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Corey Pronman Hockey Prospectus

Corey Pronman, Hockey Prospectus (September 6, 2011)

First, can you tell readers about Hockey Prospectus, how it got started and what readers should expect from your site over the next few months.

Well I wasn’t an original member of Hockey Prospectus– I joined the site in late 2009 whereas the site launched in early ‘09. While I am the prospect expert for the site regularly providing scouting and player development insight on the prospect world, the website is mainly one dedicated to statistical analysis in the sport of hockey.

Our writers are provide very quality work in the field of advanced hockey analysis, and we have our own proprietary metrics such as Goals Versus Threshold (GVT) which is a hockey version of baseball’s Wins Above Replacement but with goals instead of wins.

We also have a top of the line projection system in the sport called VUKOTA which provides projections for Goals Versus Threshold on top of your usual stats.

Recently, you ranked the Penguins organization 25th in the NHL in terms of prospects (//www.puckprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1044). Where do you see the organization lacking and how did this year’s draft help?

They lack a top-end prospect in the system that’s truly an anchor youngster. There’s talent, but not elite talent.

The system’s depth is good, if not above-average, but asides from Morrow, Despres and Kuhnhackl there’s not much top 6 F/top 4 D projection in that system. Beau Bennett has that upside, but I’m not that sold on him– for reasons I explain in the Penguins system profile.

The Pens draft was alright. They didn’t have many picks, Harrington I though was a decent pick where they got him, but getting Joe Morrow in the 20’s was excellent value. If it wasn’t for Joe Morrow, the Pens system may have been ranked a few spots lower.

You rate Morrow as the top prospect of the organization – what impresses you most about the young defenseman to rank him higher than players like Despres?

His hockey sense definitely separates him from Despres as for Morrow it’s a clear strength, while for Despres it’s still a part of his game that holds him back. Morrow’s possession skills are top-end as he’s a tremendous puck-mover and thinker.

His skating is also very good. The physical part of his game raises some concerns, but the game revolves around possession and player’s possession skills and Morrow has a ton of those.

Despes has tremendous tools as he’s big, skates well, has good puck skills etc. but he’s still a bit of a project despite his great QMJHL season. I’d say both of Morrow and Despres’ ceilings are equivalent, but I have a bit more confidence in Morrow’s projection.

You also have Kuhnhackl ranked surprisingly high, at least to some. What do you see in his game and will he crack this Penguins lineup this season?

Kuhnhackl was seen as a potential first round pick at the beginning of the 2010 draft season, but his development stalled playing in Germany.

However his play in the OHL this year was nothing short of stellar, and had many scouts saying he looked like the player some thought he could be back in 2009. He’s a very skilled all-around player as he can skate, handle the puck, thinks the game well and shows a good physical work ethic.

I doubt he makes the team, just because he has a lot of bulking up left to do.

Conversely, Tangradi’s stock seems to be slipping as he struggles to take that next step. What’s missing in his game?

I personally think expectations were set too high for Tangradi, he’s progressed about what I’ve expected from him. He’s an okay 2nd liner/good 3rd line type of player as he’s a big man, will bang bodies, and has fine offensive skills.

His skating holds back his potential mostly.

Which of the Penguins prospects has the greatest upside and potential to surprise, in your opinion?

I really like Kenneth Agostino. I tabbed him with a third line ceiling in my Penguins write up, but he’s progressed well over the summer and looked very good at the USA Under-20 camp. He had a great Freshman season and could be set to take the next step.

Pure upside is Simon Despres, but if I had to bet on who becomes the best player, it would be Joe Morrow.

The Penguins signed Steve Sullivan this offseason. What can fans expect from Sullivan – can he be the 30-goal scoring winger this team seems to look for each season?

He’s in the tail-end of his career.

On a top team like the Penguins, he’s not a top-six player. His possession game last year was below-average, despite being relatively guarded in terms of his usage such as which zones he started in at even strength and the quality of competition he faced. He can still score when he gets his chances, which is nice, but the talent of being able to generate quantity of shots which is much more important has faded.

Speaking of new Penguins wingers, Neal seemed to do everything for the Penguins but score goals. What was the issue with him last season?

He was so, so unlucky. His shooting percentage 1.9% in Pittsburgh, as opposed to 13.1% the same season in Dallas. He’s a career 12.5% shooter too.

Research has shown shooting percentage tends to fluctuate like crazy and is mostly luck dependent than actual skill. If Neal gets 200 shots or more like he has the past two seasons he’ll score around 25 goals for Pittsburgh.

The Flyers and Capitals were very active this offseason. How do the Penguins match up with these teams now?

The Caps are the top guns in the conference as they’re stacked all-around.

I’m sure Pens fans are well aware of this, but if the Pens want to be a top player, it all revolves about the health of their top two guns especially Crosby. The Flyers took a step back, as they got NHL talent, but with a focus on future talent. Putting all their eggs in a basket with a goalie is usually a mistake, because goalie production is volatile and unpredictable, even for the best like Bryzgalov.

Focusing on the league – any thoughts on any of the new ideas stemming from this year’s Research, Development and Orientation Camp?

No idea. I talked to a few sources about the event, but as one pro scout told me, “This camp is 80% about scouting prospects and 20% about the development ideas.”

I focus on the 80%.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Be sure to stay tuned this summer for our annual yearbook Hockey Prospectus 2011-12 which will be available in mid-September. It will have detailed team essays for all 30 clubs with some of the best analysis in the business, on top of the VUKOTA projections for every player in the league.

It will also include a couple of research essays, and my Top 100 NHL Prospects.

Thank you!

Aaron Schatz – Football Outsiders

Aaron Schatz, Football Outsiders (May 5, 2011)

First, can you tell readers about your site – your focus, how it got started and what readers should expect over the coming weeks/months?

Hey. We consider Football Outsiders to be the site for the intelligent football fan. (The place where nobody writes MY TEAM RULEZZZZZZ with six Z’s.)

It started with advanced statistics for the NFL, similar to what folks like Bill James and Baseball Prospectus had been doing for baseball, and that’s still the centerpiece of our work. However, we also do tape study, write humor and fantasy football columns, and last year we added a weekly column about offensive line technique. We also have been expanding our coverage of college football over the last couple years with new writers and new metrics. And of course we have discussion threads on all our articles, and they get pretty active and interesting. With, as noted earlier, a limited number of “Z’s.”

I got started as just a normal fan who just had some questions about the game, and I ended up putting together some numbers so I could answer them. Once I had some numbers, I created some new metrics and we ended up putting a website together.

