The hearing is expected to continue as planned, even though Sandusky attended a special meeting with his attorney and prosecutors on Tuesday.

There has been a lot of talk and speculation about what went on during the meeting.

According to our news partners at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the biggest speculation at this point is that there may have been talks about a plea deal. However, there is no indication that was what the meeting entailed.

While that was going on, four of the accusers in the case filed motions to keep their names from being released to the public.

Sandusky will be back in court today for the last pre-trial hearing before the trial is scheduled to begin on June 5.

Today’s hearing is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Much has happened to Penn State since the Sandusky scandal broke, but current University President Dr. Rodney Erickson believes he and the university are doing everything they can to move the school forward.

Dr. Erickson spoke with KDKA-AM’s Larry Richert and John Shumway Wednesday morning to talk about what the school is doing to move forward.

Listen to the entire interview here:

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Jerry Sandusky News
More Reports From Heather Abraham

The game was delayed until after 9 p.m. because of rain, and once the game started the Pittsburgh bats largely remained in the dugout.

Andrew McCutchen, Matt Hague and Rod Barajas were the only Pirates starters to manage a hit off Reds starter Homer Bailey, who pitched a complete game shutout.

Casey McGehee recorded the other Pittsburgh hit in a pinch hit plate appearance, scoring Hague for the only Buccos run of the game in the fifth inning. That cut the score to 4-1, but it was hardly enough to put even a scare into the Reds and their pitcher.

Pirates starter Charlie Morton lasted just four innings, allowing four runs on six hits.

Reds right fielder Jay Bruce went 3 for 4 from the plate with two doubles and two RBIs. Third baseman Todd Frazier went 2 for 3 with a triple and two RBIs.

Brandon Phillips, Ryan Ludwick and Bailey each drove in a run a piece, too.

RELATED LINKS
Pirates News
MLB News
CBS Pirates
Bucs Blog

Marrero described himself as a line drive hitter and said playing with wood bats at the college level this season rather than aluminum has him more major league ready.

Deven’s numbers have dropped a bit since last year, but he said the adjustment to the bats had some to do with that as well as the great pitching in the conference.

A great pitcher that came out of their conference last year was Gerrit Cole, and Deven told us about the times he faced him during his college career.

Devon does have a year of eligibility left at ASU, and told us whether or not he would consider using that rather than going pro if drafted.

We wrapped things up with Deven hearing about some of his ties to the Pirates and what he has heard about them.

Taillon evaluated the season he has had so far through 10 starts and talks about the recent bad outings he has had after starting off the year on fire.

Despite not pitching well in his last 3 starts, Jameson told us he’d been working on some different things and has actually felt his best during those starts.

We also discussed what is different from last year to this year for Jameson and he told us about getting to pitch deeper into games, and what that has taught him.

One key Jameson said for his success is the use of his changeup which allowed him to get though lineup with more efficiency.

We wrapped things up with Jameson learning about his relationship with the Pirates other premiere prospects Gerrit COle, and when he expects his next promotion to come.

Chip has another Indianapolis 500 win under his belt, thanks to Dario Franchitti.

He takes us through the dramatic final lap, updates us on the health of IndyCar racing, and remembers his former driver Dan Wheldon.

Chip also tells us how his NASCAR teams are doing, and how the auto industry’s resurgence has helped racing.

Each week we’ll be providing you with insight into the best (and worst) baseball players to play in your fantasy baseball league.

As I turn in this week’s column, I own a three strikeout lead on my opponent in my one head-to-head league, and he still has Jonny Venters in the Sunday Night game. If I don’t turn in a column next week, it’s because the suspense has killed me.

5 UP

1. Norichika Aoki, OF, MIL: Aoki has moved into an everyday role in right field for Milwaukee, forcing their hand with his performance so far this season. Another 2-for-4 day Sunday raises his average to .313 with decent doubles power and a healthy 8.4% walk rate. He has 11 runs in 95 plate appearances and that rate should skyrocket with regular plate appearances in front of Ryan Braun. He won’t provide much in RBI or HR, and he only has one stolen base, but it can be extremely hard to find high-average guys at this point in the season and Aoki could be one.

2. Tom Wilhelmsen, RP, SEA: With Brandon League out as closer in Seattle, the Mariners are going to a committee. Expect Wilhelmsen to come out on top. The 28-year-old righty has 30 strikeouts in just 24.1 innings and is the best righty in the Mariners’ pen at this time. Don’t be fooled by his 4.44 ERA – a 3.24 FIP suggests that number will come down, and with a hot start he could entrench himself as Seattle’s closer.

3. Colby Rasmus, OF, TOR: Rasmus scorched the ball this week, going 10-for-28 (.357) with two homers, two steals and five RBI. The main scourge behind his .227/.298/.411 line remains a .260 BABIP. Owners who pick him up now likely won’t have to deal with that and can reap the benefits of hitter-friendly Rogers Centre as he heats up. He could be a sneakily cheap source of both power and steals.

4. Adam Wainwright, SP, STL: Wainwright followed up a shutout gem earlier in the week with a six inning, one run start Sunday against the Phillies, giving him just one run allowed in his last 15 innings. It’s time to buy on Wainwright. He’s seen his velocity tick up, particularly on his cutter, and that could indicate he’s returning to the form which had him competing for Cy Youngs in the latter part of the last decade.

5. Matt Moore, SP, TB: Moore’s 7 IP, 10 K, 2 ER start against the White Sox on Memorial Day was overshadowed by Chris Sale’s gem (and understandably so). But let’s not lose sight of the future ace — he now has four straight starts with at least six strikeouts and has allowed no more than three earned runs in each. He has a 30:10 K:BB ratio in those four starts (covering 22 innings) and looks like he might be turning a corner. Don’t get left behind.

5 DOWN

1. Derek Lowe, SP, CLE: Lowe was beat up in two starts this week, allowing 10 runs on 16 hits in 8.1 innings. Lowe struck out just five batters and has a swinging strike rate of just 4.6% on his career. What we saw last week is just what happens when a pitcher gives up as much contact as Lowe does – he allowed 16 hits, including a homer, and even his pristine control (just one walk) doesn’t always help with major league hitters in the batter’s box.

