Kordell got his "closure" retiring as a Steeler.

As all the hoopla surrounding the retirement of Kordell Stewart dies down this week I’ve started to think about Steeler Nation and their history, and present, when it comes to how they deal with their quarterback.  We are rightfully brutal on opposing quarterbacks, Joe Flacco looks like Bert from Seasame Street, Tom Brady may have girl parts, and Carrot top aka Andy Dalton has just begun to learn how much Steeler Nation loves to harass opposing teams’ quarterbacks.  But how do we do with our own?  Not very good if you ask me.  Kordell spoke of receiving death threats from fans during his poor performing seasons, Tommy Maddox got garbage thrown on his yard and his kids were harassed in school, and Ben can’t open his mouth without constant criticism of anything and everything he says.  So why are we so harsh on our own quarterbacks?  Possibly it’s the high standard that has been set in this town, whether it is the legendary quarterbacks that have come from Western Pennsylvania or the standard of 4 Super Bowls won by Bradshaw, Steeler Nation has a constant love-hate relationship with its quarterbacks. (more…)

Kordell Stewart came back to Pittsburgh today to announce his retirement, seven years after he last played a down. photo courtesy foxsports.com

In a strange and unprecedented move, former Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kordell Stewart came back to Pittsburgh today to announce his retirement from the National Football League.  Stewart, now 39-years old, has not played since last suiting up as a backup for the Baltimore Ravens in 2005.  He has spent several years working as a TV analyst for ESPN.  The fact that Stewart chose to retire as a Steeler is no surprise, as he spent the majority of his career in the black and gold.  The manner in which this all happened today was mind boggling, however.  As stated, Stewart has not been an active player in over seven years and for all intents and purposes, everybody thought he WAS retired.  Everybody but “Slash”, apparently.  Stewart signed a one-day contract with the Steelers today to formally retire as a member of the organization.

The name Kordell Stewart still brings a lot of baggage with it in this town.  At times, he was a guy we felt we could ride all the way to the promise land, known back then as “One for the Thumb”.  At times he was beloved by this city, and more often than that he was – shall we say – unpopular.  A player who was ahead of his time – a quarterback with a rocket arm who could run a 4.3 40-yard dash – Stewart was an enigma; best known for his iconic “Hail Mary” touchdown pass to WR Michael Westbrook to give Colorado a win over Michigan in 1994.  The Steelers, looking for the best athlete on the board in the second round of the 1995 NFL Draft, selected Stewart 60th overall.  The team was basically set at the Quarterback position with starter Neil O’Donnell and veteran backup Mike Tomczak, making the choice a curious one for a team that was just starting to really develop into an AFC powerhouse.  The general thought was that Stewart would be evaluated in training camp, and the team could then decide where he would fit on the roster.  The Steelers were a deep, young team in 1995 – only seven players were age 30 or older – and were slowly climbing the mountain under Head Coach Bill Cowher.  After early playoff exits in 1992 and 1993, the team had really hit its stride in 1994 – a 12-4 record and the #1 seed in the AFC playoffs.  The season came down to an AFC Championship Game match-up against the heavy underdog San Diego Chargers at Three Rivers Stadium.  The Steelers were upset – at home, in January, by a warm weather team – and the loss was at the time considered one of the most heartbreaking in team history.  Despite the free agent losses of Pro Bowl guard Duval Love and Pro Bowl TE Eric Green, the team looked to add some sizzle in the draft to mesh with a roster that had all the pieces in place for a Super Bowl run.

Kordell Stewart in 1995

The Steelers were looking to add “wrinkles” to the offensive playbook of coordinator Ron Erhardt, and Kordell Stewart was seen as the type of player who could cause sleepless nights for opposing defenders.  He had a cannon arm, throwing the ball up to 75 yards in game situations.  His speed was off-the-charts fast, and in 1995 he had no equal athletically as far as quarterbacks were concerned.  His hands and footwork were tailor-made for a big time wide receiver.  Kordell Stewart had it all – and nobody, including Erhardt or Cowher, had ever seen a player with as many tangible tools.  The one thing Stewart lacked was the ability to play quarterback in the NFL right away.  For all of his athletic talents, Kordell wasn’t a fast learner.  If the Steelers had plans to make a pro quarterback out of him, it was a goal that would take a commitment over several years to accomplish.  However, there was no way the team was going to allow him to languish as a #3 QB on the sideline – the Steelers were going to use that size and speed immediately.  The brain trust would meet in dark film rooms and late-night think tank sessions and come up with a select few plays that would confuse and frighten defensive coordinators all over the Country.  It took half a season for the team and coaches to begin bringing their experiment to life, and on a chilly Week 9 afternoon at Three Rivers Stadium the Steelers welcomed the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars to town.  The NFL was about to be introduced to “Slash”.

