Best of the Web: The Top 20 Links of the Week
PENGUINS:
-Kerry Fraser talks Mario Lemieux. You know, the Mario Lemieux that Fraser tossed out of a game in 1994. I'm guessing you'll want to hear that rest of that story 16 years later. [The Pensblog]
-Max Talbot has just two points this season and a total of nine points over his last two seasons. No one is troubled by this more than Talbot himself, and in his words, "I have to be Max again. A crazy guy. Just go and do my stuff again."
That apparently means growing a Fu Manchu, and if that's what it takes to get his groove back, I can only wonder why he didn't do it a long, long time ago. On a related note, I can say that the internet is very much looking forward to Max Being Max again. [PG]
-Preview to 24/7 Penguins/Capitals: Road to the NHL Winter Classic, an early look at the upcoming cable reality program, will premiere Saturday, November 20 on HBO.
The highly-anticipated series that goes behind the scenes of the Caps' and Pens' New Year's Day clash officially kicks off on December 15, with subsequent new episodes airing the following three Wednesdays. Hopefully the cameras catch Max Being Max. [PittsburghPenguins.com]
-Ever wonder what the Penguins do on off days? Would you believe things like paying bills and spending time with family, or should I make something up more salacious? [PittsburghPenguins.com]
STEELERS:
-For the record, Big Ben "wouldn't trade his receivers for anyone," and that includes Randy Moss and T. Ocho. Clearly he has no idea the good he could've done for local talk shows with a different answer to that question. [Big Ben News]
-Meet Anthony Battaglia, the Melbourne, Australia native who traveled over 31,000 to watch the Steelers play. Now THAT'S a fan. [Blog 'n' Gold]
-There's been much written about the move to expose rookie LB Thaddeus Gibson to waivers, and even more written after Gibson was signed by San Francisco. But over the last 10 years, how do Kevin Colbert's fourth-round picks stack up against the rest of the league? Thankfully, we now have an answer to that question. [Steelers Lounge]
-So, have you ever heard the one about LC Greenwood issuing a challenge to Craig Wolfley? [CraigWolfley.com]
PIRATES:
-Here's a primer for all the work the Pirates have to do in the off-season. One of these days, they might even hire a manager. [Pirates Prospects]
-Speaking of managers, is Clint Hurdle "The Answer"? I know it's sure not Allen Iverson anymore. [Rum Bunter]
-In an ESPN poll, the Pirates were voted as the third-most deserving team in pro sports to be contracted, behind only the Memphis Grizzlies and LA Clippers. All I can say is that if you've finished ahead of a team that's lost for 18 straight years in this poll, you must really be a pathetic franchise. [ESPN Page 2]
PITT:
-Jamie Dixon talks national championships, Coach K, USA Basketball, and his most thrilling win ever with the PG. And no, it wasn't the season-opener against Wofford in 2009. [PG]
POWER:
-The Pittsburgh Power's 2011 schedule is out, kicking off with a Friday night matchup against the Philadelphia Soul on March 11th and concluding with the same Philadelphia Soul on July 23. I see what they're doing with the natural rivalry thing, and I like it. And speaking of the Power...Anthony Morelli, everyone! That should sell a few tickets. [PittsburghPower.com]
NFL:
-Here's a great list of 15 sports books that never should have been written. Yeah, I'm guessing the T.O. book on sharing wasn't a big mover. [Sports Pickle]
NBA:
-Kevin Garnett, he of the cancer insults directed at Charlie Villanueva, gets a well-deserved written beatdown by Yahoo! hoops writer supreme Adrian Wojnarowkski...[Yahoo!]
...and here's a different, but equally well-written take on the controversy from Tommy Craggs. [Deadspin]
NHL:
-Here's a list of 10 NHL players looking to hit the reset button on their 2010-11 seasons. Gee, I wonder if a certain Penguins goalie cracked the list? In fact, I wonder if he's #1? [Puck Daddy]
-Anyone notice the number of fights you can watch on NHL.com? Next thing you know, they'll be selling photos of the fights and fining James Harrison. [The Hockey News]
NCAA:
-This has to do Nittany Lion fans proud:
A Penn State fan dressed up in blue and yellow for Halloween was attacked by four unknown Penn State fans at Beaver Stadium on Saturday night, according to the Centre Daily Times.
Police said that the fan was attacked because the four men thought he was a Michigan fan.
The victim was reportedly treated at Mount Nittany Medical Center and "sustained a possible broken nose."
-As you've probably heard, the Big East is planning on expanding to 10 teams in football, and here are five burning questions about the potential changes. However, none of the burning involves West Virginia-based couches. [ESPN Big East Blog]
