Google and Gas

One more reason gas station attendants are now unnecessary. Though not sure which I prefer: Google Maps pointing me down a road that doesn't exist anymore or a local gas pumper telling me to turn left at Johnny's barber shop and then look for the green mailbox.

Not so sure about this quote from the new pump manufacturer either:

"We think the service will create more customer loyalty for retailers," said Gilbarco Veeder-Root spokeswoman Lucy Sackett.

The point is that I need directions because I don't know where I am or am going so it's not likely I'll be back around this station often to stop in for gas simply because they have this cool feature. And at my regular stations, price will still determine where I go, not Google.

Election Night: Burgh Mayor Race Influenced by Monday Night Football

What was once perceived as steps to a Ravenstahl coronation has been dramatically changed to a legitimate political race.

"While I don't think Ravenstahl will lose, anything less than a 3-1 victory is a loss to Democratic victory in the city," Shuster said.

The professor cites weather conditions, Democratic fatigue and the Monday night Steelers-Ravens game all as factors that could come into play affecting voter turnout today for a race that may or may not turn the tide of the city, but has made serious waves.

Only in the Burgh baby....

Harrison Replaces Porter on All Time Team

Joey Porter didn't show up last night to enjoy his selection to the Steelers 75 Anniversary Team. And now he is no longer a part of that team, much to the delight of the many fans who booed Porter when his name was introduced last night. As of this morning, he has been replaced by James Harrison who turned in a performance against the Ravens that was better than anything Porter ever authored.

Or was it? The last time we heard people saying things like this...

He was a beast. That’s as good as I’ve ever seen anyone play here for as long as I’ve been here.

It was something down the road where I can tell my son I played with this guy and he did all that in one game.

He had all of them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, everything. That was one of the most amazing performances I’ve seen out of a linebacker, probably ever.

...about a Steeler defensive player was on September 15, 2002 and they were talking about none other than Joey Porter. That game in 2002 was different than last night in one major way: the Steelers lost, got bombed really by the Raiders 30-17 in a game where Rich Gannon threw for 403 yards. But the score could have been a whole lot worse if it weren't for #55 Joey Porter.

It was a Sunday night game, the second of the year, the second prime time game of the year, both at home and their second loss. The Patriots had torched them the week before to begin the season.

But on this night, Joey Porter:
-intercepted a Gannon pass at the 3 yard line to prevent the Raiders from going up 17-7 and returned it 30 yards.

-sacked Gannon 3 times and hurried him once

-had 10 solo tackles

-intercepted Gannon a second time at the 3 and this time returned it 84 yards before lateraling to Chad Scott, who took it into the end zone. The lateral was overruled as a forward lateral and the ball was placed at the Raider 15 and the Steelers scored a TD from there making the score 20-17 instead of 27-10. And it was a game...until the Raiders returned the kickoff for another TD. Too bad Porter wasn't on special teams.

-Porter was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Harrison's numbers from his own prime time performance: nine tackles, three and a half sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.

Considering it led to a dominating win, Harrison's game was probably greater than Porter's and is why he can now hob nob with the Steeler All Timers.

Pens beat Devils 5-0

Nice game to finish up the road trip. What could have been a very very good trip was merely ok. Finishing 2-2 is fine, but when you blow 2 2-0 leads and lose and not get a single point out of either of them, that leaves a sour taste. If they could have earned even one more point, it would have been a successful trip. Now it leaves them even and preparing for their first showdown vs the new Flyers.

There are a couple of interesting lineup questions that will be answered on Wednesday:
-Sabourin or Fleury vs the Flyers? Hard not to go back to Sabo after a shutout win. But hard to ignore one guy who is clearly in The Flower's camp.

-Will Armstrong get back in the lineup? Laraque played really well and Christiansen had a goal. Who sits?

Also, Mark Recchi looks soooo much better on a third or fourth line than on the first. On the first line you expect him to score, need him to score, and when he doesn't it's glaring. On lower lines, he doesn't need to score, which is good because he hasn't, but he can do other things that contribute to a win and he is doing them whether he is playing on the Crazy 8's line or with Staal and Roberts.

14,032 and almost 80% full at the Rock in Newark last night? Who came up with that number?!?! Hard to believe the Devils deserve a new arena. Now I understand arenas, particularly hockey and basketball arenas, hold other events that benefit the area, but the Devils in Newark just doesn't seem like a great long term answer. Last night was their third or fourth home game in the new arena and it was at least half empty.

What was your favorite goal of the night? All of them were pretty sweet, with possibly Sid's first goal the ugliest. Hall's deflection was one of the best I've seen, if only because the shot was going so wide. Geno's pass from his knees was spectacular. Talbot and Christiansen's 2-1 off a sweet touch pass from Laraque was beautiful. And Orpik's blind pass to Sid was right on the tape. Tough to choose.

What was nice about last night's game was that DirecTV offered both TV feeds for the game. So I had to choose between Steiggy and Bibs or Doc Emrick and Chico Resch. Normally I would choose Steiggy and Bibs, but I like Emrick and think Chico is a good analyst, so I chose to watch them and get a little out of town perspective on the Pens. Also, to be honest, I do not like Steiggy as a play by play guy at all. Maybe I got spoiled with Mike Lange, but can we please do something about replacing Steiggy with Mike again? Having grown up with the Pens in the late 70s and early 80s, I know the history between to two; Mike basically brought Steiggy up in the broadcasting world and then Steiggy goes and takes his job. That's not good, and it's worse because Steiggy is not a good play by play guy. This could and should and will be a whole column because it's borderline criminal that Steiggy is now the TV play by play guy for the Pens while Mike Lange is only on radio.

That said, Doc and Chico last night commented that Geno was having a better game than Sid last night and that he will steal a lot of #1 stars from Sid this year. Which is true and often he is better than Sid. But last night, except for his pass from his knees, I didn't think Geno was spectacular. He has had better games. Last night he tried too many cute moves that led to turnovers that are ok when you're up 4 or 5-0, but would have been horrendous if they were made in the playoffs. I only hope Therrien let him know about that.

Bucci's at it Again

Best hockey column around...