In the game against Jacksonville, Stewart saw his first regular season action by rushing two times for 16 yards in a 24-7 Steelers win.  The following week at Chicago, the team utilized Stewart as a running back and wide receiver.  “Slash” made his first NFL reception, a 27-yard toss from QB Neil O’Donnell.  He also ran the ball once, and the Steelers used him as a decoy all afternoon.  The Steelers again won, this time on a Norm Johnson FG in overtime that propelled them to a 37-34 victory.  Although he had yet to have a huge impact on the game, the NFL was abuzz about the Steelers new weapon.  Defensive Coordinators league-wide now had to account for a player who was quite possibly the most gifted athlete in the league, and they had no idea where the Steelers were going to use him.  A decade before anybody had ever heard of Devin Hester or Joshua Cribbs, the first true all-purpose NFL player was born.

Stewart during a game against Cleveland in 1999

After starting out the season a disappointing 3-4, the Steelers rode their new weapon to win eight of their final nine games and finish 11-5.  They won the AFC Central Division and finally hurdled the rest of the conference to win the AFC Championship.  Kordell Stewart was the added dimension that made the Steelers the force they were in 1995, and all told he collected 381 all-purpose yards and scored via the run, the catch, and the pass.  For a fanbase that had been raised on the smashmouth style, Stewart became an immediate smash as “Slash”.  Within a few weeks of his debut, #10 jerseys were all the rage at Three Rivers Stadium and every national pregame show was talking up Stewart as the “next generation” of NFL player.  When the playoffs began, Stewart was the most feared player to take the field.  In the Divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, he would add punting to his repertoire – booting a 41-yard pooch punt that caught the Bills completely off guard.   His touchdown catch in the AFC Championship Game against Indianapolis was a thing of beauty, and turned the tide of the game back into the Steelers favor just before halftime.  Although the Steelers would lose to Dallas in their first Super Bowl appearance since 1979, the 1995 season was the most successful of the Cowher era thus far – and Kordell Stewart was one of the main players who triggered that success.

After spending another season in the “Slash” role in 1996, Kordell Stewart became the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997.  He immediately became the hottest signal caller in the game, leading the Steelers to an 11-5 record, another AFC Central division title, and another trip to the AFC Championship Game.  He completed 236 passes for 3,020 yards and 21 touchdowns, and added 476 yards rushing with 11 touchdowns.  In the top overall single player performance of the entire season, Stewart threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more in a 35-24 in a Week 15 win over the Denver Broncos.  He finished the season with a QB Rating of 75.2% and led the league with four comeback victories.  In a very tight AFC Divisional Playoff game against New England that the Steelers would win 7-6, Stewart rushed for 68 yards and scored the only touchdown of the game on a 40-yard sprint to the endzone.  Just as the Steel City was becoming overrun with Kordell Fever, the team fell to Denver in the AFC Championship Game 24-21.  Stewart was considered the primary reason for the loss, throwing three interceptions and completed only 18 of 36 passes.  He did score once again on a 33-yard scamper, but his overall play left a lot to be desired.

From 1998-1999, Kordell Stewart remained the Steelers starting quarterback despite poor play and back-to-back losing records for the team.  In 2000, the organization attempted to move forward by signing veteran QB Kent Graham to be the starter.  Besides a 1-3 start to the season, watching Graham play quarterback was the polar opposite of Stewart.  The slow-footed Graham lasted just four games before the team turned back to Stewart in an attempt to salvage their season.  The team rebounded and finished 9-7 in the final season at Three Rivers Stadium, narrowly missing the playoffs.  As the Steelers were preparing to move onto a new chapter in their storied history, it was all but set in stone that Kordell Stewart would be the man at the helm.  Fans and media speculated as to whether Kordell would ever be able to lead the Steelers again after his demotion, and horrible rumors about Stewart’s social life began to make life unbearable for the now veteran player.

