Media – Page 3 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Tunch Ilkin, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1980-1992, Steelers Broadcaster

First, can you let readers know how you got started in your broadcasting career?

My last year was ’93 in Green Bay. I was here in the offseason in ’94 and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next. It was my fifteenth season and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play. My thirty-seven year-old body fell apart the season before but a player can fool himself. Was I old or was it just bad luck?

My agent told me I had interest from some other teams. Green Bay said thanks but they wouldn’t need me next year. Mark Malone was hosting the Steelers show with Sam Nover but was hired by ESPN. NBC had the AFC contract then and hosted the pregame show prior to the network show. I got the call from Channel 11 after Malone left and they asked me if I was interested in the position.

Continue reading “Tunch Ilkin, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1980-1992, Steelers Broadcaster”

Murray Tucker, on Father Joe Tucker, Steelers/Penguins Broadcaster, 1936-1967

First, can you tell us what inspired you to write the book Screamer – the story of your father’s broadcasting career with the Steelers and Penguins from the 1930’s-1960’s?

I was inspired to write the book, Screamer: The Forgotten Voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers when I read a response in a web site trivial pursuit question that bothered me. It asked: What team has only had two play-by-play announcers for forty years.

Based on the limit on years, the correct answer was the Steelers, Jack Fleming and Bill Hargrove. But the question should have added another 28 years, and the answer would have been the same, but then there would have been three. My father, Joe Tucker, was the forgotten voice.

Continue reading “Murray Tucker, on Father Joe Tucker, Steelers/Penguins Broadcaster, 1936-1967”

Rick Buker, “100 Things Penguins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die”

Rick Buker:

First, can you tell us about the new book – what inspired you to write the book and how you went about researching it?

I’d be glad to! “100 Things Penguins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die” focuses on the top 100 players, personalities, and events that helped shape Penguins history. The book features bios on superstars like Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby, as well as stories about each of Cup runs and key events such as “the Save” and “the Trade.” It’s also packed with anecdotes about some of the team’s more colorful players such as Steve Durbano and Bryan Watson. And, I sprinkled in some to-do’s, like learning how to skate and calling into the Mark Madden Show.

Inspiration-wise, all the credit goes to Triumph Books, who published my first book, “Total Penguins: The Definitive Encyclopedia of the Pittsburgh Penguins” last fall. They suggested the “100 Pens” format and I eagerly agreed to do it.

Since I’d already written “Total Penguins,” I had lots of raw material for the new book. While “100 Pens” still required plenty of work, for the most part I was able to reshape what I already knew and fill in the blanks with material from online sources like “Sports Illustrated Vault” and “PittsburghHockey.Net,” which is a great web site.

What were some of the most surprising things you found in researching the book?

I think the most surprising thing I learned involved Bill LeCaine, who was one of the Pens’ first free-agent signings. A friend of mine, John Bigler, recalled that a Native American had played for the team back in the late 1960s. So I did some digging and discovered it was LeCaine. Turns out, he’s a distant relative of the famous Lakota Sioux Chief, Sitting Bull, who fought at the battle of Little Big Horn!

Where can readers purchase the book?

A: “100 Things Penguins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die” is available online at sites like Triumphbooks.com, Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, and at bookstores like Barnes and Noble. I believe Wal-Mart also carries it. My first book, “Total Penguins,” also can be purchased online, and may still be available at bookstores.

Tell us about the website as well–its origins and focus….

PenguinPoop.com started out a few years ago when two long-time Pittsburgh Penguins fans wanted to voice their dislike of how things were working out under Penguins coach Michel Therrien. Since then PenguinPoop has primarily focused on the opinions of seven or eight contributors whose backgrounds range from hockey players, referees, long-time fans and season-ticket holders. One of our writers has been a Pittsburgh Penguins Season Ticket Holder for 37 years! Coming up this January we will be going into our fourth year.

Besides the drafting of Crosby, what were some of the key elements in the Penguins’ turnaround after the Lemieux years?

