First Call: The latest in Steelers fashion, Patrick Mahomes hoops it up
Share this post:
In Friday’s “First Call,” I’ll help your Black and Gold wardrobe. Pat Mahomes got in trouble for his basketball video. And the Penguins have a tough task as they try to get back on track.
_________
Fine fashion
You may have seen the Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown “Dumb and Dumber” T-shirts popping up around town.
? Upset Pittsburgh Steelers fans are taking their frustrations to the Strip District… these new "Dumb and Dumber" tshirts featuring Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell are apparently flying off the shelves. https://t.co/ugkEz1WUOi pic.twitter.com/MXLzs3NEFO
— KDKA (@KDKA) February 5, 2019
Apparently — if I may borrow a phrase — business is boomin’!
KDKA went to Yinzers in the Burgh where the shirt is being sold. And they told the TV station that the shirts are “flying off the shelves.”
Like furniture off a balcony perhaps?
You can buy the shirt for $10. Personally, I’d try to earn a bigger profit and charge $14.54, so it’s more like Bell’s franchise tag figure.
_________
Tampa territory
The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost three straight games. So now probably doesn’t feel like the best time to go to Tampa Bay and play the NHL’s best team Saturday.
But the Eastern Conference-leading Lightning have been faltering a bit lately. Despite having 82 points — nine more than any other club — Tampa has lost its past two games, and three of its past five. That includes a 4-2 loss in Pittsburgh back on Jan 30.
Goal scoring has been an issue for Tampa in its most recent stretch. In those five games, they’ve totaled just nine goals, playing two 1-0 contests along the way.
_________
Speaking of hard times
The Penguins won’t be the only stumbling squad with a Saturday game against an opponent going through a slump.
The Pitt basketball team — losers of six straight — hosts North Carolina State at 2 p.m. The Wolfpack have lost three in a row and four of five.
Try to figure out this team!
The ’Pack posted a school-record low-point total in the shot-clock era when they fell to Virginia Tech 47-24 last week. Then, on Monday, they got into a shootout and lost 113-96 to North Carolina.
_________
Dukes downturn
Duquesne won five of its first six Atlantic-10 conference games. But now the Dukes have lost three of four.
They look to get back on the winning track at 2 p.m. Saturday when they visit Fordham.
Duquesne beat the Rams 66-61 at home earlier this year. The Dukes will have to shoot much better in this game than they did last time out when they fell 51-49 to St. Bonaventure at home Wednesday.
Keith Dambrot’s club was 5-of-22 from three-point territory, 34.5 percent from the floor, and 6-of-16 from the free-throw line.
_________
Stop the dribble penetration
Recently, we shared this video with you.
You thought Patrick Mahomes was just the NFL MVP? ?
(via @Faiz_Jiwani, @kheuzil) pic.twitter.com/MQpeMXLKZh
— ESPN (@espn) February 5, 2019
That’s Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes shakin’ and bakin’.
Apparently, the Chiefs themselves were impressed, too. So impressed, they told him to stop playing out of fear of injury. Check out this quote from general manager Brett Veach.
Chiefs GM Brett Veach, on KC radio station WHB, said he called Patrick Mahomes' agent after seeing the recent video of him playing basketball. "The Kingdom can be assured: No more basketball for Pat . . . We were able to nip that in the bud,'' Veach said.
— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) February 7, 2019
According to this article, it doesn’t sound as if Mahomes balked at the team when it told him to stop playing hoops.
“As soon as I saw it, it probably took me about two seconds to call his agent and tell him that was a big no-no,” Veach said on Kansas City’s WHB-AM on Thursday.
In a news conference later in the day, Veach said he had “a lighthearted discussion” with Mahomes about the clip.
“I just said, ‘Hey, man, you’re breaking a lot of ankles out there. Just make sure you don’t break your own. I don’t think we need that,’” Veach said.
If injury occurs while not on “football time,” teams can put a player on the non-football injury list. That allows the club to withhold pay.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TimBenzPGH. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.