Mark Madden: Alex Ovechkin got it all — and earned Pittsburgh’s respect
Alex Ovechkin announced his retirement. One more season, namely this one. Well done, Ovi. Ovechkin went from hated Bond villain to the worthiest of opponents in his 22 seasons playing against the Penguins. Pittsburgh despised, then respected. Ovechkin earned that. Ovechkin versus Sidney Crosby is one of hockey’s best rivalries...
Mark Madden: Chaos, frustration show Steelers have lost their identity
Starting 2-2 is no disaster. Losing at Cleveland for a fifth straight Thursday night stinks, but the Browns are 3-1 and might not be too bad. New England is the defending AFC champion. Losing at Foxborough is no disgrace. The Steelers are hardly circling down the drain. Thirteen games to...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Dennis Miller stood out in a sports TV world gone dumb
HBO MAX has a new documentary: “Miller Night Football.” It’s about Dennis Miller’s two years (2000-01) as color analyst on “Monday Night Football.” Aside from Howard Cosell’s reign of terror (1970-83) during MNF’s glory days, Miller’s tenure was the franchise’s high point. If you’re smart and creative, that is. Therein...
Mark Madden: Maybe the Steelers is the Steelers
That was a disaster. But not a surprise. Losing at Cleveland on a Thursday night is embedded in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ DNA, symptomatic of a mushy middle-level football operation that needs something even more radical than replacing Mike Tomlin after 19 seasons to shake its doldrums. This isn’t Minecraft. You...
Mark Madden: Connor McDavid, Oilers will finally get their Stanley Cup and other NHL predictions
The Edmonton Oilers are my pick to win the Stanley Cup. Players as good as Connor McDavid don’t spend their careers Cup-less. Mike Babcock is a flawed man but will have impact as coach. But the Oilers still inexplicably have ex-Penguin Tristan Jarry in goal. They lost their opener Tuesday,...
Mark Madden: Steelers look like a modern NFL offense under Mike McCarthy
More than anybody, Mike McCarthy won Sunday’s game against Cincinnati. He accepted blame for the offensive failure at New England the week prior. Promised to pare back the playbook, and did. “Cut down on volume.” Simplicity led to balance led to rhythm led to success led to 30-27. Want proof?...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: WCW days offer lessons for AEW
Let’s review my pro wrestling career. It paid for my house. That’s really all that’s important. I worked for now-
defunct World Championship Wrestling from 1993-2000, mostly for the company’s 900 number, magazine and internet department. WCW was a pioneer in internet broadcasting, streaming audio of live events as well as...
Mark Madden: Paul Skenes’ velocity loss should make his future WBC decision easy
Paul Skenes said the “root” of his velocity loss was pitching for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic before the MLB season. Sounds plausible. The WBC seems to have damaged other pitchers throughout its history, albeit a small percentage. The vast majority have emerged unscathed. It’s nonetheless foolish to...
Mark Madden: Nikita Kucherov says NHL hockey has gotten ‘dumb.’ He has a point
Two-time MVP Nikita Kucherov of Tampa Bay had a blunt assessment about the state of the NHL: “The game is a lot faster but dumb. And I think that’s all I can say. Yes, it is faster, but it is very dumb. So, low IQ.” In what way? “In the...
Mark Madden: Steelers’ flawed roster gets exposed in loss to Patriots
Joey Porter Jr. would not have helped. Unless he played wideout. Porter couldn’t be worse at wideout than DK Metcalf. Who got guaranteed money beyond his contract extension’s first year. Like Porter wants. But the Pittsburgh Steelers have a rule against that. Except when they don’t. Porter (at cornerback) might...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. saga has gone far enough. Just pay him
A user’s guide to the Joey Porter Jr. saga: Porter Jr. had me in his corner till he got “injured” (with the media conveniently allowed to watch) in Thursday’s practice. It put the charade on display after it had been hiding in plain sight. This is a hold-in. It’s got...
Mark Madden: Pirates’ endless mistakes come with no accountability
The Pittsburgh Pirates stink. That isn’t a revelation, but let me count the ways. On second thought, forget that. I’d lose count. A microcosm: Tuesday was Roberto Clemente Day. The Pirates marked the occasion by doling out Clemente bobbleheads. As the dignified Clemente would doubtless want. First 21,000 through the...
Mark Madden: Sidney Crosby isn’t going anywhere; neither are the Penguins
Sidney Crosby spewed his preferred vanilla when he discussed a contract extension, but, as usual with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ captain, his path is transparent and predictable. Crosby is entering his contract’s last year but will ink an extension before the regular season begins. He should give himself a raise from his...
Mark Madden: Steelers start Mike McCarthy era with a win, but questions remain
A win is a win is a win. The guy from Greenfield is 1-0 as Steelers coach. What could be better? Refreshing Steelers notes, that’s what! • Aaron Rodgers will continue to play as he did vs. Atlanta: Above average, not least at 42. He’s likely not capable of better,...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: In worldwide popularity, the best NFL can hope for is 2nd place
The NFL drew 100,021 fans to the San Francisco-Los Angeles Rams game in Melbourne, Australia. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith used the occasion to trumpet that the “NFL is rapidly becoming the No. 1 sports league in the world.” Not even close. Imagine two identical stadiums in Melbourne. Each with a...
Mark Madden: Barry Melrose brought hockey to life in America
Barry Melrose should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Should have been inducted while he was still alive. Melrose passed away Wednesday. He was 70. Melrose was a great man. I’ll eulogize him as such a bit later in this space. But first, let’s stick to his Hall of...