We got lucky in the timing, because this was right after Michael Lewis had written Moneyball and everyone went out there on the Internet looking for “the Moneyball of ____.” If you looked for the Moneyball of football, there we were. Once we had been publicized to people, my readership grew and really good writers started coming out of the woodwork, guys who had been waiting years to write for a site like this.

Over the next few weeks or months, readers should expect… more of the same stuff they always love! I don’t really have anything fascinating and new to report. We’re mostly sitting around right now trying to figure out how on earth to write our usual preseason book when there hasn’t been any free agency yet.

We’ll still get Football Outsiders Almanac 2011 out there, we’re just not sure when.

By your metrics who would you have tagged – Lamarr Woodley or Ike Taylor. And why?

From a business point of view, I would have tagged Taylor, and here’s why: When it was time to lay out franchise tags, it seemed likely that there would be some kind of labor impasse. The most likely result of a labor impasse would be to continue the free agency rules of 2010 if there is some sort of court decision that ends the lockout and forces the owners to start the league year without a new CBA.

Lamarr Woodley has four years of experience, which means under those rules he would not need to be Franchised, he would be a restricted free agent. The same would be true if they had negotiated a new CBA and had the rules say that you needed either five or six years for unrestricted free agency.

However, if we were working under the old rules where you COULD get unrestricted free agency after four years, then I would have tagged Woodley. He’s younger and still may be growing as a player.

Taylor, on the other hand, isn’t getting any better. He’s a good cornerback, but not a great one. And when you play primarily zone coverage — the Steelers mostly play Cover-3 behind those blitzes they run — your pass rushers are more important than your cornerbacks. (At least, I think so; if you look at this year’s New England draft, Bill Belichick seems to disagree with me.)

Which teams have more success in the NFL over the past few years – teams that run much more than pass or vice-versa – and why?

Passing is more successful than rushing, period. You need to have some balance, of course… that keeps the defense on its toes, it allows for play-action, it lets you convert short yardage — but in general, passing is more efficient and the best teams are those that pass best and stop the pass best.

What’s the best indicator of a successful quarterback? Yards-per-attempt, completion rate ….another?

If you are talking about standard stats, the answer is net yards per attempt — passing yards minus sack yards, divided by sacks plus attempts.

What’s most over-rated and overpaid position in NFL in your opinion – and why?

Oh, that’s easy, running back.

The last few years have shown that there are only a handful of running backs who excel to such a level that it is worth paying them big money, and even then, running backs wear out much faster than players at most other positions.

The difference between a good running back and an average running back isn’t that wide, and the success of the running game has a lot to do with other players, the linemen, rather than the running backs. Look at how many teams have been able to put together successful backfields without spending a lot of money — the Patriots, the Packers, the Broncos for all those years.

Conversely. What’s most Under-rated and underpaid position?

I would say probably nickelback. Last year, teams actually used three or four wide receivers more often than they used two wide receivers. You really need to have three starting-quality cornerbacks in today’s game, and it is worth paying a third cornerback to get a good one.

In your estimation, how successful are pass defenses that rely on blitzing? Do pass blitzes create more positives than negatives throughout the course of a game for a defense?

Yes, I think so. I think the worst strategy is to spend a lot of time rushing four, to be honest. If I were a defensive coordinator, I would alternate blitzes with heavy coverage plays that rushed only three.

How important is time of possession? Do teams that win the time of possession battle usually win more often than lose – and is that changing with NFL rules making it easier for pass-oriented offenses?

Honestly, it’s not that important. What’s important is to score more points, and to gain more yards which leads to advantageous field position which in turn usually leads to scoring more points.

If you convert first downs, you’ll hold on to the ball longer, so of course a team which converts a lot of first downs will have good time of possession. But what’s important there isn’t the actual time of possession, it’s the process of converting first downs and getting four more opportunities to advance the ball and try to score.

How important is it really for teams to have big plays (40 yard or more gains) in games? Are big plays as important for example as turnovers or do teams win consistently without them?

To be honest, big plays are similar to turnovers in that both are examples of plays that are highly random even though there is some skill involved and talented teams will generally have more than less talented teams. You can win consistently without big plays if you are constantly matriculating the ball down the field and converting first downs to move the chains.

Bob Gergerich – President, IHC Hockey

Bob Gergerich, President, IHC Hockey, Inc (June 16, 2011):

First, can you tell readers how the school got started and who you serve?

I started operating hockey clinics in the summer during my senior year of high school in a half sized rink in Bridgeville. I attended several hockey schools and always had an interest in teaching. In 1983, I came up with the name “ International Hockey College”.

Our official name now is IHC Hockey, Inc. as we have diversified over the years. Although we still operate hockey schools under the name of International Hockey College for players 5 years of age to adults, we also have tournament teams, give private lessons and schools, as well as advise and represent players under our IHC Hockey Management division.

Who are some of the better-known players that have gone through your program over the years?

Two local players that have attended many of our schools, and later became instructors at our schools as well, are R.J. Umberger of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Matt Bartkowski of the Boston Bruins.

Also, ex-Penguins Billy Thomas and Nate Guenin have attended our schools. Bobby Ryan, who is a star with the Anaheim Ducks, attended our schools in New Jersey. Sasha Lakovic (played with several NHL teams) attended our programs in Niagara Falls. There have been several other players who played in the NHL and/or AHL that have gone through our programs over the years.

Do players often come back to the program once they enter the NHL/NHL affiliates to participate or help teach?

They have not but they are always welcome to. I work with some of the pro players individually though.

We are an independent self funded business and we get absolutely no support or help from the Penguins or any other leagues or teams.

What do you find are the skill-sets young players need to work on most – and what techniques do you use to help them improve?

Stick handling has always been called “the lost art”. Everyone needs to work on stick handling but it has improved over the years in the older players. Stick handling is your foundation to all your puck skills (passing & shooting).

And of course, you always have to work on your skating. Skating is a skill that can always be improved upon – and is so important to the hockey player.

How do you decide what position to play these kids at? Is it their preference, yours, or both?

They tell me what position they play. Of course I can always make a suggestion for change if I think a different position would suit him/his skill set better.

What makes your program unique?

We are unique for many reasons. From a technical stand point, we probably break down the skill into small components better than anyone else. We have the players work on those skills in three progressive steps.

First stationary, then moving slowly, then moving at game speed. Our instructors, who are all former IHC students, do a great job by pulling the players off to the side and reinforcing my instruction one-on-one as needed.

We also utilize the ice better than any of our competitors. You will not see players standing in lines or much down time during an IHC hockey school. We keep the players moving. We consciously make our schools a very positive environment for the players. We realize that we can influence the attitudes and habits of our students on and off the ice, so we try to make that influence a very positive one.

