INTERESTING TIME

This is usually the time of year that, when I pull up the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette computer generated sports pages, I head for the Steelers section.

Not so during this interesting time in the following of Pittsburgh sport teams.

The Pgh.Steeler news is basically "same o" "same o" with the predicted greed continuing .

The "best interest of the fans" (a tremendously maligned bit of word speak by NFL managment)is lagging woefully in last place as to the priority thinking of the two negotiating parties.

Don't know whether you have ever painted yourself into a corner - physically, emotionally, or verbally; but I have - and you feel quite stupid.

Hopefully, that is what is going on in the NFL Mgt/Players negotiations, and we can soon get this behind us.

I promised my wife that during our time in Pgh I'd take her to Latrobe - and St. Vincents - the normal location of the training camp for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That may not happen - for a variety of reasons.

But, the compensating - or bright light - of the Pittsburgh sports pages continues to be the improved playing by the young Pittsburgh Pirates.

Yeah, I'm holding my breath like the rest of you - but even an old Pirates critic like myself - has started to feel the excitement.

Living down here around the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team gives you that sort of hope.

It appears the Pittsburgh fans have also caught the spirit, based upon the improving attendance.

It would seem a lot has to do with a new Manager - a better pitching coach - who's more than a number cruncher - and just the increasing maturity of the team.

Yeah, we'd all like to see more consistent hitting, but they've been playing without some of their better long ball hitters due to a variety of injuries. The plus sign is it has given the fans an opportunity to see some players that would be otherwise lingering in the shadows.

And yes, the bonehead running and throwing plays this year do remind everyone of what takes place when the Pirates are down here in Bradenton for Spring Training - as opposed to what one expects halfway through a MLB season.

The biggest change in the mind of this old f--t is the enthusiasm of the players. Anybody who is a sports fan - particularly if you've been fortunate enough to have played on a sports team - knows how contagious and invigorating can be the experiencing of a few victories.

I've played on mostly rag-tag teams in my youth and remember how exciting it was to climb on a basketball floor or ballfield with the feeling, "You know? I think we can win this"

It truly is an interesting time for a Pittsburgh sports fan - and long overdue.