By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor
THE PITTSBURGH Steelers are in trouble. It doesn’t take a genius to know that — in other words, even Steelers’ fans can realize it. But the schedule is kind the next couple of weeks, which should allow them to get a little bit healthier both in physical status and in league record.
Big Ben should be back from his concussion-like symptoms that created such a team furor last week. Hines Ward was way out of line in his comments, hinting that Roethlisberger should have lied about his headaches and played. But Ward apologized and they’ll get on.
Teammates are a lot like brothers. You can fight over something, but then forget about it. Well, eventually forget about it. Hines may not see too many passes coming his way today.
The loss to Baltimore was damaging last Sunday night, but young quarterback Dennis Dixon was impressive. Even though he threw a crucial interception, that loss had to be blamed on the defense that let the Ravens come back to tie the game.
The Steelers host Oakland today in what should be a piece of cake. The Raiders are an up-and-down team, but their ups usually come at home, not on the road.
Raiders’ quarterback Bruce Gradkowski returns to Pittsburgh where he was star at Seton-LaSalle High.
Local basketball fans may remember the epic game in the Farrell Dresch-McClusky championships game in the 2000-01 season when Gradkowski scored 32 points in an 84-81 overtime win over the host Steelers. Myron Lowe nailed 31 for Farrell in a real shootout.
Gradkowski won’t generate that many points against the Pittsburgh defense and the Steelers should roll against a poor Raider ‘D’. Even the “Lynbo Curse” isn’t strong enough to help Gradkowski as Pittsburgh will romp, 30-6.
After Oakland, the Steelers will face a putrid Browns team on Thursday night, so they can get hot before the final three games.
Meanwhile, the Browns have hardly anybody left from the team that opened training camp. Jamal Lewis, who was a bust anyway this year, safety Brodney Pool and Shaun Rogers are all done for the year — maybe forever.
Today Cleveland faces a rejuvenated San Diego team that has won six straight games. Well, make that seven straight as the Chargers rock the Brownies, 34-10, before booing Cleveland fans who have seen enough.
Last week my picks went 7-6 for a 95-76 season mark. Following are the rest of this week’s predictions (betting line in parentheses just for fun):
Seattle (-1) over San Francisco
New Orleans (-91/2) over Washington
NY Giants (even) over Dallas
Indy (-71/2) over Tennessee
Miami (plus 41/2) over New England
Baltimore (plus 21/2) over Green Bay
Denver (-4) over Kansas City
Jacksonville (even) over Houston
Minnesota (no line) over Arizona
Cincy (-13) over Detroit
Carolina (-6) over Tampa
Chicago (-9) over St. Louis
Atlanta (plus 3) over Philly
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SPORTVIEW: Schedule should help struggling Steelers bounce back in standings
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WM baseball, Sharpsville and Wilmington softball playing for D-10 titles
Sharpsville and Wilmington softball teams and the West Middlesex baseball squad return to the diamond today to compete for District 10 championships.
SOFTBALL
Class A Championship
Coach Bob Zikovich's Sharpsville Blue Darlings (15-2) battle a tough Saegertown (18-2) squad at 2 p.m. today at Penn State-Behrend in Erie. -
PIAA Track Notebook: KC's Wareham made round trips to "The Ship"
The most impressive race during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships did not take place at Shippensburg University, nor will you read its results in any newspaper on or any web site.
To be sure, it was a race against time, but not in the sense of being defined by a coach’s hand-held device, nor Seth Grove Stadium’s scoreboard clock. -
Hickory girls grab PIAA Class AA Track team title
SHIPPENSBURG — This news bulletin just in: Mercer County athletes dominated during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Nothing new there, you say? Well, perhaps you’re correct, considering how well the area aggregation annually accounts itself on Memorial Day Weekend at Shippensburg University. Therefore it was not surprising how much hardware was hauled home — once again. -
PIAA Track: Hickory's Bell, Lubarski, Regginello grab gold
SHIPPENSBURG — There’s a big difference between being seeded 1st and finishing 1st — Matt Bell can attest to that.
After settling for silver last year, the Hickory High senior put the shot 59 feet, 6 3/4 inches Friday afternoon to garner gold at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
WM to play for D-10 baseball title; GC, Sharon, Sharpsville lose
Four area baseball teams were in action on Friday in the District 10 semifinals as the squads battled to compete for District 10 championships on Monday.
West Middlesex rolled past error-prone Linesville, 8-0, in Class A action at Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park.
In Class AA, both Sharon and Sharpsville suffered 2-1 losses. The Tigers fell to Saegertown at Ainsworth Field in Erie while the Blue Devils lost to Titusville at SRU.
In Class AAA, the Grove City Eagles were denied the chance to defend their D-10 crown after suffering a 6-3 loss to Warren at SRU. -
Farrell volleyball falls in D-10 semifinals
The Farrell High boys volleyball team suffered a 2-0 (25-15, 25-12) loss to Saegertown on Thursday night in the District 10 semifinals at Meadville Area High’s “House of Thrills.”
“This was the first year we made it out of the first day (pool play) of the playoffs,” said Steelers’ coach Dan Dragicevic. “I’d like to cite my seniors (Eric Demus, Anthony Perkins, Jaylen Chambers and Lawrence Hughes). -
Locals ready to go for gold at Shippensburg
Now that Mercer County is on the map, it’s incumbent upon the area aggregation to chart a course for the ultimate destination — Seth Grove Stadium’s medals stand — during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Led by West Middlesex High sprinter Clay Allen, many Mercer Countians are seeded at or near the top of their respective events for the annual 2-day marathon at Shippensburg University, which commences 9 a.m. Friday. It will continue beginning 9 a.m. Saturday. -
D-10 Playoffs: Local teams go 6-for-6
ä Grove City 1, Harbor Creek 0 — At Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park, what the Grove City Eagles couldn’t accomplish themselves, the Harbor Creek Huskies unwittingly did for them.
Unable to plate runs themselves, Torin Smith scored the Eagles’ only run when teammate Tyler Devine’s seeming inning-ending pop-up to left field was dropped by Harbor Creek’s Chris Merritt in the bottom of the 7th inning of Tuesday’s tourney opener. -
Great year for WM track; local qualifiers listed
It’s been a big year for the Big Reds.
Though there’s no official documentation, the 2011-12 academic year may be the most successful in West Middlesex High’s athletic annals. -
SPORTVIEW: Local names Kroko, Lutz, Kareklas in news elsewhere
IT’S ALWAYS GOOD to hear of former area people who have gone on to athletic success in other areas, or the family of former area residents. Following are a few of those stories:
ä Bob and Betty Kroko of Sharon are avid followers of professional baseball. No, not necessarily the Pittsburgh Pirates or Cleveland Indians like many local fans.
The Krokos keep a close eye on the Austria Major League! - More Sports Headlines
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