The Pomp And Joe Show
10 AM: There's hope again in Pittsburgh sports; Derek Shelton said "incrinkulent"
27 Feb 2026
Chapter 1: What is the current state of Pittsburgh sports?
Bob's not here. Felt like I should mention that first. Feels very sad. Then again, we're used to it. Bob is not here on Fridays. We understand that. I hope that nobody tunes out because Bob is not here, but I fear that they will. Although the ratings show they don't.
Maybe some even tune in because he's not here. I never thought of that. Probably not many, but maybe some.
One or two. That's obviously not city limits. That is Sean. Don't call me Seth Meyers. Let's get started here. It's a busy Friday. A busy Friday. Busy with good things. And that's where we start. That's where we start. Right here in our fine town of Pittsburgh, where we all live. Where I'll be out on the town golfing and I'll run into people who want to talk sports all the time.
I'll be in a restaurant and people want to talk sports all the time. What a sports town we are. Jack Hughes said it last night after the ovation he got. What a sports town. And this is the story today. And I hope you're watching on YouTube because for extra effect, I'm pointing right into the camera. These are better times all of a sudden. I don't know what comes of it.
I don't know what comes of all the pirate optimism, all these stories on Connor Griffin, Jeff Passon, the latest to weigh in. Other than the labor crap, as far as baseball goes, the Pirates are the biggest story in Major League Baseball right now for good reasons. For good reasons. Paul Skeens...
who might be, by the way, about to become an even bigger name, depending on what happens in the World Baseball Classic, and especially right now, Connor Griffin. The Penguins, from last night, from this season, from everything that Kyle Dubas touches turning to gold, and even the Steelers, in a way at least, Things have changed like somebody's rustled the sleeping Steelers.
There's no toilets to use, but somebody has rustled the sleeping Steelers. Mike Tomlin, ironically, was the guy who did it. He fired himself. He's no longer here. I'm not going to say things are looking great for the Steelers, but at least things have changed. Point is. For these last how many years, the general theme has been, my God, these are bad times in Pittsburgh sports.
When has it ever been this bad? When was the last playoff series or playoff game win for any of our pro teams? When was the last time it sucked like this? Well, guess what? The times, they are a changing.
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Chapter 2: Why are the Pirates considered the biggest story in baseball right now?
Sean, don't call me Seth Meyers. Or maybe they are. At least there's hope. The most precious commodity in all of sports. We suddenly have it. It's undeniable with the Pirates. Like I said, I don't know how this turns out. They could screw up a lemonade stand. I don't know how it's going to turn out. But right now, as we sit here today, they're the biggest story in baseball for all good reasons.
Two good reasons, mostly. Skeens and Griffin. People are pumped to see this team, to see this guy. Just had Noah Hiles on from the Post-Gazette. He thinks Connor Griffin's going to start with the big club. I'm not sure I believe that. But as he said, we're getting real close to the point where if he's still here, that becomes a much better bet.
He said that Skeens was sent down the first week of March. We'll see. We'll see in about a week, week and a half what's happening here. The Pirates are suddenly a feel-good story. The Penguins are undeniably a feel-good story. That place, I wasn't there, but watching on television, you could tell the place was jumping when they turned it up about 10 notches at the beginning of the third period.
They're good. The Penguins are good. That's sort of the story with them. We're deep enough into the season where Where there's really nothing fluky about this. And we're on the 26 watch. I'm going to put up a little piece of paper here. Starting yesterday, they had 26 games left and they needed 26 points in my estimation to make the playoffs. They just got two more.
It's down to 24 with 25 games left. If you're following that math, I'm not even sure I am. They need 24 more points. They have 25 games left. Even the better news was what Pomp said yesterday that, and I can't remember if this was Josh Yowie, I think it was, who reported that the minimum four-week estimate was retroactive to the injury. So really, it's three weeks.
And who knows, with him, maybe sooner. Do I dare say that these are good times, fun times, maybe most importantly for now, just to keep it real and keep it reined in at least a little, these are hopeful times for us, for Pittsburgh sports. It's suddenly hopeful. Here comes the sun. It's been a long... How does that go? A long, lonely winter? Cold winter? I don't remember what the lyrics are.
