Surely we can’t be talking about the same Todd Graham are we?  Sadly, we are, and we’re not just talking about a football coach, we’re talking about a classless human to boot.  Todd Graham did what I feel to be the incredibly most disrespectful thing he could do when leaving Pitt for another school.  It’s not that he left, he was going to do it eventually, it’s that he left without even saying a proper and respectable reason.

Hell, he couldn’t even say his intentions face to face to HIS PLAYERS. He fired off a “press release” TEXT to his remaining staff, the AD, and the players.  Read below:

“I have resigned my position at Pitt in the best interest of my family to pursue the head coaching position at Arizona State,” Graham said in a text message sent to players on the Pittsburgh team. “Coaching there has always been a dream of ours and we have family there. The timing of the circumstances have prohibited me from telling you this directly. I now am on my way to Tempe to continue those discussions. God Bless. Coach Graham.”

Unreal.  What an absolute stunner in the face of everything this guy preached.  It’s no surprise though honestly the way he bolted Pitt, as he did Rice and Tulsa.  I just think it’s more surprising that a team who is slightly better than Pitt thinks they’re improving with a coach like Graham.

So what are the Arizona State officials saying about this?

“What we sought in a football coach was someone who would be in it for the long term at Arizona State, who would build and guide a program that would be competitive in the Pac-12 and on a national level year after year after year, who would communicate and connect with the community, and represent our University with honor. In Todd Graham we have that person,” said Arizona State President Dr. Michael Crow in a statement.

I’m pretty much positive that’s what everyone said at Pitt this year, what everyone said at Temple before that, and even Rice before that.  The man is selling snake oil, he’s no good, and to hell talking about respect.  These past six hours have shown all you need to know from a person like Todd Graham.  A low-class turd.

EDIT: Thanks to ‘That Guy’ for the correction below.  

Todd Graham and his wife flying to Arizona State...

I’ll also never forget the freak out that Ryan Doumit had when Nate the Great was traded and held a candle light vigil for him.  It’s safe to say now that the entire situation was overblown.  Comments were said, Nate was over hyped, and things fell into place(not that the Pirates were better with or without him).

The reality now is that Nate McLouth is back, signing for 1 year at 1.75 million.  It’s all but clear now that barring injury, he’s nothing more than a bench player for the Pirates with an actual outfield.  Andrew Mccutchen, Jose Tabata, and Alex Presley(still relatively unknown commodity) are all roaming the outfield now, there simply is no room for McLouth otherwise, unless Presley or Tabata fail and they decide to platoon McLouth with either or.

I won’t say that I’m opposed to this move, and I in no way angry about this signing, as he’s really the only Pirate I can remember that took advantage of the short wall and can be consistent in hitting for power.  Who knows, maybe he can even gain his consistency back and the Pirates are in a better situation they were in today and not yesterday.

The only real negative is that it’s still just an unknown, and I feel that we’re more likely to get the bust that was McLouth for the past two years and not the McLouth the Pirates had before the trade.  Time will tell I suppose.

http://www.ptei.org/interior.php?pageID=289

The good thing however is that it seems most if not all of the Steelers accept what happen, admitting to the fact that they got flat-out beat.  Ben Roethlisberger was in a quote giving mood about the game played against the Ravens:

“I was talking to coach [Dick] LeBeau, and we used our mulligan on the first tee,” Roethlisberger said. “We take our penalty stroke and we have 17 more holes to birdie.

“We just didn’t come together, and I didn’t play well. I think we’re all entitled to a bad day now and then, and we move on.”

Well, I sure as hell hope so. Seeing uninspired football going into week 2 is going to be incredibly alarming. I think overall that’s the single most thing I was frustrated about. Seeing them look uninspired or totally care free as they got run up and down the field. It was just awkward, and it wasn’t what I’ve come to expect from the Steelers.

The bad day talk is very legitimate, and I’m not going to nail them to the cross for that one game. Which is why I look forward to the Seahawks match up, and in a way, I feel bad for the Seahawks.

One thing Roethlisberger promised to change against the Seattle Seahawks is the use of the no-huddle offense. The Steelers did not show it in Baltimore; they will Sunday in Heinz Field, he vowed.

“Yeah, I’ll make sure of that. We need to. We didn’t do it at all the last game. We kind of throw a lot of things out the window when you’re getting killed like that. I know people are probably making a big deal that we didn’t run the ball enough. I think we’ll see [the no-huddle] this week.”

