January 7, 2026 • 43 mins
Rock n Roll's greatest front man Bret Michaels joins the show to get you fired up for Steelers Texans. Paul Zeise joins to talk more Steelers and we Ask Mark Anything!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is on Monday night for Steelers against Houston. He
is Rocks number one frint Man. He puts the classic
in classic rock from Butler Pa. He is vocalist Brett Michaels. Brett,
you gotta be pumped. What's more exciting a Steelers playoff
game or a Brett Michael's concert.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
That's a pretty tight call.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
For me, Mark, my brother.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Let me just tell you right now, I'm still flying high.
And I literally mean that when that first of all,
my brother, happy New Year's hat to you and to
you and the gift given upon us by a slight
slip and a shanked kick is I'm telling you now,
(00:41):
I am so fired up. We're going to the playoffs
watching Mike Tomlin pound in his chest and it was
a I don't know about you, but I jumped off
my couch. I was, you know, I'm uberstitious, it's beyond superstitious.
I was making the sauce we're cooking up the spaghetti saw.
I had a beer in one hand, standing on one leg,
(01:04):
the hat backwards and upside down. It you have no
idea for the end. When that kick went, when it
when it shanked, I was like, oh my God, you
the scream. I lost my voice. I just put it
that one.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I don't say that, Brett Michaels can't lose his voice.
I just obviously not permanent. But yeah, the kick. I mean,
I gotta tell you though, Brett, I said, I was
doing an appearance having a watch party at a place
called All Star Sports Bar and Grill at South Point,
and I yelled out loud, He's gonna miss it. It just
felt preordained, didn't it it.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
I don't whatever you did, I'm gonna go with you
because I get to tell you something. I when it
started pulling right you, I don't even I don't even
have words. I was like, I literally jumped off that
couch and I saw Pyro that wasn't actually happening in
my house, Like there was Pyro going off fireworks.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
It was a good day.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Now, you're a big fan and friend of Mike Tomlin.
Did that win provide a redemption for him? Or did
he not even need redemption?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Mike doesn't need redemption. Now, remember full disclosure. I'm an
absolute friend and believer. I know we've had this conversation
a couple of times. One of the winningest coaches ever
you know, And I just got to say this, watching
how fired I've watched the whole game, not just what's
happened on the field. I'm looking at the sidelines, the
(02:29):
looks on our players' faces. He was so fired up,
you know, pushing herbig around there, watching him just get
with the line.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Just fired up.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
And I'm telling you I live by that, as you know,
when we're together at shows, right when you're at that
Brett Michaels or poison show. I'm a grateful guy and
I'm fired up. But that will power, I can't explain.
It gives you that one extra one extra power that
you need to win. And whatever you did at the
(03:01):
sports bar, you said all show down South, whatever you
did and everyone did there, it worked.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I just yelled something out, Brett. But the result is
what it is. What's your take on Aaron Rodgers, because
he might be the Brett Michaels a quarterback And I
don't say that lightly.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Still getting it done.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
He is still getting it done.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Listen, I'm a guy again, knowing my age.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I laugh about this. I've said it before.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
I'm like a classic muscle car, right, still fast, still
fun to drive. I just need a bit more maintenance
as I go. Right, that's it, and I think Aaron's incredible.
I've spoke to Mike and my buddy.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Jay Glazer about it. He's listen.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
The guy's a Hall of Fame quarterback, right, and there's
a certain ability he has when it comes like they say,
when it comes time that you got to step up
and be great and get it done.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
We got it done. We got it done.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Now what do they got to do to be Houston?
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Because that's a great defense with a very good head
coach and Tamiko Ryans a defensive guy like Mike Tomlin.
It shapes up as a rock fight. To me, Brett
low scoring, but Mike Tomlin, the Steelers, they're pretty good.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
At that kind of game, absolutely all out brawl.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
And I'm gonna say this, I never underestimate your opponent.
Go in there and everything you're gonna do kick double ass.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
In other words, you've.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Got to have fun, you gotta be dumb, but you
got to kick double ass like anything they're doing, double down,
and do it twice as good. And you know, and
never I always say my my thing I posted the
other day and I say this also fired up right now, obviously,
but as a diabetic, right, you're never you got.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
To believe you're never out of the fight. And that's
what happened.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Even you know when Likely went up and caught that
on that fourth down and Ramsey's trying to knock how
he held onto that with Ramsey hitting his hand, I
don't maybe, I hope I'm not calling that wrong, but.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
No, no, no, you got it.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I said that that couldn't have just happened, and I
said nope. I started stomping, you know, I said, nope,
we're not out of the fight.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
We're not out of the fight.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Took it down to two seconds, and good lord man,
I'm telling you right now, I've been doing vocal warm
ups to talk to you because.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I blew it out. I blew it out yelling.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Now you're you're gonna be at the game Monday night
against Houston when you go to akrosshoor where do you
watch the game from? Because I've seen you on the field.
I've seen you do the terrible towel thing. What's your
routine and spot when you're.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
An acrossor everywhere?
Speaker 4 (05:37):
I first of all, I love hanging with the fans
when me and you and all of us and Big
Joe and Johnny Waterick right right, I call him John
Waterick from Stillers right, and all of us were down
there and Chad everybody.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
I'm just saying it.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
I'm all over the place, hanging with the fans, having
a great time. If I could sneak in, I told Mike,
you know, I may not be good for many, but
put me across the middle just once.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
I'll do it. I'll sacrifice, right.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
But uh, And then sometimes we go up and I
see Thomas and uh and go up to Mike's sweet
and the Steelers suite and hang out a little bit
with the Rooneys and we raise a lot of money
for the obviously for diabetes. And it's just a when
I'm there, I'm in Mike glory. It's like bucket list
for the whole time I'm there.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Now, not only are you coming to Monday Night's game,
but you're gonna be at the draft too.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
What's going on there? What's planned?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
So the word is, I'm going to the draft no
matter what.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
I'm gonna be a part of whatever the city the
NFL will allow me to be. You know me, if
they unleash me, We're gonna throw the biggest nothing but
a good time draft party ever.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
That's what I want, That's what we all want, buddy.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
So that's what we're gonna make happen. We're just gonna
We're gonna will it to happen. The Ruoneys have been
great the organization, you know, Mike wants it to happen.
But we're gonna throw a party of biblical proportions. And
I'm praying My bucket list is to obviously be able
to go up and make a pick, you know, to
(07:10):
be up there. Maybe me and Rocky Blier just thrown
it out there. There you go, Me and rock you know,
but just.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
To honor the city and listen whatever leeway they give me.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
I say this in a big interview I did with
the NFL about the last time we were there about
the Steelers. I said, I'm going to get Sincere. Its
really Sincere. It went beyond football. It was about the city.
The vibe brought the spirits up of all of us.
Obviously we feel it when we have a loss and
(07:41):
we celebrate it when we win, and not just football
in sports, but especially with the Steelers. It helped me
through a lot of my childhood and some big, big
wins in the seventies and just it was good for
my soul.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Now I plan my summer and have done for years
around your conscience, Spraat, What doest Michael's that plan for
this summer?
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Besides the draft, same thing we're coming back with it.
It's called live and Amplified. Then, nothing but a good
time party, Graw. I'm bringing all of our friends. We're
gonna go out there and kick ass at the Amphitheater
and just have a great time. That's that's what we're
the same party we always have and it's one of
those ones that's great. We celebrate our hometown heroes, our veterans,
(08:24):
and we're just going.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
To continue to do that. It's again comes from my
heart and soul.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
But for that draft, I hope that I can be
as big a part of it as they'll let me be.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
No, it'll be great. And there's no date for you
coming to the amphitheter yet, right, that's yet to be announced.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
We have, Yeah, that's going to be announced. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Now, now what about like you've brought Lou Graham, You've
brought d Snyder, You've brought Martin McGrath. I gotta tell you, Brett,
your party Gras, It's like a cavalcade to start. It's
like the old Alan Freed thing from before even you
and me were born. Like just act after act, singer
after singer, hit song after hit song.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Absolutely, and you want to know the best part, I
like to think I set the tone.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
There's no egos.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Everyone is having the time of their life. I don't
know if you're watching the other everyone's on the side
party and singing with the fans. And that's what the
tone I try to set. And that's what I hope
I'll get to be able to do with the draft.
And you know, we had to think about this. We
had so many great performers with us, and I'm going
to bring the same thing. If they'll cut me loose,
(09:25):
we're gonna we are going to celebrate that on the
stage and just make it incredible.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
Brut.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
I can't wait one last thing. Give me a prediction
Monday night, Give me a prediction.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Kick Texan ass I listen. I have such mass respect,
obviously for the Houston Texans and their and their coaching
staff and their players and you know, and the Ravens,
all of our opponents, but obviously, I'm I am.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Black and yellow, black and gold from birth.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
Uh, and it's it's just I'm predicting that we just
go out there and bring every bit, bring the hammer.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
That's what we got to do.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Brett, you are the best. You're my brother.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Thanks for joining me, and we'll see you real soon.
Have fun Monday night. Maybe I'll see it between now
and then.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
I hope. So, my friend, love you, Happy New Year.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Love you man. Good stuff. That's Brett Michaels, nothing but
a good time. Gonna be at the game Monday night,
and boy, I think it'd be terrific.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
I mean, let's be honest.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
I mean him, Donnie Iris, Red Beach, I mean, those
are Pittsburgh's preeminent rock musicians. Brett, Brett has such a
terrific show. I mean, he's the number one frontman and rock.