There’s no doubt Sid is the cornerstone for our current Penguins. And you can’t overlook Marc-Andre Fleury and Evgeni Malkin. However, former GM Craig Patrick deserves a ton of credit for helping to turn the team around. Starting in the early 2000s, he drafted brilliantly. In addition to picking superstars like Crosby, Fleury and Malkin, he added the likes of Alex Goligoski, Tyler Kennedy, Kris Letang, Ryan Malone, Brooks Orpik, Rob Scuderi, Max Talbot, and Ryan Whitney through the draft. Ray Shero has done a great job of working off the foundation Patrick laid with some savvy trades and free-agent signings. And Mario Lemieux has done a remarkable job as owner.

Under his stewardship, the team built a new arena and is on firm financial ground for perhaps the first time in franchise history.

Before Lemieux, there were also lean years. What other catalysts inspired the turnaround for the Penguins’ first Stanley Cup winning season?

Obviously, Lemieux was the key. Former coach and GM Eddie Johnston once said there would be no hockey in Pittsburgh if it wasn’t for Mario. Johnston also had a big hand in the turnaround. Along with No. 66, he drafted good young players like Doug Bodger, Rob Brown, Craig Simpson, and Zarley Zalapski. Simpson was used as the centerpiece in a deal to acquire Paul Coffey. A superb offensive defenseman, Coffey helped Lemieux get the most out of his burgeoning talents by opening up the ice with his speed and passing. Although his contributions generally are overlooked, Tony Esposito drafted Mark Recchi and traded for Tom Barrasso, giving the team a stud between the pipes.

Craig Patrick was masterful during his first full season at the helm. In addition to hiring Cup-winning coaches Scotty Bowman and “Badger Bob” Johnson, he acquired future Hall of Famers Ron Francis, Joe Mullen, Larry Murphy, and Bryan Trottier and drafted Jaromir Jagr. But the man behind the scenes, owner Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., also deserves recognition. He absorbed enormous losses–some $25 million by his own reckoning–but stayed the course long enough to see his ugly ducklings transform into Stanley Cup champions.

What did prior management do wrong, do you think, that caused the team to struggle for so many years?

I think finances (or a lack of) played a huge role in the team’s early struggles. The Penguins were sold to Detroit banker Donald Parsons after their very first season. Less than three years later the league had to assume control of the franchise. The next ownership group–led by Tad Potter–built a darn good hockey team but were forced into receivership following a disastrous loss to the Islanders in the 1975 playoffs.

When Al Savill purchased the club from Potter, he basically eliminated the farm system to save money. GM Baz Bastien had little choice but to trade draft choices for veterans in order to keep the team marginally competitive. This led to a total collapse, which–ironically–put the team in a position to draft Mario Lemieux. So in a backhanded way, things worked out pretty well!

Who were some of the most interesting characters across the various Penguins teams, in your opinion, and what made them so?

For starters, Bryan “Bugsy” Watson was a real character. During a road trip to Los Angeles back in the early 1970s, he hijacked a Marriott courtesy bus on a dare (with teammates and hotel guests aboard) and took it for a joy ride. In the late 1970s, Brian “Spinner” Spencer built his own version of a Hummer from the frame of an old Army convoy truck. But for my money the team’s all-time character was Steve Durbano. A swashbuckling defenseman back in the 1970s, “Demolition Durby” made the Hanson Brothers of “Slap Shot” fame look like choir boys. He’d fight anyone, anytime, anywhere, for any reason.

One night while playing in the WHA he tore off Bobby Hull’s toupee. During one of his final games he famously mooned the Madison Square Garden crowd (hockey pants on, of course) after igniting a bench-clearing brawl.

Who are unsung heroes over the course of the Penguins’ history that deserve more recognition, in your opinion, and why?

The Pens have had plenty of players who didn’t get the recognition they deserved. Ken Schinkel and Ron Schock were diligent, productive skaters for the early Penguins, but were overshadowed by the likes of Syl Apps, Pierre Larouche, and Jean Pronovost. Dave Burrows was a superb stay-at-home defenseman–perhaps the finest of his era–but he didn’t get much ink because he didn’t put up big offensive numbers.

I thought Ron Stackhouse was vastly underrated (and unappreciated), mostly because he was a big guy who didn’t play an especially physical game. However, I think Ron Francis is the most underrated player in Penguins history. Francis may seem like a strange choice given that he’s a Hall of Famer. But he did so many things well. Ronnie was a marvelous playmaker, a terrific defensive player and face-off man, and he scored important goals. When Mario was hurt, he stepped up and became captain. Francis was a true stabilizing influence and great team guy.

