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Bendel Says Pittsburgh Still
A Steelers Town |
This week's edition of "First Time, Long Time" features Joe Bendel, who hosts "The Joe Bendel Show" on Pittsburgh's WBBG-AM weekdays from 3:00-7:00pm ET. Bendel, a former Steelers and Univ. of Pittsburgh football beat writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, took time out with Staff Writer Preston Bounds to discuss some of the hot topics in his market.
Q: Do your listeners worry about the possibility of an uncapped season in the NFL in '10 and/or a work stoppage in '11?
Bendel: A little bit. I don't think people fully understand what it means. And that's not out of disrespect for the fans, but fans get geared up for the games. One fear with being in this market is, without a salary cap, is there any potential for the Steelers to become the Pirates? But there is a confidence level with the Rooneys, so they know that's probably not going to happen.
Q: Do listeners feel the present Steelers team is as good as or better than the '70s-era dynasty?
Bendel: The older fans do not. The birth of Steeler Nation was with those teams with Terry Bradshaw and Chuck Noll and Joe Greene, and that's where their hearts are always going to be. So this team would really have to do it for a more extended period. Those '70s teams won four Super Bowls in six years. People in this city are very proud of the past.
Q: Do listeners buy into Pirates execs saying they have a long-term plan for success?
Bendel: Some do. But when you lose for 17 consecutive years, it's hard to buy into it. There is a contingent of fans who are buying into what the current leadership, Neal Huntington and Frank Coonelly, are doing. They are the first duo to really blow this thing up and start from ground zero. People, although skeptical, are optimistic. There has been a spark.
Q: Do you get more calls about Pittsburgh football and the Big East or Penn State and the Big Ten?
Bendel: Not even close. It's Pitt. It's right in the city, there's more coverage, the access is right there. As far as Penn State talk goes, we try to drive it. We don't get as much, but there are Penn State fans everywhere in Western Pennsylvania, but not as vocal, at least on the airwaves.
Q: With all the attention paid to the start of football season, do events like the U.S. Open or the Chase for the Sprint Cup register in your market?
Bendel: Right now, it's football. And surprisingly, there is a percentage of fans here who really care about the Pirates enough to call in angrily. They haven't given up. But when it comes football time in this city, that's really what drives things.
Q: How do the Penguins fit into that landscape in terms of fan support?
Bendel: The dynamic has changed. The Penguins have drawn in this young demographic. When the NHL season starts, it's going to be very interesting to see how time is shared between the Penguins and Steelers, because both of them have championships now. It's not a changing of the guard, but it’s an embracing of another guard. There's a Penguin Nation forming in this city.
Download podcasts of "The Joe Bendel Show" here.