2. Michael Young, INF, TEX: Young has struggled mightily to open 2012, and another down week (.222/.236/.278 in 55 PA) has his overall line down to .282/.305/.379. His power is almost completely gone; he has just a .097 ISO, and at 36 there doesn’t seem to be much reason to believe it will come back. Young always seems to have fans somewhere, so a reasonable return could probably be had here, too.

3. Derek Jeter, SS, NYY: The Jeter cool-down has begun. The Captain is hitting just .250 in his last two weeks (12 games, 54 PA) despite a BABIP of .297 in that span. He’s certainly not worth giving up on – he’s probably a .280-.290 hitter with a very good run total at the end of the season – but if you can capitalize on his .338/.380/.465 start, do so and do so quickly.

4. Matt Capps, RP, MIN: Capps finally blew his first save of the season Sunday, giving up a two-run homer to Miguel Cabrera to lose the game for the Twins. The problem with Capps is that he just doesn’t miss bats any more – he has just a 4.5 K/9 and in many ways is the relief pitcher version of Lowe. He’s had exceptional control thus far, walking just one batter all year, but if he does lose track of the strike zone, it could fall apart very quickly in Minnesota for Capps.

5. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF, NYM: Nieuwenhuis was a darling early in the season as he put up a .325 average in April. May has not been so kind. The 25-year-old has just a .261 average in May, and he may not even sustain that going forward. He was 0-for-4 with a strikeout Sunday, his 53rd of the year in just 47 games. It’s almost impossible to maintain any sort of a reasonable batting average with a 30% strikeout rate or higher, and Nieuwenheis is now at 30.5% on the year. Expect him to be closer to .250 than his current .288 for the rest of the season.

Jack Moore is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Mathematics and Economics. His work can also be found at FanGraphs.com, DisciplesOfUecker.com, RotoWire.com, AdvancedNFLStats.com and ESPN. Follow him on twitter at @jh_moore.

The 40-year-old goaltender, the team’s two big goal scorers and the new coach all have played major roles in getting the Devils back to the championship round just a year after they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1996.

The guy who tends to get lost in all the talk is Travis Zajac.

This was almost a lost season for the Devils’ No. 1 center. He tore an Achilles tendon in August, had surgery the next day and tried to come back in December. He lasted eight games before calling it quits.

Over the next two months, there were times he thought his season was over as the injury and soreness wouldn’t go away. The 27-year-old continued his rehab and eventually came back in late March. It took him a couple of weeks to find his game but one can argue he has been the best player for the Devils in the postseason, which will start its final round on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Kings visit New Jersey.

“He is the type of player who does a lot of things well, from the faceoff to the forcechecking, taking the body,” Brodeur said. “He does a lot of little things. A lot of people who are not watching him and who only look at the stats, miss a lot. He is an effective player. He logs a lot of important minutes. That’s what you have to look at, and who he plays against every single shift, and that tells you a lot about them.”

His statistics aren’t shabby either. Zajac has seven goals — tied for the team high with Kovalchuk and Parise — and five assists. His 12 points are tied for eighth best in the postseason. He also played on New Jersey’s power play and kills off penalties averaging more than 20 minutes a game, third highest among the teams’ forwards.

Not bad for player who appeared in 15 regular-season games.

“Getting this far I’m sure it’s enjoyable for everyone but it really is for me,” Zajac said after the Devils practiced Monday for the first time since winning the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Rangers on Friday night. “Playing this late in the season really makes me feel like I didn’t miss the whole season. It’s really a fun time to play hockey.”

Coming into this season, Zajac had been the Devils’ current iron man. He had played in 401 consecutive games for the team between 2006 and the end of the 2010-11 season only to get hurt working out at home before training camp.

If there has been a positive in terms of the injury, Zajac is fresh. While most of his teammates have played around 100 games, he has played in 33 and seemingly is rounding into midseason form.

Veteran forward Dainius Zubrus said Zajac’s return has been one of the keys to the Devils’ success.

Instead of gambling and making a deal for a top center at the trading deadline, general manager Lou Lamoriello stood pat and waited for Zajac to be ready.

“It took time, but the surprising thing for me is how well the guy can play after basically missing the whole year,” said Zubrus, who plays on Zajac’s right wing with Parise on the left. “He is playing top minutes, PP and PK, and all that stuff. You can’t get a player like that on deadline. When he got healthy it was a big addition.”

DeBoer said Zajac’s contributions are immeasurable.

“We wouldn’t be here without Travis,” said DeBoer, who was forced to use roughly 10 different centers this season in searching for replacement for Zajac. “The fact that we were able to fill … the hole he left is a credit to Patrik Elias, (Adam) Henrique and (Stephen) Gionta, and (others).”

“Looking back now in reflection, that was an awfully big hole,” DeBoer added.

In facing the Kings, the Devils will be taking on the NHL’s top team in the postseason. Los Angeles is 12-2 and it has barely been tested in knocking off the top three seeds in the Western Conference — Vancouver, St. Louis and Phoenix. In each series, Los Angeles won the first three games.

“They have big size up front, they check well and control the puck offensively, that’s been one of their strengths throughout the playoffs,” Zajac said. “They have some D-men who can make plays and jump up on offense.”

The Kings also play like the Devils. They roll four lines and have an outstanding goaltender in Jonathan Quick.

“There are similarities for sure, but every team at this point plays a similar style, they forecheck hard and the D keeps puck alive,” Zajac said. “I think every team that has been successful was similar structure.”

The Kings traveled on Monday to New Jersey. A media day for the teams is scheduled Tuesday.

Will Zajac and the Devils hoist the Cup? Make your prediction in the comments below!

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Cruz has gone to the Dominican Republic to deal with “personal matters,” as the team addressed it.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle expects Cruz back by Friday for the team’s road trip to Milwaukee.