Any last thoughts for readers?

I count myself lucky to be a Penguins fan. We’ve been blessed with not one, but four once-in-a-generation players (Lemieux, Jagr, Crosby, and Malkin) over the span of two decades! And we’ve been treated to some of the finest hockey and most memorable plays (“the Goal” and “the Save”) ever witnessed. How very fortunate we are to root for such a great team!

Edmund Nelson, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1982-1987/Steelers Broadcaster

First, can you let readers know what you are doing these days? How are you enjoying the announcing work and what other ventures are you involved in?

I am a twenty-two year State Farm Insurance Agent and we provided insurance and financial services to mainly the South Hills area of Pittsburgh, but we have clients all over Pennsylvania.

I also work for the NFL as the Uniform Inspector and game day compliance. I make sure the players are dressed pretty on game day and make sure all equipment on each sideline is compliant with NFL rules.

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Ben Alamar, Sports Statistics Consultant/Creator of ESPN’s New Quarterback Rating

First, can you tell readers a bit about yourself – how you got into sports statistics and sports management?

I got into sports statistics by accident. I was doing economic policy analysis around tobacco control issues at UCSF when I answered an ad for a part time consultant at a startup company call Protrade Sports (later Citizen Sports that was acquired by Yahoo!). They were a fantasy sports company that was looking to do advanced statistical analysis to create better scoring systems.

While there I met Roland Beech (currently with the Dallas Mavericks) and Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders and learned about the budding field of sports statistics. From there I created the Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports and have worked with teams and other startups as well.

Continue reading “Ben Alamar, Sports Statistics Consultant/Creator of ESPN’s New Quarterback Rating”

Jack Bogut, Pittsburgh Radio

Jack Bogut:

Can you give readers a quick idea on how you decided to enter into broadcasting and what made you decide to pursue this career – and how you landed in Pittsburgh in 1968?

A friend got a job at a brand new radio station in Dillon,Montana and when I heard his voice coming out of the radio in my Mom’s car, I wanted some of that fame for my self. (The whole story is contained in track #2 of my storytelling CD, “Mental Movies” entitled – “Failing Your Way to Success.”)

While working at KCAP in Salt Lake City, I was asked to do a pro bono recorded presentation sampling all the radio stations in the market for The National Association of Broadcasters convention being held in our city. It was heard by the National Program Manager for Westinghouse Broadcasting who stayed in town to listen to my show and ultimately offered me a job at KDKA.

What have been the favorite – and least favorite – parts of the job?

Favorite: the chance to be accepted by a large audience, useful to the community, have fun, and get paid for it.

Least favorite – Negotiating contract renewals.

You’ve been in the broadcasting business for over 50 years now – how has the business changed over the years – and has it been for the better?

The number of radio stations competing for listeners is much greater today, to the extent that we all “narrowcast” to a specific age and gender niche instead of “broadcast” to a general audience of men, women and children of all ages. We were also encouraged to be personalities on the air and develop a personal relationship with the audience.

It is the nature of things to change so radio is no better or worse than it was, just different.

You’re so well-known for your on-air storytelling. How did that begin for you – and how hard is it to come up with so many new story ideas?

Listening to music always creates mental images for me. Playing that music on the air and extemporaneously verbalizing what I see or feel over it became a form of word jazz I called “Home Movies (or videos) on Radio.” Sometimes I would have an ending in mind and make up a story to fit, or have a beginning in mind and have to find a way to end it before the music ran out.

It was a little scary but great fun to do.

Is oral storytelling becoming a “lost art”?

I think people are becoming reluctant to tell stories because of the need to be politically correct. Society has become very territorial about individual space and rights and seems to look for ways to be offended. A wise person once said that adversity brings us together; prosperity pushes us apart. What happened on 9/11 is a good case in point.

What sports and teams have you enjoyed most – and why?

I have long been a fan of The Steelers, The Pirates, and The Penguins. All of these teams are metaphors for the rest of us. When they work totally together as with no thought about individual achievements, they are unbeatable. When they don’t, individual players still shine but other teams can win.

Who have been some of the most enjoyable athletes and coaches you’ve met – and what made them so?