We are also unique because of our longevity and the services that we offer. There have been many hockey development programs that have come and gone in this area during our 28 years of operation. We are the only full time, full service hockey development company in this area where we develop hockey players from age 5 to pro, operate tournament teams, and advise, place and represent youth, college, junior, and pro hockey players.

What tournament teams do you role out, how do you ultimately choose the players that end up on the teams and who do they play?

We have several tournament teams. We have tryouts for our AAA Team IHC teams. These teams are usually made up of Bantams and Midgets and we play in high profile tournaments such as the Toronto Prospects, Boston’s Pre-Draft Showcase and Chowder Cups. We also have Pittsburgh Hockey Prospects AA teams that usually play in Canadian tournaments. These teams are made up of players who are committed to play for us without having tryouts.

What’s your main objective in working with the players in your program – what equals success for you?

My main objective in working with these young hockey players is just to be a positive influence on their lives.

It is great when NHL players come back and tell me that they would have never made it if it wasn’t for my instruction. But it is just as rewarding or even more rewarding when former students invite me to their graduation parties and their weddings and they and their parents tell me how I was a positive influence and role model in their life. There is no better feeling.

When I sit back and wonder if this business is really worth it, I think about those times and read those letters that I have received and realize that there is nothing else that I would want to do more. That is success for me. That is when I realize that someone has really got it. I have Mark Messier’s retirement speech quote on my website which I have always quoted – but in my own words: “It is not about becoming a professional athlete. It is about the journey and the people you meet along the way, and the life lessons you get while playing this incredible game.”

Hockey in Pittsburgh really seems to have improved tremendously with area players like Gibson, Saad, Miller, Trocheck and Houser all ranking high for the NHL draft. What do you attribute this to and how do you keep that momentum going?

Several of these players have come through our programs. I would like to think that I played a very small part in their success. But the real reason they are so successful is because they were LUCKY.

My definition of luck is when preparation meets opportunity. These players prepared themselves for success. They made the sacrifices, worked hard on and off the ice, and constantly worked on their skills

There are no short cuts. When the opportunity presented itself, they were prepared. The programs that they are currently in deserves more credit for their success than anyone in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, they had to leave Pittsburgh to get to the level they are at now. They started playing hockey right after the Penguins won the Stanley Cups in the early nineties. Hockey was booming and registration was at an all time high then. These are the players from that group who made the sacrifices and put in the hard work.

Unfortunately, this city is a Penguin town, not a hockey town. If the Penguins have success like they are having now, then hockey enrollment goes up. Before Crosby, hockey enrollment was at a dangerous all time low in Pittsburgh. Now with registration being at an all time high, and the success of associations developmental programs, combined with the Sidney Crosby-Reebok Little Penguin developmental program,hockey is booming here. The talent level is higher than ever here as well. Again, I think this is a result
of the numbers game. More players that are playing, more will succeed.

Do you do any pre-draft/combine prep for players entering the NHL draft as well?

We are working on having a pre-draft combine for the players we represent next year. We represent several players in the greater Toronto area and we send them to a training facility in Toronto that offers combine testing. We may partner with them next year to offer our IHC Hockey Management Combine Camp.

How do younger kids who go to schools that have little or no hockey programs get started playing hockey, and found, by the better leagues and colleges? What’s the process they should go through?

Most players come up through the amateur leagues before they play for their high schools as well. Most players work their way up from playing at the A level to AA, to AAA, then move on to Junior Hockey after midgets. To be seen by NCAA college hockey, you have to play tier one or tier two Jr. ‘A’ Hockey which requires you to leave this area.

What advice would you offer young players trying to get started on the road to the NHL. What should they be doing to ensure they are on the right track?

First, they have to realize that the odds of making the NHL is very very slim. However, having a goal to be the best you can be and play with the best players in the world is not a bad thing, as long as they still enjoy the game and are getting the other benefits out of playing this great game.

They have to constantly want to improve their skills and put in the time and work on their off-ice training as well. They need to get away from playing so many games in the spring and summer and work on their skills and conditioning. I always tell my players, “you don’t play hockey to get in shape, you get in shape to play hockey.” You also have to play at the highest level possible. I don’t believe
that AAA hockey before Bantams is that beneficial. The money you save from playing AAA at young age can go towards hockey schools and clinics, and towards a structured hockey specific training program.

Scouts start looking at players at the age of fourteen, so this is a good time to be playing in a good AAA program. The tier one and tier two junior leagues have their drafts for players at the age of 15. If you are being looked at by junior teams and prep school teams, you may want to hire an advisor to help you through this confusing process. Just make sure that you are enjoying the journey while you have your sights set on your goal. Time goes by too fast so enjoy every minute of it and hopefully you’ll have great memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Any last thoughts for readers?

I am very blessed to be able to do what I am doing for as long as I have been doing it. It’s like living a dream.

Ken Crippen – Pro Football Researchers Association

Ken Crippen, Pro Football Researchers Association (June 29, 2011):

First, can you tell us a bit about the Pro Football Researchers Association – how it got started and it’s “mission”?

The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to pro football history. We were incorporated in 1979 and currently have over 400 members in 11 countries.

What is a Pro Football Researcher exactly – and why devote an organization to this niche?

A pro football researcher is anyone dedicated to researching or writing about any aspect of pro football history.

How is the organization funded and run?

We are a membership-based organization run by both elected officials and appointed officials. These officials make up the board of directors.

How much research is done/sponsored by the association itself – or is the work done strictly by members?

The work is done by the membership and shared with the membership.

How is the research conducted – and how do the researchers decide on what history to go after in its research agenda?

Research subjects are chosen by the researcher. Any topic that is of interest to the researcher.

What part does oral history play in research and how do researchers go about collecting this?

Oral history is an important part of football history. We want to capture the stories and game accounts first-hand from the players. As the stories get passed down from generation to generation, the quality of the accounts declines.

You get into very specific areas of research – from social movements, gamebooks, uniforms, pre-NFL leagues, etc. How do you focus on each niche and what are some of the more interesting findings across these niches?

The focus on each niche depends on the interest of the researchers doing the work. For example, the uniforms committee has provided graphical representations of all team uniforms from 1933 through 1958.

The social movements committee has focused on racial integration within pro football. The pre-NFL committee has discovered previously unknown teams.

What is some of the more interesting research done on Steelers teams via your association or it’s members?

Matt Algeo’s book “Last Team Standing” on the Steagles was interesting. We have also written on the swapping of franchises between the Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. We have also covered various players and moments from their Super Bowl championships in the 1970s.

How can that research be seen by fans?

