My blog n'at

Last night my father in law treated us to Golden Corral for dinner since he knew with the boys we needed something quick and if it was tasty that would be a bonus. After being stuck in the house all day doing work we just needed to get out for the night.

I have never been to a Golden Corral before. In fact, I’m not even one for buffet style places because I really don’t eat a lot in a sitting (I’m not fat, I’m cultivating mass) but it is fast and easy for the kids plus my good friend Jimmy swears by them. This night would prove to be a lesson in people watching.

If you’ve never been to a Golden Corral before its a buffet style dining establishment where  you can start with salads, go to chicken, steak, seafood/pasta and finish on deserts (for their online menu click here). Sounds pretty basic and kinda like a Ponderosa right? Hold on buccaroo it gets better.

1. the price – children under 3 eat free (score!) and our dinners were about $11 an adult.
2. the food – I never question my F.I.L. when it comes to food. The man has the same palate as me so if he says something is good, I listen. The quality of food was rating high with me. The fried chicken was juicy and crunchy, I asked for a medium rare steak and for one of the first times in a restaurant I actually got it the way I ordered it. Bourbon chicken was a dropkick to the mouth of spice. I never made it past those because I kept going back for steak but the Shrimp Alfredo looked amazing along with mac n cheese.
3. the service – the place was jammed with holiday shoppers and our servers were a level of politeness I rarely see. One kid was being a jag to his table but others we encountered were top notch.
4. the customers – Now there were a lot of normal folks eating but this is where you’re going to get your bang for the buck. You know that site People of WalMart? Well there should be one for here. I don’t know if it was the holiday season but as I was told online last night “you go there when you want to feel better about yourself”. Last night was a collection of 70′s Steelers shirts with matching tats, nascar jackets, missing teeth and some serious hardcore yinzers with 6 kids. Oh yeah and I saw a guy with a Charlotte Hornets Starter jacket and hat. The highlight of the evening was the table next to us enjoying a family meal with a very “manly” aunt who didn’t wear underwear. We all had a show.

I had a fantastic time eating with my family and can see why friends of mine have raved about this place. Strap on the feedbag and go to town Johnny, this is a quality place I’m going back to!

I have to admit that this has been the most life changing year of my life. Some good, some bad and some mind blowing kickass. Here’s a quick recap as I reflect before tonight’s festivities start. I’m splitting this up into 2 sections because lets be honest, no one will scroll through 12 months.

January
Reflected on the first beer I EVER drank and yes, I kept the bottle. Prepare for the end of my 10+ year employment at ForeSystems/Marconi/Ericsson. Bitched about the weather and yinzers inability to drive in snow plus dumb ass snow removal by my neighbors. Both of those still hold true today. Got ready for an unbelievable run to the Super Bowl

February
Steelers won the Super Bowl and became the first ever 6 time champ thus giving every knock off t-shirt maker starry eyes at the potential of “6 pack” shirts. Punxy Phil said 6 more weeks of winter. I was officially laid off, was interviewed for a Post Gazette story on unemployment moments after i was laid off (that never was published), Pens started to turn it around and the biggest shock of them all… Teaspoon arrived 2 months early making me the happiest and most terrified dad. Came in at 4.1lb, dropped to 3.2lb and would leave at 5 in March.

March
It was the month of Teaspoon. Lushie and I spent every minute we could at the Mercy NICU while he got healthy in an incubator. 28 days later he came home. Also witnessed the stupidity of some Hill District parents who think its a hotel in there and the joke that is unemployment system in PA.

April
Went to my first ever Rugby match and got addicted to watching Claire and the girls kick ass. Missed my first opening day of Pirates baseball since 1984 (watched it on TV with Teaspoon and started a new tradition with my boy). Bought a Wii. Enjoyed the greatest comeback in Pens Playoff hockey that I have witnessed as the Pens turned the series around with 1 fight and the Max Talbot shhhhhhh! Saw Beer Wars the Movie with hundreds of other craft beer fans around the world and baked an incredible beer ham for Easter.