Steve Blass, Dave Guisti, Kent Tekulve, Chuck Tanner, Dan Rooney, Chuck Noll, Andy Russell, Jack Ham, Mike Wagner, Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Mel Blount; all were great leaders and team players first, and individual stars, second. They were also outstanding members of the community with their support of local charities and organizations.

What have you experienced that you think would surprise fans most about Pittsburgh and/or any of it sports teams?

When it comes to giving, Pittsburgh is one of the most generous communities per capita in America.

Any last thoughts for fans?

All of the athletes and owners I have met and known say essentially the same thing. “Fan support can be the difference between a championship and “almost…”

Go Steelers! Come back Pirates! Thank you, Mario! And return safely, Sid!

Alan Abrahamson on the Olympics

Alan Ambrahamson:

First, can you tell readers where they can find your work and what drives your passion for covering the Olympics?

At 3 Wire Sports: just like it sounds, //3wiresports.com/.

When I set out on my own, after 17 years at the LA Times and four at NBC, I gave a lot of thought to what I wanted my site to be named. The branding thing is a big deal, everyone tells you. As you may know, you’re not allowed to use the name “Olympic” in the United States for commercial purposes. By law, the U.S. Olympic Committee owns the rights to the word. In part, the name of my site pays tribute to my two middle brothers, who were Naval aviators; when you land a plane on a carrier deck, you have to catch one of four wires; the third of the four wires is the perfect catch.

I have always been passionate about the Olympics. We grew up near Dayton, Ohio. I remember hearing about Bob Beamon in 1968, when I was just 10, and being stunned that a man could jump more than 29 feet in the air. I vividly remember watching Frank Shorter in 1972 and Bruce Jenner in 1976. I went to Northwestern with the idea that I would graduate in 1980 with my journalism degree, which I did, having studied Russian, which I did, and go to Moscow to report on those Games — oops, that didn’t quite work out, and I have over the years become friends with some of the members of that 1980 U.S. Summer Olympic team. The stories of how the boycott has played out in their lives is compelling stuff.

How did you get started as a sportswriter – any advice for those choosing to enter the field?

I started working as a copy boy at the Dayton Daily News when I was still in high school. In college I worked in the sports section of the Waukegan News-Sun. My first job out of Northwestern was at the Jackson, Mich., Citizen Patriot, covering cops.

The business has changed so much since then.

Advice for those entering the field: Any foot in the door is good.

What are your thoughts the somewhat recent addition of allowing professional athletes to participate in the Olympics – has this had a positive impact on the games? Why/why not?

Well, it’s not really all that recent. The Dream Team in men’s hoops was Barcelona 1992, which is nearly 20 years ago.

I am all for professionals competing in the Games. How can anyone not be? The Games are supposed to be about excellence.

To compete into your 20s and 30s you need to get paid. To compete in sports such as swimming you need to get paid. Everyone reveled in Michael Phelps’ eight gold medals. But how, exactly, is Michael supposed to have the wherewithal to train? The second of the eight gold medals that Michael won in Beijing was saved by Jason Lezak’s phenomenal anchor leg. How is Jason supposed to train? Don’t Michael and Jason have every right to strive for the same excellence that Kobe Bryant and LeBron James do? Moreover, if Pau Gasol is going to be playing for Spain — shouldn’t Kobe and LeBron be wearing red, white and blue? It only makes sense.

Can you describe the effect Juan Antonio Samaranch had on the Olympics – what impact did he have and how much is he missed?

Juan Antonio Samaranch was president from 1980-2001. History will, I think, be far kinder to him than many judge him now. When he took over, the IOC was mired in financial instability and turmoil. When he stepped down, it had enormous global reach and was financially secure.

His legacy will forever be tarnished, of course, by the specter of doping in sports and by the Salt Lake City corruption scandal. As for the events in Salt Lake — he immediately launched a far-reaching reform plan that continues to guide the IOC to this day. As for the campaign against doping in sports — that is without end.

It is fair to say I came to know Samaranch better than any other American journalist. He was actually quite shy in public; incredibly warm, personable and gracious with those he knew; and nothing like the stereotype of the imperious grandee so many liked to toss about.

What do you think about the location for the 2012 and 2014 games – will London and Sochi be ready – what should we expect?