The best way to see the research is by visiting our website: www.profootballresearchers.org or by becoming a member to receive our bi-monthly magazine “The Coffin Corner.” Instructions on how to become a member are located on our website.

You have developed your own Hall of Very Good for football researchers – can you tell readers more about this – who is nominated, by whom and how it’s voted on?

The Hall of Very Good was started in 2003 and was designed to honor players who had excellent careers, but were not in the Hall of Fame.

However, some of our inductees have gone on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Each year, our membership submits five names for consideration for that year’s class. Once those names are received, a committee of nine whittles it down to the top twenty players. From there, the twenty names are submitted to our membership for a vote. The top vote-getters will be inducted into the class for that year, with a minimum and maximum class size, as well as a minimum percentage of the votes received.

Any other thoughts for readers?

Visit our website (www.profootballresearchers.org) to learn more about the PFRA.

Warren Anderson – Rehab Plus/MakePlays

Warren Anderson, President – Rehab Plus/Makeplays.com (April 1, 2011):

First, can you let readers know how you got started in sports training and offer any advice for those that would like to do the same?

To make a long story short, I was coaching in the old USFL, starting in 1983 with the Chicago Blitz and Hall of Fame coach George Allen, the next year they moved our franchise to Arizona. In 1985 we became the Arizona Outlaws and were coached by Western PA native and ex-Arizona State coach Frank Kush.

When the league went under in 1985 I started working in physical therapy with Coach Kush’s brother Steve. At the same time Coach Allen’s son Bruce became a sports agent and I began working with him as well. Bruce (currently the GM with the Washington Redskins) and I started the first NFL combine training camp in 1985 as a way to add a competitive advantage for agent services. We kind of merged all our services into a physical therapy/sports training facility and moved forward. In 1988 I opened my own
physical therapy/sports training facility, and we’ve grown and diversified over the years.

You focus a lot on combine training for players looking to get into the NFL. While so much emphasis is on physical training, how do you prepare players mentally for the litany of Questions and pressures that occur at the combine and in the NFL?

The combine was originally created to bring the top prospects together at one spot and conduct medical exams and physicals. It quickly morphed into all the physical testing, i.e. “measurables” and interviews and position drills. etc.

Today the combine is another venue for the league to broadcast, hype, “sell their product”. That being said, for most coaches and gm’s the combine is their first opportunity to see the new prospects “on the hoof”, get to meet with them, watch them move around and do some athletic things. Still today, the medical exams remain one of the most important aspects of the combine.

The interview process has taken on added importance and most prospects will be well versed on this component as well as the physical testing component. The combine is an intense, pressure filled event for the players, and, given these circumstances, allows teams to observe how the player handles the environment. We just want to have our players thoroughly prepared for every component and understand they may have to “adjust on the run”.

For example if a team wants to send a player off for an MRI it may alter his schedule some, and the player has to adapt to that. We like to use the adage “be intense but not tense” when dealing with all the pressures of the combine.

Do players often find the mental aspect of the game and combine more difficult than the physical demands of the game, in your opinion? How do you work with them to improve their mental approach to the game? What techniques do you use?

In regards to the combine, the mental pressures are definitely more of a concern to players.

Candidly, most of the players in this era have been doing all the “measurables” since they were attending high school combines. The tests like the short shuttle and 3 cone are learned skills that aren’t that difficult. Speed can be improved, but at the end of the day, the evaluations are going to go back to game tape.

The evaluation BEGINS with the tape and ENDS with the tape, all the other things help fill in the blanks. In my opinion, one of the biggest misconception players have is that if they blow away all the combine tests they’re going to be a high pick. We’ve had kids call us before the season wanting to know about getting ready for the combine, we just tell them they better worry about making plays on the field because that is going to get them drafted well before what they look like running around in their underwear.

Continuing on with preparing players mentally/psychologically for the NFL game and combine – how much do you alter your techniques and approach depending on the position an athlete plays- and how so?

In recent years, more facilities and agents are bringing in position coaches to work with prospects preparing for the draft. In my opinion, this is one of the smartest thing a young prospect can have available to him.

After the draft, all these rookies are going to have to perform on the field, and understand it is their ability to make plays and DO THEIR JOB that coaches care about. We’re very fortunate to work with some great coaches.

Rod Dowhower, who was an OC and QB coach for 25 years in the NFL, is unbelievably good in working with young QBs. An old Pittsburgh Steeler, Andre Hastings, works with wide receivers. Dre is a wealth of knowledge that is put from a players perspective. Dre has no patience for anything less than 100% and he’ll let them know.

Doug Plank, a Western PA guy who played with the Chicago Bears ( the 46 defense was named after him) and has coached most recently with the Jets, is fabulous with secondary players. Position coaches like this can prepare the player for what he will incur at the combine, but more importantly, have an understanding of what it takes to play in the National Football League.

What do you find are the biggest misperceptions most of these players have when they first start working with you?

As I stated earlier, I think the biggest misconception is that how they perform in the “measurables” will make or break their draft status. Especially offensive lineman. We always use the saying “you gotta know who you are”.

A kid with a late round or free agent grade, for example, has to understand that the measurables may have more relevance to him because, if he tests well it is an impetus to go back and look at some more tape, Again, the game tape is the critical factor.

What’s the toughest adjustment for college players coming into the NFL – both physically and psychologically?

In my opinion, the biggest adjustment for young guys is to understand the National Football League is all business. “No more marching bands or cheeleaders”.

You better have a thorough understanding going in you are trying to take someone’s job and livelihood away from them and the body of work you produce on a daily basis will be evaluated and scrutinized. I think the complexity of the NFL game is different for some players, and they have to understand they must have the ability to process information quickly then translate that information into physical execution.

The length of the season is tough on young guys too, when they’re used to their college season ending, the NFL is just starting to kick into high gear.

Is there a worry on your part that the pre-combine preparation you give to players won’t “stick” once their training with you ends? How do you help prevent that from happening?

Working with prospects prior to the draft, you just try and educate them on the process. From bowl games (senior bowl, etc.) to the combine, to pro day, to visits with teams, to the draft, then you get to your team and the real work starts.

You better keep yourself in great physical condition all the way through, keep working on your skills, until you get to a team. The team you end up with will train you and coach you the way they see fit.

Have you worked with athletes that are resistant to the process or your specific techniques? How do you handle those circumstances if so?

Through the years we really haven’t had any players that were resistant to anything. All the kids we’ve been fortunate enough to work with just want to get better and insure themselves they’ve done everything possible to give themselves the best chance to play in the National Football League.

What do you think would surprise readers most about the athletes and pre-combine process?