May
Should I Drink That turned 3. Pens defeated Washington and Carolina to earn a second trip to the Stanley Cup Finals for a 2nd year. Bought a Blackberry. Joined Sadie’s Soldiers and took some Great Strides. KDKA reads my “tweet of the day” which I WISH they would bring back. The great personalized jersey debate. Meatshield welcomed his first child (i swear it was the year for kids to be born) and we had a cookout with some family. Bowling league ended and we were the undisputed champs.

June
Teaspoon’s first trip to the ER. Coming out of golf retirement after 3.5 year for a day with Yinz Teamer’s Woy, Lokay and Shireman at Cranberry Highlands. The Clarks release Restless Days after 5 years. Pens win the Stanley Cup in 7 games vs Detroit. Pittsburgh floods… again. Unemployed Utensil makes his first appearance as a way to help me get through not working. My first Father’s day and Pirates waste of talent Ian Snell cant take negative people.

up next… July through December.

This is in reply to a piece that Jessica Isner wrote titled “Top 10 Reasons Boston Will Dethrone Pittsburgh as Best Sports City in 2010“. Lets address each of her claims as to why Boston will win.

10. Pittsburgh has no MLS team and no NBA team.
Didn’t realize people actually followed MLS and NBA teams still. That’s SO 90′s. We’ve been too busy to notice down here, you know, winning hockey and football titles. Honestly, if not for ESPN would anyone even know the NBA was around? My bet is that if you throw a bunch of “pro” teams at a city eventually one of them will win.

9. The Penguins may be better than the Bruins, but…
But nothing. Penguins are 5-1, Bruins are  2-3.  No Stanley Cup since 1971-72? Wow that’s almost as pathetic as Toronto. suck it.

8. The Charles River trumps all three rivers in Pittsburgh.
Here’s the part that kills me, “The Charles has history, collegiate regattas and celebrity fans.”. Darlin, you may want to check out the Three Rivers Regatta and Head of the Ohio. Since you’re up on history I’m assuming you know about Fort Pitt? right? What a joke. Did you even fact check?

7. Pittsburgh doesn’t have cool celebrity fans.
What does this have to do with best Sports City? Oh well I’ll humor it. If you could fill your seats on your own you wouldn’t need celebs. That’s why we have waiting lists to get into our games.

6. Sam Adams > Iron City.
Iron City? Really? I like Sam and all but I think you need to have a few beers from East End Brewing. You’ll find the emerging craft beer scene here quite impressive. Take off the beer goggles.

5. Boston is a college hockey utopia.
Granted you have a GREAT hockey program up there but you should check your facts. True that Pitt doesn’t have a  Div 1 hockey team but Robert Morris does and look at the score sheet of the last time they played.

4. After much debate, it’s true: BC football is better than Pitt football.
Debate with whom? the mailroom guy?

3. Fan devotion
Steeler Nation would destroy you and Penguins fans would trample your weak and hurdle your dead Bruins fans. no contest.

2. Speaking of the Patriots and the Steelers …
Yeah speaking of, I forget, which city does your football team play in again? Ours is actually IN Pittsburgh so I was just curious.

1. This is a baseball country, and — shocker — the Pirates just don’t cut it.
Its whatever country you want it to be when you’re trying to grasp for hope. Pirates have lost for 17 straight years and the only person this seems like news to is you. Seriously, we don’t even notice anymore.

(photos from the google. photoshopped by me)

Last year I made a post offering a guide to Steeler Fans on what is and how to understand the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The feedback was incredible and since this city is coming off it’s 6th Super Bowl title I think a refresher may be needed. Especially when a backup quarterback’s contract is headline news.

It can’t go unnoticed that Penguins mania is all over Pittsburgh. As a lifelong Pens fan it’s refreshing to see people wearing something other than a Steelers jersey. If you’re not from the Pittsburgh area, a Steelers jersey is considered by many as acceptable form of clothing for ANY occasion even if it’s at a different sport’s event. After a recent walk through downtown I saw the trend start to shift as people in Pens jerseys were everywhere. Granted it is the Stanley Cup playoffs season but in the past that didn’t matter to yinzers.

