:10—No, I am not talking about Christmas, but you should be reminded there’s less than 75 more days before you go bankrupt again. I am talking about the wonder of the sports calendar…Major League Baseball winding down to the World Series, National Football League in full effect, college football halfway to the national title, the National Hockey League about to slap shot the season into gear, women’s college volleyball jumping off in all it’s glam and glory, and last, but not least, believe it or not, the National Basketball Association tips off on October 21 and back on NBC. Man, it’s a wonderful time of the year.
:09—Hold up, wait a minute…not so wonderful for your friend and mine, Coach James Franklin. He, the former head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, lest you’ve been under “the proverbial rock.” Coach Franklin’s coaching career at Penn State is as dead as Joe Paterno! What? Trust me a whole lot more to come!
:08—That’s one of the few sports topics that can steal the spotlight from your Pittsburgh Steelers, or should I say the once again dominant Steel Curtain Pittsburgh Steelers? Of course, the injured have returned to the lineup, the schedule has been kind, but more than anything, and as I am recorded for saying a year ago, the Steeler “D” has got to bring back the mean and nasty and plenty of it. Well little Johnny, the mean and the nasty is back!
:07—It’s not often that I do a double take on “Overtime,” but this is a tough one, because it goes without saying that coaches get fired in college football every year for a variety of reasons, mostly losing! So, we’ll have to wait for the dust to settle on James Franklin at Penn State. But just in case you kinda think that was somehow racially motivated, just know the interim coach, Terry Smith, is Black …and don’t forget Texas A&M gave Jimbo Fisher $76 million to get lost!
:06—I have to say this, because it’s the rules. The Pirates finished the season with a record of 71 wins and 91 losses, even though they had two of the best pitchers in baseball. OK, I am done . . . “see ya in ’26.”
:05—Get ready for the Pittsburgh City League High School All Sports Hall of Fame Inductions coming your way Saturday, December 6, 2025, at noon, Riverside Landings Event Center. Tickets now on sale. Don’t be on the outside looking in like last year!
:04—Speaking of things I don’t know much about, and Lord knows I’ve got plenty of that, your old/plus some new Pittsburgh Penguins are 2 and 1 in this new season. That’s all I got!
:03—Back to your Pittsburgh Steelers. I, along with the Eat’n Park crew, AKA “The Eat’n Park Crew,” have been screaming for the release of Darnell “Mt. Washington.” At 6’8″ and a reported 280 pounds, he is, in fact, a force to be reckoned with. In the game against Cleveland on Oct. 12, he showed the world what might be forthcoming. When a man that big easily slips into the middle of the field and turns up field at 40 miles an hour, YOU – DO – NOT – WANT – TO – BE – A DEFENSIVE BACK!!!
:02—Baseball, baseball, baseball. In the National League, put all your money on the Dodgers to beat the Brewers and they will square off with Seattle after they do away with Toronto…or maybe not. But it’s your money, what do I care?
:01—I know it comes quick, but here it comes again. The annual W. PA Men Achieving Greatness Awards, Saturday, November 1, 2025, at noon. Details and awardees’ names coming to ya in a future Courier edition.
:00—GAME OVER.