In the meantime, veteran reliever Doug Slaten has joined the Pirates’ bullpen. Slaten, 32, has been lights out for the Indians in Triple-A, going 2-0 with a 0.36 ERA and eight saves in 20 appearances.

He joins Tony Watson to give Pittsburgh two left-handed options in the bullpen.

–

Chris Gates | Bucs Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

The Rimington Trophy is presented to the top center in college football every year. Turnley is one of 50 players placed on the spring watch list.

Turnley was one of the only constants along the Pitt offensive line last season, starting all 13 games. He should anchor a more productive unit in 2012.

Turnley received the Ed Conway award as Pitt’s most improved player in spring drills.

–

Chris Gates | Area 4-1-Zoo Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

Pirates starter James McDonald pitched eight innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just five hits while striking out five and walking one.

“I think my mental approach is different,” McDonald said. He now boasts a 4-2 record with a 2.20 ERA.

Third baseman Pedro Alvarez hit two doubles on the afternoon, driving in one run for Pittsburgh (24-24). Second baseman Neil Walker also had two hits and drove in a run, while right fielder Garrett Jones and catcher Rod Barajas each drove in a run.

“I like the direction we’re headed,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “I’m easy to please and hard to satisfy.”

Pittsburgh got off to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. After Walker singled he advanced to second on an Andrew McCutchen groundout and then to third on a throwing error by Reds starter Bronson Arroyo.

“I didn’t have a whole lot today,” Arroyo said. “But that being said I still felt like I could have put myself in position where I could have gotten out of those (early) innings and only given up one or two runs.”

Alvarez drove him in with a double, and Jones followed with a single, driving home Alvarez for a 2-0 advantage.

Walker singled in the second, driving home McDonald from second base for a 3-0 lead.

That lead grew to 4-0 in the third inning, as Barajas singled home Alvarez, who had hit his second double of the game to lead off the inning.

Cincinnati couldn’t manage a run until the ninth inning with McDonald on the bench. Chris Heisey hit a single off Pirates reliever Tony Watson, scoring Joey Votto.

Joel Hanrahan came in and recorded the final out in two pitches against Miguel Cairo.

RELATED LINKS
Pirates News
MLB News
CBS Pirates
Bucs Blog

Anton Zlobin scored for the Cataractes with 2:09 remaining in the first overtime period, slipping a puck past Knights goaltender Michael Houser, a Wexford native, for the winning goal.

Houser had just been honored the day before with the CHL’s most outstanding goaltender award, given to the best goalie in Canadian junior hockey.

Harrington was a minus-1 for the game and finished the tournament with three assists in four games, registering a minus-2.

Zeigler decided to transfer to Pitt from Central Michigan after his father, head coach Ernie Zeigler, was fired. The NCAA can grant a transfer an immediate eligibility waiver under certain circumstances, and Trey’s situation was deemed as such.

He will provide the Panthers scoring help at the shooting guard position alongside point guard Tray Woodall.

“We felt like there was a really good chance this would happen,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon told the Post-Gazette Friday night. “After Dan did all of the research, we were very hopeful based on what he was telling us. We expected this decision.”

Zeigler, who will be a junior this coming season, scored over 1,000 points at CMU and led the Chippewas in scoring both years. He and Woodall, along with promising juniors Lamar Patterson and J.J. Moore, should present Pitt with the opportunity to put up a lot of points in 2012-13.

“He’s a very good passer, very athletic, very good off the dribble,” Dixon said of Zeigler. “He’s a very good and skilled passer. That was reconfirmed. His athleticism is better than I remembered when we were recruiting him.”

–

Chris Gates | Area 4-1-Zoo Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

As it turns out, I was right about one and wrong about the other, but I would love for my correct pick to have been in the Eastern Conference.

The Stanley Cup Finals are supposed to be a time to revel in the game’s biggest stage. It’s where history is written and superstars are made. So, why is it that I’m feeling a little down about this year’s match up?

It boils down to three words really – New Jersey Devils.

This will be the third straight Stanley Cup Finals in which a team I have developed a strong dislike for is battling for hockey’s ultimate prize.

Let’s quickly recap:

Philadelphia fell to the Blackhawks in 2010. Penguins fans understand why this one doesn’t need an explanation.

Last year, the Bruins knocked off the Canucks in seven games. This one hurt because it served as cause for family and friends back home in New England to inundate me with comments about their team’s success all summer long.

Now, the New Jersey Devils are once again in the Stanley Cup Finals after dispatching the New York Rangers in six games.

Their presence in the Finals means I will be rooting with every fiber of my being for the Los Angeles Kings.

I was rather looking forward to a potential Kings/Rangers Final for a variety of reasons. The NHL was probably rooting for the same given that it would have put hockey’s biggest stage in the limelight in the two biggest markets in the country.

To me, Kings/Devils is not nearly as appealing. It could be a good series and there are some similarities between the teams. However, with New Jersey in it, there’s the potential for this to be a frustrating series for the fans as well as the Kings.

I’m all in on the Kings and sincerely hope they pull this off, which is why I’ve crafted the following letter of support:

To Whom It May Concern,

First off, I would like to congratulate you on your incredible run through the Western Conference to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1993.

Your 12-2 record thus far, including an 8-0 mark on the road, is nothing short of remarkable.

You should know that I am a Penguins fan, but don’t hold that against me. I am all-in on the Los Angeles Kings in this Stanley Cup Finals series.

The reasons are plentiful and I won’t bore you with all the details about how I got to this point of reaching out to your organization.

Just know, that by my rough calculations (which are not scientific in any way) that roughly 90 percent of the hockey world is rooting for you to take down the New Jersey Devils. Obviously, the communities in Phoenix, northern New Jersey and other parts of the great state of California would feel differently.

There are also some factions of Flyers fans who don’t want Jeff Carter or Mike Richards to win the Cup either. I get the mentality, but they’ve lost sight of the bigger picture here.

Before moving to Pittsburgh, I lived among Devils fans in northern New Jersey. My own father is one of the biggest Martin Brodeur fans on the planet. So, you can probably see one of the biggest reasons for me throwing all my support your way in this series.

