Well now the Madden guys have really started screwing with my head.

This video is pretty cool in that announcers Chris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond pretty much gush about Ben Roethlisberger for a good 3 minutes. But then, you gotta remember that the reason they're endlessly complimenting certain players is because they're looking for a coverboy for the latest Madden 2010 video game. Oh jeez...

Unless you've lived in a cave (or next door to one, at least), you know all about the supposed Madden Curse. Everyone who has been featured on the game's cover since they took Madden's fat face off of it has been plagued with some sort of on or off field predicament. From the late 80s through 1998, Madden was the only one on the cover. Then, 1999 brought Garrison Hearst to the front of the game, and each successive cover athlete has been haunted by injuries or poor play after appearing on the game.

Ben Roethlisberger would seem to be in a different category, though. As a premier quarterback coming off his second Super Bowl win, there's no reason to expect a drop in performance. But still, that injury threat is very real with a guy like Ben. Plus, Ben's worst season as a pro came directly after the Super Bowl XL win, when he went through a life-altering motorcycle crash, appendectomy and several concussions.

Last year's coverboy, Brett Favre, led the league in interceptions. That's a scary idea when it comes to Ben as a possible Madden cover athlete.

Now don't get me wrong, I believe that Ben deserves all the praise and adulation in the world...just not on the Madden cover, though. Maybe NFL Blitz needs Ben like they needed Kordell Stewart back in the day.

Ok, so this looks like a Magic: The Gathering card or something. Mini horse would destroy Shivan Dragon.

The all-NL Central team. I see no Pirates... [Zoner Sports]

My buds at Gunaxin can only do opening day in one way. [Gunaxin]

The Buccos won, so I'll just direct you to Pat's place. [WHYGAVS?]

Masters preview. [Paneech]

Bailing out the Blazers' bandwagon plan. [Bust A Bucket]

Bias kept a deserving HS basketball coach out of the HOF. [Hugging Harold Reynolds]

It's no big mystery that the Pirates get the least of my writing attention at PSAMP. Take the past 16 years of Bucco ball and couple that with a Super Bowl champion football team and a Cup Finals-worthy hockey team, and you can guess where most of the blogging effort goes.

But baseball as a whole has suffered recently, thanks to the steroid cloud. Not gonna lie, we're pretty sick of hearing which superstar did which supersteroid. Much of baseball's legitimacy has been turned into a joke by prick athletes who tried to cheat the system, but it's even more of a joke when people feel compelled to create a flash game about the epidemic.

Enter Baseball Juiced, a game I happened to just stumble across. In it, you take control of a player and decide whether to hit the gym or shoot up some 'roids. I've included the game below so you can play, too. Fun!

Your player options are:

A-Fraud (Rodriguez)

Marky McWeird (McGwire)

Josie Conswaco (Conseco)

Jasen Gambini (Giambi)

Berry Bombs (Bonds)

Slugger Slimeberry (?)

Remember when these guys were on top of the world (except Slimeberry...still don't know who that is)? Berry Bombs will always have a spot in my heart from his time in Pittsburgh, but it's amazing to see how comical these fools have become. They made a computer game about your idiocy, ya 'roid-heads!

Anyway, pick a guy, choose to do steroids or lift weights, then try to hit homeruns. Or something. I think they keep you out of the Hall of Fame if you do 'roids.

My, what you've become, baseball.

We've discussed the fanaticism of Pittsburgh fans at great length here at PSAMP. Since I'm a fellow crazed fan, I can't justify passing judgment on others.

However, you know it's getting to be a little much when babies are showing you just how ridiculous you look when you watch a football game. Take, for example, the above video of a toddler (infant? tyke? rugrat?) mimicking his father's Steelers gameday emotions. And now is about the time that I'm glad that I don't have a kid.

So the father screams into his hat when the Steelers play...big deal. Well if the father is anything like me or any other typical Steelers fan, then there's more expressions and emotions that the kid has yet to pick up on. And it's probably in the best interest of the kid to stay ignorant to these more vulgar outbursts until he's just a bit older.

I know that when things aren't going so well with the team, I'm throwing my Terrible Towel at the television, yelling obscenities like some hard of hearing person really wants to hear them and just flat-out getting annoyed at any insignificant thing.

But maybe the father of this baby learned moderation when he had the kid. I should try to borrow this kid next season to attempt to control my anger.

Me and my sister Kate are definitely heading out to Coney Island this summer to take in the 17-inch horse named Tiny. Thanks to her for hitting me up about this tip.

Pens lost. Both games this weekend. [The Pensblog]

Barack Obama skit on SNL where he eliminates the Steelers. [Sports Rubbish]

Yesterday was NBA Unsung Player Day at my buddy Don's place. [With-Malice]

NFL-wise, Larry Foote is unsung. [Blitzburgh Blog]

Sid fought yesterday. [Hockey Fights]

The Raiders might think about Mike Vick? [Fanhouse]

Jim's latest episode is here for your enjoyment. The end of the season is coming up quick. Big weekend back-to-back games against the Canes and Panthers over the next few days...hopefully we can solidify our playoff spot come Sunday.