He's the last man standing, taking care of himself. Still
got the voice, still got the look, still got the party.
Thanks to Brett Michaels, it's not time to get your
calls in eight three three four one two wxdx eight
(10:48):
three three four one two wxdx for calls on the fifteens.
And then we got Paul zeiss Well, I feel of
the Post Gazette, but only for a little bit longer.
Speaker 6 (10:58):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
He's at the bottom of the hour one O nine.
Speaker 7 (11:00):
X every weekday at ten am local, Travis is going
to be there. It's Travis starting your workday commercial free
on one O five ninety x.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
Algo.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Are you running?
Speaker 4 (11:16):
It's your new year and we've got you and your
friends very last chance to go to Alter Ego twenty
twenty saperresented by Capitol One.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
I'm Michael.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I want a trip to the iHeart Radio Alter Ego.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Going on Saturday, January seventeenth.
Speaker 7 (11:30):
In LFA with Green Day twenty pilots supply.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
I don't want to be your man boy.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Good Charlotte Miles SMITHII.
Speaker 8 (11:47):
For almost Monday and no rest for this weekingness casey Elephant.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Hey, you know rest for the Wedday. It's your very
last chance to be at iHeartRadio Alter Ego twenty twenty six,
listening right here for your chance to win. Capital One
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Speaker 3 (12:10):
What's in your Wallet?
Speaker 8 (12:12):
From the one oh five nine the ex Traffic Center.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
This report is sponsored by Levigne for a nature and
Mattress Oh was funny to I can't even quote the
big o'bowski right goodbye. The exit one oh five nine
going to be a quickie because we had so much
fun with Brett.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Brett Michaels is so full of enthusiasm, such a stealer fan.
And Brett and I are tight, but he loves Coach
T and I don't, but we we make it work.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Great to hear from Brett.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
And let me just say, the Steelers in the NFL
should get Brett involved with the draft for sure, because
he is Pittsburgh. He is Steelers through and through. Interesting
quote from U Coach T when he was on with
the Kiss ass Rich Eyesen on Eisen's podcast. I shouldn't
(13:05):
say that I'm the same way with certain people, but
he talked about how Harbaugh getting fired in Baltimore was
indicative of how there's no patience today, no patience. Harbaugh
was there almost two decades. What the friggi you're talking
about patients the Steelers in Houston. I'm telling you Steelers
(13:31):
have I said they're gonna win. I'm not sure I've
said they gonna I think they could. I think each
coach likes the rock fight, but it's worth noting that
neither one is a lot more successful than the other
Rock fights. Tom winning games decided by one score or less,
(13:57):
his winning percentage is like sixty three and Tamiko Ryans,
who obviously has coached a lot fewer NFL games, but
his winning percentage in games decided by one score or.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Less is a little bit higher than that.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Actually, I thought both would be, you know, given their
rep given the teams they've coached, given how they've done,
I thought they're winning percentage on one score games will
be higher than that I expected. Tomlin, I mean, for
all that it's talked about, I thought his winning percentage
would be like up above seventy. But at any rate,
the coaches have a similar approach, and I think that
benefits in some small, bizarre way, perhaps the lesser team,
(14:34):
which the Steelers are. Let's going to fill fill you're
on with?
Speaker 3 (14:38):
Mark? Hey, Mark?
Speaker 5 (14:40):
What I mean?
Speaker 6 (14:41):
He Phil so talking about Malkin coming back. I saw
the lines today. I want to know how you felt
about scratching coyven In and McGroarty and not touching that
for well.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Mc McGarty has a concussion, so he's on injured reserve.
I mean, would I rather see coyn in there than
the Novak even though Novak's played over I mean yeah,
but again they have diverted from their planned path, which
was just to develop and and to be totally fair,
(15:13):
Coyvenan hasn't played well well.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
I think he's played well. He's just not produced.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
But yeah, I as long as Kindles at center, I
get keeping Novak between the twin towers because that line's
performed well. I get keeping the fourth line together because
you wouldn't put a kid in the fourth line spot.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Coyvenan shouldn't be there. You know, he'd be better off
in Wilkes than doing that.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
So I get the way it's aligned as long as
Kindles at center, and as long as McGroarty goes right
back into the lineup when he's available, and at that
point it would be for me at the expense of Novak,
who's a bum who's just on a bit of a heater.
Speaker 6 (15:49):
Yes, sir, Now, if they're trying to win, now, don't
you call up morrishoff and get rid of you off?
Speaker 1 (15:54):
What I've been saying for quite some time. If you
have readjusted your priorities to make the playoffs. Morrishoff is
your best goaltender, even though he's had a couple rough
outings in Wilkes where he got pulled, but he's your
best goal in the system.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Call him up, go all in with trying to make
the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Don't just save this one little corner of your organization
to develop, as in Morrishoff, as in keeping him in Wilks.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Thank you for the call up. Next Paul's ice from
the Post Gazette.
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Speaker 7 (17:32):
It's the Woody Show weekday mornings at six.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Of course, X music on one OX.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
From the one oh five nine the ex Weather Center.
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Speaker 1 (17:55):
Nine, Big matchup Monday night playoff game at two the
Steelers in Houston. Joining me now to talk about it.
From the Post Gazette, it's columnist Paul Zeiss. Paul, I've
been talking about a lot of matchups that are going
to affect this game. Let me run a couple buy
that I see as being key. One is Houston doesn't
have a lot of weapons, do they. What about Joey
(18:16):
Porter Junior? If he can take Nico Collins, their best
receiver somewhat out of the game.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
Yeah, I mean, I think that the thing about it
is they have the thing about the you know, what
they have is two probably decent receivers and not much else.
And that's really, you know, if you think about it,
not going to be enough if you're trying to attack
(18:45):
the Steelers. And yeah, I mean Joey Porter Jr. Probably
Could do a pretty good job on Nico Collins. But
I think the larger thing is the front seven against
the offensive line. Well, Nico Collins even get a chance
to catch the ball because Jay Stroud could be running
for life the entire night.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Yeah, I know, Houston does not have a very good
offensive line, So you're right, that is going to figure
in mightily. And another matchup I've been talking about is
the Steelers two tackles against the edge rushers for Houston,
because Anderson and Hunter are the best one two edge
rushers in the league.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
You've got Anderson matched.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Against Fultanu, You've got Cook matched against Tunner.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
How's that going to go?
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Well? I mean, I think one of the things that
we've seen with the Steelers tackles is there, you know,
a little bit hit and miss. You know, they've done
a good job at times against some of the better
pass rushers, but they've also done a not a good
job against some of the weaker pass rushers. So, uh,
I think I think, you know, the Texans front seven
(19:51):
in general, but especially those ends, you know, I think
they will probably have uh success against the Steelers offensive line.
And I think the Steelers brought seven will have success
against the offensive line of the of the Texans, which
means it's probably gonna be one of these ugly rock fights.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Yeah, and I think that'll suit Tamiko. Ryan's fine because
he's that kind of coach and defensive guy. But that
might play right into Tom wins hands as well. And
the Steelers well, really Houston too. But it's a shorter resume,
but both teams have a pretty good rep both coaches
in one score games.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Why do you think that is?
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Well, I mean, I think because they're both very defensive minded,
but I think the other part of it is they're very,
very conscious of turnovers and protecting the football and actually
being a little bit probably more conservative on offense than
a lot of other teams. I think the Texans, if
I'm not mistaken, lead to the league in turnover margin.
(20:53):
I mean, I think they literally have like they've fumbled
three times as a team for the entire season. So
you know, they just don't turn it over. And you know,
if you don't turn it over and you therefore, you know,
can punt and make the other team go the long
field most of the game, especially when you got a
defense like Houston and at times Pittsburgh, that's basically a
(21:16):
recipe for winning those games.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
You know, what's a weird dynamic of this game, Paul,
and we haven't talked about this in ages.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Boswell's in a bit of a funk.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
He's misskicks in each of his last three games, a
couple of field goals and of course the extra point
against Baltimore which was blocked but didn't look like a
good kick.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
What's wrong with Boz? And how worried will you be
if he steps up for a big kick on Monday Night?
Speaker 5 (21:41):
Yeah? I mean that's a great point. You know, he's
he's been really good his whole career. You've got to
trust him and trusted he's going to do a good job.
But the last three weeks he's missed you know what
I would call clutch kicks, you know, kicks that you know,
could have really made the game easier or whatever. And
(22:02):
I don't think it's it's not a non factor, but
I think that, you know, I think there's somewhere between
non factor and and and major factors. It's it's somewhere
on that scale, because it used to be, you know,
he it was a total non factor him missing kicks,
(22:23):
but now you know, it's it's somewhere north of that.
And that's a little concerning when you want to try
and play, you know, defensive minded one score games.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
We're talking to Paul Zeiss of The Post Gazette here
on the Mark Madden Show. Paul, what do you expect
from Aaron Rodgers Because he was great against Baltimore, but
Baltimore got very little pressure. Cleveland got a lot of pressure,
and Rodgers looked like he didn't even want to be
out there. I mean, which Rogers is going to show
up for this game, especially given the rush that that
(22:55):
Houston is gonna put together.