Good, this is one thing that they don’t do enough, and that they barely did it against the Ravens was frustrating. Also, while you’re at running the no huddle, keep throwing to Heath Miller(feel like I have to say this every year). It’s sad that arguably one of the best overall tight ends in the game doesn’t get hardly any touches.

This weekend will be filled with great friends and good food.  Now if only we could pick up a good win against a very beatable team, it will be perfect.  I’m so happy that football(and soon to be hockey) are back.

He’s gone on to Philly now, and I have to hate him.  Which I’m completely fine with.  On his RDS.CA(In French) blog he posted his last parting words with the Penguins fans and the organization as well as talk about his new team, the Philadelphia Flyers.  I give credit to the Pensburgh guys for translating it first, and me seeing it there.  Here’s what Max Talbot had to say:

A few days after my signing a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, I am still overwhelmed and excited by the challenge that awaits me.

Several teams showed an interest in me when the free agent market opened on July 1^st.  I opted for the Flyers because it’s a solid team that I think is capable of winning.  When you leave an organization like thePenguins, you try to find another place where you know they’ll take just as good care of you.

From experience, I am very familiar with the Flyers’ organization–given the number of times that we’ve faced them.  There is a great rivalry between the two teams, and I am sure that my leaving for Philadelphia wasn’t really to the liking of all the Penguins fans.  But in all honesty, I think that it is Jaromir Jagr who has been most criticized in the Pittsburgh papers for not signing with the Penguins.

We talked with four or five teams and things happened very quickly.  Some teams told us that they would contact us later.  But we wanted to get something done quickly.  For those who are interested, theCanadiens did not contact my agent.

I have gotten a lot of messages from Pittsburgh fans on my website, and the reaction to the announcement of my departure is mixed.   Half of the people understand my decision and support me. Some say that I will be the only Flyer that they will root for.  Other fans are sad because I am going to continue my career wearing the uniform of their Pennsylvania enemy.  But I understand their reaction given the rivalry that exists between the two clubs.

When I became an unrestricted free agent, one of my priorities was to join a solid organization.  I could have gotten better terms elsewhere, but I thought that in Philadelphia I had the best chance of winning.  The second most important aspect for me was the length of the contract.  Together with my agent, we wanted a contract of at least four years.  In the end, I got a deal of five years and I am very happy with it.  That will give me enough time to establish myself and show my leadership.

I knew two days before the draft that my association with the Penguins was about to be terminated.  Truly, it was when they sent me an email giving me their final offer that I understood that it was over.  Their proposition didn’t make much sense to us and I can tell you that it was far from what the Flyers ended up offering me.  From that moment on, I knew that my future would include another team.  I remember being in bed and trying to imagine myself in another uniform.  Given all the incredible moments I had wearing a Penguins uniform, I found that very difficult.  I spent six seasons in a Penguins uniform; I gave my heart to that team and with it I won the Stanley Cup.  When I look back on my six years in Pittsburgh, I see only the positive points that came from it.

We’ll see what the reaction of Pens fans will be when the Flyers first visit the Penguins on December 29.  I don’t know how I will be welcomed, but no one can take away the energy that I gave  to the team and all that we accomplished together.  To find myself on the opposite side in Pittsburgh will be very strange.  And to play against my old teammates as well.  But whatever will happen, will happen.  I don’t intend to worry myself about this too much already in July.

I have spoken to almost all of my old teammates and members of the staff since I signed my new contract. Not a single one of them has gotten down on me because I’m going to continue my career with the Flyers, because they all understand the situation.  I wanted to join a good organization and it just happens to be that it’s the Flyers.

I’ve spoken with Daniel Brière and Ian Laperrière since I signed with the Flyers. I have also talked withClaude Giroux, who was—just like me—the captain of the Gatineau Olympiques.  Chris Pronger also telephoned me.  He’s a player that I didn’t know.  I also talked to Sean Couturier to welcome him to the Flyers, even though, ironically, I’ve not yet put on their uniform.

I can say that the Penguins and the Flyers are both very classy organizations, with solid owners and teams.  Both teams know how to take care of their players and will do whatever it takes to win.  To know that you are in good hands when you change organizations and that the new team won’t skimp when it comes to winning, that’s important to players.

My role

I think that the Flyers see me pretty much like an Ian Laperrière.  Philadelphia liked my experience and my leadership.  It’s important for them to find a leader, especially with all the new faces who’ll be on the team come autumn.  At 27 years old, it will be up to me to show my experience, my enthusiasm, and my intensity.  I will play the same role that I did in Pittsburgh.