With the NFL Network and all the media coverage I don’t know if too much would surprise your readers.

One thing I have found kind of disturbing is some players go to facilities with the sole purpose of improving their 40 or whatever, and neglect their position skill work. We’ve had a number of quarterbacks in recent years, and quarterbacks are basically evaluated on their ability to throw the football effectively.

Especially with QB’s who have played in a spread type offense, their ability to learn the proper footwork in the 3,5,7 step drops, for example, are of much more relevance than what their broad jump, for example, is.

For Pittsburgh fans here – have you worked with any Pitt players and/or players that have gone on to become Steelers? If so, who, and without getting into any issues of confidentiality, how were they to work with?

We have a long and very fond relationship with Pittsburgh.

Starting back in the 80’s we had Pitt players like Tony Woods (DE), Craig “Ironhead” Heyward (RB), Alex Van Pelt (QB) , Bob Buckowski (DE) to name a few. One of my real good buddies is Eric Metz who is from Monroeville and is a prominent NFL agent.

I mentioned Andre Hastings, former Steeler WR who resides out here in Phoenix and helps us out with football training. Dre also has a real successful dog training business which is really his passion. Back in 2001 we worked a project at UPMC in conjunction with SFX sports to do some combine training. That was a ton of fun and we had some good players in Pittsburgh training with us, Deuce McAllister , Justin Smith, Chris Chambers, Matt Light to name a few.

Brett Kiesel who presently plays with the Steelers trained with us. What a great guy. Brett had a great story coming out, you just knew he was a tough guy that wouldn’t be denied, plus he had really good athletic ability. Jeff Otah who played at Pitt and is currently with the Carolina Panthers is out here in Phoenix rehabbing a shoulder with us. Jeff is getting in a ton of strength and conditioning work at the same time. He’s working real hard and looking forward to getting back on the field next year.

On a sad note, one of my good buddies was Tony Brown, who played OT at Pitt in the 80’s. Tony passed away from cancer last June. He was one of a kind.

Last thoughts?

Young high school players keep working on your skill sets as well as your strength,speed, re-direction skills, etc. Be an athlete. And if you’d like, feel free to drop a note to our website: www.makeplays.com.

Thanks Ron.

Bob Sproule – Society for Baseball Research (SABR)

Bob Sproule, Society for Baseball Research (SABR) (July 11, 2011):

First, How did the association and your chapter start?

SABR began as an organization in 1971. To my knowledge the Pittsburgh Chapter, or Forbes Field Chapter, has been around since the early1990’s.

How did you get interested and involved?

I first joined SABR sometime in the 1980’s. This was pre-internet days and everything was done via mail. I had joined primarily to receive the publications that SABR produces. I never really got involved, and I had other things going on in my life, so I let the memebership lapse.

I rejoined in 2001, and I can’t really remember why. By then, though, I had discovered that there was a fairly active Chapter in Pittsburgh. The Internet also expanded the world of SABR. My first true involvement came in 2003 when Ed Luteran and I did a presentation at the Pirates FanFest that year on the first World series in 1903 between the Pirates and the Boston Americans (they were not yet the Red Sox!).

Who uses your data and how?

Not sure I can fully answer that. I know that SABR as a national organization does work with MLB teams in sharing some statistical data. An arrangement is in place with the Pirates to do so, for example.

There’s occasional pushback by some on the overemphasis of statistics in baseball. How so you respond to that concern?

I suppose that I am old school to the extent that I believe that there is indeed too much emphasis on SABRmetric type stats. For example, we had a member a few years back present some stats that “proved” that Ronny Paulino was a better catcher than Jason Kendall. Really?

I also think that when SABRmetrics are used as a basis to award a Cy Young Award to Felix Hernandez with 12 wins then I think that the obsession with these stats has run amok. But that’s just me.

Why do you think statistics hold such an overwhelming appeal for baseball fans, even compared to other sports?

I think that stats in baseball are important because they are a way to measure, compare, and argue about players from different eras. How does Greg Maddux compare to Sandy Koufax to Warren Spahn to Lefty Grove….you get the idea.

Of course, the steroids era has put a whole new spin on such arguments, but that is a whole other issue.

Any examples of how your statistics have made a difference with a player or team- especially with the pirates?

You only have to be a casual fan to realize that Neal Huntington is a “SABRmetric” guy.

I think that the Pirates, and all of baseball, are using these newer statistical models in conjunction with older style of scouting methods, if only to get every possible bit of information before them as they comtemplate making decisions that could and often do involve multi-millions of dollars, which the signing of Gerrit Cole will mean.

Any last thoughts for readers?

People should realize that SABR is a number of things.

The image is of a group of stats-freak, baseball nerds who sit in front of computers all day and come up with all of these arcane statistics. Do some of these people actually watch a ball game?

There is that element to it, of course, but SABR is also, primarily, I believe, a group of baseball fans. Men and women who love to watch a ballgame, argue about it, compare different eras, and simply enjoy the game and its history.

The Pittsburgh Chapter is primarily comprised of those kinds of fans. We meet on a formal basis twice a year – in the Spring and the Fall. We also gather for two informal “hot stove” sessions in the winter and summer.

At our formal meetings, we do have members give presentations on any topic that they may have researched on their own. Topics have ranged from locating home plate at Exposition Park to the history of Greenlee Field to the 1909 World Series to the Hollywood Stars as a Pirates farm club to…well, you get the idea.

We also like to try to get guest speakers (Bob Friend, Chuck Tanner, Steve Blass, Dave Littlefield, and Frank Coonelly have been our guests in the past) and visiting authors.

Our informal hot stove sessions are just that – informal. No agenda, no speakers, no presentations…just people gathering together to have a sandwich and beer or soda to talk baseball. Our next session is set for Wednesday, August 10 at the SoHo Restaurant in the Springhill Suites across from PNC Park. Anybody should feel free to stop on down and join us.

I would also use this forum to appeal to anyone to join SABR and become a part of the Forbes Field Chapter.

Info on joining can be found at www.sabr.org, or please feel free to drop me a note at rfsmms@verizon.net

Jim Wexell

Jim Wexell Interview (January 29, 2011):

Where can fans find you – online, in print and elsewhere?

I’m at SteelCityInsider.net.

Tell us about the books you’ve written – what have been your biggest takeaways from the books you wrote – what are some of the biggest things you learned and/or realized because you wrote these books?

I’ve written three books: Tales From Behind the Steel Curtain, Men of Steel, and Steeler Nation. The first two were for a publishing house that has since gone bankrupt and left a trail of I.O.U.s. Someone told me he bought one of them at Amazon for $70. Are you kidding me? Anyway, another publishing house is buying them and yhey’ll be made available at regular rates again.