Speaker 5 (22:58):
Right, Yeah, I mean, I think you know, that's the
one thing we've seen with Rogers is if you can
get to him and hit him a few times, he
doesn't seem like he's having a whole lot of fun
out there. He's like a guy who's maybe looking ahead
the retirement. But this is a playoff game, you know,
I expect him to play well just because it is
(23:20):
a playoff game. Is a good chance it could be
his last game. It feels like the passing game is
getting better and more versatile, so there's a lot to
really like about it. I just think it's now important
for him to go out there and and and make
sure that he moves around in the pocket and doesn't
(23:40):
get himself in a position where he's gonna take a
bunch of big hits.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
What do you think is gonna happen with him next year?
Do you think he's gonna come back? And if he
comes back, will it necessarily be to Pittsburgh. He talked
to the meeting the other day about you know, options,
which sounded kind of weird coming out of his mouth
while he's still here, Because I think he's a true mercenary.
There are those who romanticize the Steelers, you know, the
suspects Paul who.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Oh him and Tomlin are a great pair. He loves
playing for him.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
I think of a better team that offers him a
legitimate chance to win comes Colling like a Minnesota I think.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
He goes.
Speaker 5 (24:17):
Yeah, uh well, I think if Tomlin's here, you know
he's gonna come here. I do think that. I think
I do think that's a factor. Yes, but if Tom's
not here, he there's no chance he's coming back here.
And I think that if Tomlin's not here and you know,
there's very little chance that he's coming back here, I
would put the fact that he's playing at all at
(24:40):
maybe about fifty to fifty to be honest.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Now, a guy who has to have a good game,
and I pick on him, And in this case, I'm justified.
Speaker 5 (24:48):
TJ.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Watt got the big contract. He's had very few big TJ.
Watt level games since he got it. I think he
has to come up with one of those Monday Night.
And I know he got the deflected interception against the
but he didn't have a lot to do with that.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
Yeah, I mean again, Yeah, exactly. Have all bounced up
off about seven guys and it hit him? Yeah? Absolutely,
You know, I don't know what he's got Mark, because again,
that injury is a weird injury, and you know, even
though he's able to play and he's recovered from it,
you don't know how that's affecting his wind and how
it's affecting his ability to you know, even even like
(25:28):
absorb some hits.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
That's fair, you know.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
To me, I look at him, and I don't know
He's He's been a bit of a non factor this
entire season, hasn't he? And so the Steerers, I'm proven,
you know, if they got the other guy's healthy, they
can overcome it. And so I don't necessarily know that
they need him to have a big game. But between
high Smith and and her Big and and and him, yeah,
two of those three need to have a big game.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Well.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Cam's been great all season, though, you think, and I
thought he was exceptional against UH Baltimore on Sunday night.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
I think he might be first team All Pro again.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
Yeah, yeah, I mean I would I would agree with that.
I mean, I think Cam Hayward has had a great season.
I think Heisman has had a great season, right. I mean,
those those two probably have been the you know too
and sneaky, But you know, I think Joey Porter has
been probably better than people have given the credit because
of all the penalties. He's had a pretty good season too.
(26:23):
So you know, they've had a couple of guys that
have gone out and got it done week after week
after week after week. And you know what, if you
do that, you have a chance to you know, advance
in the playoffs, especially again, like I said, in a
game where I only think maybe seventeen points, sixteen points
is gonna be enough to win it.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Yeah, I agree that Porter has been real good, and
I also agree with with with that notion about how
many points it will take to win it. I think
it's gonna be a close game. I think the score
might be deceptively higher. It might be a relatively high
scoring rock fight, which sounds funny. Now Metcalf back, what
are expectations for him? Because we talked earlier with Mike
(27:01):
the course of the Sporting News and we were wondering
will he make a bunch of catches and score a
touchdown or will he get heavily blanketed but open things
up for the other receivers and maybe even the running
game a bit.
Speaker 5 (27:16):
Yeah, I mean I think that's the That's the thing
with Metcalf. M Kenny hasn't played in two weeks. What
it's his timing gonna be like with Aaron Rodgers. You know,
if they can't get the running game going, are they
gonna be able you know, to you know, get the
ball to him and and and all the other stuff.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
When I look at the.
Speaker 5 (27:35):
DK Metcalf, I mean, okay, so subtract two games. So
he played what fifteen fourteen to fifteen games? I mean
I could probably point the two right maybe right that
he was that he was a thirty million dollar player.
That's concerning. And I know too, you know, both of
them are probably later in the season. But still, you know,
(27:55):
he's got to be good. He's got to be not
just good, he's got to be great and they need
him to do that. But again, after sitting out for
two whole for sitting up, sitting out for two whole weeks,
I don't know what you can expect from him.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Paul, what's your call? Who's gonna win by how much?
What kind of aim do you expect?
Speaker 5 (28:18):
I kind of think, you know, it'll be something to
the effect of I actually kind of feel like the
Steelers will win because Tomlin wins these games. So I mean,
I could see it being something like sixteen thirteen.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
I kind of feel like they're gonna win two. I
have trouble coming up with the storyline thereon. But let's
say they do lose, Paul, is it a call for
you know, major change, and you think they'll just want
it back?
Speaker 2 (28:42):
What would you do? What will they do?
Speaker 5 (28:44):
They'll just run it back, you know that, you know
what I mean, Yeah, they'll just run it back, because
that's what they do. But to me, I mean, I think,
you know, they probably should consider something else for sure.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Paul, Paul very sorry to hear the news at the
Post because that's closed down to may any reaction to that.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
I guess it's kind of something you got to process yet.
Speaker 5 (29:05):
Yeah, I mean, uh, you know, but for someone like me,
nineteen ninety eight is when I started there, you know,
it's kind of like been you know, a big part
of my life. It's just sort of the business. You know,
let's let's let's face it. The newspaper business really marked.
The newspaper business probably lost when in the nineties when
(29:28):
the Internet was becoming a thing and the you know,
the publishers and the editors and all them, they just
sort of thumbed their noses at it and baw, this
is just kind of a fat as opposed to embracing. Okay,
this is where we're going. So we've got to figure
out how to make money out of this. And they
never did. And they gave away all this stuff for free,
and then they try to put the you know, put
(29:49):
it back into the bag and and and you know,
a couple of newspapers are you know, paid subscriptions, but
they're not newly enough to sustain know what they used
to get back in the day with print ads and
all that other stuff. So, I mean, it's one of
those one of those industries that you know, has sort
(30:11):
of been on life support for a long time. There's
still some places where they figured out how to make
it work, just the same, you know, for this region
that there's not going to be a post gazette for
them to read every day, you know, after May whatever
May whatever it is.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Paul, again, my condolences, but you'll move forward to media
your talent and thanks for coming on we'll do it
again next week.
Speaker 5 (30:38):
All right, mamaha. Thanks, we'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
That's Paul's ice the Post Gazette if you're just tuning in,
by the way, that is the big news.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
The Post Caazette shutting down.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
In May after ninety nine years of operation as the
Post Gazette, but the paper that was the precursor and
went through a bunch of name changes. The Post Caausette
really started in seventeen eighty six. It became the Post
Gazette in ten twenty seven. The weird part is, and
he's retired now, but Ron Cook worked every day for
the paper since seventeen eighty six.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
One O five ninety X Tomorrow nights the Pens take
on the Devils.
Speaker 8 (31:14):
Game time is seven, Our coverage starts at six here
every game and the best coverage right here on your
home of the Pens.
Speaker 9 (31:21):
One five nine the X.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
This songer the Mark Vanden Show forgot the plug before
the segment. It's time to ask Mark anything.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Brought list by People's Natural Gas as People's typhengas dot Com.
Thanks to Paul for joining me, by the way, tough
day for him and everybody at the Post Gazette. Very
sorry to hear that the post Caasette will be shutting
down in May. After well, depending on what founding date
you go by, at least ninety nine years of operation.
But it's time to ask Mark anything dial a three
(31:53):
three four one two w xdx. That's a three three
four one two wxdx. Well, we wait for the calls
and talk thanks to come in. Well, no, I got
a call. I gotta call in a talkback. Like I said,
I forgot the plut. What a great show today though.
Eric Carlson, who's just a fantastic interview. We're going to
replay him at about five point thirty if you missed it.
(32:14):
Brett Michaels, who's up coming to Ton for the Steeler
game Monday night, and uh is going to be here
for the draft, and I think the Steeler should get
him involved the NFL have a concert, have a party
grap for the draft.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
That'd be incredible. And Uh, well, let's go to Jay Jay,
ask Mark anything.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
Utter Nicole Scherzinger or Jennifer Lopez.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
I'm not a Nicole Scherzinger fan. You've called about her before.
I think you're obsessed with Nicole Scherzinger, Hello.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
I don't recall.
Speaker 10 (32:52):
Yes, Hello, I'm here.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
You're a liar, Buddy Rogers, thanks for the call. I'd
go with Jennifer Lopez. She still looks really attract now
eight three three four one two wxdx. Or call this
secret number four one two three three three wxdx. You
get on faster if you call that one. Let's go
to a talkback. If you were to rewatch the Breaking
(33:16):
Bad universe, would you start with Better Call sauw Uh.
