Chapter 1: What is discussed at the start of this section?
2025, not a banner year in the Bender household. Not a great year in Pittsburgh sports. In fact, it was the winter of your discontent and your fall, spring, and summer of your discontent if you're a Pittsburgh sports fan. Everything finally sort of came home to roost. Everything came to, you couldn't take it anymore. You couldn't take it anymore.
At the Pirates opener, we had a plane flying above the stadium saying, sell the team. We had fans chanting, sell the team.
Chapter 2: How do Pittsburgh sports fans feel about their teams' performances?
The manager was booed in the intro at the home opener. Eventually, at least, the Pirates changed. They fired the manager, and now they've gone out and unbelievably brought in two All-Stars from last season in a matter of a week. It's way too late. In some ways, it only underscores the rage you must feel about last offseason. I get that. But at least something's changed.
With the Penguins, something pretty big changed. They got rid of a Hall of Fame coach. That's a pretty big change. And like I said, the Penguin anger. We're tired of this. We don't want to watch this anymore. You know, manifest itself more with that franchise and just screw it. We just won't go. Then it does in, you know, fan insurrections. And then, man, with the Steelers.
Just blind rage is what it's turned into. And they've had these franchise teetering moments this year coming off the horrific playoff loss to Baltimore. And I've sent out a mass text today to all my colleagues here at the fan saying, give me your best, worst moments of the year. A lot of them are texting in the worst moment.
The worst game, the worst thing was that, and we've forgotten about it by now because it's been usurped by the Cleveland game, plus it was a year ago, was getting destroyed, just systematically destroyed and seemingly quitting on national television in a playoff game against the Ravens. A lot of them are pointing to that. But anyway...
I guess this is a long way of saying you're the story in Pittsburgh sports this year. You, the fans, are. Honestly, I really believe that. And I can't tell you how many people that I run into. In person or just get feedback from on this show. Columns that I do for the Post Gazette, all of that is just like, oh, my God, is is anybody going to change anything?
Are we just going to sail into oblivion with these three underachieving, in some cases, tragic sports teams? Well, a couple of them said, no, we're not. I wonder about the third one. They have a pretty big game on Sunday. And I know what some of you are thinking is that a loss would prompt the kind of change you want. That really, really presents a twist on the affair, to put it mildly.
We have a bunch of people on the lines, O Limitless Wonder. Actually, you're Charlie Borges, aren't you? I find that offensive. Well, I think you're a Limitless Wonder as well. You're capable of anything. Who's on? Let's go to Matt in Greensburg. What's up, Matt?
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Chapter 3: What changes have occurred with the Pittsburgh Pirates?
Hey, what's going on? Happy New Year. Yeah, you too. It's still going to be hard to beat. Probably 10 of the Pirates' worst moments of the year with their PR. Yeah, you're right about that. I mean, I'm a season ticket holder, so it was... Well, what do you think? Let me ask you this, Matt. And yes, we could pick 76 different pirate moments for the worst of the year.
What do you think when people out there blame people like you and say you're part of the problem over at the Pirates? Because I think people like you should be commended to no end for still supporting this team in spite of it basically kicking you in the groin year after year. Yeah, so here's the thing. I don't expect them to win a World Series, probably in my lifetime. but I love baseball.
I have a 10 year old son that loves baseball. So I like, I love, I love pirates. I love all of MLB, but I follow it closely. So I kind of have a different take. I'm not there. Like they need, they're not going to spend money. Okay. And I think like this year could change if they, if they sign Okamoto, but I, I go in with a different expectation, maybe like,
And I go to the games for what, you know, like my kids like to go, our family likes to go. I love, you know, so it's, I'm not there to, this is winter, winter, go home. You know what I mean? So, um, that's why I go. I don't. So if I walk up to you, if I'm one of these people and I say, Matt, buddy, you're part of the problem. Stop getting season tickets. Let's get fired up here, Matt.
