PITTSBURGH - Here's a suggestion for settling the NFL labor issue.
Have a PowerPoint presentation that shows the mansions the star players have, the fleets of luxury vehicles, the designer clothes and all the other amenities, like the home basketball courts and swimming pools.
Then abruptly stop it and ask the question:
You're willing to give this up?
Then do the same thing for the owners, highlighting all the perks that have come with their incredible wealth.
Bet they'd have a lot more interest in finding common ground.
No thanks
The Pittsburgh Penguins changed the starting time of their game on Sunday, March 13 from 1 to 3 p.m.
It was scheduled for 1 in case NBC wanted it.
If the Penguins don't have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, NBC suddenly - and understandably - has a lot less interest in the Penguins.
Loyalty returned
When Chuck Tanner was finishing out his playing career at the Class AAA level in 1962, Al Monchak was working in the Los Angeles Angels' front office.
Part of Monchak's job was to visit the Angels' farm teams and report back to his bosses.
The Angels knew that Tanner didn't have much left as a player. But when Monchak got back, he told his boss that the organization should think about making Tanner a manager.
Monchak thought Tanner had the qualities to be a successful manager.
Tanner was hired the next year at Class A. Seven years later, he worked his way up to Class AAA. From there, he was hired by the Chicago White Sox and got his first chance in the major leagues during the 1970 season.
He hired Al Monchak as one of his coaches. Monchak followed Tanner to Oakland, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.
When Tanner died a few weeks ago, Al Monchak, 91, got an airplane in Florida and made his way to western Pennsylvania for the memorial service in New Castle.
A relationship that started nearly 50 years ago was characterized by admirable loyalty on both sides.
Football season again
The Pittsburgh Power will begin playing Arena Football in a few weeks.
The Power has some tickets in the upper bowl at Consol Energy Center for $15, and those should sell.
That's a reasonable price in a great venue, and the football-addicted will probably buy them.
Mehno can be reached at johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com