Can you find the lyrics to Here Comes the Sun? It's been a long, long... I don't know what it is. I thought that sounded pretty good. Lonely? Cold? Something. Listen, man. It's been years where things have not been good here. Truly. Things have not been good. You don't have to look far to see a headline. Are these the darkest times in Pittsburgh sports in a long, long time?
When was the last time it was this bad? That's changed. Or is changing. How do you feel about this? At 412-928-9370, they had a good topic yesterday on the PM show. Again, they have a lot of good topics. And this one was Andrew talking about how the Penguins in terms of percent capacity, how much of the building is filled, are second last in the NHL. When will people start catching on?
I think very soon. And I think in some ways, again, I haven't been over there, but the energy that's popping off that screen, there's something special happening with the people who are in the building. And I think more people will get into that building. Although, as an aside, I agree with Donnie Hockey that the simple explanation for that is expense.
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Chapter 3: How has Kyle Dubas impacted the Penguins' performance?
But winning cures all, and it's starting to become way more believable. And that was just a fun third period. And the way that they found a new gear in that third period was something. And you can feel it. You can sense it and see it. It may all go to crap without Sid, but I don't think so. I really don't. I think they're a playoff team. I think they're a good team.
I think Kyle Dubas has done an amazing job, and I wasn't a fan at first. I mean, he had a terrible first year, right? Just brutal. The level of mistake that he was making was beyond alarming, but he's erasing all of those, most notably in the form of Tristan Jari. He's practically turned Tristan Jari into a brand-new roster, plus picks, for God's sakes. What is Edmonton doing?
What have they done? Everything this guy touches turns to gold in the meantime. And I don't see any reason why that's going to slow down. And then can you imagine the excitement around here if Connor Griffin comes north for the opener and beyond? And if the Pirates start to win?
it feels, and I want to know if you agree with me, because you're the ones out there that we see, that I see, that I'll see again today if I go hit golf balls or if I walk into a Sheetz. I love Sheetz. Do you?
I'm a big fan. Yes.
Anywhere. People want to talk sports and they want it to be good. And it hasn't been good for a long time when you really think about it. There's always pockets of and cool stuff that happens, right? I mean, when you have Sidney Crosby and you have the Steelers at the ends of seasons still in it, I will say that much for them. There's cool times, but you know they're not a real contender.
The Penguins have been horrible for a while. The Pirates have been horrible for a long time. It feels different to me. It must to you. 412-928-9370. 928-9370. Again, the greatest commodity in all of sports is hope. And even the Steelers have a bit of that. Of course they do. They've got the draft coming up right here in Pittsburgh.
They've got a new regime, even if you think it's Tomlin 2.0, as I do, actually. But at least it's not Tomlin. At least it's not we know what we're going to get this year. Maybe it'll be 4-13 and we can revel in that and they can get their quarterback. At least it's new. By the way, did you see who they interviewed yesterday? Oh, Limitless Wonder, who's not the Limitless Wonder?
Would it be Caleb Downs?
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Chapter 4: What are the latest developments regarding the Steelers' draft strategy?
Is that who you're referring to?
No, although they did interview him, I think. So I'm half right. Ty Simpson. Ty Simpson. I don't know if that excites people or not. Probably not. But he said, I love Coach McCarthy. I love the Steelers. And by the way, Sean...
I'm 100% right and limits and Donnie football are wrong when I say that if there's going to be 700,000 people on the North Shore and they announce the Steelers have drafted quarterback Ty Simpson out of Alabama, that place will go crazy. And the reason why is because when people are in that mode, when they're at a giant party with hundreds of thousands of other people, it's like a concert.
And if it's a concert and your favorite band is up there and they butcher a song, nobody cares. They're going to cheer wildly because that's what they're there to do that day. So you mean to tell me. That of these 700,000, you know, 400,000 have no idea about more than two players in the first round anyway.
You mean to tell me that when they hear the Steelers have drafted quarterback Ty Simpson out of Alabama, they're going to boo? Hell no. And I'm not saying it will be a good pick necessarily, although I'm starting to lean in that direction. You better believe that entire, it's going to be practically its own region, will go crazy with cheers. They won't even hear the name.
They'll hear the Steelers have drafted quarterback and they'll go wild. And yes, some of the football nerds in that crowd will be like, Ty Simpson, what was his efficiency rating? What are we doing here? He's my fifth rated quarterback in my mock draft. What do you think? That's the majority of people? You out of your mind?