I’ll never live this down if the Devils triumph in this series.

But, this isn’t about me.

It’s about your organization’s time to seize this opportunity and lay claim to Lord Stanley’s Cup for the first time.

It’s time to step out of the shadows of the other teams in town and establish the Kings as the main attraction in Los Angeles.

Statistically, not many expected you to be in this position as an 8-seed, but that’s irrelevant.

Four wins is all that separates you from eternal glory.

This isn’t just about the players on the current roster. Go out there and win this one for guys like Luc Robitaille, Wayne Gretzky, Tony Granato, Rob Blake, Kelly Hrudey and the rest of the 1993 squad that fell short against the Canadiens.

Do it for coach Barry Melrose, who I’m convinced is keeping the mullet until the Kings win the Cup.

Lean on the guys on the roster who have been here before like Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. Look to Rob Scuderi who has both won and lost a Cup with the Penguins.

Most importantly, do not be intimidated by the moment. Enjoy every aspect of it as it’s what you have worked so hard for. You never know if this will be the lone chance you have at winning it.

Do not be intimidated by the New Jersey Devils either because you can beat them.

Stick to what has gotten you this far. Be physical, be responsible in your own end and get traffic in front of Martin Brodeur.

To quote the great hockey movie “Miracle,” – This is your time, now go out there and take it.

Good luck,

Casey Shea

You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sheavedice

RELATED LINKS

More Shea-ved Ice Blog
More Sports News
More Penguins News
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL

His guests talked about Memorial Day past and present.

You can listen to the whole show by clicking on the link below:

Also You can listen to Black and Gold Sunday every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information about baseball players who served our country in wartime go to www.baseballinwartime.com

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The memory of missing the playoffs for first time since 1996 and the ghost of an 18-year-old wound were wiped out with a sweep of rookie Adam Henrique’s stick.

The New Jersey Devils are going back to the Stanley Cup finals, thanks to Henrique, a 40-year-old goaltender and a coach who’d never been to the postseason in the NHL.

How’s that for a turnaround?

Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front at 1:03 into overtime and the Devils defeated the rival New York Rangers, 3-2, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since 2003.

“It means a lot,” Devils leading scorer Ilya Kovalchuk said minutes after reaching the Cup finals for the first time. “It’s a great feeling. Last year was a tough one, but this year was totally different. We played well all year. The first round of the playoffs was a little tough but after that, I think we figured out our game and what it takes to win.”

After beating Florida, Philadelphia and their biggest rivals, the Rangers, only the Los Angeles Kings stand in the way of a fourth Cup for New Jersey.

The title round begins here Wednesday.

This series win came against the Devils’ most intense rival, and it was that much sweeter.

“That one was like Christmas,” said Henrique, who also scored the series winner in overtime as Devils’ first-round, Game 7 win over the Panthers.

It also was needed. The Devils blew a 2-0 first-period lead and didn’t want to head back to New York for a Game 7 on Sunday.

“It didn’t matter how it got to overtime, we were in a good position,” Devils captain Zach Parise said. “We were at home. We just needed one shot.”

Actually, the Devils needed four shots to win the game.

Henrique’s winner came after Henrik Lundqvist stopped Kovalchuk twice and Alexei Ponikarovsky. The last shot lay in the crease and Henrique tapped it home.

“We caught them on a line change and their defensemen were tired,” said Devils coach Peter DeBoer, who was fired by Florida after missing the playoffs in his three seasons. “We found a way to jam one in. That’s the only way you’re going to score on Lundqvist. You’re not going to get a clean one. You’re going to have to work for it around the net.

“And that’s what we did.”

Ryan Carter and Kovalchuk also scored for the Devils, whose biggest move this year was hiring DeBoer. He has more than proved his coaching ability.

Ruslan Fedotenko and Ryan Callahan tallied for top-seeded New York, which had a good flurry just before New Jersey scored to end it.

Henrique, who is nominated for the Calder Trophy — given to the NHL’s top rookie — skated away from the crease and jumped against the end boards in the corner as his teammates hopped off the bench and mobbed him.

The six Rangers on the ice just stayed down in disbelief and frustration. This was very much like Game 5, which the Devils won 5-3. New York carried the play after the first period and had a 35-29 edge in shots.

But when it came time for a game-deciding play to be made, it was a Devil who made it.

“When they scored, it was such an empty feeling,” said Lundqvist, who said the puck took a weird bounce on the final play. “It is shocking.”

Henrique overcame injury to score this one. He seemed to take a stick from Brian Boyle in the groin area late in the third and had to leave the ice.

He felt no pain after the game winner.

All the Rangers could do was bow their heads and then line up for the traditional handshake after losing to their cross-rival rivals in a series that was close.

“That’s playoff hockey, and that’s usually where you get an overtime goal,” Rangers veteran Brandon Prust said. “Just whacking away in front of the net, getting rebounds.”

Martin Brodeur, 40, kept the Devils alive in the third. He stopped a power-play shot by Brad Richards, made a save on Artem Anisimov between the circles and used his stick to deflect a pass from the boards by Carl Hagelin in the final minute just before it got to Marian Gaborik on the edge of the crease.

“You could tell he was in the zone. He led us,” Parise said. “He made some big saves tonight.”

Lundqvist’s best stop in the third was on Dainius Zubrus on a shot from behind the circles.

Facing elimination and down 2-0 after 20 minutes, the Rangers found their game in the second period and tied the game at 2-all on goals by Fedotenko and Callahan in a roughly four-minute span.

Defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who assisted on both goals, made the big play to get New York back in the game. He collected the puck above the left circle, skated around the net and tried a wrap around. The shot didn’t go on goal but it turned out to be a perfect pass to Fedotenko who a tap-in into an open net at 9:47.

Callahan, who had a New York goal go off his leg in the Devils’ 5-3 win on Wednesday, tied the game at 13:41 when Dan Girardi’s shot from the right point deflected off his leg into the open lower corner of the net. Callahan’s sixth of the postseason was set up when Brandon Dubinsky won a faceoff in the left circle.

