Category Archives: pittsburgh

“You have the right to free speech … unless I don’t like what you’re saying”

The great thing about the United States is that we all don’t have to be united under one belief.

We’re free to choose who to pray to (if anybody), we’re free to choose our favorite sports teams and we’re free to have our own political beliefs. We’re free to be free.

We have the right to be free and express our beliefs how we choose.

It says so in the Constitution, right there under under the Bill of Rights. It’s Amendment I — most commonly referred to as the “First Amendment.”

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The government doesn’t dictate how, or if, we pray.

The government doesn’t tell us not to support something.

The government doesn’t limit newspapers or websites or even stop protests (yes, there are certain ordinances in place depending on your municipality).

Simply put: You. Are. Free. To. Speak. Your. Mind.

So why do some folks want to keep others from doing that? Specifically, this post was written out of frustrations I have with a friend of mine — Ginny Montanez. She’s the writer behind That’s Church, the popular Pittsburgh-focused blog.

In a post Monday, Montanez asked Pittsburgh Steelers player Rashard Mendenhall to “delete your Twitter account.”

Why did Montanez, who is afforded the same rights as Mendenhall, ask him to do this? She apparently doesn’t agree with what he is saying on his Twitter account.

Mendenhall has come under fire for comments he has made about women and about the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Montanez is free to disagree with Mendenhall’s comments, but asking him to remove his Twitter account simply because she does not agree with his opinions goes against everything the United States was founded on.

On my personal Facebook profile, a discussion waged on about the issue (last count, there were 46 comments on this one shared link).

Some of the comments suggested I was out of line or that I shouldn’t share my opinion. But what many folks who shared their comments fail to realize is that (1) I did not say whether I agree or disagree with Mendenhall’s remarks and (2) I was simply defending his right to post whatever it is he wants.

You, me and anybody that’s a citizen of this country has the right to speak. And, people have the right not to listen. But what we can’t do is expect somebody to stop giving their opinion simply because we don’t agree.

I’ll defend anybody’s right to free speech. I don’t care if their view and mine are completely opposite of one another. What matters is that they are free to share their thought.

Great debates allow us to find new respect for one’s views, and, possibly, to change our own views.

When this discussion comes up, I always reference the Westboro Baptist Church, who are known for protesting funerals of soldiers who have been killed. The group often carries signs that say, “God hates fags.”

Their decision to protest funerals of solders seems to be unpopular among many individuals and other groups. But, like it or not, they are given that right under the United States’ Constitution. Their protests are peaceful (to my knowledge). They literally stand on a corner holding signs.

So they are legally within their right to do so. As are the folks who gather at another corner to protest the Westboro group.

When I defend their right, people automatically assume I support their beliefs and begin attacking me. It always puzzles me.

But, it comes back to one point — some people fundamentally don’t truly believe EVERYBODY has the right to free speech.

I don’t mind the rain

I realized something today that I think I’ve probably always known: I like rain.

No, I don’t like flooding or monsoon-type conditions. But a nice, cloudy day with hit or miss showers and some thunder and lightning really are nice.

There’s something about hearing the rain pelt off a roof or windowsill that allows me to be at peace and still accomplish the day’s tasks. That pitt-pitt-pitt noise of the drips coming from an overhang help me to imagine that I’m sitting on a wraparound porch on a wooden lounge chair (sometimes a swinging chair) with a nice, soft cushion as a light breeze dances through.

Off in the distance, I can see a large body of water (at times, it is Lake Erie, and other times, it is an ocean) with constant waves marching to the shore.

I’ve always wanted a patio with a protective cover. My family has a nice deck on the side of our house that is fantastic for the summer sun. But when it rains, we scatter indoors as a few of our neighbors remain outside watching the rain fall.

At an apartment I once lived in, there was a front porch area where I’d often sit and take in the views the rain offered.

Lightning and thunder add to the views, too. And, while I know it is dangerous to be outside in a storm, I still can escape an opportunity to sit outside in a thunderstorm.

Of course, the muddy yard is a less than desirable after effect of a rain fall, but that’s to be expected, I suppose. Puddles always are fun unless you’re standing at a street corner as a car whizzes by. That happened once to me — I was waiting to cross when a car’s tire hit a puddle. From the waist down, it looked as though I couldn’t wait to use the restroom.

Probably, the only time rain disgusts me is during a day at Kennywood Park. There’s nothing more upsetting than to be in line for the Thunderbolt or Jack Rabbit and hear the ride attendants talk about an impending storm.

I’ve waited out the rain a handful of times at Kennywood. Those were the times you filed into the Penny Arcade or the cafeteria. Of course, so did everybody else.

No matter how long the rain lasts, I know it won’t be around forever. It’s just part of the constantly changing weather. Besides, come August, we’ll be longing for a good, steady rainfall to help the plant life grow.

If for nothing else, I finally was able to use a Christmas gift my friend Jim Lokay gave me — an umbrella with a fun map of Pittsburgh on the underside. Kept looking up when I should have watched where I was going!

I’ll need a few more rain falls to look at what other landmarks the map offers.

