PITTSBURGH - Some people are saying NBC should suspend Mike Milbury for his controversial comments about the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It's more likely NBC will give him a bonus.
Milbury did exactly what he's supposed to do with his outrageous comments. He called attention to himself and to his work on NBC's studio show that surrounds NHL coverage.
Guys like him are there to create a buzz. Jerome Bettis didn't do that when he was on the network's NFL show, which is one reason why he didn't last.
There's no doubt Milbury created an uproar in these parts with his comments about the Penguins and their game-ending mayhem against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.
Milbury's TV persona is just an outgrowth of his personality. As a Boston Bruins player, he ventured into the stands at Madison Square Garden, yanked the shoe off a heckling fan, then hit the fan on the head with the shoe.
As a Boston Bruins coach, he followed referee Denis Morel into the runway after a playoff game at the Civic Arena, loudly and profanely complaining about calls that had gone against his team.
Milbury is a loose cannon. That's why he's on TV. It's the same reason NBC uses Jeremy Roenick.
They don't want a "go along to get along" approach.
Milbury was out of line when he made fun at Sidney Crosby's concussion issues. That's a league-wide problem, and Milbury must have realized it didn't resonate well at NHL headquarters.
He issued an apology through NBC's publicity department on Tuesday, but that didn't matter.
What mattered were the comments he made Monday while appearing on a Philadelphia radio show.
Would the script have been different had a Pittsburgh station called him?
That's impossible to answer.
Milbury got a strong reaction, and that's what his current job is all about.
Search party
Duquesne is looking for a new basketball coach, and there's a lot of discussion about how attractive the job is.
The Dukes obviously aren't going to lure away a coach from an established big-time program.
But there are plenty of assistants looking for that first big chance.
Just because the name isn't instantly familiar doesn't mean they've struck out in an effort to improve their program.
Reminder
There's still time to enter the Pirates' contest at the "Mainly Mehno" blog at altoonamirror.com.
Mehno can be reached at johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com.
