PAUL ZEISE’S SPORTS CHAT HIGHLIGHTS

A few highlights from Paul Zeise’s Thursday sports chat, which you can join weekly at post-gazette.com. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity:

Jock Sutherland: What’s your opinion on adding crowd noise to the upcoming broadcasts?

Zeise: I think it makes no sense. I’m a huge golf fan. I’ve gotten used to watching golf without idiots yelling “get in the hole!!!” and it is fine. We will all get used to watching games without fans and quickly not even know the difference.

GH: Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians. In this crazy world could you ever envision the Pittsburgh Pirates changing their name? Think about what the name pirate conjures up.

Zeise: I am not sure who would be offended by the name Pirates, but in this world at this time, nothing would shock me.

CoalportKid: Any insight into the mood of the Pirates players? What does the taxi squad think about spending their time in Altoona?

Zeise: Honestly, right now everyone from what I can tell is excited to be back playing baseball. The guys in Altoona know they are one step away from playing in the majors. These guys went so long without being able to play baseball, I’m thinking they are really happy right now.

Utah Jim: How much of NFL revenue, and hence the salary cap, comes from ticket sales and concessions? There is a lot of talk of a drop in the salary cap if games are played without fans, but that seems doubtful unless games are outright canceled. Any loss will likely be made up, at least partially, by a 17th game.

Zeise: There definitely will be a drop in revenues. Yes, the TV money is the key but there will be drop without fans in many ways. I’ll give you one example — if fans aren’t allowed to attend games there will be a drop-off in merchandise sales. People aren’t as likely to buy hats, shirts, coats, etc., if they aren’t going to be going to games. Now how much that drop will be is a great question, but they estimate the cap could be between $20 million and $30 million less next season.

Jock Sutherland: Do you think networks will get more creative with adding crowd atmosphere to a broadcast? I would think it would be possible to visually add fans to seats on broadcasts if they wanted.

Zeise: Again, I don’t see the need for crowd noise that is artificial and pumped into broadcasts to add “atmosphere.” It makes no sense.

Jeff: I agree with you on watching golf! Nothing worse than some token idiot yelling, “you the man,” after every tee shot. Football is a little different. What are your thoughts on the mask requirement?

Zeise: Look, if they say masks help stop the spread I don’t see why people would object to wearing them. I don’t understand the whole mask thing — if they tell you “you can go to a Steelers game if you wear a mask,” then wear it and enjoy the game. This is not hard at all. A buddy of mine said he will never wear a mask because it is his choice or whatever. I told him, ‘if for no other reason than to get the mask shaming idiots off your back, put a mask on ... ’I don’t know, I coach basketball. I wear a mask while I coach. It is fine. So a long story short — a mask requirement to attend games shouldn’t be viewed as a big deal. Just do it and go have a few overpriced beers and have fun.

BillC: If baseball is prohibiting spitting, chewing, pitchers touching their faces, etc., what is the penalty if they do? It seems a rule without a consequence is not a rule at all.

Zeise: I have no idea. I don’t think there is any consequences unless you are a chronic spitter. I have said before, “if everyone in the building is tested, if everyone in the building is health screened, it is a controlled environment so why all these way-over-the-top rules? It doesn’t make sense, really, but who am I to make that call.

Zeise: There was a question that disappeared into cyberspace when I clicked on it to add it to the chat that was good — What will be the capacity of Heinz for Steelers games? I saw the Ravens were talking about crowds of like 15,000 or so. I would expect that to be similar everywhere — 12,500 would be about one-fifth of Heinz Field capacity (20 percent) so I would it imagine it won’t be much more than that.

Guest: ‘Get in the hole!’ That is so true Paul, and I always imagined these are the same idiots who yell “Freebird” at a show.

Zeise: Well, ‘Get in the hole’[ guy wants to see if he can get his voice on TV. What he doesn’t realize is we are all calling him an idiot.

Notinthistogether: All for players supporting whatever cause they wish, but can we just skip playing any anthems prior to a football game, before we have to play like 10 new ones (YMCA)?

Zeise: I agree 100 percent. Stop playing the national anthem at sporting events. It is a practice that is not necessary.

CoalportKid: What’s your over/under for the Pirates? I’ll go 20.5.

Zeise: I said before, 29-31, so I’ll say 28.5 is my over/under.