Carter, who scored the game winner in New York on Wednesday night after the Devils blew a 3-0 lead, put New Jersey ahead again at 10:05 of the opening period.

The play started with a bad pinch at the point by Rangers defenseman Marc Staal. Steve Bernier led a 3-on-1 and found Stephen Gionta coming down the middle for a solo chance against Lundqvist. The Rangers goaltender stopped the shot, but Carter swatted the rebound home for his fourth of the playoffs.

Kovalchuk’s seventh goal of the postseason and fifth on the power play was a thing of beauty. All five Devils skaters touched the puck with tape-to-tape passes with Zubrus finding Kovalchuk alone low in the left circle for a shot that Lundqvist had little chance to stop.

The Devils — as is the tradition for many Cup finalists — did not touch the Prince of Wales Trophy that was presented at center ice. As the team skated off to their locker room, “Glory Days,” the 1984 hit from New Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen serenaded them.

The game was played on the 18-year anniversary of the Rangers’ dramatic, 4-2, Game 6 victory over New Jersey at the Meadowlands, a victory that pushed that classic Eastern Conference final series to a Game 7 and eventually led New York to its first Stanley Cup in 54 years. That game, of course, was preceded by a guarantee from Rangers captain Mark Messier, who delivered three goals en route to the victory.

This time, though, there will be no Game 7.

NOTES: The Empire State Building’s tower lights were lit in red and blue on Friday to cheer on the Rangers. … Mogul and TV personality Donald Trump was at the game. … Devils C Travis Zajac left the ice briefly in the second after being slashed on the left hand by Prust. No penalty was called. … New Jersey is 4-1 in overtime in the postseason. New York finished 2-3 after regulation.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The group of bodies of water is made up of the English Channel, Catalina Channel, Molokai Channel, Tsugaru Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Cook Strait and North Channel.

There are 11 swimmers from around the world within reach of completing the task and one of them hails from Pittsburgh.

Darren Miller, a former member of the Murrysville Swim Club, has raised tens of thousands of dollars for charity while swimming around the world.

On any given night, you can find Miller swimming the lake at Keystone State Park, for hours during spring and summer and winter too.

“Training for cold water is pretty much the most painful thing you could ever experience,” Miller says. “I’ve done a lot of physical activity in my life and there is nothing worse than putting yourself into 30 or 40 degree water here in January.”

So why does he do it? In order to get his body ready to swim in places like the icy waters of the English Channel, one of seven swims that make up the Ocean’s 7 and the first that Miller completed in 12 hours and four minutes.

Twelve hours broken up only by 20 second breaks every half hour.

“Hypothermia is the biggest challenge in cold water swims,” Miller says.

Miller followed that up with the Catalina Channel, the Molokai Channel in Hawaii and just this year, the Strait of Gibraltar, dodging boats, barges and almost dodging giant jellyfish.

“Right off the island of Molakai,” Miller tells us, “about an hour in, it was still dark out and I took a Portuguese manowar sting right to the face.”

So why does he do it? Certainly not for the notoriety.

“I’m not doing this to get my name in the paper,”Miller says though he already has many times. “I’m not worried about that. I’ve found that I have a talent to be able push myself far distances. To be thrown into the middle of the ocean swimming with who knows what’s below you. And in the name of charity that’s what we’re here for.”

Miller helped create the Forever Fund to help families of patients at Children’s Hospital and has raised tens of thousands of dollars. If you would like to help, go to www.darren-miller.com.

RELATED LINKS
More Sports News
More Reports by Jory Rand

Woodley also talked about the injuries he played through last year, saying he was only about 65 or 70 percent in the playoff loss to the Broncos.

Looking towards this season, the predictions for the AFC North have started rolling in, most placing the Steelers third behind the Ravens and Bengals, and LaMarr said the experts always pick them low, and they like it that way.

Woodley also talked about the Saints bounty situation and what he thinks about Jonathan Vilma and the case he’s trying to bring against Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Things wrapped up with LaMarr telling Starkey that he has no concerns running on his injured hamstring and that he’s fully ready to go.

He says hitting is contagious, but notes that a lack of hitting is contagious too.

Sean reaches back into his memory bank to tell us how some of his old teams broke out of hitting slumps, and what he sees going wrong with the Pirates offense.

He also lets us know about his new Miracle League field opening this weekend.

He explains why Pitt has decided to file a lawsuit against the Big East to ensure their exit to the ACC in 2013.

He also reacts to the rumors that Florida State might be jumping to the Big 12, reports that the ACC’s future is bright, and dives into the latest theories on what the college football playoff may look like.

Steve is also pleased to see that Penn State coach Bill O’Brien wants to face Pitt more often, and he gives an update on Paul Chryst’s progress.

Officials with The Second Mile say it has been financially crippled ever since the scandal involving its founder surfaced.

It is now in the process of transferring its programs to a Texas-based youth ministry.

Prosecutors claim Sandusky found the alleged victims through the charity.

He is facing dozens of sexual abuse charges and will go on trial next month.

RELATED LINKS:
Sandusky’s Attorney Asks For Another Delay (5/9/12)
More Jerry Sandusky News

She is also the cover girl for Harley Davidson.

Swedberg was a guest with The Fan Morning Show Friday.

You can here her full interview here:

It turns out they are HUGE sports fans and have some fun in studio with the guys while talking about upcoming projects and past favorites.

They will have five shows this weekend at the Improv:
Friday – 8pm and 10pm
Saturday – 7pm and 9pm
Sunday – 7pm
For tickets: visit improv.com or call 412-462-5233 (Pittsburgh Improv Box Office)

You can here the full interview here:

He also says that when he returned to the Steelers, it was so he would have a chance to play next to James Farrior… now he tells Jim he is replacing Farrior.

Click the link below to listen to the full interview:

Defensive end Brett Keisel joined the Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday, his first appearance at OTAs.

Keisel had missed the opening of OTAs for family reasons.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, linebacker James Harrison, safety Troy Polamalu, cornerback Ike Taylor and wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery were all given the day off.

