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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Roundup: Sharpsville tops Sharon; KC's Wareham hits 1,000 career points
The Duke University Blue Devils men’s basketball team has nothing on its namesake, the Sharpsville High girls.
Duke drained 14 three-point field goals in rallying past Atlantic Coast Conference arch-rival North Carolina Wednesday night, and 24 hours later the Blue (Darlings) Devils did likewise. -
Reynolds drops opener to Boiling Springs in Hershey
HERSHEY — One of the problems with the PIAA State Dual-Meet Championships is that there is no true seeding. That’s why two of the state’s top ranked Class AA teams — Reynolds (3rd) and Boiling Springs (4th) — had to meet in the opening round.
But, of course you throw ranking and seeding out the window anyhow in the 3-day tourney in Hershey. -
HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS: Lakeview, GC matmen win
Lakeview and Grove City mat teams notched victories Wednesday night over West Middlesex and Sharon respectively.
Mercer bowed to Redbank Valley.
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Roundup: Sharpsville tops Lakeview in OT; GC rolls over Franklin; Titusville upsets Hickory
While the Sailors were sleeping, Luchey was laying out for the lid.
Tyler Luchey’s court-length layin at the buzzer Tuesday night staked Sharpsville High boys’ basketball team to a 58-56 District 10 Region 2-AA overtime win over Lakeview. -
Roundup: Hickory girls beat Franklin in battle of 5-AAA leaders
Knowing its male counterparts upset Franklin 48 hours earlier, the Hickory High girls basketball team was not to be outdone.
Forcing Franklin into a substandard shooting performance, the Lady Hornets harvested a 53-42 District 10 Region 5-AAA win Monday night. -
SPORTVIEW: Reynolds, Greenville are 2 of state's historic programs
CONGRATULATIONS TO the Reynolds High wrestling program which became the fastest Class AA team in the history of the state to reach 700 wins last weekend.
The program, which began in 1960-61 under coach Dick Sherwood, has set a torrid pace for winning since that 4-4 season.
Ironically, the school’s 700th victory came Saturday in the District 10 Dual Meet Championships against long-time rival Greenville, which went over the 700-win plateau in 2009. Greenville is believed to be the first AA team to reach 700 wins, while Reynolds did it in the shortest time. -
Hickory soccer standouts Free, Richards to Ashland University
Hickory High girls’ soccer coach B.J. Rudge believes the bar has been elevated, and his Lady Hornets have helped hoist it.
“In general, soccer has grown in this area ... and what our girls have accomplished is a reflection of the whole (Shenango) Valley,” Rudge recently observed. -
Ft. LeBoeuf beats Reynolds at D-10 AA Team Duals
EDINBORO — The Reynolds Raiders notched the school’s 700th victory in the semifinals of the District 10 Dual Meet Championships Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Raiders, No. 701 will have to come later.
The Raiders topped long-time rival Greenville, 51-16, in the semis to become the first Class AA school in Pennsylvania history to 700 wins. However, in the D-10 finals at Edinboro University’s McComb Field House, the Raiders fell to familiar foe Fort LeBoeuf, 31-28. -
Roundup: Popatak hits 1,000; Hickory, Farrell, Sharon boys win 6-AAA contests
ä Hickory 64, Franklin 52 — At “The Castle” in Franklin, the Knights (9-3, 15-3) led 28-21 at halftime, but coach Nick Cannone’s Hornets (11-2, 13-5) came storming back and outscored the hosts 24-9 in the 3rd quarter and 19-15 in the 4th to win a key Region 6-AAA clash.
Vinnie Mastrian rifled in a career-high 28 points to lead Hickory while Matt Votino scored 22. -
Roundup: WM, Sharpsville, Lakeview grab region wins
When in doubt, defer to Dogan.
West Middlesex High junior point guard Matt Dogan dominated the 2nd half of Friday night’s District 10 Region 1-A contest with visiting VisionQuest.
Dogan deposited 18 of his game-high 27 points after intermission, converting 12 of 16 free-throw attempts, leading the Big Reds to their 9th consecutive conquest, 56-41. - More Sports Headlines
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