The majority of people are going to a party to drink beer and have fun and celebrate. And as soon as they say quarterback, they're going to go nuts. So even that's going to be fun. I'm 100% right about that, and they're wrong. You think that whole place is going to erupt in booze for a quarterback? Hell no. You agree with me?
I agree with you. I do think that there's a lot of smart football fans who would not be happy, but the overall consensus is going to be a massive ovation. Honestly, didn't we live through this with Kenny Pickett? There was a lot of people that probably had questions as to whether or not he would truly be an elite NFL starting quarterback.
Sure, I mean, you had the caveat of him being the pit guy and the pit hero at that point. It was an explosion when he was selected. And we see all the time, people, whether it's the NFL, the NBA, people go and they're just there to be excited about their team. Because to your point, they don't even know the names... Of course they don't.
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Chapter 5: How do fans feel about the optimism surrounding Pittsburgh sports?
If you go on YouTube, you can see the Bob cutout. sitting in his chair. You can almost hear him talking or singing into that microphone right over there. Listen on the Odyssey app to get to YouTube. Cleverly enough, you go to YouTube or you can go through our website at 937thefan.com and that will lead you right over there. Thank you. Thank you.
The only time we're breathing and alive and in the moment is in the moment. It's the present. That's why they call it a gift in the present. And I think it's inarguable that in the present with at least two of our sports teams, hope is back. Hope is back. Can you argue that out there? I don't think you can. Not even the most negative person could argue that.
Ron Cook could spring back into his chair and he wouldn't disagree. Well, he might disagree with that, actually. Bob Smizek wouldn't disagree with that, for God's sakes, even with the Pirates. It's inarguable that hope is back in Pittsburgh sports. No guarantee of anything. Even with the Steelers, I would argue that at least a little bit.
The first step toward anything changing was the biggest thing changing. Moving on from Mike Tomlin. Art didn't have the guts to do it. He doesn't even have enough toilets at the facility. So Mike fired himself. He did everybody a favor and he fired himself. How about the fact there's only five toilets over there? Did you see the NFL Players Association's grades, Sean?
Not very generous towards the home team, huh? Unbelievable. I mean, I don't know if it's the practice facility or the stadium.
This is several years in a row that the Steelers have graded amongst the worst in the entire league. But this is the worst.
This is not a report card that Art's going to put up on the old fridge. I think they got an F- in some respects. Is the toilet situation at the Southside practice facility or down at the stadium? I don't even know. But at the least, you've got 53 people plus staff. When they come back from Latrobe, they have like 70 people before final cuts of camp. And you have five toilets?
That place must have more blowouts than the 07 Patriots. What are we doing here? Five toilets. Art, I'll buy you a toilet. I'll spring for one, a nice Pittsburgh toilet without even a stall. We'll just plop it down right in the middle of the locker room, pun intended, and you'll have a Pittsburgh toilet. I'll give you one.
Can you believe that, Sean? You know, I had a Pittsburgh potty when I bought my house, took it out.
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Chapter 6: What does the term 'incrinkulent' mean in the context of sports?
It was not practical. I was afraid to use it. Are those things classic or what? It looked like it had not been touched since the 1960s or so.
No, there's nothing like it. You walk into somebody's basement, and right in the middle of the room is a bare toilet. It's unbelievable. I had to clear out room for my ping pong table, so the toilet got the old heave-ho. How much does a toilet stall cost? Come on, Art. What are we doing here? By the way, as another aside on that, I don't really think it matters as far as like competitively.
All you need to know is that those players association grades, which we all knew were going to leak, pun intended. The Dolphins have the best grades. So how much does it really matter on the field? And the Steelers have the worst grades. And you might have heard they have a 19 year or 22 year or something year non-losing streak. Have you heard about that? So it's really not about that.
It's about them portraying themselves as one big family where we really take care of the players in a different kind of way than anybody else. We're a big family. Well, you know what, Art? Families need toilets. Get them a few more, will you? What are we doing? And it's not just that. It's a bunch of other things.
They're the lowest graded franchise on that whole list, including Accra Shore Stadium, where now I read they're going to have a new surface by next year. Well, that's good, but it's been a total embarrassment. To the point where Aaron Rodgers came out and ripped it. But that's not what I came here to talk about today. I came here to talk about hope this morning.