As the 2001 season approached, the Steelers hired their third offensive coordinator in four years.  Following Chan Gailey and Ray Sherman would be Mike Mularkey, a former Steelers player and the tight ends coach from 1996-2000.  The addition of Mularkey and new Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements reinvigorated Stewart.  In the first year at beautiful new Heinz Field, Kordell Stewart put together his best overall season and led a dominate Steelers team to a 13-3 record and the #1 overall seed in the AFC.  Stewart racked up 3,109 passing yards (his second 3,000+ season) and threw for 14 touchdowns.  On the ground, he ran for 537 yards and 5 touchdowns.  He was voted to his first and only Pro Bowl, was the Steelers Team MVP, and was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Year.  Once again, the NFL was infatuated with Kordell Stewart and his image graced the covers of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News.  To Steelers fans who had been waiting for a quarterback that could lead the team back to its past greatness, it seemed that once again Stewart might be that guy.  The Steelers once again won a home playoff game, this time defeating the Baltimore Ravens in a game that helped mold the beginnings of the NFL’s bloodiest rivalry.  The Steelers were heavy favorites to reach Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, so much so that fans were planning their trips to the “Big Easy” and lining up which opponent from the NFC their team would match up better against.

Unfortunately, it was not to be.  The New England Patriots, led by their suddenly superstar quarterback Tom Brady and a defense with a “bend but do not break” mentality, ended the Steelers 2001 season in the AFC Championship Game.  Once again, it was Kordell Stewart who took the loss on the chin by throwing three interceptions and looking lost for most of the game.  In reality, the Patriots – who entered the game as double-digit underdogs – were on their way to a stunning mini-dynasty and (possibly) had some help from videotaped practices.  The Steelers lost 24-17 and were outplayed in every facet of the game, and that cold night at Heinz Field would turn out to be the ultimate turning point in the Steelers career of Kordell Stewart.  Losing another home AFC Title game to a huge underdog was a major strike in the eyes of Steeler Nation, who had now seen the Steelers lose two of these games with #10 manning the wheel.  The Patriots went on to upset the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl by playing the type of low-scoring affair that the Steelers excelled at – making it feel as if a fifth Lombardi Trophy had been stolen from the franchise.  Whatever slack the fans and media had been giving Kordell Stewart for having such a great bounce-back year was officially gone.

Stewart celebrates a touchdown run by RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala during a Week 4 win over Seattle in 1998.

The 2002 season would signal the end of the road for Kordell Stewart in the black and gold.  After losing the first two games of the season, the Steelers had a strange Week 3 bye week and by that point the coaching staff had seen enough of a Steelers offense that could only muster 31 total points in two games.  After being sacrificed to the New England Patriots in Week 1 for the opening of Gillette Stadium, the Steelers came home to play Oakland in a Sunday Night Football match-up.  The Steelers kept it close through three quarters before the special teams allowed the Raiders to blow the gates off in the fourth with a 96-yard kickoff return TD.  A couple of fumbles killed Pittsburgh drives that had promise despite an erratic quarter by Stewart.  The loss was the worst regular season defeat at Heinz Field, and the Steelers looked like a shell of the team that had dominated much of 2001.  A Week 4 match-up against the Cleveland Browns was Stewart’s last chance to show he was able to rebound the Steelers from their lousy start, and after a lackluster performance put the team in a 13-6 hole the coaching staff turned to backup QB Tommy Maddox.  After leading the team to a 16-13 overtime victory, it was clear that “Tommy Gun” was the new starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kordell Stewart would make four more appearances as a Steeler, including two late season starts that helped keep the team in playoff contention after an injury sidelined Maddox.  It was the swan’s song for his Steelers career, and once the season was over the Steelers released Stewart.  Maddox would remain the starter for 2003 and was the bridge to gap the franchise until the 2004 drafting of Ben Roethlisberger.  Once Big Ben took over for the injured Maddox in the third week of 2004, the “Tommy Gun” era quickly ended.  Kordell Stewart would sign with the Chicago Bears and play there in 2003, then was brought in as a back-up for Baltimore in 2004-05.  After a few starts with the Bears in his only season there, he was replaced by Chris Chandler and never started another NFL game.