Seeing this lead me to think, how is Yinzer Nation dealing with Steeler pre-pre-pre training camp news not leading broadcasts? Maybe some have seen the light that there is life outside the walls of Heinz Field. For those fans confused as to what Penguins hockey is about I’ve made this list to get you ready for the Flyers series and eventually the Stanley Cup Finals.

• Kenny the COTTON CANDY HERE guy and TC the Beer Guy have jobs outside Steeler games. Do not get confused when you see them.
• Pens Station is the main store for Pens swag. There is never enough room to walk around so do NOT go in after you bought that tray of nachos with double cheese.
• Those people in Pens sweatsuits are The Pens Patrol They’re the crowd motivators… we think. Honestly besides throwing t-shirts and smiling we don’t really don’t see them.
• While you may enjoy ripping your shirt off and pouring beer over yourself while in a cheering frenzy at Steelers games, please stay dressed here.
• Face fainting, body painting and wearing loud obnoxious clothes are perfectly acceptable. Just ask the Penguin Lady.
• Don’t try to open the roof.
• Average price for a beer at the arena is $8.25. A 30 pack of Beast Ice at the local distributor is $16.50. Do the math for the same quality of beer. (*hopefully at the new arena they have craft beers. Pens, call me. we’ll talk*)
• Eat like a champion – If you want loaded nachos and fries there is a stand behind the walking ramp on the South End. Want a burrito the size of your head? By the  B/C12 entrance think… don’t quote me, blame Stoosh. I will say from experience though these are the best nachos. E north by the stairs to F. Pizza Hut stand.
  
• Stay in your seat or in the entrance to your section until there is a stoppage in play. If you walk while game is in play you will be hauled up to F Balcony by fans and tossed off. Frankly this should be a rule in all sports. ESPECIALLY Pirates games.
• We have a mascot who is a Penguin, We love Iceburgh and will defend him to the end. Plus he’s no where near as freaky as that Steely guy.
• Cleveland to you is Philadelphia to us.
• If you don’t know what is going on that is perfectly fine but don’t compensate by yelling “SHOOT THE PUCK!”, “HIT HIM!” or “DO SOMETHING”.
• There are 4 lines in hockey just as you swap players on the field. Sidney Crosby won’t play a full 60 minutes. Don’t worry, you won’t even notice.
• The Stanley Cup is the most celebrated trophy in sports. Each member of the winning team gets to spend a day with it and the stories are legendary. It’s also the most accessible trophy to the public and like hockey fans, knows how to party.
• Remember Philly is orange and black. Any other mix is probably some version of a jersey that a player had in minors or high school. We’re obsessive like that.
• The Flyers havent won since 1975. What a joke.
• “There’s no wave in hockey!” – F2 Sign Guy. Start one and he’ll pound you.

There you go. Anyone else feel free to add to this list. Most importantly enjoy the game.

GO PENS!

Mayor Luke and Danny O, fresh off their excellent adventure, are giving the fans and the Steelers a well deserve parade. Some of us can’t make it or aren’t drunk enough to brave the cold have chosen to watch from online.  This is the new media generation folks! Of course it’s online and here’s how you can engulf yourself in coverage while you should be working. I know I bitch about insane coverage but this is online, big difference.

• Watch it online – KDKA, WTAE and WPXI will all have live webfeeds
• Follow on Twitter – Jim Lokay (KDKA) and Tall Cathy (KISS FM) are live blogging or you can use the hash to find out who else is down there.  Pittsburgh new media again proving to be ahead of the game.

Here is my album from the Super Bowl XL parade. It was just as cold then.

cheers!

Don’t look at me, I only had 1 beer all night but I’m sure most of the city today is sleeping in.