Yes, both absolutely will be ready.

London, assuming no transport or security issues, holds the promise to be a party like Sydney in 2000 — only better. After all, it’s London, which may well be the best big city in the world. The big question right now is who is going to play the opening ceremony — as in: The Who? Or will it be the likes of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr? The guessing game is on.

As for Sochi: The 2014 Games will prove a catalyst of sorts for Russia. They will introduce concepts there that are long-familiar here and elsewhere but not there — for instance, volunteering. And recycling. Because of the 2014 Games, you will be able to recycle water bottles in Sochi. You couldn’t do that before. If that seems simple — it’s also fairly profound. That’s a big, big culture change in a place like Russia.

Which US athletes should we be watching out for in 2012 – what athletes do you think will surprise U.S. viewers?

1. Michael Phelps. He’ll be back. He won’t be swimming eight races. But he’s still going to win a bunch of golds.

2. Ryan Lochte. He swam better than Phelps in 2010 and 2011. He became the first guy to break a world record without a high-tech plastic suit. And he beat Phelps doing it.

3. Missy Franklin. The teen-age swimmer from Denver rocked the 2011 world swim championships.

4. Jordyn Wieber. The 2011 world gymnastics women’s all-around champion. She’s from Michigan.

5. Trey Hardee, Ashton Eaton and Bryan Clay. The U.S. could go 1-2-3 in the decathlon. Hardee and Eaton went 1-2 at the track worlds in 2011. Clay is the 2008 Beijing champion.

6. Brady Ellison. The world’s No. 1 archer. From Arizona. Grew up hunting and fishing with his dad.

No list of athletes is complete without mentioning Usain Bolt, who of course is Jamaican. His current world records: 9.58 in the 100, 19.19 in the 200.

What have been some of the more lasting memories for you so far in your coverage of the Olympics – what made them so?

My favorite Olympic memory is from Salt Lake City in 2002. It’s the picture in my mind’s eye of Ross Powers winning the snowboarding halfpipe with his first trick, a huge jump called a method air. I was down at the bottom of the hill, watching. Ross threw the trick, which is really just a leap into the sky. He timed it expertly. He was probably 35 feet off the ground, silhouetted against a perfect blue background. Just — perfect.

Which athletes made the biggest impressions on you over the years – and why?

Phelps and Apolo Ohno, because I’ve had the privilege of working with each of them on their best-selling books, and gotten to know them so well.

And: Kerri Walsh and Misty May, after they won the gold medal in Athens in 2004 in beach volleyball. (No book but have gotten to know them, too.) After they won, they went around the court and shook hands with the officials, the ball boys and girls, the fans — everyone. It was a fantastic display of class and sportsmanship.

Some of the criticism of Olympics coverage is the fact that, outside of the known professional athletes, many of the participants are simply unknown to viewers? Do you think the US committee does a good enough job “introducing” these athletes to viewers? How can they improve?

That’s why NBC does those “up close and personal” profiles. It’s understood that several of the Olympic sports can be less-understood and that consequently viewers might need a rooting interest.

I think everyone who is close to the Olympic scene understands that the more we all do to tell the stories of the athletes the better it is for all involved.

Any new books coming out soon?

Our oldest is a senior in high school. College tuition is coming right up!

Seriously — I’m always interested in new projects. At the same time, you have to find the right balance time-wise between professional and family life. So we’ll see …

Any last thoughts for readers?

My wife, Laura, makes all this possible. Without her support, no way I get to live out the dreams I dreamed of when I was watching Frank Shorter and Bruce Jenner a long time ago.

Casey Shea, KDKA, on the Penguins

Casey Shea, KDKA

First, can you tell readers about yourself – what you do with KDKA and how you got started there?

I started with KDKA during the summer of 2009. My primary job is to produce news content in the form of stories, videos, slideshows, etc. for our website. Before coming to Pittsburgh, I was a National Producer for the CBS Digital Media Group in New York City. I am also the author of the Shea-ved Ice blog, which is dedicated to my thoughts on the Pittsburgh Penguins. I have always been a Penguins fan so to be able to write about them for the website is great. Here’s the link to the blog: //pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/tag/shea-ved-ice/

How worried should fans be about Malkin’s consistent injury issues? Are these indicative of more chronic issues or will we see the end of these issues at some point this season?