Additionally, running back Rashard Mendenhall and linebacker Jason Worilds, nose tackle Casey Hampton were out because of injuries.

Wide receiver Mike Wallace didn’t participate, and he’s not expected to for any of the OTAs, as he’s holding out because of a contract dispute.

Draft picks David DeCastro, Mike Adams and Alameda Ta’amu weren’t present either.

RELATED LINKS
Steelers News
NFL News
CBS Steelers

Indianapolis Indians broadcaster Howard Kellman joins Vinnie & Cook on Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan for the latest from the farm club.

Kellman fills us in on how Alex Presley, Starling Marte and Matt Hague have been faring lately, and tells us which one of those three may be most likely to get the call to the big club next.

Click the link below to listen to the full interview:

Tomczak joined The Fan Morning Show to talk about his new role and why he decided to get into the sport.

Click the link below to listen to the full interview:

NEW YORK (AP) — The Devils turned a stellar first nine minutes and an opportunistic final five into a stirring victory over the Rangers that moved New Jersey within one win of a trip to the Stanley Cup finals.

Suddenly, No. 1 seed New York is on the brink — again.

No one would have guessed when Travis Zajac scored 9:49 in to give the Devils a three-goal lead that they would be desperately looking for one more late in the third to hold off the Rangers, who had fought back to tie and appeared to have every bit of the momentum.

But the game, and perhaps the entire Eastern Conference finals, changed in the blink of an eye when Ryan Carter put the Devils in front to stay.

Carter snapped a tie with 4:24 left, and New Jersey survived en route to a 5-3 victory over New York after blowing a three-goal lead in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night.

The rugged fourth-line forward, who had only four goals and four assists in 72 games with Florida and New Jersey, already has three goals in the playoffs, including two in the East finals.

The Devils, who led 3-0 before the first period was half over, have a 3-2 edge in the series and can advance to face the Los Angeles Kings in the finals with a win at home on Friday night. If the Rangers can stay alive, Game 7 would be back in Madison Square Garden Sunday.

“It’s a good feeling,” goalie Martin Brodeur said of the Devils’ status. “We worked really hard to get in that position. (There’s been) a lot of unsung heroes and guys producing at different times. Players are playing well. We’ve just got to keep going.

“Nothing is done yet.”

The Devils seemed primed for an easy win when Stephen Gionta and Patrik Elias scored within the first 4:13. Travis Zajac made it 3-0 before the Rangers woke up and began chipping away.

Brandon Prust brought New York within 3-1 before the first period was over, and Ryan Callahan made it a one-goal game in the first minute of the second. The Garden really rocked when Marian Gaborik tied it at 3 just 17 seconds into the third.

But the comeback was for naught. Carter put the Devils back in front, and Zach Parise sealed it with an empty-net goal.

“I thought,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said, “we probably played our best game of the series.”

Once Gaborik tied it with an unassisted goal that ricocheted in off the skate of Brodeur, it appeared the Rangers would ride the comeback all the way to one of the most stirring wins in team history — one that would rival victories over New Jersey in the classic 1994 East finals when the Rangers erased a 3-2 series hole behind Mark Messier’s guarantee.

Carter made sure it wouldn’t happen.

“You have to (keep it together) this time of year,” Gionta said. “You have to have a short memory. Fortunately we did and came out with the victory.”

Ilya Kovalchuk knocked Michael Del Zotto off the puck in the right corner, and Gionta sent a pass in front to Carter — who had just charged in front from the bench — for a quick shot that beat Henrik Lundqvist.

“A great play by Kovy to separate their (defensemen) from the puck,” Carter said. “Gio scooped the puck up, took a look and made a fantastic pass to me. All I had to was redirect it.”

New Jersey was outshot 28-17 overall and had only six shots in the third period, but two of them went in. Now the Devils are on the verge of their first Cup finals appearance since they won their third title in 2003.

Brodeur, the backbone of every New Jersey title, kept his focus throughout the third when he was loudly taunted with chants of “Mar-ty, Mar-ty” after New York got even.

“It was a mistake,” Brodeur said of Gaborik’s goal. “I’m pretty happy that the boys bounced back and made this a win for us. It would have been tough and people would have blamed that mishandle.”

The Rangers were ultimately done in by another terrible start. For the 13th straight game in these playoffs, the team that scored first in New York’s contests has gone on to win. The Rangers had been on a pattern of win-one, lose-one, but now they are on the verge of elimination with their second two-game losing streak in a series this year.

The only time the Rangers have won two straight in a playoff series is when they overcame a 3-2 hole in the first round and knocked out Ottawa. They have faced elimination three times already this postseason.

“We have to. There is no other way around it,” Lundqvist said of the Rangers’ comeback chances. “We have to bring all the good things we did and keep doing them in the next game. We played really well in the second and third period.”

They couldn’t say the same about the first.

“It’s different when you go down 3-0. You don’t have a whole lot to lose,” Rangers forward Brian Boyle said. “It was good nonetheless. Now it’s 3-2. Now we have to win two. That’s the bottom line.”

The Rangers burned their timeout early, and Devils coach Peter DeBoer spent his with 10:17 left. Parise implored his teammates on the bench to, `Come on boys.’ and the messages from the coach and the captain did the trick.

New Jersey surely never thought it would be in this kind of fight after storming in front early.

“It wasn’t pretty by any means, what we did tonight,” Parise said. “But we’re going home with a 3-2 lead.”

Not only didn’t the Rangers have the strong start they craved and insisted they needed, they were practically run out of their building less than 10 minutes in.

The same problems that plagued New York in its 4-1 loss in Game 4, when the Devils jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, cropped up again in front of the home fans that grew frustrated and angry early.

Gionta got the Devils going 2:43 in when he gathered a rebound of Mark Fayne’s shot right in front of Lundqvist, steadied himself without any pressure from the defense, and slipped in his third goal of the playoffs to start the barrage.

Elias made it 2-0 just 1:30 later on New Jersey’s fourth shot of the night.