That's a really good question because ordinarily you would say
that you would watch the original show first. But if
I'm not mistaken, Better Call Saul a lot of it
takes place first in the Breaking Bad chronology.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
I'm not sure it just crosses over. So I actually
this is blasphemous to say.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
I think Better Call Saw was slightly the better show,
slightly more intriguing. The characters had more shades of gray
in Better Call Saul, whereas in Breaking Bad.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
I'm not complaining.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
I think I think the Breaking Bad and Better Call
Saul combination because I see that as one series is
one of the two best TV shows of all time,
along with The Sopranos, and I would give the slight
edge to Breaking Bad a better call Saul, but the
charactersn't Breaking Bad were absolute evil. Kim Wexler, she went
(34:19):
a little dark and better call Saw.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
But you felt for even slipping Jimmy how he became
Saul Goodman.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
You kind of felt for the path that put him there,
in the way his brother Michael McKean in just a
brilliant turn as Chuck McGill. You felt a little bit
bad for how Jimmy McGill got steered into what was
his fate, and you kind of felt happy for him
at the end that he was gonna do okay in prison,
(34:50):
not be sodomized anyway. Didn't look like, let's go to Jerry, Jerry,
ask Mark anything?
Speaker 11 (34:56):
Hey, Mark, I want wanted to ask you about Crosby,
but the season he's having, don't.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
I don't think anyone is shock he's having that season.
Speaker 8 (35:05):
But do you think it's a little bit of motivation.
Speaker 10 (35:08):
That everyone picked the Penguins to finish low?
Speaker 6 (35:11):
And to that point, do you even think.
Speaker 4 (35:14):
Like a player like Crosby or superstars in general need
any type of motivation to play their best.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
I think that no two people are alike. Let alone
two superstars, and I think everybody needs different motivation to
do different things. I don't think SID pays attention to
what's predicted as a team. I think he just wants
to win, period. If they were picked to win the
Stanley Cup and want to do that, they were picked
to finish last. Did want to win the Stanley Cup.
Speaker 5 (35:41):
So Sid.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
A lot of guys talk about how they're motivated solely
by winning. Sid's one of the few people I've ever
met who lives up to that, who is one hundred
percent totally and solely motivated by winning. Mario Mario really
wanted to win, but he cared about stats too. If
you told Sid he could finish the season with like,
I don't know, nine points and win the Stanley Cup,
(36:04):
it'd be frustrated. But he wants to win the Stanley Cup.
Then again, nine points, that's not free many Let's say
sixty points.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Thank you for the call. Let's go to Nick. Nick,
you're on with double m hi Mark.
Speaker 8 (36:16):
Uh So, My question to you is, so the way
they do the play your regular season games, if you
make it the overtime, you get you know, each team
at least gets a point. What do you think for
like maybe like splitting up the standings, maybe a little
bit further at the end of the year, like well,
or even in the whole season, like if in conference games,
(36:40):
like there's no there's no one point awarded.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
That's done. Thank you for the call. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
The only change they should make with the standings I
would make it is three points for a regulation win,
two points for an overtime or shootout win, one point
for an overtime or shootout loss.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Make all the games have the same value.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
But if you did that, the playoff phrases wouldn't be
a tight More gms would get fired and the gms
determined the method of play. It's the only league in
sports where the gms determine the method of play. Let's
go to Ben benyonl with double M. Ben, you're on
the air. I'm sorry, I can't I can't read anymore. Ron,
(37:19):
you're on the air.
Speaker 5 (37:23):
I was just wondering if you ever been to Erwin
and what do you like to do in Ierwin?
Speaker 1 (37:27):
If you have, I've been to Erwin frequently to go
to the Lamp Theater. I love to go to the
Lamp Theater. It's a great concert venue. They've had a
lot of great acts. Planning to go see an Ozzie
tribute band there. I think that's later this month. So
I really do like the Lamp Theater.
Speaker 5 (37:41):
I like.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
I don't know the names, so you can tell me
if you do.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
But there's a bar to the right of the Lamp Theater,
like down the hill to the right looking at the
Lamp Theater I like. And there's a Mexican restaurant across
the street from the Lamp Theater that I like as well.
Speaker 10 (37:57):
Awesome, Hey, thanks for answering my question.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
Thank you, and everybody go to Irwin. We're all going
to Irwin. Let's go to Conrad. Conrad Asmark anything?
Speaker 10 (38:06):
Hey, Mark Good just wanted to know, uh, not specifically
based on the extra point, it looked like it was
kind of weird that Boswell mess. Do you think that
he is beginning to deteriorate similar to Justin Tucker after
eleven or twelve seasons and the Steelers might be in
some pretty bad shape.
Speaker 1 (38:25):
Well, well, I mean, well you could know. I mean,
if he starts to fade, they should cut him. Okay,
there's no room for sentiment. If he starts to fade,
cut him and get the next guy, bring back better
call sauls from Pitt. I think he's kicking somewhere now, actually,
but yeah, no, you can't.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
You can't. Well the Steelers do.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
They probably will look look at me, contradicting what I
know to be the case. With the Steelers, they'll keep
him on forever. But yeah, I am working a point
where I am worried he's fading, aren't you?
Speaker 5 (38:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (38:54):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
I mean he's missed the kick in each of the
last three games, and I don't want to hear that
block stuff.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
It's missing a kick. He missed a kick. Thank you
for the call. Let's go to Nolan. Nolan asks Mark
anything what I mean?
Speaker 3 (39:06):
What?
Speaker 5 (39:06):
I man?
Speaker 9 (39:07):
Hey, I was just wondering. Uh, my friends, I had
this conversation earlier this week. But Warren war in the past,
it's really season carries.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
The ball around.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
I was like, does he carry the ball.
Speaker 9 (39:20):
Around thirteen times per game? And it seems like he's
running the ball completely.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
Fine, Yeah, I'm running the ball.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
I don't think either Gainwell or Warren gets the ball
enough on running plays. They get those passes in the flat,
but Rogers wants to throw two thirds of the time,
and I think that is his one negative but profoundly
negative impact on the on the game that he checks
out of runs and in the pass is way too
frequently because he just wants to throw.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
He did the same thing in New York.
Speaker 9 (39:46):
Of yep, exactly, I feel the same way. I feel
like we had run the Baaltimore and more.
Speaker 11 (39:51):
But that is what it is.
Speaker 2 (39:53):
Let's go to Tom in Greensburg. Tom ask mark anything.
Speaker 3 (39:56):
Hey, double m hey. I was interested.
Speaker 5 (39:58):
What do you think you've seen more in your life time?
The Immaculate Reception or the Pruder film?
Speaker 2 (40:05):
Me personally, I've seen the Immaculate Reception more. How about you?
Speaker 5 (40:09):
I probably have also living in Pittsburgh, but I bet
I'll bet it's close Nation.
Speaker 3 (40:14):
Why wouldn't you?
Speaker 1 (40:14):
Now do you think of the ball was trapped? I
think the ball was trapped. I'm like I was a kid.
I was like eleven years old. I had a ticket.
I snuck on the field. I was standing at the
fifty yard line. I saw the ball bounce. No, I'm serious,
I saw the ball bounds. It might the bonds twice. Well,
it looked like Frank was feeling the ground ball to
short stuff. Let's go to Rick and Brighton Heights.
Speaker 11 (40:37):
Hey, Mark, I just as a former employee to PG myself.
I just wanted to see what are your thoughts and
feelings about losing the voice of the Post, because that,
I mean, do you have any personal feelings besides they're
you know, taking this I.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
Never I mean, the people who denied me aren't there anymore.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
So I feel very bad for the people I know
that work there and they're out of jobs, very bad.
And I feel bad about the decline of the newspaper
industry and journalism in general, where now we look to
titillate instead of inform. And then there's logistics of going
from the print version to the digital version, which the
Post Casette did a really horrible job of and the
(41:14):
the Trib did a lot better of. And that's why
the Trib's around, Okay, and the postset with that strike.
I mean, those the union needed to read the room.
They never should have gone on strike. Okay, they won
the strike, They got the old contract in place, they
got I guess there's some kind of settlement in there too.
And now the blocks folded the paper out of revenge,
(41:35):
and they should have known that was coming. They were
working for petty people. They should never have gone on strike,
no matter how right they felt they are. So while
the Blocks are the number one villains in this I
thought the union was stupid, don't you I do.
Speaker 11 (41:51):
I have feelings about the different unions.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
And you know what, all the sports, all the sports
people felt the same way because they crossed the picket line.
The whole department crossed the picking line, except for one
or two guys.
Speaker 11 (42:04):
Yeah, I was in the advertising department.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
But I want anybody who didn't see this coming again,
didn't read the room. When was your last year, Marek,
I want to say it was nineteen ninety hold On,
I covered nineteen ninety six.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
I left the nineteen ninety six because my first season
with Penguin's Report was nineteen ninety six ninety seven, which
was the last season with Mario. So I left in
nineteen ninety six, and I wished I would.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
Have left earlier. I tried to leave earlier. I just
I got put.
Speaker 1 (42:35):
I you know, I'm not glad the post because that
shut down at all because of the people. I know,
But I never got the opportunity there that my talent merited.
And I saw a lot of people with far less
talent and far more opportunity and now I'm I'm ranting,
and that nothing to do with Now, let's go to James.
Speaker 2 (42:52):
James, you're on the air.
Speaker 3 (42:53):
Hey, Mark, you're on the here James.
