AUBREY BRUCE
Pittsburgh Power:
The Pittsburgh Power (3-12) fell to the Cleveland Gladiators (3-12), 71-58, at Quicken Loans Arena. Hey there ladies and gents. I think it is a disservice to Lake Erie to define Cleveland, as the “mistake by the lake;” because simply stated Cleveland is just a “mistake,” period…
First and foremost it took me exactly one hour to get the right directions to the press box “after” I arrived at the Quicken Loans Arena to cover the game. Now I understand why LeBron James bailed from the Cleveland Cavaliers. It is also equally amazing at how two people can observe the same event and come up with a totally different conclusion. Arena Football League referee Larry Smith who was compelled to enforce a minimum of three totally bogus pass interference calls that were levied against the Pittsburgh Power appeared as if he had just eaten some tainted sushi hooked straight from the bowels of Lake Erie as he looked up at the replays shown on the big screen. He looked like the cat that swallowed the proverbial canary.
These “neurologists” that police the game all obviously had a different, no flawed sightline and an opposite viewpoint in regards to their analysis as related to calling the game. There was also terrible clock management by Pittsburgh Power Head Coach Derek Stingley and his coaching staff at the end of the first half. Coach Stingley’s demeanor impresses me.
However his coaching skills and insight in my opinion may come up just a bit short. The only “joy” for Pittsburgh was that Power wide receiver Mike “the joystick” Washington continues to play lights out football. Although small in stature Washington has a huge heart especially when traveling across the middle. I am confident that if the NFL doesn’t snatch him up, the Canadian Football League probably will. Final notes: I also bumped into Dr. Sharon McDaniel, President, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of A Second Chance Inc. for two weeks in a row attending the Power games. Okay I don’t want you ladies to unleash the “green monster” but the “joystick” also serves as the personal trainer to Dr. McDaniel; in my opinion she is one of the real life heroine’s of urban foster care in America.
Win the games that you are supposed to win. The Pirates should be encouraged by the effort of A.J. Burnett who started against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday at Wrigley Field his first outing after returning from the DL. However all did not end well for the Bucs’ because they fell to the Cubs after Dioner Navarro’s sacrifice fly scored Anthony Rizzo in the 11th inning and gave the Cubs a 4-3 victory. The result sent the Pirates (53-34) into a tie with the St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the National League Central Division. As of Sunday, the Cubs continued to remain 14.5 games behind the Pirates and the Cardinals insofar as their division is concerned. The Pirates must learn to display that “killer” instinct in order to get and preserve a playoff spot. It is not supposed to be a struggle to defeat a team that for all intents and purposes may be already looking toward 2013.
When the Milwaukee Brewers were still retaining the services of the now departed Prince Fielder the Brewers could not wait to play the Pirates, a team that they knew is inferior. They realized that they could pad a division lead if they had won or they could regain the lead if they were a few games in the rear. Just a few seasons ago when the Brewers were top heavy with talent, they beat the teams that they were expected to defeat; they had absolutely no mercy on Pittsburgh when they had the Pirates on the ropes time after time, after time. Right after the All-Star break the Pirates have a schedule concluding the month of July that might be the determining factor in who wins the division and which teams secure a wild card spot in 2013. Just after their July R&R, Pittsburgh faces a three game series in Cincy. We all know about the deep level of talent that the Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker has at his disposal, so watch out for the fireworks.
The Bucs then travel to Washington, D.C. for a four game stint against the Nationals. Here is where they have to be careful because as of Monday the Nationals only trailed the Atlanta Braves by four games in the NL East and are fighting to take the division lead. Then the Bucs travel south for the only “soft spot” in their July schedule, the Miami Marlins, currently a whopping 17.5 games out of first place in the NL East. Forget about the “Ides of March” the Pirates better beware of what happens after the Ides of July because there is going to be some serious “rumbling” going on. Pittsburgh had better not falter because the former MLB Champion St. Louis Cardinals have demonstrated, when the leaves start to turn in early fall, they will be hanging around to compete for the MLB championship trophy.
There can be no room, absolutely none for unforced and costly errors because those are the ones that almost always come back to haunt you.
Your comments are welcome.
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