My gut feeling on Malkin is that the early season soreness is just a lingering effect from the surgery. At this point, I’m not overly worried that he will continue to deal with this all season. I think the Pens are doing the right thing by holding him out at the moment. Malkin has been pushing himself during his recovery, but you can never recreate game intensity in practice.

The unknown was how his knee would hold up when the games started. I’d rather see him be held out now so he can recover, than push it and not be available for the stretch run and playoffs.

Does this team have enough offensive “punch” still at forward? Neal is on fire right now, but there seem to be so few pure scorers on this team, and it shows in their shooting percentages, Can they win as is?

I think we saw in the playoffs last year how much the Penguins struggled to score without guys like Sidney Crosby and Malkin. Also not having Dustin Jeffrey, Mark Letestu, etc. only compounded the scoring problems. Neal took a lot of heat last year for not being able to light the lamp, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Outside factors such as getting accustomed to a new system and a new city had to have affected his game. He looks a lot more comfortable with his surroundings so far this season and the pucks are going in for him.

The question now isn’t if he can score, it’s can he sustain this pace? In the absence of Crosby and Malkin, the scoring load falls to guys like Neal, Chris Kunitz, Jordan Staal and Steve Sullivan up front. Sullivan has had numerous golden opportunities in their most recent games against Montreal and New Jersey, but hasn’t been able to bury the puck. They proved last season that they can win low-scoring regular season games.

However, in the playoffs their offensive struggles ultimately led to their demise. Well, that and the power play, but we’ll get to that later.

How does the team remedy this – or is this the makeup of a team who understands in scoring limitations and believes in just trying to get pucks on the net to hope for rebounds?

There’s nothing wrong with putting a bunch of pucks on net and crashing for rebounds. One of the first things they teach you in youth hockey is to put the puck on net because you never know what might happen. Right now, I think we need to get used to seeing goals coming from up and down the roster until the big guns return. As far as remedying the goal-scoring problem without Crosby and Malkin, the Penguins just need to get back to basics.

The fancy passing we’ve come to know and expect out of this team can’t be happening, especially when the best two players in the world aren’t on the ice. The Pens have their best success when they get into the zone and cycle the puck. It generates momentum and leads to scoring chances.

Can Jeffrey be a scoring solution?

I think he has the potential to score at least 15 goals. He had seven in just 25 games with the Penguins last year, so I don’t think 15 is too big of a stretch. Even getting 10 from him would be a help while the Penguins get healthy.

Right now, I wouldn’t expect him to be a guy the team turns to be a major factor in the goal scoring department. At the moment, it’s all about balanced scoring for the Penguins. So, anything he adds will make this team successful.

How does Coach Bylsma get so much out of a team so riddled with injuries? What about him makes players respond so well to his leadership?

Quite simply, his system is what allows this team to be successful. The fact that the same system is being used in Wilkes-Barres/Scranton allows the call-ups to step right in and feel comfortable. It’s hard enough to make an NHL roster, but being familiar with the system on the big stage goes a long way. While it seems as if we’ve been watching the current core forever, this is still a very young hockey team. Bylsma comes across as a teacher and rarely loses his cool. His approach makes players want to be better.

The system is catered to how these current players want to play the game. Under Michel Therrien, guys like Crosby and Malkin were bottled up. Now, the system allows them to use their speed to create chances. The Penguins are a very fast team and bottling them up made absolutely no sense. The players appeared to tune Therrien out after a while. Whether they did or not is pure speculation. It’s just how it looked to me. Bylsma brought a new outlook, a new system and the team responded by winning the Stanley Cup. Players follow guys who win and Bylsma finds ways to win with what he’s given. There’s no reason to not trust his decisions.

How has this team addressed the power play – and while it’s too early to evaluate with Malikn and Crosby out so much, do you see signs of real improvement yet?

The signs of improvement are there. Pucks are getting to the net on a more frequent basis and there’s been better puck movement once they get set up. However, the problem is still getting set up in the zone. At times, the zone entries are the same as they were last year. Basically, Kris Letang lugs the puck through the neutral zone with his four teammates stopped at the blue line. When Letang enters the zone, he’s met with a wall of defenders and no one to pass to. The guys without the puck need to be hitting the line with speed so Letang has an option to either pass or chip it deep.