Speaker 2 (42:57):
Okay, we're just going to hang up on James because
he wasn't ready
It is on Monday night for Steelers against Houston. He
is Rocks number one frint Man. He puts the classic
in classic rock from Butler Pa. He is vocalist Brett Michaels. Brett,
you gotta be pumped. What's more exciting a Steelers playoff
game or a Brett Michael's concert.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
That's a pretty tight call.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
For me, Mark, my brother.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Let me just tell you right now, I'm still flying high.
And I literally mean that when that first of all,
my brother, happy New Year's hat to you and to
you and the gift given upon us by a slight
slip and a shanked kick is I'm telling you now,
(00:41):
I am so fired up. We're going to the playoffs
watching Mike Tomlin pound in his chest and it was
a I don't know about you, but I jumped off
my couch. I was, you know, I'm uberstitious, it's beyond superstitious.
I was making the sauce we're cooking up the spaghetti saw.
I had a beer in one hand, standing on one leg,
(01:04):
the hat backwards and upside down. It you have no
idea for the end. When that kick went, when it
when it shanked, I was like, oh my God, you
the scream. I lost my voice. I just put it
that one.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I don't say that, Brett Michaels can't lose his voice.
I just obviously not permanent. But yeah, the kick. I mean,
I gotta tell you though, Brett, I said, I was
doing an appearance having a watch party at a place
called All Star Sports Bar and Grill at South Point,
and I yelled out loud, He's gonna miss it. It just
felt preordained, didn't it it.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
I don't whatever you did, I'm gonna go with you
because I get to tell you something. I when it
started pulling right you, I don't even I don't even
have words. I was like, I literally jumped off that
couch and I saw Pyro that wasn't actually happening in
my house, Like there was Pyro going off fireworks.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
It was a good day.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Now, you're a big fan and friend of Mike Tomlin.
Did that win provide a redemption for him? Or did
he not even need redemption?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Mike doesn't need redemption. Now, remember full disclosure. I'm an
absolute friend and believer. I know we've had this conversation
a couple of times. One of the winningest coaches ever
you know, And I just got to say this, watching
how fired I've watched the whole game, not just what's
happened on the field. I'm looking at the sidelines, the
(02:29):
looks on our players' faces. He was so fired up,
you know, pushing herbig around there, watching him just get
with the line.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Just fired up.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
And I'm telling you I live by that, as you know,
when we're together at shows, right when you're at that
Brett Michaels or poison show. I'm a grateful guy and
I'm fired up. But that will power, I can't explain.
It gives you that one extra one extra power that
you need to win. And whatever you did at the
(03:01):
sports bar, you said all show down South, whatever you
did and everyone did there, it worked.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I just yelled something out, Brett. But the result is
what it is. What's your take on Aaron Rodgers, because
he might be the Brett Michaels a quarterback And I
don't say that lightly.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Still getting it done.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
He is still getting it done.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Listen, I'm a guy again, knowing my age.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I laugh about this. I've said it before.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
I'm like a classic muscle car, right, still fast, still
fun to drive. I just need a bit more maintenance
as I go. Right, that's it, and I think Aaron's incredible.
I've spoke to Mike and my buddy.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Jay Glazer about it. He's listen.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
The guy's a Hall of Fame quarterback, right, and there's
a certain ability he has when it comes like they say,
when it comes time that you got to step up
and be great and get it done.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
We got it done. We got it done.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Now what do they got to do to be Houston?
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Because that's a great defense with a very good head
coach and Tamiko Ryans a defensive guy like Mike Tomlin.
It shapes up as a rock fight. To me, Brett
low scoring, but Mike Tomlin, the Steelers, they're pretty good.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
At that kind of game, absolutely all out brawl.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
And I'm gonna say this, I never underestimate your opponent.
Go in there and everything you're gonna do kick double ass.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
In other words, you've.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Got to have fun, you gotta be dumb, but you
got to kick double ass like anything they're doing, double down,
and do it twice as good. And you know, and
never I always say my my thing I posted the
other day and I say this also fired up right now, obviously,
but as a diabetic, right, you're never you got.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
To believe you're never out of the fight. And that's
what happened.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Even you know when Likely went up and caught that
on that fourth down and Ramsey's trying to knock how
he held onto that with Ramsey hitting his hand, I
don't maybe, I hope I'm not calling that wrong, but.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
No, no, no, you got it.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I said that that couldn't have just happened, and I
said nope. I started stomping, you know, I said, nope,
we're not out of the fight.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
We're not out of the fight.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Took it down to two seconds, and good lord man,
I'm telling you right now, I've been doing vocal warm
ups to talk to you because.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I blew it out. I blew it out yelling.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Now you're you're gonna be at the game Monday night
against Houston when you go to akrosshoor where do you
watch the game from? Because I've seen you on the field.
I've seen you do the terrible towel thing. What's your
routine and spot when you're.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
An acrossor everywhere?
Speaker 4 (05:37):
I first of all, I love hanging with the fans
when me and you and all of us and Big
Joe and Johnny Waterick right right, I call him John
Waterick from Stillers right, and all of us were down
there and Chad everybody.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
I'm just saying it.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
I'm all over the place, hanging with the fans, having
a great time. If I could sneak in, I told Mike,
you know, I may not be good for many, but
put me across the middle just once.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
I'll do it. I'll sacrifice, right.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
But uh, And then sometimes we go up and I
see Thomas and uh and go up to Mike's sweet
and the Steelers suite and hang out a little bit
with the Rooneys and we raise a lot of money
for the obviously for diabetes. And it's just a when
I'm there, I'm in Mike glory. It's like bucket list
for the whole time I'm there.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Now, not only are you coming to Monday Night's game,
but you're gonna be at the draft too.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
What's going on there? What's planned?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
So the word is, I'm going to the draft no
matter what.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
I'm gonna be a part of whatever the city the
NFL will allow me to be. You know me, if
they unleash me, We're gonna throw the biggest nothing but
a good time draft party ever.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
That's what I want, That's what we all want, buddy.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
So that's what we're gonna make happen. We're just gonna
We're gonna will it to happen. The Ruoneys have been
great the organization, you know, Mike wants it to happen.
But we're gonna throw a party of biblical proportions. And
I'm praying My bucket list is to obviously be able
to go up and make a pick, you know, to
(07:10):
be up there. Maybe me and Rocky Blier just thrown
it out there. There you go, Me and rock you know,
but just.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
To honor the city and listen whatever leeway they give me.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
I say this in a big interview I did with
the NFL about the last time we were there about
the Steelers. I said, I'm going to get Sincere. Its
really Sincere. It went beyond football. It was about the city.
The vibe brought the spirits up of all of us.
Obviously we feel it when we have a loss and
(07:41):
we celebrate it when we win, and not just football
in sports, but especially with the Steelers. It helped me
through a lot of my childhood and some big, big
wins in the seventies and just it was good for
my soul.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Now I plan my summer and have done for years
around your conscience, Spraat, What doest Michael's that plan for
this summer?
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Besides the draft, same thing we're coming back with it.
It's called live and Amplified. Then, nothing but a good
time party, Graw. I'm bringing all of our friends. We're
gonna go out there and kick ass at the Amphitheater
and just have a great time. That's that's what we're
the same party we always have and it's one of
those ones that's great. We celebrate our hometown heroes, our veterans,
(08:24):
and we're just going.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
To continue to do that. It's again comes from my
heart and soul.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
But for that draft, I hope that I can be
as big a part of it as they'll let me be.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
No, it'll be great. And there's no date for you
coming to the amphitheter yet, right, that's yet to be announced.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
We have, Yeah, that's going to be announced. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Now, now what about like you've brought Lou Graham, You've
brought d Snyder, You've brought Martin McGrath. I gotta tell you, Brett,
your party Gras, It's like a cavalcade to start. It's
like the old Alan Freed thing from before even you
and me were born. Like just act after act, singer
after singer, hit song after hit song.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Absolutely, and you want to know the best part, I
like to think I set the tone.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
There's no egos.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Everyone is having the time of their life. I don't
know if you're watching the other everyone's on the side
party and singing with the fans. And that's what the
tone I try to set. And that's what I hope
I'll get to be able to do with the draft.
And you know, we had to think about this. We
had so many great performers with us, and I'm going
to bring the same thing. If they'll cut me loose,
(09:25):
we're gonna we are going to celebrate that on the
stage and just make it incredible.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
Brut.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
I can't wait one last thing. Give me a prediction
Monday night, Give me a prediction.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Kick Texan ass I listen. I have such mass respect,
obviously for the Houston Texans and their and their coaching
staff and their players and you know, and the Ravens,
all of our opponents, but obviously, I'm I am.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Black and yellow, black and gold from birth.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
Uh, and it's it's just I'm predicting that we just
go out there and bring every bit, bring the hammer.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
That's what we got to do.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Brett, you are the best. You're my brother.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Thanks for joining me, and we'll see you real soon.
Have fun Monday night. Maybe I'll see it between now
and then.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
I hope. So, my friend, love you, Happy New Year.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Love you man. Good stuff. That's Brett Michaels, nothing but
a good time. Gonna be at the game Monday night,
and boy, I think it'd be terrific.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
I mean, let's be honest.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
I mean him, Donnie Iris, Red Beach, I mean, those
are Pittsburgh's preeminent rock musicians. Brett, Brett has such a
terrific show. I mean, he's the number one frontman and rock.
He's the last man standing, taking care of himself. Still
got the voice, still got the look, still got the party.