The surprise “retirement” party that was thrown today for Stewart was something nobody could have predicted.  The Kordell Stewart era of football in the Steel City isn’t looked back on as being special nor did it have a storybook ending.  However, the Steelers enjoyed two very good seasons with Stewart under center, and he was a major part of the 1995 Super Bowl XXX team.  Many fans remember the frustration they felt when Kordell was the quarterback here, myself included.  I also remember a player that redefined the quarterback position in the NFL, and a player who at times looked like he was unstoppable.  Superstars today such as Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III have Stewart to thank for changing the way the league looks at mobile quarterbacks, much like Stewart had Randall Cunningham to thank for opening the door to his career.  While the Steelers didn’t collect any hardware – the way we define winners and losers in Pittsburgh – he did have a large effect on the franchise and on numerous Steelers legends.  Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward each benefited from having Stewart around in the primes, a fact that both have stated numerous times.

It was just another example of the class organization the Steelers are by allowing Kordell Stewart to have his very-late moment in the sun today.  For better or for worse, when you are a Steeler – you know you have a home for life.

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At last!  After 25 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally had one for the thumb.

And they did it the hard way.

Things started badly as both Duce and Bus were hurt in the preseason.  That meant starting RB duties fell to a 2nd year undrafted free agent by the name of Willie Parker.  Fast Willie introduced himself by rushing for 161 yards in his first game.  He added 111 more in his second.  The heir apparent to Bettis was finally found.

Still, the team struggled.  Big Ben battled injuries necessitating two starts from his backup, Tommy Maddox.   The team lost both games with Maddox playing terribly.  An overtime loss against Jacksonville saw him throw two interceptions during regulation then fumble a snap in overtime when the team was in game winning FG range.  The defense forced a punt so Maddox took matters into his own hands by throwing his third INT, a Pick Six which ended the game.

Steeler fans dumped garbage on his lawn and taunted his two young children after that game in what was the only time I was ever embarrassed to be a member of Steeler Nation.

As of week 13, the Steelers were 7-5 and on the outside looking in at the playoffs.  The team then reeled off four straight wins beginning with a defeat of the Bears where Jerome Bettis clobbered supposed All-Pro LB Brian Urlacher. They finished the season 11-5 which was only good for the sixth seed.

I’m sure we all know what happened next.  Kimo von Oelhoffen went Kobra Kai on Carson Palmer, sweeping the leg and tearing his ACL.   The Steelers beat the #3 seed Bengals to move on to the #1 seeded Colts.  They thoroughly outplayed Indy but only Big Ben making The Tackle on Bus’s monumentally ill-timed fumble kept Indy from taking the lead.  Karma balanced things out when Indy’s kicker missed the game tying FG.   The Steelers then traveled out to Denver and knocked off the #2 seeded Broncos.

In Super Bowl XL, Pittsburgh faced the NFC’s #1 seed, the Seattle Seahawks.  The signature play was provided on FWP’s 75 yard TD run early in the second half.  However, MVP honors fell to Hines Ward, who caught 5 passes for 123 yards and a TD thrown by the best QB on the field that day, WR Antwaan Randle El.  After fourteen long years, Bill Cowher finally won the big one.

Jerome Bettis announced his retirement following the game, a fitting conclusion to the career of one of the all-time greatest Steelers.

2006

The year got off to a bad start when Ben Roethlisberger was sideswiped by some nearsighted old bat while riding his motorcycle.   Ben suffered life threatening injuries because he was too stupid to wear a helmet.  His entire face had to be reconstructed with screws and Elmer’s Glue.    To add insult to injury, a week before the start of the season, he also underwent an emergency appendectomy.

More controversy raged during the preseason when Bettis, in his new role of NBC commentator, mentioned that Cowher told him he wanted to retire after winning the Super Bowl.  Evidently he felt he owed it to his players and the Rooneys to come back and defend the title.   However, he was burnt out from 15 years of coaching and with a new deal not on the horizon, it became more and more apparent this was his swan song with the Steelers.