What do you tell him back? I would say, cool. Don't go. That's a great answer. I mean, I don't know what, like, me not getting season ticket is not going to make Bob Nutting spend money. Exactly. That's not, you know, that's not going to happen. Like, it's to each their own. And, you know, we've seen the protests come and go every year.
Now, maybe I will say this, though, maybe the fan anger within the building and things like that and just the general vibe did help to create some change. But but you're right over the years. I think you have a right to do whatever the hell you want with your own money. I think that is that it has been felt. You could feel it, I think, just with their moves this this offseason. Yeah.
And I think there would have been a riot at Pirate Fest, I know that, if they just went and signed Adam Frazier again, like they did last year. I'm surprised they didn't sign him back for a third turn. Yeah. A third tour of duty. I didn't even call it, I didn't know we were talking Pirates, but can I just say about the Steelers? Yeah.
They are one win away from, you could spin this however you want, they're one win away from being four and one last five. and hosting probably just as bad an offensive team as we are as the Houston Texans in two weeks. And you could... All it takes is one win in the playoffs, and here we go. So I know it's doom and gloom.
I called Crowley last week because, oh, you know, we could ā He's a nice man, isn't he, Matt Crowley?
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Chapter 4: What is the current state of the Steelers and their coaching situation?
Yeah, he's awesome. But the roller coaster of, like, you know, it's like it's not as bad as we think and it's not as good as we think. And I thought that, you know, if we watched Pittsburgh Steelers football the last 20 years ā Wait, what? What did you say before that?
it's not as bad as we think and it's not as good as we think after the good wins and after the bad they won a playoff game or even come close in nine going on nine years Matt that's that's horrible it's horrifying and and you were you said it's one of the worst you know listen I've watched them lose to David Carr and yeah with all this on the line with an AFC North title on the line and Shador Sanders is the other quarterback I get it but
Road game with Adam Thielen and MVS as your top two. I don't care if they had me and you as their top two. They lost to the Cleveland Browns on the road in that stadium. And believe me, Browns fans would have turned in a second with Shador Sanders playing quarterback. I get it, Joe, but this game coming down to week 18 is more of an indictment on Baltimore.
They're having these same conversations. They were the AFC favorite coming in. No, the indictment's on the Steelers, I hate to tell you. It's on both teams, but as I mentioned earlier, at least the Ravens win playoff games. The Steelers simply don't anymore. Yeah, but they lose the biggest ones. They choke at home. They get to the biggest ones, though, don't they? I mean, it's...
whatever i mean they were afc favorites though and now they have to go and beat pittsburgh with maybe snoop huntley well within this calendar year they completely embarrassed the steelers um and had people saying they were the steelers were quitting so yeah no believe me the ravens are also teetering here but again at least they've had some success what else did that guy say we'll get to the general in about uh three four minutes here nelly um
I was reading something else while he was talking and just astounded by it. But now I forget. Go to the next call, please. One real quick thing. I know you asked for a phone call, but a couple of people on the text line have pointed out that in the sea of negativity, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds did win a championship.
And even though it's not as big of a deal as a big four sports championship in the community, it is a big deal for a local team to win. Yeah, yeah. That was big. Pit volleyball getting back to the final four was big for sure. Who's next? Let's go to Mike in South Park. Hey, Mike. Hey, Joe. Hope you had a Merry Christmas and have a good New Year. You too. What's your resolution, Mike?
I got an 11-month-old daughter. I'm trying to get her to stop throwing her plate on the ground. Good luck with that one. You might want to pick something easier than that. What's on your mind? So I called initially about a question, but I wanted to comment on the worst of 2025. So I was at the opening day for the Pirates, and it was like a scene.
And I've been to so many sporting events, went to the Pirates playoff games, been to so many Steelers games. That was insane. The negativity, the fan vibes, the booing. Yeah. But, but... I didn't go to the Bills game, but just watching it on TV, I just couldn't believe what unfolded that game. The booing, the renegade booing, the fire calm. It was sad. It was.