I won’t lie, with 1:30 left in the game I thought it was over. I wanted to believe there was a comeback in place but something just didn’t feel right. Then Dime Bag thankfully proved me wrong and life is good again in Steeler Nation.

I don’t think the realization of what happened last night has settled in for me yet. Counting all of the Super Bowls I’ve watched since I was a kid, this was my favorite and I’m not saying that because the Steelers won either. Tight scoring game, blood pressure probably maxing out at 160 with the holding call that resulted in a safety, every series felt dramatic. The game was exhausting to watch and I loved it.

Something was missing for me though. I had more fun celebrating Super Bowl XL due to the fact that was my first time seeing a Steelers Super Bowl win that I wasn’t an infant for. I bought the swag, went to the parade and took part in every celebration I could. This year I was cheering in my house but not to the same level as XL. I’m not really interested in the parade since I’ve already been there before and I may buy some collectibles for Teaspoon’s room but that’ll probably be it. Here is my collection from the Super Bowl XL parade.

I am happy though. Not to the level of burning couches like the idiots in Oakland but pretty high up there. This will be a great morale booster in a city where unemployment is increasing every day and we continue to fight the image of a burned out steel town from the 80′s. 6 Super Bowl titles… saying that just amazes me.

Couple observations from my captain’s chair:

• In my lifetime I have now had 2 aging rockers shove their crotch in front of me without asking. 1) Mick Jagger at the Stones concert at PNC Park a couple years back when we were front row. 2) Bruce Springsteen’s slide into the camera during Super Bowl XLIII half time show.
• I need therapy after that previous statement.
• Glad to see the bailout money to the auto industry will be put to good use… cleaning up the mess from the horrible Super Bowl ads. (*note*  it’s a joke people. like “great there’s a bailout and we still get shitty commercials”. I know that Audi didnt get a bailout.)
• Budweiser, please stop showing us your horses and spend the money on improving your beer.
• Doritos proved that hits to the jewels is still classic.
• Career Builder makes me wanna punch a Koala now and I’m OK with that.
• John Madden is like Harry Carry was. Old and no one cares if you show up drunk to babel about nonsense.
• Why do the Super Bowl hats look like they should belong to Seattle?
• This morning while reading the PG I saw a classic ad from Highmark. Yeah, I dig that.
• You haven’t seen fires burn as brightly and cars tipped over with finesse until you do in HD.

Love’m or hate’m, Steelers are the 6 time champions of the NFL and you’re not

Go Pittsburgh!

** Lushie came to me wanting to rant.  This is it…**

Well as you know,  for the AFC Championship game WTAE decided that “BREAKING NEWS” was not only the score of the Steeler’s game but also a bar tour of the local drunks to get there oh so insightful reactions.  I, of course,  was one of many that complained to WTAE and ABC news that this was abuse of the term “BREAKING NEWS” and was rude to those of us who either did not want to watch the game or recorded the regular shows while we watched the game.  Now after a backlash of complaints WTAE printed an excuse in the Post Gazette later in the week.  Like I said, this was an excuse not an apology, because they planned for this breaking news event, there were reporters at many locations to give a live local reactions.  As commented by WTAE in the paper this was important to the residents of Pittsburgh.

Well here the facts:

1.  The game was televised on a local station.
2.  Anyone that wanted to watch the game or see the score had local access
3.  Breaking news is not and never will be the score of a sporting event.  Breaking news is a tragedy like a fire, accident or missing child.
4.  WTAE stayed in the Breaking News until 11 pm when they started the news with guess what,  THE STEELERS.
5.  Yes the game is important to most Pittsburgh and Pa residents but not everyone. Now forgive me Steeler Nation but some people do not like football and yes some people who live here are fans of other teams.