The team won their first game with Charlie Batch filling in capably.  Then they rushed Ben back for a Monday nighter in Jacksonville.   Ben looked horrible and despite a superior defensive effort the team lost 9-0.  Between the appendix operation and brain damage from the motorcycle accident, Ben was a shadow of himself most of the season.  They also lost to a Raiders team which would only win two lousy games that year.  At 2-6 at the mid-season point, hopes for a Super Bowl repeat were gone.

Still, the team rallied like champions and went 6-2 down the stretch.  Playing the last few weeks under Cowher’s mantra of “Misery loves company,” they provided a little of that misery to the Bengals in the final game of the season.   Cincy needed to win to make the postseason while the Steelers had no motivation but to send their coach out a winner.  Which they did thanks to a 67 yard TD in OT by Santonio Holmes.

2007

Little known defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin was introduced as the Steelers new head coach.  He immediately established his authority by refusing to let Casey Hampton practice or play until he lost weight.  The veterans may not have liked him but he certainly got their attention.  After the team faded badly down the stretch, some players grumbled it was a result of such a tough training camp.

Boo hoo.

The defense lost a ton of swagger when Joey Porter was released during the preseason.  Peezy was a controversial and colorful character but he was also a ferocious linebacker in the true Steeler tradition.  Of course his replacement, James Harrison, was no slouch either.  In fact, had Joey not gotten thrown out of a game against Cleveland in pregame warmups, Silverback may have never gotten a chance to show the NFL what he could do.

The team roared out of the gate to a 9-3 record.  Then safety Anthony Smith issued his infamous “guarantee” that they’d beat the Patriots.  Tom Brady responded by torturing him for two long TD passes then talking trash.   Smith got burned the next week as his big mouth wrote checks his meager abilities couldn’t cash and the team quickly lost two straight.

Things went further downhill when DE Aaron Smith was lost for the season.  When he went down, the Steelers run defense went right along with him.   Meanwhile, FWP broke his leg in the second to last game of the year.   Parker was leading the NFL in rushing at the time and losing him pretty much wrecked our offense.

The team was one-and-done against Jacksonville.   They fell behind early but mounted a comeback which was repeatedly sabotaged by Tomlin’s boneheaded insistence on going for 2 pt conversions.  Still, who knows what would’ve happened if the refs hadn’t missed about four holding penalties on David Garrard‘s first down scramble that set Jacksonville up to kick the winning FG.   The NFL director of officials apologized for the botch job after the game.   But I thought the calls always went the Steelers way?

2008

Since we’re only one year removed, I’ll spare you a detailed recap.  Suffice it to say, this year featured one of the best single season defensive efforts in history.  Dick LeBeau and his men were either first or second in every major defensive category.  Time and time again, Blitzburgh would create a big turnover or stop the opposition cold in their tracks.  Combined with clutch last-second heroics from Big Ben, the season was about as exciting as any you’ll ever see.

Unfortunately, one very important member of Steeler Nation wasn’t here to see it.  The year began on a sad note when the great Myron Cope passed away.  The man who invented the Terrible Towel was surely looking down with an emphatic “YOI!  DOUBLE YOI!” as the Steelers tore through the hardest schedule given any team in the past 30 years.

In the playoffs, the Steelers faced the Ratbirds for a third time.  Three wins against our most hated enemy is nice enough but doing so for the right to play in the Super Bowl made it all the sweeter.   In the big game, the Steelers faced the man who was their offensive coordinator in Super Bowl XL.   Ken Whisenhunt and his Arizona Cardinals were a surprise entrant but they were a worthy opponent.  The two teams played what is widely regarded as the most exciting Super Bowl ever.  Only a last minute toe-dragging catch by MVP Santonio Holmes ensured that the season end on a high note.  Get it, HIGH note?

2009

Which brings us to this year.  Of course, no post Super Bowl off-season is complete without some Ben Roethlisberger drama.   This time, it came in the form of a rape accusation by a cowboy hat wearing desk clerk out in Reno.

To further incur the Football Gods wrath, the folks at EA Sports put Troy Polamalu on the cover of their video game.  The Madden Curse struck immediately as Troy was injured in the Steelers very first game.  He came back briefly but this season has been a total write-off as far as he’s concerned.

