SPORTS CHAT
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:
• Retire21: Three Rivers Stadium opened 50 years ago Thursday. Everything good happened the first decade. Best in-person moment for me … Immaculate Reception. Worst, AFC championship loss to San Diego. You?
Zeise: I don’t agree that the best moments were all in the first 10 years. The three years for the Pirates (1990-92) had plenty of great moments and the Steelers won an AFC title game there in 1995; Pitt shut out Penn State there in the final game between Pitt and Joe Paterno.
Jock Sutherland: With the college football session pretty close to dead for fall and highly unlikely for spring, how likely are we to see coaches returning back to the schools some of their huge salaries?
Zeise: We are already there, aren’t we? Coaches have been giving back salaries for a while now and the trend will continue. It is going to get really bad if there is no football. That’s just the nature of where all of this is right now.
Darnell: A reporter said earlier [Thursday] that Dak Prescott could replace Ben Roethlisberger when their contracts are up. Could you see Dak as a Steeler?
Zeise: Anything is possible and anything can happen, but I just don’t see this as a fit. I don’t think the Steelers will go the big-dollar, free-agent route to replace Ben.
NHSTEEL: The Patriots have announced plans for fans in the stands with a capacity of 20%. I know the Steelers said they would announce something soon. Does it sound like only season ticket holders will be at the game and will they face a lottery? Any ideas?
Zeise: The lottery is the only fair way to do it. And I think that’s what every team will do. College teams will probably find a way to get a donation on top of the right to buy tickets. That doesn’t work for NFL teams.
Donna: I’m wondering what you think about Elena Delle Donne saying the WNBA is not supporting her concerning her health problems and possibly opting out this season?
Zeise: I think any league that doesn’t stand behind any of its players who opt out this year is shortsighted. This is an unprecedented year and everyone needs to learn how to be flexible.
Sunner in the sunshine: I believe the [Penguins] have a Cup run in them this postseason. Advantage or disadvantage to play the play-in the first round against the [Canadiens] versus playing for the top four seeds like the [Capitals], Flyers etc.?
Zeise: I think the urgency of elimination round playoffs in any sport is different than regular-season or roundrobin games. The Penguins will have to be sharp, will have to figure out line combos quickly and Matt Murray will need to get dialed in immediately. That will give them an edge over any of the teams that have a bye they will play in Round 2.
John Strange: Which is more grounded in reality? Talking about the 2020 NFL season or talking about the different shapes of clouds in the sky?
Zeise: I believe there will be a season in the NFL. There is just too much money at stake for them not to have it.
Old Tom M: Tiger [Woods] wins another major before his body gives out again? Yay or Nay? Tiger or Jack [Nicklaus] as the G.O.A.T.?
Zeise: I think Tiger has one more run at a major in him. It likely will be the Masters again. I think Tiger is the greatest. His run of 12 years is the most dominant run in sports of my lifetime.