http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/columnists/ Sports columnist Gene Collier en-us Copyright 2010, post-gazette.com. Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:40:25 -0400 15 http://www.post-gazette.com/includes/2007design/images/150x30pg_now_logo.gif http://www.post-gazette.com/ 144 39 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10252/1086150-66.stm?cmpid=collier.xml As the start of the NFL season lurches to within hours, you pretty much can't butter your toast without banging into still another football forecast, usually in stark terms, and most always with some dubious degree of credibility. Thu, 9 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10251/1085794-66.stm?cmpid=collier.xml Officially, the National Football League season does not begin until Thursday night in New Orleans with the first kickoff of a long Kickoff Weekend, but, for me, it always starts the moment the head coach of the Steelers throws out the ceremonial first Tomlinism at his first regular weekly media irrigation. Wed, 8 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10246/1084748-150.stm?cmpid=collier.xml SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah's accomplished footballers spent most of Thursday sequestered at the Marriott University Park, I guess because God forbid someone might wander into a library or a physics lab on the day of the nationally televised home opener against Pitt. Fri, 3 Sep 2010 01:04:00 -0400 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10234/1081655-150.stm?cmpid=collier.xml The death this week of Robert Brown "Bobby" Thomson rekindled still another intense brush fire of debate over who belted baseball's greatest home run, Thomson or Bill Mazeroski. Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10231/1081124-150.stm?cmpid=collier.xml The Pirates introduced Stetson Allie to the begrumbled media before the game Wednesday night against the Florida Marlins, and while Stetson is a confident and engaging young man with a cool name, the specifics of his persona pale for the moment next to a single fun fact about his right arm. It can throw a baseball 102 mph. Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:59:00 -0400 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10230/1080731-150.stm?cmpid=collier.xml During what seemed like the fifth hour of Steelers-Lions the other night, while practicing the low art of deadline columnizing, I somehow allowed some information from the press box intercom to puncture my concentration. Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10227/1080269-150.stm?cmpid=collier.xml The Steelers introduced the starting defensive lineup Saturday night, kept their franchise quarterback off the field except for a captain's cameo during the coin toss, and shoved off into a pivotal preseason as though all that ailed No. 7 was a tender August hamstring. Except for a brief outburst by a tiny chorus of voices yelping "We Want Ben! We Want Ben!" Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:54:00 -0400 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10224/1079480-150.stm?cmpid=collier.xml He's a fairly majestic word slinger, Pat Bostick, which is a good thing to be when you're a communications major locked in on multiple diplomas. Bespectacled and earnest as he ponders his fourth year at the University of Pittsburgh, the 21-year-old completed his bachelor's degree inside of three, so you probably shouldn't be floored when he says "propellant" and "metaphorically." Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10223/1079084-150.stm?cmpid=collier.xml Rich Jarzynka was in the mall again Tuesday, at the corner of the food court that had long served as his home office, the place where he had written his book and hand-knitted his soul back together. Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400