Mike Tomlin isn't Concerned About Big Ben's Fort Worth Night Out "One Iota"

And neither should we.

By now you might have seen the TMZ video of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger singing Billy Joel's "Piano Man" at downtown Fort Worth's Pete's Dueling Piano Bar Tuesday night.  Big Ben reportedly bought a round of drinks for the bar, rang up an $800 tab and took care of the servers, tipping $200.

THEN there's this about Hines Ward, Ike Taylor and "a number of other pro athletes" enjoying a Dallas strip club Monday night.  Ward skirted the issue.

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin says that his players being spotted out and about is a non-issue.

"I am not concerned about that one iota," Tomlin said at Thursday's media session at Daniel Meyer Coliseum. "It's normal for guys to eat dinner, believe it or not, every now and then during the course of a week leading up to a game. So this week is no different from any other."

Tomlin wants his team to treat Super Bowl week just like any other game week.

"I understand things may be viewed and reported differently but that's not our concern," he added.

Apparently it's been a tradition for Roethlisberger to take his teammates out to eat during Tuesday nights during the week.  They enjoyed bar-b-que before their trip to Pete's.

Lots of media types have been on the record criticizing the Steelers for their after-work activities this week.  "Why can't they just stay at the hotel and watch movies?"  is one refrain.  I get it that Roethlisberger's situation is marred by a number of incidents, having been accused of rape twice but never brought up on charges.  His appearance anywhere in cell-phone video world will raise eyebrows, especially during Super Bowl week.  But I also think that too many people have unreal expectations on athletes.  They're no different from any of us, just paid better.

"Believe it or not - guys live lives," Tomlin said this morning.

Trust me. You don't want to know what Cowboys players were doing when they won those three Super Bowls in the 90's

Issue?  Non-issue?  What are your thoughts?

Wizards Source: Josh Howard has been Great

Josh Howard is back in Dallas tonight as his Wizards are still looking for their first road win of the entire season against the Mavericks.  He will miss the game while he's still bothered by a surgically repaired knee (Howard tore his ACL last February).

Dallas represents many things to Howard: the place where he started his NBA career and became an All-Star.  It's also the place where he starting making bizarre decisions and, in turn, even more bizarre statements before ultimately being traded to the Wizards last season.

Howard has only played eight games this season because of the knee issue but he has been a "great player" according to one Wizards source.  I asked him specifically about Howard and he said that the 30-year old has been just about perfect: doing what's been asked, supporting the team and having a good attitude about all of it.

Does that surprise you?  It surprised my Washington friend.  He did point out that Howard is not making nearly the kind of money he was in Dallas and doesn't have a long-term deal.  Howard signed a one-year contract with Washington this offseason.

Do you care?  When Howard went down that path, many Mavs fans were crushed.

So now, almost a year removed from the Howard trade, are you over it?  Or do you still wonder what could have been?

Super Bowl XLV Parties, Already Half Off

It was like a late Christmas this morning when I logged on to my computer and found my email inbox sprinkled with offers from Groupon and Seize the Deal touting half off the Dallas SuperBash 2011, hosted by Pamela Anderson, and the Aces & Angels bash, hosted by Gene Simmons and wife Shannon Tweed.

Woo-hoo.

A Dallas Stars Sale Update/Non-Update from the 2011 NHL All-Star Game

The sale of the Dallas Stars is moving along just fine, according to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

While speaking to reporters during the Saturday night festivities at the NHL All-Star weekend, Bettman was asked about the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes and noted that the sale is progressing.

Bettman then addressed the Stars situation, saying that the NHL is not in control of the team, unlike the Coyotes.  He then added that there are "about half a dozen interested parties" looking to purchase the Stars.  He described the sale, as a normal "orderly sales process."

Who would you like to see own the Stars?  Do you care?  Does the Stars sale give you tired-head?

YES! You Can Get Super Bowl XLV Tickets AND Help Two Worthy Causes

The days leading up to Super Bowl XLV will feature parties galore, celebrities arriving in droves and opportunities to do things you might have never before imagined.

What have been tough to come by are tickets but here are few chances to score some with options at two price points.  One will only cost you a Benjamin while the other is quite a bit more but offers a once-in-a-lifetime Super Bowl XLV experience.