I did Steeler Nation myself and it worked out. I had all the control and, frankly, made more money. I’m not telling you this to brag, I’m just taking a long time getting to the most important thing I’ve learned: If you think you can market it yourself on the Net, do it.

A photographer and I thought we had an agreement with Hines Ward to do his biography. Later, we found out Hines hired a writer from New York to do it. I heard Hines talking about it on the radio and so I asked him about it the next day. He said his agent hired the writer, that he thought it would be best for Hines to go with the people who did Bettis’s book, and that they’d be able to find a publishing house easier with this writer. I told Hines that sounds fine, but now he’ll be paying his agent, his writer, and his publishing house and to watch that he’s not left with a trail of IOUs some day.

I told him to watch out for this and that, told him he could’ve marketed it himself on the Net just as easily, and he said, “Man, we should sit down some day and go over this.” I told him he didn’t need to be adding me to his growing payroll. But my point is that I’ve learned this: Don’t let people steal your money!

As far as what I’ve learned about the Steelers, from my road trip book, I’ve learned about their families. I’ve become interested in them as people. Now when they see me coming in the locker room they don’t say, “Oh, what does this guy want from me now?” Because a lot of times we’re just shooting the breeze, whether it’s their brother, mother, or how their college football team did over the weekend. So that’s a tip for aspiring reporters to go along with the previous tip for aspiring authors. I feel bad for the 99 percent reading this who just want to know something about the dang team.

What would surprise fans most about this Steelers team?

And here’s where I don’t have anything for you. I would be surprised if Steelers fans can still be surprised. Since this is a Net interview, I’m sure these readers are the most-informed fans of this team. I’m sure they know everything that I do. I’ll hope to provide something in the coming questions.

What are some of the most memorable players and coaches you experienced covering the Steelers – and what made them so? Any experiences you can relate about those players?

I’ve covered them since 1995 and since 1998 I’ve been sharing my experiences every day. I really wouldn’t know where to begin to answer those questions.

To me, Anthony Madison is just as memorable as Greg Lloyd. I still think I see Corey Holliday in the cafeteria every day. Um, one image just flashed into my mind, was the way rookie Aaron Smith used to watch the media and team interact. He sat there alone, a mid-round rookie without any attention, and he was an eagle-eye. He’s since become a team spokesman with whom I have a great relationship.

I think about him when I see people like Jonathan Dwyer doing the same thing as a mid-round rookie these days. You have to be nice to begin relationships with even the most uninteresting rookie, because you never know who they’ll grow up to become.

What are some of the most memorable experiences you had covering the Steelers – and what made them so?

I feel like James Harrison trying to dodge these questions because I don’t have the quick-twitch memory that so many of today’s best sportswriters have. Man, I could sit down with Vic Ketchman and listen to his detailed memories of the 70s Steelers for hours. Ed Bouchette’s the same way. Gerry Dulac. Dale Lolley. These are sharp people.

I’m not nearly in that realm, and that’s why I’m glad I’ve kept all my daily notes and quotes. My first day with Harrison was memorable. I asked him about Jack Lambert and the Kent State connection and Harrison, on his first day of spring camp as a rookie, blasted Lambert for never having come around. “You’re supposed to be this all-time great, but you never came around and blah, blah, blah …” Anyway, I asked James recently if he’s ever heard from, or met, any of the 70s linebackers. He told me he received a letter from Lambert after Harrison’s wrecked the Ravens in his great 2007 game, and he told me the letter meant a lot ot him. I was happy for James and for Lambert, who remains a literary idol of mine because of his prolific letter writing. It’s so old school and very cool and courteous and smart. I’ve got to write more letters to people when they do great things. I’ve got to be more like Jack Lambert.

We heard Tomlin speak out recently about media members revealing “in house” information. How do you draw the line between what you report on and what you decide not to report on?

My readers have been good about this. They understand I can’t report tactical information gleaned from practice, whether it be position changes, injury replacements, interesting plays, whatever. You know something can help the opposition when you see it. That I don’t — even in message board interaction — exploit this in order to get more subscribers, I think, is appreciated by the readers I already have. They appreciate that I’m not going to become sensationalistic to make sales; and I appreciate that they re-subscribe year after year so that I have a base that I can count on to eat. And I really don’t need to eat steak. I’m happy with salami sandwiches and the best office in the world — the press box.

Getting to the Green Bay game – how does this defense attack that explosive Green Bay offense – especially one that performs so well in a dome?

Hmmm. You think I’m smart, do you?

First, stop the run. I like what James Starks has brought to GB, but I believe he’s got a fumble in him with that large strike zone. He hasn’t done it yet, so that means he’s due. But don’t believe this team will Brady you with 40 consecutive passes. Play that run and look for blitz opportunities when they’re “behind the chains.” And keep sprinkling in that press man that seems to have become so useful since the Brady disaster at mid-season. Just keep doing what they’ve been doing.

On offense, what do you see as the biggest vulnerability of the Green Bay defense and how do you think the Steelers attack it?

I may have watched them twice this year. I usually ask these questions. By the numbers, they’re average against the run, but with Raji coming on strong (vs. a backup) and the Steelers having been so average with their run game, and their lack of patience with it, that won’t be the edge. I think it could be the short underneath stuff to all of those speed guys, and I’m including Heath Miller, an athletic TE. The Packers’ WRs may have the better reputation and numbers, but these Steelers WR are coming on, and they are fast — Mendenhall included.

How important is the fact that many of the Steelers players and coaches have been to the SB before – is that a decidedly large advantage or overplayed? And why?

Absolutely. Here’s another long, bore-ass story about myself: On Monday morning, before I even knew whether my wife and daughter would get tickets, I bought them airfare. I saved about $400 by doing that right away. On Tuesday, I e-mailed the league to confirm my media credential. They did not have it, so we began a 2-day process to get the paperwork done on that. On Wednesday, I called the hotel to confirm my reservation. They did not have that, so we began what’s now been a 4-day process to slash through that mound of paperwork. On Thursday, my 2 tickets were confirmed, so the airfare didn’t go for naught. Now, had I not covered 3 Super Bowls previously, I would’ve assumed all would’ve been taken care of. And next week I’d be living on some street in Forth Worth, and a couple grand to the bad. That’s just my story.

Think of that and add game preparations to the list. Experience is huge.

Who or what do you see being the “surprise” difference-maker in this game – for both teams – and why?

I’m worried about Andrew Quarless, the rookie TE from Penn State. I thought he was such a good player at PSU but knew he had too much baggage for the Steelers to draft this year.