After Kovalchuk fumbled the puck just inside the blue line, he dived to keep it from leaving the Rangers’ zone. The puck eventually came to Adam Henrique at the right point for a shot that was stopped by Lundqvist. Elias got it in front and scored his fourth.

Tortorella used his timeout then, but it made little difference. He appeared to be calm as he moved back and forth behind the bench while talking to his players. Whatever the message was didn’t sink in.

The Devils shrugged off a few scoring chances by the Rangers, and padded their lead again.

Just 5:26 after Elias’ goal, Zajac made it 3-0 with his seventh of the playoffs. Bryce Salvador wiped out Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh in the New Jersey end and started the play going the other way. Zajac got a clean shot from just inside the right circle that sailed past Lundqvist and beat him inside the left post at 9:49.

The tide began to turn the Rangers’ way the rest of the period as they allowed only one shot the rest of the period and began cutting into the deficit.

Prust, making his return following a one-game suspension for an elbow he delivered to the head of Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov in Game 3, showed off a bit of scoring touch when he converted on a breakaway with 4:19 left in the first.

The Rangers outshot the Devils 9-6 in the lopsided first period, but continued their sudden defensive dominance well into the second. Then they cut the Devils’ lead down to a goal just 32 seconds into the second.

Brandon Dubinsky, back from a foot injury, fired a shot from the left point that was deflected in front and caromed toward the left corner. Artem Anisimov flung the puck back toward the crease and it struck the left skate of the driving Callahan and got past Brodeur. The goal stood up after a brief video review.

New Jersey didn’t record its first shot of the period, and its second since its third goal, until Henrique put a puck in on Lundqvist at 6:23.

Lundqvist, who had stopped 94 percent of the shots he faced in the playoffs before Wednesday, made just 12 saves. The Rangers allowed five goals one game after allowing four for the first time in this postseason.

To make the finals now, New York will have to win a third consecutive seven-game series. The Rangers have already played 19 postseason games.

“We have to have a short memory,” McDonagh said. “We’ve been in this position before in this playoffs and we found a way to get it done. We don’t want to look ahead. We have to win two games, but we just have to focus on winning one.”

Notes: Dubinsky had been sidelined since he was injured in the Rangers’ victory over Ottawa in Game 7 of the first round. He sat out all seven games of the second round against Washington and the first four against New Jersey. John Mitchell was scratched to make room in the lineup. Prust’s return forced D Steve Eminger to sit out after he played the two previous games. … Kovalchuk has 10 assists in the postseason. … Prust scored his first career NHL playoff goal in his 23rd game. … The game was played on the 18-year anniversary of Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference finals, in which the Devils won, 4-1, took a 3-2 series lead, and prompted the Messier guarantee the following day.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

New York, on the brink of elimination, headed to New Jersey for Game 6.

The comparisons to 1994 were apparent before this series even started — now it’s near a crescendo. All that’s missing is a guarantee from the Rangers captain.

Just don’t tell that to the Devils.

“We won’t worry about it,” forward Patrik Elias said. “Who cares what happened way back then?”

The Devils are concerned with 2012, not what happened in a different millennium, when Rangers great Mark Messier delivered — and came through on — his stunning guarantee.

“That’s 15, 20 years ago. I don’t care,” said captain Zach Parise.

Meanwhile, Parise & Co. never could have imagined they would have a three-goal lead on New York less than 10 minutes into Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals at hostile Madison Square Garden. Their shock was even greater when that advantage was gone, and they were suddenly locked in a tie game in the opening minute of the third period.

In the end, it all worked out for the Devils, who got another surprising goal from fourth-line forward Ryan Carter in the closing minutes and escaped with a win that put New Jersey on the verge of a spot in the Stanley Cup finals.

Carter’s third goal of the playoffs with 4:24 remaining was the difference in the Devils’ 5-3 victory over New York on Wednesday night. The Devils have a 3-2 edge in the series, but if the top-seeded Rangers can stay alive on Friday night in New Jersey, Game 7 would be back in Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

“It’s a good feeling,” goalie Martin Brodeur said of the Devils’ status. “We worked really hard to get in that position. (There’s been) a lot of unsung heroes and guys producing at different times. Players are playing well. We’ve just got to keep going.

“Nothing is done yet.”

If the Rangers fall short, their best season in years will come to a crashing end and the Devils will move on to face the Western champion Los Angeles Kings. New York hasn’t been to the finals since 1994, when the Rangers knocked out New Jersey in the semis and then beat Vancouver for the title.

The Devils are one win away from playing for the Cup one season after their run of 13 straight postseason appearances was snapped. New Jersey went to the finals four times between 1995 and 2003 and won three championships.

“It’s a great position to be in,” Elias said. “Hopefully, we can play a better game at home. Hopefully, we’ll be the team that dictates the energy and the pace out there.”

When Travis Zajac scored 9:49 in to make it 3-0, the Devils seemed ready to cruise to victory. But the Rangers roared back and appeared to have every bit of the momentum.

Then the game, and perhaps the entire series, changed in the blink of an eye when Carter put the Devils in front to stay. Parise added an empty-net goal to make sure the Rangers had no chance for another comeback.

Carter had only four goals and four assists in 72 regular-season games with Florida and New Jersey. He has two goals in the East finals.

“They’ve been great the whole playoffs,” Elias said of the fourth line. “It’s not always the top guys who win you hockey games.”

Stephen Gionta and Elias scored within the first 4:13 before Zajac made it 3-0. Then the Rangers woke up.

Brandon Prust brought New York within 3-1 before the first period was over, and Ryan Callahan made it a one-goal game in the first minute of the second. The Garden really rocked when Marian Gaborik tied it at 3 just 17 seconds into the third.

But the comeback was for naught.

“We probably played our best game of the series,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said.

Once Gaborik tied it with an unassisted goal that ricocheted in off Brodeur’s skate, it appeared the Rangers would ride the comeback all the way to one of the most stirring wins in team history — one that would rival victories over New Jersey in the classic 1994 East finals when the Rangers erased a 3-2 series hole behind Mark Messier’s guarantee.