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Chapter 5: What are the key predictions for the Steelers vs. Ravens game?
The Ravens to win, just for the fact that I would be wrong, because I'm always wrong. I'm really leaning towards the Steelers a little bit. I think they're going to be able to stop Derrick Henry, because we've seen when they put their mind to it, they can stop some of the better running backs in the league. We saw the Jonathan Taylors, we saw the Goliaths, Gibbs, and Montgomery.
So they stopped and didn't be able to win the game. What's happening here? You're breaking up. Did you go into the practice dome? No, I'm outside and it's windy as heck. Let me try to find a normal windy dome. No, you're good. You're good now. You're good now. Well, they held Henry, I guess, to what, 94 yards on 25 carries in the last game? Oh, I know what I wanted to ask.
Have you already been in the locker room today? Yeah, it was empty, but other than that, yeah. So you really don't have a feel for the vibe yet. I just wonder how this team is feeling collectively going into this game, if they're demoralized at all by the events of these past few weeks. Usually you'll be able to tell after practice when Rodgers talks.
He usually sets that tone or at least reveals things the tone that the team has. You'll be able to feel that. After the Cleveland game, that's probably the worst I've seen him in the terms of post-game press conferences and just agitated with a number of things. I think he'll set the tone definitely here coming up here in about two hours.
It's hard to tell because they put us in the locker room for 15 minutes and the players come in for the last two. It was Quite difficult to really talk to anybody, but it's normal. I mean, you would think the fans, maybe some media hold on to those losses for a while. These players, I mean, across the board, They do let it go quite quickly.
I mean, you would think that they would hold on to it and just be miserable three, four days later. But a lot of times that's not the case. It's like a day later, it's like you couldn't tell if they won or lost the game. And that's what I would imagine the same feeling would be here. You mentioned Rodgers being agitated afterward. He also seemed to be highly agitated during the game.
And the vibe that I was getting watching it was almost like a leave-me-alone vibe to the sidelines. Am I on to something there?
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Chapter 6: What were the best and worst moments of the Steelers' season?
And if not, what exactly or in particular was he agitated with the other day? Probably not making any plays. I know a lot of times when he does put the hands to the helmet type of situation, that's him basically saying, I'm calling the plays. So if you see that, it's That's what's happening. And sometimes he doesn't even be that discreet about it, and he'll just say, wave him off.
So, I mean, he has the opportunity, though. I mean, once that ball snaps, he can go where he wants to. He's the one that chose to throw the MVS three times right at the end there. Yeah, and to Scotty Miller on the fade. Yeah, but the fade was weird because they came out in the tush-push situation without Darnell, and they had Johnny there. Then they called timeout and had second thoughts.
I don't know why they would have second thoughts at that point right then. Then they went to that fade. So I was just wondering if they just were unaware or unprepared for not having Darnell Washington for the push-push in that situation. I know it would be just one or two yards, but it would have definitely moved the chains right there.
So that might have been a little bit of miscommunication, maybe not being quite ready or ā not being ready for somebody like Johnny Smith to take out in such a big, big spot as well. So, uh, yeah, I mean, if you look at MVS in those last three plays, I think two of them were just bad run routes. I think they're like choice routes. And, uh, I think Valdez-Campney chose the wrong way to go.
Yeah, did we ever get to the bottom? I guess Rodgers will help us get to the bottom of it. He said he had to check the tape, but it sure looked like two miscommunications in a row, and then he just forced the third one to him as well. I actually thought it was interference on the last play myself, but nobody wants to talk about that.
Who are you going to believe, though, mess up Rodgers or Valdez-Campney? Yeah, I hear you on that. Always go with the receiver. Well, do you think it'll be Rodgers' last game in the NFL if they lose?
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Chapter 7: How do fans feel about the current state of Pittsburgh sports?
