Tuesday Takes...

After an abnormally long day of work, I'm ready to get some things off my mind.  Some are sports related, some aren't, so feel free to critique my points...

• Is Penn State being indifferent to their past indiscretions by hiring James Franklin? Absolutely they are.  I'm certainly not saying Franklin had anything to do with the allegations against four of his former players, but with what's gone on in Happy Valley, you would think the Nittany Lions would want someone squeaky clean.  It's ridiculous that they would take a chance on anyone with ANY kind of baggage, but hey, what do I know, I'm just an everyday Pitt fan.
• The Pens are so good right now that it's scary.  A lot of people are making a big deal of the way they've played recently, and the comments made by Rob Scuderi after the Winnipeg game referring to the Pens style as "Harlem Globetrotter hockey", but personally, I think it's a sign of a very talented team.  Now, I'm old school - I like seeing the Pens win 3-2 or 2-1, in a heavy checking game.  The fact that they can win games and keep collecting points, even though they are obviously not playing their best, is a very welcome sign.  I think this year could be a very good one for us come springtime.  Stay tuned.
• So currently I'm on the couch with my wife watching Modern Family.  Has there ever been a show that has exploded quicker than that?  It's on like 3 channels, and I feel like any time I turn on the TV it's on.  That being said, I dig the show.  Come on, how can you not like a show with Al Bundy in it?
• Since I'm not hip to video games any more (they're too expensive, and I feel like I don't have the time to dedicate to the ones I enjoy like I once could), we play a bunch of board games around the house.  From time to time I'll recommend one, and now is one of those times.  It's called Pantheon.  If you dig Risk and Settlers of Catan, it's kind of a mix of the two.  It's one of those games that can get really personal, really quickly, which in my book is definitely a plus.  It's for 2-4 players and lasts about 90 minutes.  Definitely worth your time.
• Lastly, for you locals, it's, Pittsburgh Restaurant Week which means a ton of good places are running deals and special menus all week.  Personally, it doesn't really change much for me because at 90% of these places, I get steak and potatoes.  However, for you foodies like my blushing bride, this is a great time to try new places, and to check out some good seasonal food.  We always try to get out at least once or twice during PRW, and I'd recommend you do too - great grub and it's always good to support your local small businesses.

Well boys and girls, that's about it for me.  Take care, and catch ya on the flip side.

Sunday Funday

So after a busy night of wine tasting and board games (you'll find I do both of those things a lot), I thought I'd drop in and give ya my quick takes on some things happening in the world of Pittsburgh sports.  But beforehand I'd like to give a shout out to Mrs. Snuke and her friend Bear who made some homemade pasta last night from scratch for yours truly.  I know I'm biased, but damn was it good stuff.  Anyway, back to what ya came here for -

• The Pens are looking very good heading into the Olympic break.  My only concern with them, and it's a concern every year, is that they are too soft on the top two lines.  Unfortunately, players such as Milan Lucic, who have the talent to be on a top line and the grit of an enforcer, are few and far between.The last Penguin that I felt had the potential to be that was Eric Tangradi, however once I saw him play it was clear he wasn't interested in using his size to his advantage.
• As for the Steelers, they ended the season on a great note, and, as we all know, came within a Succop (emphasis on the Suck) missed kick of heading into the playoffs.  This offseason is going to bring a ton of change to the Steelers, and not all of it wanted.  There may be some notable veterans, such as Brett Keisel, Troy Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley hitting the bricks.  But then again, Omar Khan and the front office have always seemed to keep those they wanted to, regardless of contract situation, so I guess we'll have to let the process play out.
• The Pirates have done nothing this offseason to make the fans believe that last year was just a starting point for bigger and better things.  All they have done is drag the AJ Burnett saga out as long as possible, anger the fanbase by ditching the "Jolly Roger" for the solitary "P" logo, and pick up zero free agents who will help with the glaring need at first base.  The pitching staff, especially with the signing of Edinson Volquez and Jameson Tallion waiting in the wings, appears to be on solid footing, but one once again has to question if the Buccos will have enough pop to go deep into the postseason.
• Pitt has been looking very good on the basketball court.  I like how their game has transitioned to the ACC so far, with Patterson and company bringing a more "high octane" style to the Panthers hoopsters.  The football team has kind of been a mixed bag since Paul Chryst took over.  I think he's going to develop into an excellent coach, but he is definitely going through some growing pains, on the recruiting front, and the game management front.  However, when you have hosses on the O-Line (which is one position he definitely can recruit), a two-way player like James Conner and a big time wide receiver like Tyler Boyd, you can overcome a lot of deficiencies. Also, I really like what I saw out of Chad Voytik in the bowl game.  As long as Coach Chryst can reel in the game management mistakes, I see no reason Pitt can't go for 8 or more wins next season at the very least.

That's all for now, I plan on writing some more in-depth stuff this week, including a review of a local restaurant and whatever else I can think of.  Feel free to drop any suggestions in the comments.  Until next time boys and girls...

A little about me and the site...

You can call me Snuke. I'm a 30-something Pittsburgh native who still resides in the Steel City, and is damn proud of it. I eat too much, drink too much, and definitely gamble too much, but luckily, I have a very forgiving wife who puts up with my occasional lack of good judgement. I spend way too much time trolling the web, watching cartoons, and playing fantasy sports, but I feel like it's made me the well rounded yinzer I am today. And I own an awesome pit bull named Kali, who will be serving as the mascot for our band of misfits here.

So what to expect from the site? Well, there will be a lot of sports, mostly because I'm a red-blooded Pittsburgh male, which means sports run my life (along with my wife - it's a constant battle.)  There will also be a bunch of other random stuff, including, but obviously not limited to good places to eat in Pittsburgh (my wife is a foodie, I'm mostly along for the ride), funny and/or stupid stuff from the web, booze (wine, beer and liquor - I don't discriminate) and maybe the occasional TV/movie/game review.

I'm hoping to make daily posts, but as you all know, life gets in the way sometimes.  But check back when ya can, and feel free to follow me on Twitter @BigSnuke, and shoot me any thoughts or comments you have about the site.