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Ronan was gentleman on, off field

Jimmy Ronan passed away last week, and our local baseball community lost a legend. I was fortunate to be able to grow up watching Ro play as he was a teammate of my dad’s, and his sons Brent and Scooter and I never missed a game or tournament. Later in life, I was able to be his teammate as well as having him as a coach. I was blessed to have many influential people in my life, and Ro is at the top of that list. He was a massive presence on the field and could hit a ball further than anyone I have ever seen, but the way he played the game and his sportsmanship always stuck out ...

Training camp traditions are simply priceless

By Bill Contz For the Mirror NFL teams require most personnel under contract to report to training camp in late July. Said personnel complies reluctantly and usually on a day with a heat index exceeding triple digits. This triggers a feeding frenzy among the local media that flock to various small college dormitories hoping to either secure an exclusive interview with a top draft pick, identify players sporting much-improved physiques or any tricked out, customized modes of transportation that have been idling too long in the nearby towaway zone. This spectacle mirrors how ...

Jets may get it right this time around

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press CANTON, Ohio — A group of Jets die-hards were reminiscing about Rich Kotite’s futile tenure as head coach in the mid-1990s when another New York fan wearing an old, green-and-white Browning Nagle jersey approached the group outside the entrance to the Hall of Fame game He reminded them Aaron Rodgers is the team’s new quarterback. They all burst into “J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!” chants and rattled off random names from the franchise’s past. From Kotite, Bruce Coslet and Joe Walton to Vinny Testaverde, Richard Todd and Ken O’Brien, ...

’23 Steelers intriguing, uncertain

By Bob Trumpbour For the Mirror The NFL season opens on Thursday, Sept. 7 with the Kansas City Chiefs facing off against the Detroit Lions. For many football fans, the excitement of NFL football can’t come soon enough. For Steelers fans, the 2023 season may be among the most intriguing and, perhaps, the most unpredictable in decades. On a positive note, most experts praised the team’s draft, consistently ranking it in the top five of all NFL teams. That talent is likely to provide the Steelers with a strong roster for years to come. In addition, Kenny Pickett’s ...

RBs contract talk may spell trouble in locker room

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press Saquon Barkley worked out his contract squabble with the New York Giants and showed up for training camp. Josh Jacobs is holding out with the Las Vegas Raiders. Le’Veon Bell once sat out the entire season after getting the franchise tag. Different running backs. Same problem. No solution on the horizon. NFL teams have devalued running backs to the point where Bell’s franchise total just five years ago was significantly higher at $14.5 million. The tag for Barkley, Jacobs and Dallas’ Tony Pollard was $10.1 million this season. Bell played ...

We remember the runner-up; sure we do

By Jim Caltagirone For the Mirror This year marks the 50th anniversary of John Cappelletti’s selection for the Heisman Trophy. That alone made the 1973 college football season something special for Penn State football fans. Mix in a perfect record and fifth-place national ranking and that season becomes unforgettable. Most certainly, that same season created lasting memories for John Hicks. An offensive lineman at Ohio State, he was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, but it’s doubtful that many outside Columbus know his place in history without a Google search. The ...