Still, this squad got off to an excellent 6-2 start.  Then the wheels fell off.  Losses to three of the worst teams in the league mixed with a sweep by the Bengals.  Ben was concussed in an OT loss to KC.   Hines Ward went on national tv and called his QB a sissy.  Tomlin issued threats and ultimatums which his team ignored.  The defense couldn’t hold a lead while the offense repeatedly failed in the red zone.  Ryan Clark accused the 400,000 fans who came to cheer him on just 10 months earlier of being “fairweather.”   Losses mounted until the streak reached five straight.  Only a slight rebound toward the end of the year has kept the team’s slim playoff hopes alive.

It’s looking like the decade will end much like it began.   With the Steelers on the edge of greatness, searching for that missing player or two that will put them back into serious championship contention.

Still, two Super Bowl championships in four years and multiple playoff games made this an exciting time to be a Steeler fan.  Without a doubt this was the best decade for the Black and Gold since the 1970′s.   I’m sure we appreciate this team giving us memories we’ll carry for a lifetime.  Here’s looking forward to more yet to come!

]]> http://nicepickcowher.com/2009/12/31/a-steeler-decade-in-review-part-2/feed/ 2 http://nicepickcowher.com/2009/12/31/a-steeler-decade-in-review-part-1/ http://nicepickcowher.com/2009/12/31/a-steeler-decade-in-review-part-1/#comments Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:12:06 +0000 chris http://nicepickcowher.com/?p=2155 With 2010 a couple days away, people tend to reflect back at what the past twelve months have brought them.  This January 1st is particularly special in that it also marks the start of a new decade.   Instead of making a list of the best of this or All-Decade that, I thought I’d just take [...]

A Steeler Decade In Review (Part 1) - Nice Pick, Cowher - Nice Pick, Cowher - A Pittsburgh Steelers Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

Pittsburgh has a long history of athlete-endorsed food products. There were Louis Lipps‘ uber-delicious Lippsmacker cookies. Bubby Brister had the Bubby Bar. Not to be outdone, Mario Lemieux countered with his unfortunately named Mario Bun. I even remember Terry Bradshaw Peanut Butter. My mother claims it was the only PB I’d accept with my J back when I was a wee lad.

I’ve been a diehard Steelers fan a loooooong time.

City of Champions Cereal is the newest entry on that list. The box, featuring Hines Ward and Max Talbot on alternate sides, will be available exclusively at local Giant Eagle stores in mid November.  For the out-of-towners, you can also order this fine product directly from the PLB Sports website beginning November 9th.  Heck, order some Big Ben Beef Jerky while you’re at it.  You can never have enough beef jerky.

Now, let’s get down to the reason I’m giving PLB Sports this free publicity.  First, they’re a well-respected company probably most famous for producing Flutie Flakes.  And more importantly, they’re having a contest.  Everybody knows I love a contest.

Anyway, PLB Sports will be having a press conference on November 24th to promote City of Champions Cereal.  The are giving YOU a chance to attend this press conference.  Why is that a prize?

How about because both box boys, Hines and Max, will be at this press conference. Live and in person. And you are guaranteed to receive a box of cereal autographed by both of them!  In addition, Hines and Max have a reputation of being two of Pittsburgh’s nicest athletes so, time permitting of course, you’ll get a chance to have a few moments of face time with them after the press conference is over.

Unfortunately, there will be no guessing of a score to win this awesome opportunity.  PLB Sports is running the contest themselves, I am merely a humble messenger. If you’d like to enter, first make sure you’re either in Pittsburgh or able to get to the ‘Burgh on November 24th.  Mooch off your relatives if you have to, that’s what they’re here for.

All the official rules and legal mumbo jumbo can found here. Once you know you can make it, there are two ways to enter the contest.  You may enter both ways, but only ONCE each.

1. Send an email to info@plbsports.com with the headline (City of Champions Cereal). The entrant should write their name, age, telephone number, and how you found out about the Contest.

2. Follow PLB Sports on Twitter (@plbsports) and send them a reply which states “enter me in the contest #cityofchampions”

The contest will run from today until November 19th so get those entries in!  PLB has generously extended me the chance to cover the press conference so, work permitting, I may be there to fulfill my bloggy duties.  In fact, I feel a cold coming on as we speak.  Hope to see you there!