And that gets me into another topic: It’s really pissing me off how lousy journalists are shaping the facts and ripping the Steelers as some kind of hypocrites because they project themselves as “a paragon of virtue” but yet are as dirty as the rest, and these hacks are shaping the myths surrounding Ben, Harrison, Hines etc. to their liking.

Well, the draft is the lifeblood of this team. And all of your readers know they’ve hurt themselves by consistently down-grading prospects who’ve been in trouble. At the Senior Bowl, Phil Taylor was the best player on the field. He was a man amongst boys.

Do you think the Steelers will get him? Not a chance. He was kicked out of Penn State and may as well have been kicked off the Steelers’ draft board. But the point is the draft is their lifeline and they do their best to draft good people (and it’s not for some altruistic aim that will surely please their owner; it’s because good people make for good teams, as evidenced). But anyway, because of Andrew Quarless, I can prove that the Steelers are indeed a paragon of virtue and screw anyone who has an agenda coming into their story or talk show and uses these myths as vindication

Whew. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. As for your question, I see no surprises from the Steelers. I think it’s Ben’s MVP trophy to win or lose.

A recent ESPN report says LeBeau could go to AZ next season when his contract expires – any accuracy there? What are your thoughts?

No. Arizona’s waiting on Keith Butler. The Steelers, intelligently, want to make sure LeBeau re-ups before giving Butler the OK to head west.

Its early, but still, what are the main priorities for this team in the offseason?

Forget about free agency because of the lockout. In the draft, it’s value, value, value. Any idiot like me can say they need another O-lineman or another cornerback, but as long as either position presents value they will remain the annual contender they’ve become.

Pittsburgh has a new football team in the Pittsburgh Power – what do they have to do to win over Pittsburgh fans? What are your thoughts about this new team?

We who live in Pittsburgh will give our pocketbooks a rest until next September. Any new league needs to serve as some type of minor-league team for the Steelers for the discerning fan in these parts.

Any last thoughts for Pittsburgh Sports Daily Bulletin readers?

Sorry for going so long on some of these. As I said, there’s really not much more that can be known about the Steelers. Hope I didn’t bore you by talking so much about myself. Take care.

Don Skwar, ESPN

Don Skwar, Senior News Editor, ESPN (March 9, 2011):

First, can you briefly explain you role as Senior News Editor at ESPN – what that entails?

I oversee the Event news editors – there are eight of them – whose job it is to ensure the editorial directionof the games that are on ESPN’s various networks as well as ABC. I also oversee the bureau reporters and producers, whose job it is to report on various breaking news and feature and enterprise stories that will make their way onto ESPN’s various programs.

You seem to be very involved in the development of journalists – as the President of the APSE (Associated Press Sports Editors) and with your work at the Sports Journalism Institute. What advice would you give young journalists trying to get started today?

I actually don’t have a role with SJI, although one of the people who works with me – Sandy Rosenbush – is a co-founder of SJI. I was the president of APSE back in 2001-2002. As to what advice I’d give to young journalists trying to get started today: Same as I gave in the ‘80s, ‘90s and ‘00s – make sure you’re passionate about your work, because the long hours and grunt work won’t seem like work at all; be fair and balanced in your reporting; and realize the importance of being right, not first.

What have been some of the most exciting – and most difficult – stories you’ve overseen in the seven years that you’ve been at ESPN?

The Tiger Woods controversy. Barry Bonds’ pursuit of Hank Aaron’s home-run record. The BALCO/steroids issue. And by the way, I was involved in the coverage of all of these, but I wouldn’t say I oversaw them.

As advertising revenue on the web becomes harder to maintain, how are you able to leverage your content to find alternative sources of revenue? What’s worked – and what hasn’t?

I’m not involved in dotcom, so that’s hard for me to answer. I do know that ad placement is key, as is the charging for our Insider package – and we’re able to do that because of the talented insiders we have. And that only comes because we’ve outlaid money to get them. Some things never change: Money does help to beget money.

How do you differentiate yourself from the ever-increasing number of independent news sources -blogs, twitter….how do you deal with those as information rivals?

They’re very real, and very immediate. The landscape for competing media has changed drastically in the last five or so years. We need to be aware of that competition but, as I mentioned above, we also have to be sure we’re right, not necessarily first. It’s great to be first, but not if you’re wrong.

I also think that some blogs and sites don’t really care about being accurate as much as they want to get the word on the street out there and let the readers decide if it’s true or not. While that’s an interesting philosophy, I still think readers will have a greater tendency of returning to a source of news that is reliable and accurate.

What are your big objectives for 2011 at ESPN? Any specific objectives you are looking to accomplish?

I’ve got a new job heading my way in a few weeks: as the overseer of the weekend SportsCenters. The amount of talent on the various SportsCenters is overwhelming, and it’ll be humbling to work among that talent. I look forward to it, nonetheless.

From a Pittsburgh perspective, some fans have complained about the fact that ESPN’s sports coverage has become too general and nationally focused for the Pittsburgh market. Radio stations have removed local broadcasting in Pittsburgh, for example. Can you explain how you have addressed the need to create more locally-focused content portals for Pittsburgh fans and what future plans for doing so might entail?

I don’t know enough about what’s going on in the Pittsburgh market to comment intelligently on this. I do know we’ve started and have been successful with local dotcoms in five major markets – Boston, New York, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles – and there’s always a possibility we could expand into more markets in the future.

There is an increasingly large number of stories covering the personal and legal lives of sports figures. How do you determine what to publish these stories and when you have enough information to cross the line from a potential story to a story you decide to run?

It’s really a case-by-case basis, with the popularity of the person, the severity of the crime and several other factors coming into play. As to the legal side of things, we will run a story if an athlete has been charged. We won’t necessarily run it if that athlete has been accused. We also weigh how much play that story might be getting in other media outlets. So a lot of issues and circumstances have to be out there.

How do you address those who say ESPN is too closely tied into the leagues/teams it covers and sometimes appears biased or unwilling to tackle stories that are negative towards those leagues and teams?

We definitely have ties to leagues and teams. We’re rightsholders with a lot of them. But I can say unequivocally that our affiliation – large or small – with a team, a league or a player doesn’t interfere with our pursuit of any story.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Just to hit ‘em straight.

Justin Evans-Riverhounds

Justin Evans, Head Coach, Pittsburgh Riverhounds (April 16, 2011):

First, can you tell us about yourself – your playing and coaching experience?

I grew up in the South Hills of Pittsburgh (Peters Township). I was the 1st player ever signed by the Riverhounds Organization in 1999. I had a 10 year Pro career. Played a couple of years in the MLS for the San Jose Earthquakes, Chicago Fire, and the Dallas Burn. Played two seasons in Poland; one season in the Polish 1st Division and one season in the Polish 2nd Division.