We need you Kuuuuuuu....nitz.

Go Pens!

Oh, so you want to eventually lead the NHL in scoring while making a case for league MVP? Then take a cue from Penguin Evgeni Malkin, whose new stretching home video will get you on your way to achieving that perfect level of hockey-superstar-flexibility. And for only four easy payments of $17.75 (ed: do the math).

First off, start with something easy. Most likely, you're not currently leading the league in scoring. Heck, you aren't even in the league if you're buying this home video. You're an overweight fan with delusions of grandeur...or run a sports blog that features miniature horses. Either way, a simple lift of the legs will get you on your way to increased movement in your hammies, and the burn you're feeling will only be quenched with the Hart Trophy.

After you've mastered keeping your legs in the air, try...oh wait, you're not going to be able to do that. Unless you can fold yourself in half, I'm gonna go ahead and assume that you'll get through the first stretch on the tape before you throw in the towel. People aren't supposed to bend like that, Geno...you're alienating your prospective customers!

If you've somehow made it past steps 1 and 2, scissor the air while the nearest goalie looks on in a mix of amusement and horror. This step obviously involves another human, so keep plugging away at steps 1 and 2 until you're fit enough to get a friend to want to help you. People won't be so willing to help if you're still a mess.

Send your first payment to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . All major credit cards turned down. Cash only, jerks.

What a surreal family portrait. They all look so happy to have a mini horse with them. And I'd toss my normal "Hey, baby" to the woman in this picture, but the bearded guy might bring the pain if I tried anything funny.

So I'll just sit here and give you some links instead:

Carson Palmer is a leader. Yeah, right. [OFTOT]

The Buffalo Bisons are giving away free tickets to the unemployed. [Sports Rubbish]

The Sedin twins did stuff last night. [Josh Q. Public]

Neal Huntington is lost in translation. [We Should Be GM's]

My buddy Matt is pumped that the Bears got Cutler. [Sharapova's Thigh]

MMA has crybabies. [Total Pro Sports]

Remember earlier in the week when I confidently stated that Jamie Dixon wasn't going anywhere? Well, there's legit reason to worry now.

Dixon's name had come up for the Arizona job ever since it was announced that there would be an opening. Then, Gonzaga's Mark Few was the leader for the job. Oklahoma's Jeff Capel's name was tossed around before the Wildcats settled on  Lute Olsen's permanent replacement...former USC coach Tim Floyd.

Floyd is pretty much the anti-Dixon. Jamie has had nonstop success in his 6 years as coach, but has never been a great recruiter. Floyd, with the media attention of a school like Southern Cal, was able to get one-and-done prospects like OJ Mayo and DeMar DeRozan amidst varying levels of organizational accomplishments. But 'Zona gets a big-name guy who used to coach in the NBA and clearly has the ability to attract awesome recruits.

Floyd's departure leaves a prime vacancy in the state of California, which is where Dixon originally hails from. UCLA seemed to be the only "dream job" that would take Dixon out of the 'Burgh, but former colleague Ben Howland isn't really looking to move out of that cush job.

However, USC would give Dixon a chance to move back to his home state while setting up a twice-a-year showdown between bitter rivals USC and UCLA in the Pac-10...and could you imagine the storylines of Dixon vs. Howland twice every year? That alone could give USC reason enough to drop big bucks (which they're fully capable of) on Dixon.

The only thing keeping Dixon at Pitt is his loyalty to the program, since he's still under contract, and the fact that his recruiting power just got a huge boost with the play of guys like Fields, Young and Blair. Stud prospect Dante Taylor is on his way, and Pitt may have a shot at JUCO player Will Coleman, who turned down Pitt in order to commit to Memphis. Calipari's move from Memphis to Kentucky might let Coleman re-think his destination next year.

Don't you just love the tangled webs created by the basketball coaching movements at this time of the year?

So will Dixon leave Taylor and possibly Coleman for a shot to work with Lil Romeo while bringing new life to the USC/UCLA rivalry? God, I hope not.

**
UPDATE**

Floyd blew everyones' minds and will stay at USC. Now Arizona and Memphis need to leave Jamie alone.

Dude, it's finally getting warmer outside. Take off the fur...coat?

Pens win big! [The Pensblog]

Don't know what this is, but credit my sister for sending it along. [Don't Know What To Credit Here]

Own an XFL championship ring for $16,000. I bet they made Tommy Maddox pay for his even though he won. [Total Pro Sports]

Grant Hill is an iron man. [Josh Q. Public]

Soooo glad Vern heard about Glenn Beck and this whole 9-12 Project thingy. [You Lay On The Ice Like A Broad!]

The Cubs. [Sharapova's Thigh]