Keep drinkin’ that Kool-Aid

The front office staff of the Pittsburgh Pirates would like to thank the 39,000-plus fools who attended Thursday’s home opener. Your continued support will allow the Pirates to keep offering bad baseball in Pittsburgh.

Here we are, entering our 19th consecutive year of bad professional baseball on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

The embarrassing on-field performances shouldn’t solely be based on the players. The team members who have made up the roster over that time have done exactly what they’ve been hired to do — play baseball.

We’ve read the stories detailing profits made by front office staff at the Pirates. We’ve painstakingly watched 18 years of bad baseball.

And still, people continue to show up on opening day — and throughout the season. But why?

Many of the comments I heard today centered around this: “It was a great day spent with friends.”

Oh yeah? So you paid at least $20 to get into a ballpark, at least $7 for each beer and about $6 for nachos just to have a good time with friends? Call me crazy, but there are cheaper (and more entertaining ways) to spend time with friends.

But let’s look even deeper at this issue. Those who continue to be complacent are not able to see beyond their statement of it being a nice day with friends. They refuse to accept reality.

If these people truly enjoyed baseball the way they claim to, they’d divert their money and efforts to other forms of sporting entertainment. For instance, the Washington Wild Things have offered excellent, victorious seasons surpassing that of the Pirates. The Altoona Curve, Erie SeaWolves and Mahoning Valley Scrappers also offer great, competitive baseball — things you don’t get from the Pirates.

Yes, PNC Park offers a great view of the city, but think about how much more fun you’d be having if the team actually was good. Now THAT would be a lot of fun — to go to a game, cheer for a great team and leave knowing you saw a competitive team, to cheer for winners and get to see playoffs and experience that playoff atmosphere that you so often get with the Steelers and Penguins.

I love baseball. It was the only sport I truly enjoyed playing growing up. It is the only sport I truly enjoy watching in person in a stadium. Working for a baseball team was one of the most rewarding jobs I ever had. And I love the underdog — being from Pittsburgh makes me love underdogs.

But the Pirates are no underdogs. To be an underdog, you have to be competitive.

Supporting the Pirates is like supporting an alcoholic. You know it’s not going to end well, but you keep doing it.

There is a myriad of Pittsburghers, like myself, who love the Penguins, Steelers and Pirates. But as a Pittsburgher who loves sports and loves black and gold. Sometimes, the best love is tough love.

Why it’s ‘Steelers Nation’

I root for the Steelers, not just one of them.

There are many Steelers fans across this nation and world, not just one fan. That great group of Steelers fans are known as Steelers Nation.

But it seems some of those fans need a grammar lesson. Over the last few weeks, there has been much debate on some blogs and throughout Twitter about whether we are known as Steelers Nation or Steeler Nation.

Let’s take a look at some facts:

  • The Steelers organization officially is known as the “Steelers.”
  • The Steelers organization officially recognizes its fans as “Steelers Nation.”

Let’s take a look at grammar:

  • The names of sports teams are treated as plurals. For example, it’s the New York Yankees, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

What does all of this mean? Any use of the word “Steeler” is incorrect. Period.

This isn’t my opinion. This is a fact. It is grammatically incorrect to call anybody or group of people a “Steeler.”

Ben Roethlisberger is the Steelers quarterback (note: Steelers is not possessive). Steelers coach Mike Tomlin came to Pittsburgh from the Vikings. My friend in Houston watches games at a Steelers bar.

This isn’t a matter of what you think is right. This is a matter of what is correct.

Yes, I heard the Rooneys and Tomlin say “Steeler Nation.” Doesn’t mean it’s correct. Doesn’t mean I dislike any of them for saying it.

I realize many folks do not understand how grammar works. I don’t get science. But the use of grammar and the English language are things I’ve spent a lot of time studying — not to mention I get paid to know it.

My next quest: Getting people to type “Super Bowl” and not “Superbowl.”

Wouldn’t you rather be a nation of many than a nation of one?

Remembering B94 [10/05/07]

B94 v2.0 would have turned three years old today.

I remember everything about that afternoon, and still listen to the station’s awesome introduction.

At 4:50 p.m. Friday, I slipped slipped out of the office and into the car. For the next 10 minutes, it was nothing but a nervous reaction, listening to “Last Christmas.”

Would it B? Or would it not B? That was the question.

Slowly, the Christmas carols stopped and a buzzing noise was heard. Then, an introduction to the new station began by describing what the channel has been, beginning in 1981.

And then, yinzers… a voice proudly announced that, after three years away…B94 is back!!!!!!!!!!

I had tears. Kid you not.

A little piece of me died in 2004 when B94 stopped buzzing. Hell, when it became BZZ and all that crap, a lot of me died.

And, within a few minutes… 93.7 brought “sexy back” to Pittsburgh.

Everyone who has ever lived in Pittsburgh knows what B94 is. Everyone in Pittsburgh can sing “John, Dave, Bubba and Shelly, John, Dave, Bubba and Shelly.”

The voice of B94 proudly said, “Pittsburgh, please welcome home your B94!”

But B94 is gone, taken away by corporate giants.

I’ll always hold a special place for B94 and everybody who made it a success.

Pitts_urgh.