Well now that I have said that spew here is my next.  Yes, we are all happy that our team is in the Super Bowl.  I will be watching the game in my Steeler clothes, with all the football food, the Terrible Towel and of course my Steelers blanket.  So don’t even think of bashing me for not being a fan and yes I have watched all the games the same way so I am not even a fair weather fan. However,  the constant coverage from the 20 minutes of news on when they landed to what they are eating and the charge sound effects prior to every song on the radio is overboard.  This is a great thing for the city and for us as fans, but it is not the end all be all of our lives.  Life will go on after the Super Bowl and if we don’t win, yes I will be upset.  I will not die if they lose. However, I do believe that some news anchors and radio DJ’s will have to be put on suicide watch. This will make the police work harder to patrol the bridges so maybe it will be good for the city all around, win or lose.

12:30pm – Penguins vs Rangers (NBC)
My first love is hockey so it’s only fitting that this is how my day starts. Pens (48 points) are barely hanging in the playoff picture while the Rangers (58 points) are dominating the Atlantic. Plus side is that when you think of it in other sports terms, the Pens are only 5 games out of first. Pens are sporting the powder blues which have been a jinx thus far. Come on guys start the day off right!

3:00pm – Eagles vs Cardinals NFC Championship (FOX)
Normally I am anti-everything Philly in sports but for this day our Pennsylvania brothers shall have my support. I want a Philly/Pittsburgh Super Bowl. Reality though, I think the Cardinals are going to win. Prove me wrong Eagles!

6:30pm – Steelers vs Ravens AFC Championship (CBS)
This game worries me. 2 strong defense systems but I think that this will be a mental cluster for Flacco. It’s in Pittsburgh, it’s snowing and Steeler Nation has been drinking since Monday.  I wouldn’t want to play there.

9:00pm – Big Love (HBO)
If you haven’t watched this series yet I suggest you start now. HBO has once again given me more broadcasting crack with Big Love. Big Love is an HBO television drama about a Mormon fundamentalist family in Utah that practices polygamy. The show is about family, drama and whack jobs still living on the compound. Guys, if you think this is just for the ladies, I’d like to point out that there is plenty of Ginnifer Goodwin.

“In case you didn’t know I’m Lynn Swann‘s cousin my man!”

I must have heard that 15-20 times yesterday while I was at the Steelers/Browns game with my buddy John. There was a group of 6 behind us who wouldn’t shut up through the entire game.  It wasn’t just cheering, it every play “OH NO YOU DI-INT!” “OH SCHNAP!” and my favorite “WHO MAH BOOOYYY!” topped off with constant banter about how sucketh it is to not have Crown Royal available in the 500 level.

Finally at the end of the 1st he added “I called Lynn Swann, my cousin, and told him we were coming to the game and he offered me his box seats but I said we already had tickets.” OK so you’re going to pass up seats in a heated box, which is probably stocked with Crown Royal and other free booze, to sit out in the cold with the rest of us who pay for overpriced beer and food. Yeah, that makes total sense.

Yesterday during the 2nd quarter this happened

For the next 20 minutes while Ben laid knocked the funk out on the field, we listened to “Ben get up! Ben get up!” “Awww Ben just get up and walk around! Come onnnnnnnnnnn Ben”.

Lynn Swann‘s cousin and his group finally left in the 4th quarter leaving myself and John laughing our asses off. I wish I would have gotten his picture to show you but that was a FAIL.

It was my first game in years and I did have a great time at it.  It’s one thing to see the games on TV but there is a completely different experience while at the game. It’s the fans who make it a memorable experience. That and my peanut shells that took flight during gusts of wind. Thanks for a great time John!

Oh check out what I won from some txt message conference.

Here are a few more pics from the game

I don’t know why this irritates me so much but last night while watching pre-game coverage of the Steelers game I finally had enough and Lushie said I should blog about it.