It struck me as I was reading actually Jeff Passan's piece, considering the Penguins game from last night. And how fun that was, man. How fun that was and how that place is going crazy and the energy emanating from people like Gino as a perfect example. All these years later. All this guy does is love hockey and want to win, and he still helps them win.
I think they're going to survive this time without Sid. Give me a call. Let's talk about this. Even though there's nothing negative on the table, 928-9370, hope is back in Pittsburgh sports. Am I speaking the truth here? Also, and this fits right in with the positive theme, The word incringulent has come up again from a major American sports figure. Uttered it yesterday. I'll tell you who.
Next, fan Twitter brought to you by South Hills Kia Pittsburgh, Peters Township. Visit them at SouthHillsKia.net. Fan text line on which you can communicate with our dear friend, Sean Myers. Brought to you by Edgar Snyder and Associates, a personal injury law firm. where they always say there's never a fee unless we get money for you.
And the fan hotline presented by Sullivan Super Service, Pittsburgh's trusted plumbing and HVAC provider for over 50 years. Negativity sells, but positivity reigns right now in Pittsburgh. It really does. After years in the desert, We've stumbled upon an oasis here.
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Chapter 7: How do callers react to the current sports climate in Pittsburgh?
Tomlin won't be here. At least you would have said, well, they got a chance to change then. At least change will be in the air. Tomlin did their job for them. He did Art's job for him. Art wanted to run it back, if you can believe that, to see if they could go 10-8 and get blown out again. At least it's different.
But the other two, our other two pro sports teams at the moment, major pro sports teams, undeniably awash in hope at the moment. And with the Penguins, it's hope plus results. They're winning. They're fun. They're undeniably good. 412-928-9370. Are you feeling this? Am I crazy? I think I'm just making a simple and obvious observation here. And it's pretty significant. Let's hit the phone lines.
Sean, don't call me Seth Meyers. It sounds like a plan. We will go out to Slippery Rock to talk to Nathan. What's up, Nathan?
Hi, Joe. How we doing, guys? Appreciate you taking my call.
Do they have any openings at Slippery Rock Country Club, Golf Club? Do you belong there, and can you invite me to play?
I actually just graduated from Slippery Rock. I've played there twice. It was both drop-in both times. It's a very, very nice course. I really do enjoy playing there. I recommend you going up that way and giving it a try, Joe. It is a really nice, peaceful area up in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. Wait a second.
You can just drop in even if you're not a member?
Yeah, to my knowledge. I mean, I'm pretty sure the kid I was with when I played wasn't a member there either, and we played there. So, yeah, to my knowledge, yeah.
Holy ostrich milk.
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Chapter 8: What are the expectations for the upcoming baseball season?
I'm going to try that one as soon as the weather gets nice.
In fact, maybe... Granted, I am a terrible, terrible golfer, but... So am I. Who cares? What do you got? So... Maybe we're both crazy because I'm certainly a little optimistic as well. I think by no means I'm a much bigger Steeler guy. I'm just a football guy more so than I am a hockey. I just didn't really grow up in a hockey house.
But I do definitely think that when the Penguins are playing well, there's a lot more buzz overall in the city. Our city loves the Penguins. I think obviously with the draft coming too, you get a little more buzz. I'd like to talk a little bit of Steeler optimism. I think I think we're in a much better place, obviously, with Tomlin gone.
McCarthy's an offensive-minded guy, so at least we're going to have change. Even if it's not for the better, we're going to either lose games 35-34 now instead of 3-0. So I'm happy in that perspective. I wish limits was here today to hear this next part of my ā I'm going to kind of swing this a little bit ā
I think that by next week, there's going to be one quarterback that I think a lot of sports talk writers and guys like yourself are going to be talking about because he's going to have a big day tomorrow, and that's Drew Aller.
Oh, my God. You're probably right about that, by the way. I think he will have a big day tomorrow.
By no means do I think that he's going to launch his draft stock to maybe the third round. I just think Drew has a big arm. He made a lot of ā
plays i mean not in not in huge moments at penn state great i'm a big penn state guy so obviously i'm a little biased but i don't know like he was in a very run heavy offense with i would is it fair to say mediocre receivers at penn state probably yeah um so i don't know like if you put him if you put him in a position where with an offensive minded guy with
Granted, we don't have the receiver talent that I wish we had. If we go and get a guy like Brian Thomas, like Tony says, and you have him sit maybe in a room with Will Howard. No, I hear you.
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