Thanks to Brett Michaels, it's not time to get your
calls in eight three three four one two wxdx eight
(10:48):
three three four one two wxdx for calls on the fifteens.
And then we got Paul zeiss Well, I feel of
the Post Gazette, but only for a little bit longer.
Speaker 6 (10:58):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
He's at the bottom of the hour one O nine.
Speaker 7 (11:00):
X every weekday at ten am local, Travis is going
to be there. It's Travis starting your workday commercial free
on one O five ninety x.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
Algo.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Are you running?
Speaker 4 (11:16):
It's your new year and we've got you and your
friends very last chance to go to Alter Ego twenty
twenty saperresented by Capitol One.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
I'm Michael.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I want a trip to the iHeart Radio Alter Ego.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Going on Saturday, January seventeenth.
Speaker 7 (11:30):
In LFA with Green Day twenty pilots supply.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
I don't want to be your man boy.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Good Charlotte Miles SMITHII.
Speaker 8 (11:47):
For almost Monday and no rest for this weekingness casey Elephant.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Hey, you know rest for the Wedday. It's your very
last chance to be at iHeartRadio Alter Ego twenty twenty six,
listening right here for your chance to win. Capital One
is the proud presenting partner of Alter Ego, bringing great
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Speaker 3 (12:10):
What's in your Wallet?
Speaker 8 (12:12):
From the one oh five nine the ex Traffic Center.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
This report is sponsored by Levigne for a nature and
Mattress Oh was funny to I can't even quote the
big o'bowski right goodbye. The exit one oh five nine
going to be a quickie because we had so much
fun with Brett.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Brett Michaels is so full of enthusiasm, such a stealer fan.
And Brett and I are tight, but he loves Coach
T and I don't, but we we make it work.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Great to hear from Brett.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
And let me just say, the Steelers in the NFL
should get Brett involved with the draft for sure, because
he is Pittsburgh. He is Steelers through and through. Interesting
quote from U Coach T when he was on with
the Kiss ass Rich Eyesen on Eisen's podcast. I shouldn't
(13:05):
say that I'm the same way with certain people, but
he talked about how Harbaugh getting fired in Baltimore was
indicative of how there's no patience today, no patience. Harbaugh
was there almost two decades. What the friggi you're talking
about patients the Steelers in Houston. I'm telling you Steelers
(13:31):
have I said they're gonna win. I'm not sure I've
said they gonna I think they could. I think each
coach likes the rock fight, but it's worth noting that
neither one is a lot more successful than the other
Rock fights. Tom winning games decided by one score or less,
(13:57):
his winning percentage is like sixty three and Tamiko Ryans,
who obviously has coached a lot fewer NFL games, but
his winning percentage in games decided by one score or.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Less is a little bit higher than that.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Actually, I thought both would be, you know, given their
rep given the teams they've coached, given how they've done,
I thought they're winning percentage on one score games will
be higher than that I expected. Tomlin, I mean, for
all that it's talked about, I thought his winning percentage
would be like up above seventy. But at any rate,
the coaches have a similar approach, and I think that
benefits in some small, bizarre way, perhaps the lesser team,
(14:34):
which the Steelers are. Let's going to fill fill you're
on with?
Speaker 3 (14:38):
Mark? Hey, Mark?
Speaker 5 (14:40):
What I mean?
Speaker 6 (14:41):
He Phil so talking about Malkin coming back. I saw
the lines today. I want to know how you felt
about scratching coyven In and McGroarty and not touching that
for well.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Mc McGarty has a concussion, so he's on injured reserve.
I mean, would I rather see coyn in there than
the Novak even though Novak's played over I mean yeah,
but again they have diverted from their planned path, which
was just to develop and and to be totally fair,
(15:13):
Coyvenan hasn't played well well.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
I think he's played well. He's just not produced.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
But yeah, I as long as Kindles at center, I
get keeping Novak between the twin towers because that line's
performed well. I get keeping the fourth line together because
you wouldn't put a kid in the fourth line spot.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Coyvenan shouldn't be there. You know, he'd be better off
in Wilkes than doing that.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
So I get the way it's aligned as long as
Kindles at center, and as long as McGroarty goes right
back into the lineup when he's available, and at that
point it would be for me at the expense of Novak,
who's a bum who's just on a bit of a heater.
Speaker 6 (15:49):
Yes, sir, Now, if they're trying to win, now, don't
you call up morrishoff and get rid of you off?
Speaker 1 (15:54):
What I've been saying for quite some time. If you
have readjusted your priorities to make the playoffs. Morrishoff is
your best goaltender, even though he's had a couple rough
outings in Wilkes where he got pulled, but he's your
best goal in the system.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Call him up, go all in with trying to make
the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Don't just save this one little corner of your organization
to develop, as in Morrishoff, as in keeping him in Wilks.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Thank you for the call up. Next Paul's ice from
the Post Gazette.
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oh five to nine.
Speaker 7 (17:32):
It's the Woody Show weekday mornings at six.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Of course, X music on one OX.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
From the one oh five nine the ex Weather Center.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
This report is sponsored by Mattress Firms. Gotta be cloudy tonight,
then Park, thank you when you got a young trophy.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
White Owes Monday to Deeds.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I can't even quote the big o'bowski right, goodbye the
X at one o five.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Nine, Big matchup Monday night playoff game at two the
Steelers in Houston. Joining me now to talk about it.
From the Post Gazette, it's columnist Paul Zeiss. Paul, I've
been talking about a lot of matchups that are going
to affect this game. Let me run a couple buy
that I see as being key. One is Houston doesn't
have a lot of weapons, do they. What about Joey
(18:16):
Porter Junior? If he can take Nico Collins, their best
receiver somewhat out of the game.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
Yeah, I mean, I think that the thing about it
is they have the thing about the you know, what
they have is two probably decent receivers and not much else.
And that's really, you know, if you think about it,
not going to be enough if you're trying to attack
(18:45):
the Steelers. And yeah, I mean Joey Porter Jr. Probably
Could do a pretty good job on Nico Collins. But
I think the larger thing is the front seven against
the offensive line. Well, Nico Collins even get a chance
to catch the ball because Jay Stroud could be running
for life the entire night.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Yeah, I know, Houston does not have a very good
offensive line, So you're right, that is going to figure
in mightily. And another matchup I've been talking about is
the Steelers two tackles against the edge rushers for Houston,
because Anderson and Hunter are the best one two edge
rushers in the league.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
You've got Anderson matched.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Against Fultanu, You've got Cook matched against Tunner.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
How's that going to go?
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Well? I mean, I think one of the things that
we've seen with the Steelers tackles is there, you know,
a little bit hit and miss. You know, they've done
a good job at times against some of the better
pass rushers, but they've also done a not a good
job against some of the weaker pass rushers. So, uh,
I think I think, you know, the Texans front seven
(19:51):
in general, but especially those ends, you know, I think
they will probably have uh success against the Steelers offensive line.
And I think the Steelers brought seven will have success
against the offensive line of the of the Texans, which
means it's probably gonna be one of these ugly rock fights.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Yeah, and I think that'll suit Tamiko. Ryan's fine because
he's that kind of coach and defensive guy. But that
might play right into Tom wins hands as well. And
the Steelers well, really Houston too. But it's a shorter resume,
but both teams have a pretty good rep both coaches
in one score games.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Why do you think that is?
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Well, I mean, I think because they're both very defensive minded,
but I think the other part of it is they're very,
very conscious of turnovers and protecting the football and actually
being a little bit probably more conservative on offense than
a lot of other teams. I think the Texans, if
I'm not mistaken, lead to the league in turnover margin.
(20:53):
I mean, I think they literally have like they've fumbled
three times as a team for the entire season. So
you know, they just don't turn it over. And you know,
if you don't turn it over and you therefore, you know,
can punt and make the other team go the long
field most of the game, especially when you got a
defense like Houston and at times Pittsburgh, that's basically a
(21:16):
recipe for winning those games.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
You know, what's a weird dynamic of this game, Paul,
and we haven't talked about this in ages.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Boswell's in a bit of a funk.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
He's misskicks in each of his last three games, a
couple of field goals and of course the extra point
against Baltimore which was blocked but didn't look like a
good kick.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
What's wrong with Boz? And how worried will you be
if he steps up for a big kick on Monday Night?
Speaker 5 (21:41):
Yeah? I mean that's a great point. You know, he's
he's been really good his whole career. You've got to
trust him and trusted he's going to do a good job.
But the last three weeks he's missed you know what
I would call clutch kicks, you know, kicks that you know,
could have really made the game easier or whatever. And
(22:02):
I don't think it's it's not a non factor, but
I think that, you know, I think there's somewhere between
non factor and and and major factors. It's it's somewhere
on that scale, because it used to be, you know,
he it was a total non factor him missing kicks,
(22:23):
but now you know, it's it's somewhere north of that.
And that's a little concerning when you want to try
and play, you know, defensive minded one score games.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
We're talking to Paul Zeiss of The Post Gazette here
on the Mark Madden Show. Paul, what do you expect
from Aaron Rodgers Because he was great against Baltimore, but
Baltimore got very little pressure. Cleveland got a lot of pressure,
and Rodgers looked like he didn't even want to be
out there. I mean, which Rogers is going to show
up for this game, especially given the rush that that
(22:55):
Houston is gonna put together.