Sports fans of this country, when you attend a sporting event that is televised, please STOP going behind the on air talent while talking on your cell phone and…

• waving – we see you and yes you’re on the phone.  Do i see you now? yes because you’re the only one doing it. Along with that guy, that guy and oh THAT guy. If you do it for more than 10 seconds you deserve to be sacked. Even more annoying are the people behind home plate at baseball games who do this ALL GAME LONG. Subcategory would be the people at events that call someone else and say “Can you see me now? I’m over here! over here! no, over HERE!” all freaking game.
• tugging your jersey – We get you’re proud of your team but if you’re at a home game and the channel you’re on is local YOU’RE NOT ALONE! You’re not making a message besides possibly you smell and need to air out. Same thing with the guy who holds up a terrible towel. You’re in Pittsburgh, we are all given one at birth. Go do that to a Baltimore guy.
• drive by screamer – Usually some drunk guy walks past the TV and starts a chant or a train WOOOO WOOOOOOOOO! YEAAAAAAAH!  Happened a few times last night

Look, I’m all for having a good time at a game but this has been something that’s been building up over time (mostly from watching Pirates games) so please, keep that in mind when the studio lights come on. Hey maybe this is the only chance you’ll ever get to be on TV so why not make it a good one besides calling up Johnny’s brother Buddy down at the VFW to check if he sees you… talking on the phone… to him.

This should be a rant for SIDT…

(photos from the google. photoshopped by me)

It can’t go unnoticed that Penguins mania is all over Pittsburgh. As a lifelong Pens fan it’s refreshing to see people wearing something other than a Steelers jersey. If you’re not from the Pittsburgh area, a Steelers jersey is considered by many as acceptable form of clothing for ANY occasion even if it’s at a different sport’s event. After a recent walk through downtown I saw the trend start to shift as people in Pens jerseys were everywhere. Granted it is the Stanley Cup playoffs season but in the past that didn’t matter to yinzers.

Seeing this lead me to think, how is Yinzer Nation dealing with Steeler pre-pre-pre training camp news not leading broadcasts? Maybe some have seen the light that there is life outside the walls of Heinz Field. For those fans confused as to what Penguins hockey is about I’ve made this list to get you ready for the Flyers series and eventually the Stanley Cup Finals.

• Kenny the COTTON CANDY HERE guy and TC the Beer Guy have jobs outside Steeler games. Do not get confused when you see them.
• Pens Station is the main store for Pens swag. There is never enough room to walk around so do NOT go in after you bought that tray of nachos with double cheese.
• Those hotties in Pens clothes are The Pens Patrol They’re the crowd motivators… we think. Honestly besides throwing t-shirts and smiling we don’t really don’t see them.
• While you may enjoy ripping your shirt off and pouring beer over yourself while in a cheering frenzy at Steelers games, please stay dressed here.
• Face fainting, body painting and wearing loud obnoxious clothes are perfectly acceptable. Just ask the Penguin Lady.
• Don’t try to open the roof.
• Average price for a beer at the arena is $8.25. A 30 back of Beast Ice at the local distributor is $14.50. Do the math for the same quality of beer. (*hopefully at the new arena they have craft beers. Pens, call me. we’ll talk*)
• Eat like a champion – If you want loaded nachos and fries there is a stand behind the walking ramp on the South End. Want a burrito the size of your head? C level of the B32 steps i think… don’t quote me.
• Stay in your seat or in the entrance to your section until there is a stoppage in play. If you walk while game is in play you will be hauled up to F Balcony by fans and tossed off. Frankly this should be a rule in all sports. ESPECIALLY Pirates games.
• We have a mascot who is a Penguin, We love Iceburgh and will defend him to the end. Plus he’s no where near as freaky as that Steely guy.
• Cleveland to you is Philadelphia to us.
• If you don’t know what is going on that is perfectly fine but don’t compensate by yelling “SHOOT THE PUCK!”, “HIT HIM!” or “DO SOMETHING”.
• There are 4 lines in hockey just as you swap players on the field. Sidney Crosby won’t play a full 60 minutes. Don’t worry, you won’t even notice.
• The Stanley Cup is the most celebrated trophy in sports. Each member of the winning team gets to spend a day with it and the stories are legendary. It’s also the most accessible trophy to the public and like hockey fans, knows how to party.
• Gary Roberts strikes fear in death. nuff said.

There you go. Anyone else feel free to add to this list. Most importantly enjoy the game.

GO PENS!