Best Rivalry Ever?

In midst of the Penguins/Flyers game tonight, which is also a home and home series, one starts to wonder if this is the best rivalry not only in hockey, but in sports.

Where else can you find two major cities in the same state who despise each other. Let's be honest, there is no brotherly love in this series. These teams have met in the playoffs the last two years and have supplied some of the most intense games in sports.

It's not like this is a recently renewed rivalry either. Just look back to the beginning of the decade with the 5 overtime game when Ron Tugnutt made 70 saves against Philly before the Flyers netted the game winner and eventually the series.

You could argue the Red Sox/Yankees, but that has only been serious since 2004. Remember that was when Boston came back and beat the Yankees in seven games and Curt Schilling's bloody sock became the most famous sock ever. Sure the two teams hate each other, but it doesn't seem like in a pointless game in the middle of July, these fans really get into it.

Where do you want to go in the NFL? Bears/Packers? Neither team has been overly successful as of late. Is it great to watch these two teams play a game in December with the weather being frigid? Absolutely, but the intensity of the rivalry amongst the fans just is not there.

Colts/Patriots? Nah. That is just Manning vs. Brady and lets see who can score more points. Was it cool when Manning finally beat the Pats to get to the Super Bowl...I guess, but is it a rivalry? Hardly.

How about the NBA? Lakers and Celtics. Nope. Why? The Celtics essentially went George Stienbrenner to get their 'ship in 08.

These players haven't gone through seasons playing against each other. The fans, while they might not like the other team and could be impartial to the other teams' fans, they don't HATE the opponent.

This is what Pittsburgh/Philly gives you. These teams, because of their successes, mainly stay intact. Players learn to have a disliking for the other team. The fans in both situations are ridiculous. Packed arena's booing the opponents star players every time they touch the puck. Not just for the first five minutes of the game, not when the player scores a goal, or commits a penalty, but from the second they get on the ice and touch the puck in the first period, all the way through the third period.

These arenas aren't for the faint hearted. The language gets rough. Pittsburgh HATES Philly and Philly HATES Pittsburgh and that is what makes this rivalry easily the best in hockey, and one of the best in all sports.

Steelers Shuffle

There have been many famous shuffles throughout history. In chronological order: Shuffle Board, The Ickey Shuffle, more recently the Cupid Shuffle (white guys love songs that tell you how to do the dance...trust me), and now, the Steelers Shuffle.

James Walker, of espn.com, is reporting that there might be some changes in the Steelers coaching staff following the season.

Pittsburgh is in the midst of a five game losing streak, and after starting the season 6-2, are 6-7 and that beeping you are hearing from them being on playoff life support is getting louder and quicker.

The coaches that Walker identified in his piece are special teams coach Bob Ligashesky, offensive line coach Larry Zierlein, and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. None of these names are a surprise. The special teams can't cover a bed with a blanket, the offensive line, while improving are still allowing waaaaaaay to many sacks on Roethlisberger, and who can understand the play calling.

When the Steelers are up in the 4th quarter, the play calling should go: run with Rashard, run with Rashard, play-action, more running. Instead its shotgun, Ben gets sacked, Ben gets picked, receivers drop the ball, opponents get ball and proceed to score and win in the waning seconds of the game. Cue ESPN

Cudos to Mike Tomlin for knowing that change is needed. However, I'll take those cudos right back for losing to the Chefs, Raiders, and the Brownies, who might very well be the worst team that I've ever seen. Yes, even worse than last years Lions.

Back and Better than Ever

For all of you who missed me, my apologies. I sorta-kinda got distracted from the whole blog world in pursuit of graduating.

I can proudly say that I am now a member of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who are now "unemployed". I graduated from Marietta College on Dec. 5 with a B.A. in Broadcasting and a minor in Journalism.

Before my blog was dedicated to Pittsburgh sports...now I'm going all out. Everything is fair game from the NHL to D3 sports and even Equestrian...well maybe not that far, but you get the picture.

As soon as I figure out how to make the Twitter gadget work, you will be able to see what I'm doing in 140 words or less. But for now, follow me on here and on twitter at MWashMC

FSN PITTSBURGH

Great news on my part...I've landed another internship in Pittsburgh. This time it's with Fox Sports Network Pittsburgh. I will be working in studio helping to produce some Pirate games. So for you all keeping track at home, that's two internships with Fox Sports Pittsburgh, one radio and one t.v.

I'm pretty excited as this just will further my chances of landing a job in the Pittsburgh region when I graduate from Marietta this December.

The Battery w/ Mike & Mike

New Radio Show! The Battery w/ Mike & Mike

Mike Eisenberg and I have officially kicked off our new radio show airing in southeastern Ohio (Marietta, Athens, Parkersburg) where we discuss fantasy baseball from 7-8 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Special guests will be on the show nearly every episode. We've already scheduled Joe DiMaio (President/CEO, Fantasy Player's Edge), Jonathan Mayo (Senior Writer, MLB.com), and Andy Behrens (Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball Expert). If you can't tune into 88.3 FM or watch us at the link below, just open up iTunes and download our broadcasts free.

HOW TO EASILY DOWNLOAD THE BATTERY FREE ON ITUNES:

With iTunes open, click on ADVANCED at the top of your computer screen.
Scroll to and click on SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST.
In the box provided, type http://thebattery.podomatic.com/rss2.xml and press OK.
The podcast will now show up under the PODCASTS bar on the left side of your iTunes.
To update, simply click REFRESH at the lower right corner of iTunes.

WATCH LIVE from 7:00-8:00 p.m. MON/WED/FRI:

Justin.tv LIVE VIDEO FEED

Pens Pummel Devils

The Pens lit up Martin Brodeur the NHL's all-time wins leader last night 6-1. It was a complete game played by the entire team, and with only 5 games remaining before the playoffs, the Penguins once again are looking like a team to be reckoned with.

How big of an acquisition has been Matt Cooke been? Brought in to replace Jarkko Ruutu, Cooke has brought the momentum changing hits with him, and a lot more offense and he doesn't take penalties all that much.

His 11th goal of the season was a beaut!

BREAKING NEWS: LEMIEUX AND JAGR TO RETURN!!!

According to nhlsnipers.com, Jags and Lemieux are joining up with Sid and Geno next season.

Breaking News: The Pittsburgh Penguins and the KHL have come to an agreement on a contract negotiation for Jaromir Jagr! The KHL will put the current contract they have with Jagr on hold for the 2009-10 season, allowing him to play in the NHL. The Pittsburgh Penguins will sign Jagr to a one-year $1.5 Million deal. Jagr will then fulfill his contract with Avangard Omsk in the KHL beginning in the 2010-11 season.

According to the source, the only way Jaromir agreed to play again for the Penguins is if Mario Lemieux would lace up the skates as well. Mario, since he is part owner of the Penguins has agreed to play for the league minimum in order to work around any potential salary cap issues. This was supposed to happen at the trade deadline, but Mario wanted the offseason to get back into hockey shape.

Pittsburgh Penguins = 2010 Stanley Cup Champions?

Imagine that powerplay: Sidney Crosby, Evengi Malkin, Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr and Sergei Gonchar! Yikes that is scary.

Can you say....

APRIL FOOLS!!!!