Speaker 5 (22:58):
Right, Yeah, I mean, I think you know, that's the
one thing we've seen with Rogers is if you can
get to him and hit him a few times, he
doesn't seem like he's having a whole lot of fun
out there. He's like a guy who's maybe looking ahead
the retirement. But this is a playoff game, you know,
I expect him to play well just because it is
(23:20):
a playoff game. Is a good chance it could be
his last game. It feels like the passing game is
getting better and more versatile, so there's a lot to
really like about it. I just think it's now important
for him to go out there and and and make
sure that he moves around in the pocket and doesn't
(23:40):
get himself in a position where he's gonna take a
bunch of big hits.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
What do you think is gonna happen with him next year?
Do you think he's gonna come back? And if he
comes back, will it necessarily be to Pittsburgh. He talked
to the meeting the other day about you know, options,
which sounded kind of weird coming out of his mouth
while he's still here, Because I think he's a true mercenary.
There are those who romanticize the Steelers, you know, the
suspects Paul who.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Oh him and Tomlin are a great pair. He loves
playing for him.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
I think of a better team that offers him a
legitimate chance to win comes Colling like a Minnesota I think.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
He goes.
Speaker 5 (24:17):
Yeah, uh well, I think if Tomlin's here, you know
he's gonna come here. I do think that. I think
I do think that's a factor. Yes, but if Tom's
not here, he there's no chance he's coming back here.
And I think that if Tomlin's not here and you know,
there's very little chance that he's coming back here, I
would put the fact that he's playing at all at
(24:40):
maybe about fifty to fifty to be honest.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Now, a guy who has to have a good game,
and I pick on him, And in this case, I'm justified.
Speaker 5 (24:48):
TJ.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Watt got the big contract. He's had very few big TJ.
Watt level games since he got it. I think he
has to come up with one of those Monday Night.
And I know he got the deflected interception against the
but he didn't have a lot to do with that.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
Yeah, I mean again, Yeah, exactly. Have all bounced up
off about seven guys and it hit him? Yeah? Absolutely,
You know, I don't know what he's got Mark, because again,
that injury is a weird injury, and you know, even
though he's able to play and he's recovered from it,
you don't know how that's affecting his wind and how
it's affecting his ability to you know, even even like
(25:28):
absorb some hits.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
That's fair, you know.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
To me, I look at him, and I don't know
He's He's been a bit of a non factor this
entire season, hasn't he? And so the Steerers, I'm proven,
you know, if they got the other guy's healthy, they
can overcome it. And so I don't necessarily know that
they need him to have a big game. But between
high Smith and and her Big and and and him, yeah,
two of those three need to have a big game.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Well.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Cam's been great all season, though, you think, and I
thought he was exceptional against UH Baltimore on Sunday night.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
I think he might be first team All Pro again.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
Yeah, yeah, I mean I would I would agree with that.
I mean, I think Cam Hayward has had a great season.
I think Heisman has had a great season, right. I mean,
those those two probably have been the you know too
and sneaky, But you know, I think Joey Porter has
been probably better than people have given the credit because
of all the penalties. He's had a pretty good season too.
(26:23):
So you know, they've had a couple of guys that
have gone out and got it done week after week
after week after week. And you know what, if you
do that, you have a chance to you know, advance
in the playoffs, especially again, like I said, in a
game where I only think maybe seventeen points, sixteen points
is gonna be enough to win it.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Yeah, I agree that Porter has been real good, and
I also agree with with with that notion about how
many points it will take to win it. I think
it's gonna be a close game. I think the score
might be deceptively higher. It might be a relatively high
scoring rock fight, which sounds funny. Now Metcalf back, what
are expectations for him? Because we talked earlier with Mike
(27:01):
the course of the Sporting News and we were wondering
will he make a bunch of catches and score a
touchdown or will he get heavily blanketed but open things
up for the other receivers and maybe even the running
game a bit.
Speaker 5 (27:16):
Yeah, I mean I think that's the That's the thing
with Metcalf. M Kenny hasn't played in two weeks. What
it's his timing gonna be like with Aaron Rodgers. You know,
if they can't get the running game going, are they
gonna be able you know, to you know, get the
ball to him and and and all the other stuff.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
When I look at the.
Speaker 5 (27:35):
DK Metcalf, I mean, okay, so subtract two games. So
he played what fifteen fourteen to fifteen games? I mean
I could probably point the two right maybe right that
he was that he was a thirty million dollar player.
That's concerning. And I know too, you know, both of
them are probably later in the season. But still, you know,
(27:55):
he's got to be good. He's got to be not
just good, he's got to be great and they need
him to do that. But again, after sitting out for
two whole for sitting up, sitting out for two whole weeks,
I don't know what you can expect from him.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Paul, what's your call? Who's gonna win by how much?
What kind of aim do you expect?
Speaker 5 (28:18):
I kind of think, you know, it'll be something to
the effect of I actually kind of feel like the
Steelers will win because Tomlin wins these games. So I mean,
I could see it being something like sixteen thirteen.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
I kind of feel like they're gonna win two. I
have trouble coming up with the storyline thereon. But let's
say they do lose, Paul, is it a call for
you know, major change, and you think they'll just want
it back?
Speaker 2 (28:42):
What would you do? What will they do?
Speaker 5 (28:44):
They'll just run it back, you know that, you know
what I mean, Yeah, they'll just run it back, because
that's what they do. But to me, I mean, I think,
you know, they probably should consider something else for sure.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Paul, Paul very sorry to hear the news at the
Post because that's closed down to may any reaction to that.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
I guess it's kind of something you got to process yet.
Speaker 5 (29:05):
Yeah, I mean, uh, you know, but for someone like me,
nineteen ninety eight is when I started there, you know,
it's kind of like been you know, a big part
of my life. It's just sort of the business. You know,
let's let's let's face it. The newspaper business really marked.
The newspaper business probably lost when in the nineties when
(29:28):
the Internet was becoming a thing and the you know,
the publishers and the editors and all them, they just
sort of thumbed their noses at it and baw, this
is just kind of a fat as opposed to embracing. Okay,
this is where we're going. So we've got to figure
out how to make money out of this. And they
never did. And they gave away all this stuff for free,
and then they try to put the you know, put
(29:49):
it back into the bag and and and you know,
a couple of newspapers are you know, paid subscriptions, but
they're not newly enough to sustain know what they used
to get back in the day with print ads and
all that other stuff. So, I mean, it's one of
those one of those industries that you know, has sort
(30:11):
of been on life support for a long time. There's
still some places where they figured out how to make
it work, just the same, you know, for this region
that there's not going to be a post gazette for
them to read every day, you know, after May whatever
May whatever it is.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Paul, again, my condolences, but you'll move forward to media
your talent and thanks for coming on we'll do it
again next week.
Speaker 5 (30:38):
All right, mamaha. Thanks, we'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
That's Paul's ice the Post Gazette if you're just tuning in,
by the way, that is the big news.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
The Post Caazette shutting down.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
In May after ninety nine years of operation as the
Post Gazette, but the paper that was the precursor and
went through a bunch of name changes. The Post Caausette
really started in seventeen eighty six. It became the Post
Gazette in ten twenty seven. The weird part is, and
he's retired now, but Ron Cook worked every day for
the paper since seventeen eighty six.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
One O five ninety X Tomorrow nights the Pens take
on the Devils.
Speaker 8 (31:14):
Game time is seven, Our coverage starts at six here
every game and the best coverage right here on your
home of the Pens.
Speaker 9 (31:21):
One five nine the X.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
This songer the Mark Vanden Show forgot the plug before
the segment. It's time to ask Mark anything.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Brought list by People's Natural Gas as People's typhengas dot Com.
Thanks to Paul for joining me, by the way, tough
day for him and everybody at the Post Gazette. Very
sorry to hear that the post Caasette will be shutting
down in May. After well, depending on what founding date
you go by, at least ninety nine years of operation.
But it's time to ask Mark anything dial a three
(31:53):
three four one two w xdx. That's a three three
four one two wxdx. Well, we wait for the calls
and talk thanks to come in. Well, no, I got
a call. I gotta call in a talkback. Like I said,
I forgot the plut. What a great show today though.
Eric Carlson, who's just a fantastic interview. We're going to
replay him at about five point thirty if you missed it.
(32:14):
Brett Michaels, who's up coming to Ton for the Steeler
game Monday night, and uh is going to be here
for the draft, and I think the Steeler should get
him involved the NFL have a concert, have a party
grap for the draft.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
That'd be incredible. And Uh, well, let's go to Jay Jay,
ask Mark anything.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
Utter Nicole Scherzinger or Jennifer Lopez.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
I'm not a Nicole Scherzinger fan. You've called about her before.
I think you're obsessed with Nicole Scherzinger, Hello.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
I don't recall.
Speaker 10 (32:52):
Yes, Hello, I'm here.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
You're a liar, Buddy Rogers, thanks for the call. I'd
go with Jennifer Lopez. She still looks really attract now
eight three three four one two wxdx. Or call this
secret number four one two three three three wxdx. You
get on faster if you call that one. Let's go
to a talkback. If you were to rewatch the Breaking
(33:16):
Bad universe, would you start with Better Call sauw Uh.
