off, thanks for the opportunity to talk hockey! Faceoff Factor has a brand new design implemented and maintained by our new web and graphic designer, Doug Graham. In addition to the design, Doug has added a new feature called “Talk Amongst Yourselves,” which gives readers an opportunity to discuss a variety of topics before a story is written on FF. As always, Mike Adams will deliver Game Grades, Jesse Marshall will deliver prospect news and analysis, and the rest of the staff will deliver unique opinions on the Penguins and NHL at large.

James Neal is off to a strong start. What do you attribute this to -was he just “unlucky” last season?

I have been a big James Neal fan for a few years now, and even suggested a year earlier that an Alex Goligoski for Neal swap would benefit both teams. Last season, his lack of production, in my opinion, can be attributed to a number of things. For starters, Neal was accustomed to being the third wheel on a line with two high powered offensive players in Dallas. Coming to Pittsburgh, he was relegated to Mark Letestu and Alex Kovalev, making him the top dog. Put any secondary-type player in that position and he’ll struggle to score. Additionally, he was stuck adjusting to a new system on a team without its most talented players. There was a lot of pressure to produce, and I think it got to him a bit. Now, this year, he’s had an opportunity to go through Camp Bylsma and, more importantly, has had a chance to skate with Evgeni Malkin and Steve Sullivan, two excellent playmakers. I don’t think there’s any coincidence that after an adjustment period and an upgrade in linemates, he’s back to the Neal we saw in Dallas.

Conversely, Sullivan seems to be pressing. What are your thoughts on his expected contribution?

Steve Sullivan isn’t known much as a shooter, but rather a playmaker. I don’t necessarily see him as pressing, but rather finding his way. I’ve been impressed with his skating and vision and think he’ll be a strong contributor to the team once he settles in.

Vitale has played inspired hockey – will there be room for him on this roster though when Crosby and Jeffrey return?

Last night we saw Mark Letestu riding the pine as Malkin made his way back into the lineup. As the team gets healthier, I expect to see more of the same, with Joe Vitale getting the fourth line center job. Don’t get me wrong, I was impressed with Letestu last season and like what he brings to the table, but Vitale, in my opinion, brings a defensive element, a physical element, and a faceoff element that Letestu just doesn’t. Vitale is a better fit for a bottom line — and I think he’ll win out when it comes time to make room for Sidney Crosby and Dustin Jeffrey.

Speaking of returns, what do you expect the top two lines to look like once Crosby and Jeffrey do return?

That’s a difficult question. Ideally, I’d like to see Crosby with Kunitz and Kennedy, leaving Malkin with Neal and Sullivan, but Bylsma likes to shuffles lines, making it difficult to predict.

The power play so far is much improved. What do you attribute this to?

From what I can see, there is significantly more unpredictable movement, which can be difficult to defend. Add in the resurgence of Kris Letang as a dominant offensive (and defensive) defenseman and the addition of the creative Sullivan, and it’s a recipe for success. It’s early, but for the most part I’m liking what I’m seeing with the man advantage.

Any concerns about the minutes being logged so far by Letang and Staal?

Yes and no. Obviously, these two players have increased minutes because of injuries to Crosby, Malkin and Orpik, which means this shouldn’t be a permanent thing. That being said, we don’t know when Crosby and Orpik will return, and with a heavy schedule over the next few weeks, it’s slightly alarming and concerning that Letang and Staal are skating so much. Let’s just hope they don’t wear out, as it’s a long season.

Any early surprises so far with the team?

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the play of Matt Cooke and Richard Park. While both have proven capable in the past, it’s nice to see both having success again. For Cooke, he appears to have a new-found dedication to respecting his opponents and focusing on hockey — and the result has been tremendous. For Park, he appeared a likely AHL candidate, but his strong penalty killing (bolstered by a shorthanded goal earlier this week) has given him an opportunity to not only stick with the team, but get quality minutes. It’s always nice to see a former Penguin return and do well.

Was it at all disturbing to you how enthusiastically the fans responded to the punishment Asham doled out on Washington’s Beagle – especially in light of Crosby’s concussion issues?

Boy, that’s a loaded question. From a hockey perspective happening “at the spur of the moment,” fans at a game want big plays and hard hits. Fights are no exception. In the spur of the moment, fans always are going to be thrilled with a big TKO that results in some blood. But, I also think most fans are smart enough not to want to see the opponent be significantly injured — hence the applause and stick-taps from the fans and players.

The scoring seems to still be down for this team – even with Malkin in the lineup. What’s the issue behind the scoring problems early on?

No Sidney Crosby. Let’s face it, he is the key to this team’s offense. Last season, we saw a bare bones offense without Malkin and Crosby. This year, it has increased a bit due to Malkin’s return, but Malkin can only do so much when he faces the top defense pairings and defensive forwards each shift. When Crosby returns, it will give the Penguins that much-needed one-two punch, which should help to increase their offensive efforts and put them back into elite territory.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Watch with pride. I have a feeling what we are seeing is the making of a very special season from a very special team. The Penguins are loaded from top to bottom, and with injured players closer to a return, things will get even better. This has all the makings of being an amazing season, and I for one am enjoying the ride so far!