Oh, that's a good one. Trust me. Wow. I don't know. I mean, he's hinted toward it. He hinted both ways, right? He basically said he was done. Then he kept hinting towards maybe possibly coming back. Maybe it does depend on what happens here over the next, you know, 48, what is it, 72 hours whenever they play again. Maybe he doesn't want to play.
I think he's playing well enough that if he wants to come back, they would welcome him back. I mean, this is a guy, not only is he still playing at the high level other than last week, of course, but this guy was making, what, $10 million? I mean, you throw that into the equation, that's perfect for what this deal is.
Plus, like we said, there's no guarantee that they're going to get a better quarterback than him. I think the Steelers would welcome him back or want him back. It's just a matter of does he want to come back. Seems like he has a lot of fun with Aaron Rodgers. It's a flip of the coin, man.
I only know if I could make a prediction on this right now other than I would imagine the Steelers would want him back. I don't know what he would be thinking, though. Are the Steelers determined to draft a quarterback in the first round or no? That'd be hard to do, man, right? You imagine that's going one and two right now, the Vegas.
Chapter 8: What changes are expected for the Steelers moving forward?
I know, but it was always going to be hard to do. And I thought the narrative the whole time was they're gathering a bunch of resources to make a big splash at this draft in Pittsburgh. Am I wrong? Yeah, but it wasn't at the time that we thought there was going to be five players. First-round quarterbacks, now there's lucky to be two. Yeah. There's going to be two.
Well, if you have to go up to one or two, then go up to one or two. You know how long it would take from 18 to two? Yeah. You've got to sacrifice tons of resources to get there. I thought that was going to be the idea this year. That would be like the Ricky Williams draft. I don't know if it would be that much.
And the Ditka thing said, hey, take our entire draft class, just give me Ricky Williams. Well, when are they going to get their quarterback of the future? This is a nagging little problem here. Will Howard, right? Yep. I don't know, man. It just tells you it's a crapshoot. Imagine how fortunate a team like the 49ers were. Well, is he Mr. Irrelevant?
And that guy's freaking unbelievable, Brock Purdy. Sometimes you have to be lucky. Maybe Will Howard's your lucky guy. Because you're not going to find anybody. I mean, even if you do draft one of those top, get up to number one or two, take Mendoza or whoever it is. Yeah. There's no guarantee that they're going to be any good. You remember Josh Rosen back in the day, UCLA? Of course.
I remember a million people. Yes. I mean, there's no guarantee. But then you've got guys like Dak. You've got guys like Brock Purdy, Russell Wilson, third round, fourth round, sixth round. It's just an absolute crapshoot. And that's why... I mean, this is not what you're asking, but people want to talk about the Ravens getting rid of Lamar. Are you crazy?
Well, get rid of that whole thing rather than get rid of Lamar if he wants to be traded. I agree with you. You're choosing between Lamar and Harbaugh. Bye, Jim. Exactly. John, in this case, sure. Bye, John. See you. I agree with you for the second time today in one appearance. So what's the score? What's the score of the game then? Give me a score. It's going to be ugly.
And there goes Chris Croswell. He's done for the day. 17 to 10 Steelers. 17 to 10 Steelers. And what was the best and worst Steeler moments of the entire year in your not-so-humble opinion? Worst Steeler moment? Man, I don't want to be the guy that just looked at a couple days ago, but that was pretty ugly. I mean, the three candidates for a moment are DK Metcalf,
whatever you want to choose from the Browns game and getting blown out by your arch rival and having Kirk Herbstreit call you quitters on national television, right? Oh, that is this year, right? What about the Juan Thornhill dive in the oblivion? The Nesty Plunge. The Nesty Plunge is exactly what it was. A moment frozen in time. Little Juan Thornhill. We hardly knew him.
I mean, the worst moment would have to be probably D.K., Because, I mean, that resonates throughout the whole organization right now. Yeah. Best moment. I mean, I guess the dry needling incident wasn't a high point either. Oh, geez. No pun intended. I'm going to have to sit down. That sounds like a Joe Starkey column. How about the best play of the year for the Steelers of the entire year?
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