Dark days for Pittsburgh sports fans

Despite outgaining Cincinnati 474 to 324, the Steelers choked away the division title to Cincinnati yesterday. With three straight losses, the supposedly Super Bowl worthy Steelers are suddenly facing an uphill battle to even make the playoffs. They'll most likely have to win each of their last four games, starting with a tough one against 9-3 Chicago this Sunday, just to earn a wild-card.

Meanwhile, the supposedly playoff worthy Penguins recently lost their fifth straight to fall to 7-20 (I don't buy into this 7-14-6 crap -- the bottom line is that they walked off the ice as losers 20 out of 27 games). Crosby and Fleury, their recent #1 draft picks, are going to waste. And only one of their five big off-season veteran acquisitions is truly contributing. Mark Recchi has a league worst +/- of -19. John LeClair has managed only three power play goals despite being brought in to bolster the power play. Defenseman Sergei Gonchar hasn't played much defense, at least in the four or five games I've watched this season. And Jocelyn Thibault is 1-7 in net with a terrible .880 save percentage and a league worst 4.38 goals against average. Among the five, only Ziggy Palffy has lived up to expectations.

So now I just have to hold out hope for the third team I follow, Maryland basketball. Mary and I will be at the game tonight at MCI. Its a biggie against GW.