The Nancy Lieberman Foundation is raffling off two suite tickets to the game.  Raffle tickets only cost $100 and must be purchased by February 1st.  A portion of the proceeds from the raffle benefit the foundation.  Click here for details.  Considering the astronomical numbers I've heard people are willing to pay for nosebleed tickets, this is the best bargain out there.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is auctioning what it calls the Ultimate Gameday Package.  It's a simple auction that benefits the research hospital and its mission to erase pediatric cancer. While the high bid is currently $60,000, the prize package is pretty impressive.  Hurry, though, bidding closes Wednesday, January 26 at 3:30pm Central time.

If you are the winning bidder, you get the following:

• Four Super Bowl XLV tickets in a luxury suite at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas
• One private Cessna CJ3 jet available round-trip to and from Dallas/Fort Worth for four passengers
• Five-night luxury accommodations in downtown/uptown Dallas from Wednesday, February 2 through Monday, February 7, 2011
• Chauffeured car service Wednesday, February 2 through Monday, February 7, 2011, including the Super Bowl on February 6
• Luxury automobile from Park Place Dealerships for personal use during length of stay
• Four seats to the Legends for Charity dinner presenting The Pat Summerall Award to the NFL on FOX broadcast team including Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Buck, Jay Glazer, Jimmy Johnson, Howie Long, Curt Menefee, Pam Oliver and Michael Strahan on Thursday, February 3
• Four seats to the Off the Field Players' Wives Association Fashion Show on Friday, February 4 joining current and past NFL players while enjoying fashions by designer Abi Ferrin
• Four seats to one of the largest private events: The NFL-sanctioned 2011 Super Bowl Breakfast on February 5, featuring the Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award
• Full day of spa treatments for four at the Halcyon Days Salon & Spa at Neiman Marcus NorthPark
• Dining for four at Al Biernat's, Sevy's Grill and Rugerri's Restaurant

Good Luck!!!!

Spurs Guard Tony Parker: Mavs Miss Dirk

I know you're saying "Duh!"  but he actually said as much Friday morning at Spurs shootaround.  It's late in games, however, that the Mavericks struggle without Nowitzki on the floor according the former Mr. Longoria.

"It's been tough for them," Parker admitted.  "They play well most of the game and then down the stretch, Dirk usually makes the big shot, the big play."

"They don't have that guy anymore so it's been tough on them."


Does Parker have any advice for the Mavericks?
"Everybody has to be more aggresive when you have one of your main guys who average 25, 26 points."

Insighful, isn't it?

For the record, the Mavericks are putting up just under eight points per game less in the eight games without Nowitzki.  In the 29 games he started, Dallas averaged 99.4 points a game.  In the eight he's missed, it's been 91.8 a game, a number inflated a bit by the 107 the Mavs scored in a 10-point loss to Orlando.

TCU's Amon G. Carter Stadium Facelift Progress Report

Clearing debris on west side

Those Frogs move fast.

The day they received their invitation to the Rose Bowl, TCU imploded the north and west sides of Amon G. Carter stadium.  That was December 5th and just a little more than a month later, structural elements of the new additions are already in place.  (here's a link to the plans)

The entire project is expected to be complete and ready for the 2012 season.  This means that construction will continue during the 2011 season.  Can you imagine the challenge this could present?  Construction will stop for the six gamedays next season and then resume as soon as possible once a game is complete.

What's the biggest concern with this entire $125 million renovation?  "The weather," according to TCU athletic director Chris del Conte.  Understandably.  Lengthy weather delays could be a nightmare.

During 2011, seating capacity for games will be limited to low to mid-30,000 range.  Once the renovation is complete, the school anticipates capacity to be a little more than 40,000.  The new stadium will also feature 25 luxury suites.

The pièce de résistance for anyone who has ever covered a TCU game is the proposed new press box.  The old one featured an old, creaky elevator that you literally had to pray to whatever God you worship on the ride up because you didn't know if you were going to make it.  The accordion-style gate and oh-so-popular handle that got passengers to the top will be on display in the new stadium.  Sweet, sweet memories.

Enough babble.

Here's a look at the progress, as off January 11, 2011:

Debris on the west side of stadium next to lower level which will remain for 2011 season

View to the north of Amon G. Carter stadium

Beams in place on the north side of the stadium for structural support for a future second level. 

Everything still coming up roses on-campus