That's a really good question because ordinarily you would say
that you would watch the original show first. But if
I'm not mistaken, Better Call Saul a lot of it
takes place first in the Breaking Bad chronology.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
I'm not sure it just crosses over. So I actually
this is blasphemous to say.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
I think Better Call Saw was slightly the better show,
slightly more intriguing. The characters had more shades of gray
in Better Call Saul, whereas in Breaking Bad.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
I'm not complaining.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
I think I think the Breaking Bad and Better Call
Saul combination because I see that as one series is
one of the two best TV shows of all time,
along with The Sopranos, and I would give the slight
edge to Breaking Bad a better call Saul, but the
charactersn't Breaking Bad were absolute evil. Kim Wexler, she went
(34:19):
a little dark and better call Saw.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
But you felt for even slipping Jimmy how he became
Saul Goodman.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
You kind of felt for the path that put him there,
in the way his brother Michael McKean in just a
brilliant turn as Chuck McGill. You felt a little bit
bad for how Jimmy McGill got steered into what was
his fate, and you kind of felt happy for him
at the end that he was gonna do okay in prison,
(34:50):
not be sodomized anyway. Didn't look like, let's go to Jerry, Jerry,
ask Mark anything?
Speaker 11 (34:56):
Hey, Mark, I want wanted to ask you about Crosby,
but the season he's having, don't.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
I don't think anyone is shock he's having that season.
Speaker 8 (35:05):
But do you think it's a little bit of motivation.
Speaker 10 (35:08):
That everyone picked the Penguins to finish low?
Speaker 6 (35:11):
And to that point, do you even think.
Speaker 4 (35:14):
Like a player like Crosby or superstars in general need
any type of motivation to play their best.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
I think that no two people are alike. Let alone
two superstars, and I think everybody needs different motivation to
do different things. I don't think SID pays attention to
what's predicted as a team. I think he just wants
to win, period. If they were picked to win the
Stanley Cup and want to do that, they were picked
to finish last. Did want to win the Stanley Cup.
Speaker 5 (35:41):
So Sid.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
A lot of guys talk about how they're motivated solely
by winning. Sid's one of the few people I've ever
met who lives up to that, who is one hundred
percent totally and solely motivated by winning. Mario Mario really
wanted to win, but he cared about stats too. If
you told Sid he could finish the season with like,
I don't know, nine points and win the Stanley Cup,
(36:04):
it'd be frustrated. But he wants to win the Stanley Cup.
Then again, nine points, that's not free many Let's say
sixty points.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Thank you for the call. Let's go to Nick. Nick,
you're on with double m hi Mark.
Speaker 8 (36:16):
Uh So, My question to you is, so the way
they do the play your regular season games, if you
make it the overtime, you get you know, each team
at least gets a point. What do you think for
like maybe like splitting up the standings, maybe a little
bit further at the end of the year, like well,
or even in the whole season, like if in conference games,
(36:40):
like there's no there's no one point awarded.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
That's done. Thank you for the call. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
The only change they should make with the standings I
would make it is three points for a regulation win,
two points for an overtime or shootout win, one point
for an overtime or shootout loss.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Make all the games have the same value.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
But if you did that, the playoff phrases wouldn't be
a tight More gms would get fired and the gms
determined the method of play. It's the only league in
sports where the gms determine the method of play. Let's
go to Ben benyonl with double M. Ben, you're on
the air. I'm sorry, I can't I can't read anymore. Ron,
(37:19):
you're on the air.
Speaker 5 (37:23):
I was just wondering if you ever been to Erwin
and what do you like to do in Ierwin?
Speaker 1 (37:27):
If you have, I've been to Erwin frequently to go
to the Lamp Theater. I love to go to the
Lamp Theater. It's a great concert venue. They've had a
lot of great acts. Planning to go see an Ozzie
tribute band there. I think that's later this month. So
I really do like the Lamp Theater.
Speaker 5 (37:41):
I like.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
I don't know the names, so you can tell me
if you do.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
But there's a bar to the right of the Lamp Theater,
like down the hill to the right looking at the
Lamp Theater I like. And there's a Mexican restaurant across
the street from the Lamp Theater that I like as well.
Speaker 10 (37:57):
Awesome, Hey, thanks for answering my question.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
Thank you, and everybody go to Irwin. We're all going
to Irwin. Let's go to Conrad. Conrad Asmark anything?
Speaker 10 (38:06):
Hey, Mark Good just wanted to know, uh, not specifically
based on the extra point, it looked like it was
kind of weird that Boswell mess. Do you think that
he is beginning to deteriorate similar to Justin Tucker after
eleven or twelve seasons and the Steelers might be in
some pretty bad shape.
Speaker 1 (38:25):
Well, well, I mean, well you could know. I mean,
if he starts to fade, they should cut him. Okay,
there's no room for sentiment. If he starts to fade,
cut him and get the next guy, bring back better
call sauls from Pitt. I think he's kicking somewhere now, actually,
but yeah, no, you can't.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
You can't. Well the Steelers do.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
They probably will look look at me, contradicting what I
know to be the case. With the Steelers, they'll keep
him on forever. But yeah, I am working a point
where I am worried he's fading, aren't you?
Speaker 5 (38:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (38:54):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
I mean he's missed the kick in each of the
last three games, and I don't want to hear that
block stuff.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
It's missing a kick. He missed a kick. Thank you
for the call. Let's go to Nolan. Nolan asks Mark
anything what I mean?
Speaker 3 (39:06):
What?
Speaker 5 (39:06):
I man?
Speaker 9 (39:07):
Hey, I was just wondering. Uh, my friends, I had
this conversation earlier this week. But Warren war in the past,
it's really season carries.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
The ball around.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
I was like, does he carry the ball.
Speaker 9 (39:20):
Around thirteen times per game? And it seems like he's
running the ball completely.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
Fine, Yeah, I'm running the ball.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
I don't think either Gainwell or Warren gets the ball
enough on running plays. They get those passes in the flat,
but Rogers wants to throw two thirds of the time,
and I think that is his one negative but profoundly
negative impact on the on the game that he checks
out of runs and in the pass is way too
frequently because he just wants to throw.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
He did the same thing in New York.
Speaker 9 (39:46):
Of yep, exactly, I feel the same way. I feel
like we had run the Baaltimore and more.
Speaker 11 (39:51):
But that is what it is.
Speaker 2 (39:53):
Let's go to Tom in Greensburg. Tom ask mark anything.
Speaker 3 (39:56):
Hey, double m hey. I was interested.
Speaker 5 (39:58):
What do you think you've seen more in your life time?
The Immaculate Reception or the Pruder film?
Speaker 2 (40:05):
Me personally, I've seen the Immaculate Reception more. How about you?
Speaker 5 (40:09):
I probably have also living in Pittsburgh, but I bet
I'll bet it's close Nation.
Speaker 3 (40:14):
Why wouldn't you?
Speaker 1 (40:14):
Now do you think of the ball was trapped? I
think the ball was trapped. I'm like I was a kid.
I was like eleven years old. I had a ticket.
I snuck on the field. I was standing at the
fifty yard line. I saw the ball bounce. No, I'm serious,
I saw the ball bounds. It might the bonds twice. Well,
it looked like Frank was feeling the ground ball to
short stuff. Let's go to Rick and Brighton Heights.
Speaker 11 (40:37):
Hey, Mark, I just as a former employee to PG myself.
I just wanted to see what are your thoughts and
feelings about losing the voice of the Post, because that,
I mean, do you have any personal feelings besides they're
you know, taking this I.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
Never I mean, the people who denied me aren't there anymore.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
So I feel very bad for the people I know
that work there and they're out of jobs, very bad.
And I feel bad about the decline of the newspaper
industry and journalism in general, where now we look to
titillate instead of inform. And then there's logistics of going
from the print version to the digital version, which the
Post Casette did a really horrible job of and the
(41:14):
the Trib did a lot better of. And that's why
the Trib's around, Okay, and the postset with that strike.
I mean, those the union needed to read the room.
They never should have gone on strike. Okay, they won
the strike, They got the old contract in place, they
got I guess there's some kind of settlement in there too.
And now the blocks folded the paper out of revenge,
(41:35):
and they should have known that was coming. They were
working for petty people. They should never have gone on strike,
no matter how right they felt they are. So while
the Blocks are the number one villains in this I
thought the union was stupid, don't you I do.
Speaker 11 (41:51):
I have feelings about the different unions.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
And you know what, all the sports, all the sports
people felt the same way because they crossed the picket line.
The whole department crossed the picking line, except for one
or two guys.
Speaker 11 (42:04):
Yeah, I was in the advertising department.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
But I want anybody who didn't see this coming again,
didn't read the room. When was your last year, Marek,
I want to say it was nineteen ninety hold On,
I covered nineteen ninety six.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
I left the nineteen ninety six because my first season
with Penguin's Report was nineteen ninety six ninety seven, which
was the last season with Mario. So I left in
nineteen ninety six, and I wished I would.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
Have left earlier. I tried to leave earlier. I just
I got put.
Speaker 1 (42:35):
I you know, I'm not glad the post because that
shut down at all because of the people. I know,
But I never got the opportunity there that my talent merited.
And I saw a lot of people with far less
talent and far more opportunity and now I'm I'm ranting,
and that nothing to do with Now, let's go to James.
Speaker 2 (42:52):
James, you're on the air.
Speaker 3 (42:53):
Hey, Mark, you're on the here James.
Speaker 2 (42:57):
Okay, we're just going to hang up on James because
he wasn't ready
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