The summer season is chugging along, and I’ve gotten back to training, which is going very well.  I am in great shape.  I’m going to go to Philadelphia in August, so as to skate with the guys.  I’ve also got to make the effort to sell my house in Pittsburgh and find someplace to live in my new city.

So to this I say, thanks Max, but I REALLY can’t wait to root against you.

If the Pirates select Cole, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander whose fastball can touch 100 mph, he would be the second consecutive pitcher the Pirates selected with their first pick in the draft.

“Big physical right-hander with power stuff and quality upside,” Huntington said on his weekly radio show about Cole.

So what is Huntington saying about Rendon? Who they may pass up in the draft, once heralded more so than Bryce Harper last year?

“Anthony’s an accomplished college right-handed bat, probably the best hitter on the board,” Huntington said. “[He] can play defense, when he’s healthy, as well as anybody in the country.”

I’m just happy with either. We need an ace in the rotation, and Cole can be that guy, but we also need a hitter, so Rendon could add to our already decent line up. I’m fine with either, and after this weekend at the ballpark, I am greatly excited for the future of the Pirates.

Hopefully he takes this as a lesson learned and appreciates what he’s lost as a person, and as a player.  Taken from post-gazette.com‘s article on the incident:

Abraham, 19 of Paterson, N.J., was cited for underage drinking April 23 in Moon Township, less than three weeks after entering a diversion program for a November DUI arrest in Coraopolis.

“Hopefully taking basketball out of the equation will help him focus on some of the things that are more important,” Toole said.

The university characterized Abraham’s suspension as punishment for a “violation of athletic department policy,” according to a news release. Abraham was suspended four games last season after his DUI arrest.

Toole said he consulted athletic director Craig Coleman, university president Greg Dell’Omo, Robert Morris’ Office of Student Life and the university’s student code of conduct before suspending Abraham.

For the entire team of RMU and it’s fans/students, this is a pretty large blow to their team.  Last year, RMU was only

Karon Abraham of RMU suspended for the 11-12 season.

three points away from making it to its third consecutive NCAA Basketball tournament.  Surely this year it will be that much harder unless someone steps up without the player of Abraham’s caliber.

Last year, Karon Abraham(sophmore) led the colonials with 13.9 points per game, and the year prior which was 13.6.  Abraham won’t be allowed to practice with the team, nor travel with the team on their road games.  However, while the suspension might be tough to swallow now, Abraham still has two years remaining on eligibility.

“We’ve done a lot of things to try to explain the opportunity he has in front of him,” Toole said. “When he realizes how valuable that is again, he’ll be able to get on the right track. But he has to make that choice.”

Here’s also a little information about Abraham’s arrests that have directly led to him being suspended for the 2011-2012 Robert Morris Colonials basketball season.

Abraham was a passenger in a car that was pulled over at 4 a.m. April 23 on University Boulevard in Moon. He and teammate Anthony Myers, 20, of Washington, admitted to Sgt. Doug Ogden of the Moon Township Police Department that they had been drinking and were underage after Ogden detected the scent of alcohol during the traffic stop. The car was driven by Robert Morris student Emeka M. Chukwukere, 20, who was charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Both players will appear before the university’s Office of Student Life judiciary board. Toole said Myers still faces punishment within the program.

Abraham was arrested Nov. 20, hours after he led the Colonials to a victory against Duquesne, when he failed a field-sobriety test after crashing a borrowed car into a parked vehicle and a moving vehicle. He entered a 12-month diversion program, which will expunge those charges from his record if completed.

Quotes used from: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11130/1145415-169.stm

Only two players — safety Ryan Clark and quarterback Charlie Batch — reported for work this morning at the Steelers offices on the South Side after a judge temporarily lifted the lockout on National Football League players.

Clark is the team’s player representative and Batch is a member of the executive council of the NFL Players Association.

Both players arrived at the team facility at 8 a.m. and met briefly with Coach Mike Tomlin. Clark departed approximately an hour later; Batch did not leave until later.

No other players were seen arriving or departing from the Steelers offices. Clark told the Post-Gazette Monday night he was going to call or text his teammates, urging them to report to work today.

Meantime, Steelers president Art Rooney II, who was at the office when the players arrived, said the league has instructed owners that no contract negotiations or business discussions with players will be allowed during this period, even though the lockout has been lifted for now.