Also played in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) for four seasons. Last year was my 1st year as a Professional Head Coach, after being player/Asst. Coach for the Riverhounds in 2009.

Can you tell us a bit about the Riverhounds – the team, league and where/how fans can watch the team?

We return a solid core of last year’s team who made the Playoffs for the 1st time since 2006.

This off-season, we added some players, including four players with MLS experience, that should help us be a better team this season. Also in the off-season, we have moved into a new League (USLPRO), which is the League right below MLS. Their are 15 teams in our League across the country, which also includes a Carribean contingent.

We play our Home Games at Chartiers Valley High School and fans can find our schedule at www.riverhounds.com

For those new to the Riverhounds, what should they look for in your team and league in terms of style of play?

In terms of style of play for our team this season, we are going to look to continue to build on last years success. We had the stingiest defense in the League last year and we return the “Goalkeeper of the Year”- Hunter Gilstrap and the “Defender of the Year” – Shintaro Harada.

As I said earlier, we made brought in some key offensive acquisitions to help us score goals and be a dynamic offensive team as well this year. The League will be very competitive and all of the games will be exciting!

What is the fan experience and how does it differ from other sports?

The fan experience in the game of soccer is different than most other sports. There are rarely any stops in the game, so there is constant action for 2- 45 minute halves. It is more like hockey in terms of the continual action throughout the game.

The season has just gotten underway. How is the team looking – what are your expectations this Year?

We lost our first game on the road to Richmond (2-1). However, our team goals never change…we work to win the Championship every single year. That is the mentality of our team and our Organization.

How do you recruit players? Are most local?

Finding players keeps my coaching staff busy throughout the off-season. We host both Open and Invitational Player Combines here in Pittsburgh. We also attend other combines.

Also, we are very active in contacting college and Pro coaches about players to see who is available and what we need for our team each year. We do have a nice contingent of local players, who are important in helping to bring the Pittsburgh attitude to the team.

Who are the standout players to watch for on this team?

Besides Hunter Gilstrap and Shintaro Harada mentioned above, we return Chad Severs, our team Captain this year and leading goal scorer from last season. Jason Kutney, Louie Rolko, and Sterling Flunder return as defenders from last year’s stingy defense. We added Jason Yeisley, Boyzzz Khumalo, Kyle Veris, and Sammy Appiah who all have MLS experience on their resumes.

What non-game related activities do you offer – i.e. training, schools, etc.

The Youth aspect of our Organization is huge. The Riverhounds Academy has grown to 550 players this past Winter and we are a advanced technical training Academy for youth players aged 5-15 years old.

We also offer Riverhounds Summer Schools all over the Greater Pittsburgh area throughout the summer.

Youth players can also take part in our “Train with the Pros” program through our individual and small group training offerings year round.

How are you and the team helping to get Pittsburgh kids to play soccer?

All of the mentioned above. As well as our player appearances that occur throughout the summer.

What’s the next step up from the USL Pro League? Where do players go next and how does that process work?

The next step for the players would be Major League Soccer (MLS). The hope of the Organization is that we would be able to help every player play at the highest level that they can during their soccer career.

If players have a good season, MLS teams have scouts and they would be pulled in for a tryout. I believe that the USL PRO League has expressed interest in expanding throughout the country and I believe that they will be successful in their quest to do just that.

Any examples of players that have played for the Riverhounds and have risen to the MLS or other pro leagues?

Boyzzz Khumalo is a player that played for the Riverhounds in 2008. After a stellar season, he was picked up by DC United and played there for two seasons. He is now back to help the Hounds be successful this summer.

What would surprise fans about this team?

I think that fans are always surprised by the players accessibility.

Fans who have been to a Hounds game know that after every game, everyone is welcome onto the field to talk to the players, as well as being able to get their picture and an autograph from their favorite player(s).

Any other thoughts for readers?

We look forward to another exciting summer of soccer and we appreciate your support of our Organization!

Randy Baumann – WDVE

Randy Baumann – WDVE Morning Show Interview (March 3, 2011):

First, where can readers find you on the air and online?

They can find me on 102.5 FM www.dve.com @DVERandy and on Facebook

What’s the best thing about your job – and is there anything coming up on your show that fans should watch out for soon?

Best thing about the job has to be working with a tremendous amount of talented people and getting paid to goof off. I think people are really going to dig what DVE has planned for the web. They’re making a concerted effort to be THE site for both expatriate Pittsburghers and those still living here.

Who’s funnier – you or Jim?

Jim. Wait, I thought you asked ‘Who smelled funnier’. Still Jim. But no, really- Jim

Tell readers something about yourself that we’d be surprised to know.

I’m Banksy

Who are the sports journalists and broadcasters that you follow most closely, and why?

Locally Collier leads the way, but I like Molinari, Dejan, Rossi and Bouchette. Nationally, I’m so immersed in the web each day that I usually follow what guys are doing online.

So Peter King, Bill Simmons, Jason Stark, Deadspin guys, whomever is writing on my Fantasy league sites.

A special nod goes out to the Pensblog guys, who provide great satire/coverage of the Penguins. Somebody should really be paying them to do that because, to my knowledge, no other website has ever defined a sense of humor and created a language for an entire fan base. THATS influence.

What teams and players do you follow most closely?

The two local pro teams and the Pirates.

What have been some of the more interesting Pittsburgh sports figures you’ve met and what made them so?

Mario. People stand up straighter when he walks into a room. I’ve seen it. People straighten up like caddies as Lacie Underall walks past them

Which Pittsburgh sports figures that you have encountered had the best senses of humor – and how so?

Brett Keisel has an awesome dry sense of humor. He’ll never be known for it because the beard looms too large, but he should be known for it. Max Talbot and Colby Armstrong together could at times be fall down funny, Steve McKenna was a natural comic, much like Josh Miller, and the entire Pirates front office is hilarious.

Ward on Dancing with the Stars. Thoughts? Is this almost too easy? Are you going to ride him for this and how bad will his teammates do so?

As long as he dances to ‘Renegade’ every time, I’m fine with it.

What’s your funniest/most shocking on-air experience with a Pittsburgh sports figure?

Edgar Snyder hijacking a segment with Myron Cope, where he proceeded to bring up a couple of things that Myron would’ve rather he didn’t. The message on our producers voicemail after that show would’ve been Lee Elia good. I’m glad it got erased.

Any last thoughts for readers?

I think the Pittsburgh Power has a legitimate shot at a division title.