OPINION —
THANK GOODNESS we have the Ryder Cup today. With the Browns and Steelers both off, there just isn’t the same interest in the NFL as with most Sundays in the Mercer County area.
And as Pittsburgh and Cleveland clubs finish up their baseball seasons, even the most loyal fans have a hard time still watching after such a frustrating second half to the season for both squads.
The Indians’ manager Manny Acta paid the price for Cleveland’s second-half collapse, being fired with only a few games left in the season.
And what was once a possible playoff chance for the Pirates suddenly went sour. Even worse, now it appears they will be headed for a 20th straight losing season. Sad stuff for long-suffering Bucs fans.
Speaking of losing, the Browns still need to find some receivers who can actually catch the ball. Every time the receivers drop a pass — and they are the best in the NFL at that — it usually stops a possible first down. And with a team as marginal as the Browns, you can’t win with those kind of mistakes.
Cleveland showed some moxie against the Ravens last Thursday and actually had a couple of shots to tie the game at the end. Quarterback Brandon Weeden is still making rookie mistakes, but he has promise. It’s just hard to have much confidence in some of his receivers.
One great thing, we were actually able to watch the game on the NFL Network since Time-Warner finally reached an agreement to carry it. Now the big question: How much will our cable rates go up next year?
Besides that we had a chance Thursday to finally see the real officials back in action. That certainly helped the game move faster, although the Browns could have used a few better calls. It was fascinating to see the refs get a standing ovation from the fans prior to the game.
Of course by the third quarter, the grace period was over and the fan booing was being conducted in earnest. As it should be!
Meanwhile, the bye for Pittsburgh certainly comes at a good time. The Steelers are trying to get several players healthy and their defense really needs a return of Troy Polamalu and James Harrison.
The only bad part of a bye right now is that the Steelers have a long time to grind their teeth over the tough loss to Oakland last weekend.
Last week my picks went 8-7 for a season mark of 27-16. Following are the rest of this week’s predictions (betting line in parentheses):
Bye over Steelers
NY Jets (plus 31⁄2) over San Fran
Philly (-21⁄2) over NY Giants
Green Bay (-71⁄2) over New Orleans
New England (-31⁄2) over Buffalo
Detroit (-41⁄2) over Minnesota
Atlanta (-1) over Carolina
Houston (-12) over Tennessee
Arizona (-61⁄2) over Miami
Chicago (plus 31⁄2) over Dallas
Kansas City (plus 11⁄2) over San Diego
St. Louis (plus 21⁄2) over Seattle
Denver (-6) over Oakland
Cincy (-11⁄2) over Jacksonville
Washington (plus 3) over Tampa
Sports
SPORTVIEW: Ryder Cup comes at good time for local sports fans
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Hickory softball ousted by Warren; Reynolds, Sharpsville games postponed
Three District 10 semifinal playoff softball games were on the schedule Thursday, but only one was played due to the scattered storms that passed through western Pa.
Hickory suffered a 10-0, 6-inning loss to Warren in a D-10 Class AAA game at Allegheny College in Meadville. That game had a rain delay, but was able to be completed. The Reynolds vs. Saegertown game at Allegheny College and the Sharpsville vs. Iroquois game at Penn State-Behrend in Erie were postponed. -
Playoffs: GC, Hounds win; Reynolds, Sharpsville softball advance
The District 10 playoffs kicked off on Tuesday for 4 area baseball teams and 5 softball squads.
In Class A softball, Reynolds edged West Middlesex, 5-4, in an 8-inning thriller while Sharpsville ousted Rocky Grove, 5-0. In Class AA, Northwestern beat Wilmington, 9-5, and Harbor Creek defeated Mercer, 4-3. -
Hickory boys edge WM for D-10 Class AA Track team title
HARBORCREEK — Hickory High co-head coach Mark Slezak referenced the term “exponential” in explaining the four-fold heart-felt feeling of having a relay team qualify for the PIAA Championships.
That sentiment seemed to summarize Mercer County’s performance during Saturday’s annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships. -
5 area teams qualify for D-10 baseball playoffs
Five area baseball teams have qualified for the District 10 playoffs — Grove City, Kennedy Catholic, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wilmington.
In the Class A semifinals, Kennedy Catholic faces Cochranton at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Northwestern High School. Rocky Grove faces Eisenhower in the other semifinal game. -
Hickory, WM boys to collide at D-10 AA Track & Field Championships
For the 2nd time this week, a District 10 track & field team title could be decided by a pair of Mercer County contingents.
Just as Hickory and Grove City girls contested the Class AAA crown Wednesday night, so, too, are the Hickory and West Middlesex boys anticipating vying for Saturday’s AA title. -
Roundup: Reynolds baseball tops GC; Sharpsville, Wilmington softball teams win
ä Reynolds 4, Grove City 1 — At Transfer, Neal Engstrom fired a complete-game 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks in lifting the Raiders (9-8) past the Eagles (14-6).
Ryan Grace was tagged with the loss for Grove City. He struck out 6 batters, issued no walks and gave up 7 hits in going the distance. -
GC girls 3-peat at District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
HARBORCREEK— Some athletes seeded 1st in four events would feel pressure. For Grove City High senior Daniel Jaskowak, it’s an opportunity for name recognition.
“I kind’ve like it. It’s cool, because people know who you are,” related Jaskowak, who won 3 events during Wednesday’s District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships. -
Hickory, GC girls collide at D-10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Cliché though that is, it will be borne out today at the annual District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships.
Hickory High girls — the defending PIAA Class AA titlists — will test the best from the biggest. And the Lady Hornets hope to give as good as they get from the 6-county competition. -
Local tune up for districts at Mercer County Invite
There’s a difference between a warm-up and a warning.
If Saturday’s annual track & field invitational is any indication, Mercer County’s contingent issued a warning for the remainder of District 10: This could be a big year in area annals. -
Roundup: Grace, GC beat Sharon, 4-0, in 5 innings
With an impending storm blowing in above Johnny Pepe Field time was limited, so Ryan Grace greedily gobbled up putouts.
Grove City High’s Grace gave up only 3 base hits, and the visiting Eagles eased to an abbreviated 4-0, 5-inning win over Sharon Friday afternoon. - More Sports Headlines
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Hickory softball ousted by Warren; Reynolds, Sharpsville games postponed