Carter made sure it wouldn’t happen.

“You have to (keep it together) this time of year,” Gionta said. “You have to have a short memory. Fortunately we did and came out with the victory.”

New Jersey was outshot 28-17 overall and had only six shots in the third period, but two went in.

Brodeur, the backbone of every New Jersey title, kept his focus throughout the third when he was loudly taunted with chants of “Mar-ty, Mar-ty” after New York got even.

“It was a mistake,” Brodeur said of Gaborik’s goal. “I’m pretty happy that the boys bounced back and made this a win for us. It would have been tough and people would have blamed that mishandle.”

The Rangers were ultimately done in by another terrible start. They had been on a pattern of win-one, lose-one, but now they are on the verge of elimination with their second two-game losing streak in a series this year.

The only time the Rangers have won two straight in a playoff series this postseason is when they overcame a 3-2 hole in the first round and knocked out Ottawa.

“We have to bring all the good things we did and keep doing them in the next game,” Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist said. “We played really well in the second and third period.”

They couldn’t say the same about the first.

“It’s different when you go down 3-0. You don’t have a whole lot to lose,” Rangers forward Brian Boyle said. “It was good nonetheless. Now it’s 3-2. Now we have to win two. That’s the bottom line.”

The Rangers burned their timeout early, and Devils coach Peter DeBoer spent his with 10:17 left. Parise implored his teammates on the bench — “Come on boys!” — and the messages from the coach and the captain did the trick.

“It wasn’t pretty by any means,” Parise said. “But we’re going home with a 3-2 lead.”

Not only didn’t the Rangers have the strong start they craved and insisted they needed, they were practically run out of their building.

The same problems that plagued New York in its 4-1 loss in Game 4, when the Devils jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, cropped up again in front of the frustrated fans.

Gionta got the Devils going 2:43 in, and Elias made it 2-0 1:30 later on New Jersey’s fourth shot.

Tortorella used his timeout, but it made little difference. He appeared to be calm as he moved back and forth behind the bench while talking to his players. Whatever the message was it didn’t sink in.

The Devils shrugged off a few scoring chances by the Rangers, and padded their lead again.

Just 5:26 after Elias’ goal, Zajac made it 3-0 with his seventh of the playoffs. Zajac got a clean shot from just inside the right circle that beat Lundqvist inside the left post.

The tide began to turn the Rangers’ way, and they allowed only one shot the rest of the period.

Prust, making his return following a one-game suspension for an elbow he delivered to the head of Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov in Game 3, showed off a bit of scoring touch when he converted on a breakaway with 4:19 left in the first to make it 3-1.

The Rangers outshot the Devils 9-6 in the lopsided period, but continued their sudden defensive dominance well into the second. Then they cut the Devils’ lead to a goal just 32 seconds into the second.

New Jersey didn’t record its first shot of the period, and its second since its third goal, until Adam Henrique put a puck in on Lundqvist at 6:23.

Lundqvist, who had stopped 94 percent of the shots he faced in the playoffs before Wednesday, made just 12 saves. The Rangers allowed five goals one game after giving up four for the first time in this postseason.

To make the finals, New York will have to win a third consecutive seven-game series.

“We have to have a short memory,” Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “We’ve been in this position before in this playoffs and we found a way to get it done. We don’t want to look ahead. We have to win two games, but we just have to focus on winning one.”

What’s your prediction for Game 6? Sound off in the comments below!

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Predictably, wide receiver Mike Wallace was not there, and he’s not expected to show up at all as he continues his contract hold out.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall was present but for the second straight day he worked out by himself. He is still rehabbing from ACL surgery.

Mendenhall said there’s no exact timetable slated for his return. However, he said the goal is to be in uniform for Week 1 at Denver.

Linebacker Jason Worilds and defensive end Brett Keisel were not present at OTAs, nor was rookie defensive tackle Alameda Ta’amu, who is still in classes at the University of Washington.

RELATED LINKS
Steelers News
NFL News
CBS Steelers

Wednesday we found out that Johnson will no longer serve that dual role, as running back Isaac Redman told the media that Johnson has moved specifically to fullback.

Johnson only spends time in meetings with running backs now.

The adjustments to be made throughout the depth chart because of Johnson’s move are not yet known.

It’s just another one of the changes the Steelers are making under new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

“For me, being in the league a couple of years now, I am picking it up faster than the younger guys,” Redman said. “It’s not too difficult for us. Everybody is out here working together, helping each other out, discussing things so that when the season comes around we should be clicking on all cylinders.”

RELATED LINKS
Steelers News
NFL News
CBS Steelers

The parents of fullback Derrick Burns say it happened while he was on the phone.

The 20-year-old had been seen by a doctor after he complained of a severe headache and numbness in his side, but no one suspected a stroke.

“Found a mass, a blood clot in the back of his head, and a small one on the left side which caused a stroke and left his right side weak,” Dan Burns, Derrick’s adoptive father, said.

Burns is improving and is expected to recover.

The stroke is not believed to be related to a football injury, but his family is doubtful Burns will ever play again.

“’Coach, I think I’m done with football,’” Dan Burns said of Derrick. “We kind of had a little laugh over that – through the seriousness of it all we still had a little laugh over that.”

“Paul Chryst, the class act that he is, says, ‘Derrick, I don’t care about football right now. We just got to get you better,’” Burns continued.

RELATED LINKS
More Sports News
More Lawrence County News

He also admits that he has heard the “Stud Brad Lincoln” songs and he and his mom are both huge fans.

Listen to the full interview here:

The pitching has been great but the offense has been awful.

Walk tries to provide some answers for what can be done to fix the issues.

Walk is a featured weekly guest on “Walk On Wednesday” on The Fan Morning Show every Wednesday morning at 8:20 a.m.

Listen to the full interview here:

Pouncey and his teammates are in town for OTA’s this week and next.

He talks about the new faces on the offensive line and learning a new offense.

You can hear the full interview here: