looking ahead

- the bosses of the various Steeler families got together late last week to talk about the upcoming season and to map out plans for a New York takeover. we've got a few New York area off-season events coming up, and the season will bring the usual -- gameday specials and Steelers music at Texas-Arizona, Steeler raffles, road trips, t-shirts, etc. -- and the unusual -- a chance to tailgate in our backyard when the Steelers come to the Meadowlands to play the Jets. more details to come here and over at SteelersNYC.com, but just talking about this stuff (even in the vaguest of terms) and of course seeing all the familiar faces already has me geeked for the season.

- so the Pirates have their home opener today (expected temperature when the first pitch is thrown is 38 degrees). after 6-3 win over the Reds, the Pirates bring a 4-2 to PNC Park after a 6-game road trip to start the season... not bad for a team that didn't rack up it's fourth road win until May 20 last year.
why do I bring that up? because when you're a Pirates fan, you learn to savor the small pockets of joy. I'll enjoy a strong April, fearing a May collapse. I'll take a post-All Star break surge from a team that's been out of contention since Memorial Day. I'll even take a drubbing at home if it means I get to enjoy decent seats and warm pierogies... these are the things you savor as a Pirates fan.

- and speaking of underdogs, big ups to Matt Serra for his first-round knock out of George St-Pierre Saturday night to take the UFC Welterweight Championship. To put it in familiar terms, this is like the Pirates sweeping the Yankees to win the World Series... or the Steelers winning three straight road playoff games on their way to a Super Bowl championship (yeah, I'm still not over that). I was lucky enough to meet Matt when I was out in Las Vegas in December for the Ortiz-Liddell fight, and he was very nice, very open, and very friendly (much friendlier than any guy with his skill set needs to be). St-Pierre is a decent fellow too, and will undoubtedly come back, but it was great to see Serra win the belt.