From a personnel standpoint, I’d make two changes right now. Paul Martin has looked lost on the second unit and I’m not entirely sure why. His decisions with the puck have left a lot to be desired to this point. When healthy, I’d prefer to see Zbynek Michalek out there. He’s got a decent shot and he’s not afraid to let it fly. Also, I’d take Matt Cooke off the ice for power plays. If he’s only going to the net to set up screens, put Mark Letestu or Jeffrey out there. Cooke seems to have been able to change his game, but he’s not the first guy I would think of to use on the power play. Maybe things will change when the team gets healthy. Time will tell.

What has Bill Guerin brought to this team – how has he been working with the players?

I’ll admit it. I wasn’t a big fan of trading for Guerin at first. I’ll also admit, my judgment of that deal was completely wrong. What a fantastic deal that turned out to be and not just because he helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup. He brought a veteran presence into a young locker room, but didn’t have the “holier than thou” mentality just because he had been around longer.

Guerin took Crosby under his wing and showed him how to be a leader. He showed all the “kids” the right way to play the game. When the team faced adversity, they looked to Guerin because he’d been there before. Having him in the front office as a player development coach is only going to do wonders for the prospects in the system.

What does the team do for the new players like Sullivan, Neal and Park to get them “indoctrinated” – what do the players and coaches do to welcome them and make them feel a part of the team?

I’m not entirely certain how the team rolls out the red carpet for new players to the team. However, the free agent signings over the past couple of years have wanted to be members of the team. You run the risk in trades with players being unhappy with having been traded. Steve Sullivan for example wanted to be a Penguin because of the winning attitude here. He’s nearing the end of his career and figures this team to have the best chance to win the Stanley Cup. Could he have gotten more money elsewhere? It’s hard to say, but his eagerness to come to Pittsburgh makes welcoming him to the team much easier.

The guys in the locker room have always appeared to welcome new guys to the team with open arms. If Arron Asham can come in from Philly and fit right in, surely anyone can right?

Coach Bylsma has been questioned at times for aggressively mixing his lineups from game to game. Do you see this as an issue as it pertains to “chemistry” – do the players mention this at all?

I have no problem with the way he shuffles the lines. With all the injuries, he is forced to experiment with different line combinations to get the most out of the team. I think the players understand that as well and know if they play well, they’ll see more ice time. Coaches change lines around during games all the time based on how the game unfolds. I think it comes with the territory and the players all accept that. I also think that when the Penguins are back to 100 percent, the shuffling won’t be as drastic as we’ve seen. Hopefully the end of the injuries comes soon.

Cory Pronman of the Hockey Prospectus in a recent interview (//pittsburghsportsdailybulletin.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/corey-pronman-hockey-prospectus/) ranked the Penguins organization 25th in the NHL in terms of prospects. What are your thoughts on his analysis?

Well, he’s certainly entitled to his opinion and that’s what makes all of this fun and interesting. I certainly wouldn’t rank the Penguins that low considering how well these guys have stepped into the NHL to fill in.

Last year was a big test to see just what the Penguins have in the farm. Guys like Letestu and Jeffrey stepped in and performed well before injuries sidelined them. This season, Joe Vitale had an amazing training camp and preseason, which earned him a roster spot with the big club. Joe Morrow had an impressive showing in camp, Scott Harrington is another solid defenseman and Beau Bennett has the potential to develop into a top six forward. While they aren’t on the level of a Crosby or Malkin, they’re still NHL quality players that will eventually crack the Penguins’ roster.

The list goes on, but the fact the Penguins still enjoyed success down the stretch last season with what seemed like an AHL-dominated roster, the future of Penguins hockey still seems bright to me. The biggest question mark is if Eric Tangradi can pull it together and live up to the hype surrounding him. I think he has the ability to do so, but consistency is his biggest problem.

Any last thoughts for readers?

It’s still very early in the season, but the Penguins look like one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference right now. I think fans should be excited to see how well the team is performing without their top stars. It certainly brings a smile to my face to think how good this team will be when Crosby and Malkin are back as everyday players.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter at //twitter.com/CaseySheaPens.

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.