“We can’t do anything until they tell us the NFL calendar year is starting,” Rooney told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Rooney said it might be a couple days before the owners know if U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson in Minnesota will stay her ruling to lift the lockout while the league appeals. If she does not stay her ruling, the owners will ask a federal appeals court to do so.

“We have to wait and see what happens,” Rooney said. “I still say the best way to settle this will be for both sides to sit down and negotiate. If that happens, we will get it done.”

I know it’s often hard to bring yourself to caring about this issue. I know with the Penguins playing, it’s incredibly hard for me to focus on anything else sports related really. This could be good news, and now that the Judge Nelson has ruled in favor of the players, hopefully that means that the Owners and Players are more apt to negotiate a deal that suites both parties well.

Article used from: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11116/1142047-100.stm

Each one is linked individually and needs a code to be entered so you can get the goods!  It works though, as I’ve already purchased two tickets for free shirt Friday! No SERVICE FEES.

So here’s the codes:

Free Shirt Friday – Friday, May 6th – Link

Pirates Cap Night/Zambelli Fireworks – Saturday, May 7^th – Link

Kids Day – Sunday, May 8^th – Link

Ok, so now you need the code to get this offer!  The code to receive the discounted tickets is: Patsilevas

The offer is set to expire on THURSDAY, APRIL 21^st.

—————————————————————————-

Also, I’ve been notified that special VIP Packages are available for other games this season and if you’re interested, feel free to send an e-mail to: pete.patsilevas@pirates.com. Check those out below…

ROOKIE PACKAGE: $500 INVESTMENT

20 Infield Box Seats

4 seats in the Pirates Baseball Club to a future game

Autographed Andrew McCutchen Ball

STARTING LINE-UP PACKAGE : $1000 INVESTMENT

40 Infield Box Seats

2 seats in Club Cambria to a future game

Opportunity to be a “Fan of The Game” for a Pirates Home Game

Autographed Neil Walker Bat

ALL STAR PACKAGE: $1,500 INVESTMENT

60 Infield Box Seats

4 seats in the Club Cambria to a future game

Opportunity for you and 15 guests to watch BP from the field

Autographed Jose Tabata Bat and Ball

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER PACKAGE: $2,500 INVESTMENT

10 Lexus Club Seats

60 Baseline Box Seats

Use of a private suite for a future game for 15 people

Opportunity to shag fly balls during batting practice prior to a Pirates home game.

Autographed Andrew McCutchen Jersey and Ball

HALL OF FAME PACKAGE: $5,000 INVESTMENT

100 Baseline Box Seats

100 Infield Box Seats

World Series Suite for 30 people with 4 parking passes and $500 towards your catering package

4 seats in Club Cambria to a future game

Autographed Andrew McCutchen Jersey and Bat

—————————————-

Again, e-mail Pete at Pete.Patsilevas@Pirates.com with any questions.

“I really thought when we came here, these kids were tough. They had that already when we got here,” Graham said. “I feel good about this team because of the synergy, because I do think we have some really tough football players. The key is just being disciplined and kind of strain old habits out of them. They tend to do the things they’ve done in the past and you have to make sure they are executing our system.

“I’m very, very pleased with them and I am very pleased with the progress. I just couldn’t be happier with where we are as a football team, although I told them we got a lot of work to do. Our physical part of it is going to be secondary to the mental part of it.”

The man knows what he expects and wants out of his players. It’s incredibly exciting that this team is responding to him after all they have gone through in this off-season.

“I want our guys to be genuine and be who they are, but we all need one standard … they all know when we step across that white line we go to work,” Graham said. “But this is supposed to be fun and we had some fun. We had some jawing going back and forth [between the coaches] in a competitive fun way, so I like the team, I like the discipline.

“I do think they are excited and the thing I am excited about is I think they believe. I think they believe in what we are doing. What I wanted to do was come in building relationships, building the trust and earning the trust, and I think they trust us.”

I am supremely excited for the upcoming blue-gold game, and here it has him talking about that game and what’s going to happen in it further.

“It is going to be Blue-Gold,” Graham said. “We will kick off at least twice and get at least six to eight punts and then we will stop doing that and just scrimmage. The Blue team will consist of our first offense, most of our starters on offense and the first defense. So it will be the ones against the twos, but it will be mixed up a little bit.

“So that will make it very competitive. And we will go at the pace we usually go at, which is pretty brisk, so we’d like to get 60 offensive snaps with each group.”

I am excited, I can’t wait to get this going and see what changes are coming to the team. More from the article here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11103/1138871-142.stm