Nobody asked me, but ...

There's a lot of talk from athletes on losing teams -- the Penguins and Pirates -- about how they don't quit, as if that's some badge of honor. It's their job not to quit and to perform to the best of their ability at all times, and they're paid quite handsomely to do so. Failing to quit is not going above and beyond. It's part of the job and deserves no praise.

The notion that the Pirates should be rushing to sign Craig Wilson, who will be a free agent after this season, to a long-term contract is absolute nonsense. What's the rush? If Wilson is still hitting well when Sean Casey returns, then it might be time to talk about a contract extension.

Mark Cuban, the Dallas billionaire who was raised in Mt. Lebanon, talks a great game about buying the Pirates, who, conveniently for Cuban, are not for sale. If Cuban really wants to own the Pirates, here's a suggestion, and one he can easily handle: Make Kevin McClatchy an offer he can't refuse. In other words, put up or shut up, Mark.

Here are some facts for the people who believe there is no competitive balance in baseball. The past eight National League championships have been won by eight different teams. The past six World Series have been won by six different teams. The past four American League championships have been won by four different teams.

Anyone who says they have a good idea who the Steelers will take with their first pick in the draft doesn't know what he's talking about.

There's a lot of focus these days on Chris Shelton, who the Pirates failed to protect in the Rule 5 draft in 2003 and who is having an outstanding season with the Detroit Tigers. Almost forgotten is that in the same offseason the Pirates failed to protect Duaner Sanchez and lost him to the Los Angeles Dodgers. After two above-average seasons with the Dodgers, Sanchez is a setup man for the New York Mets. In 12 innings, he has allowed four hits, five walks and no runs while striking out 11.

The worst news for the Pirates this season is in Indianapolis where Brad Eldred, the power hope of the future, was batting .213 with three home runs in 61 at-bats. Eldred will be 26 in July.

With Joe Lombardi gone from the Pitt basketball staff to be head coach at IUP and Barry Rohrssen likely to take the job at Manhattan, Jamie Dixon has lost his top two recruiters. Still, it's not a crisis. There are plenty of good assistants available. The challenge is finding the right ones.

This for the people who seem ready to dissolve into tears when the Pirates fail to exhibit "plate patience" and swing at the first pitch. The team's batting average in such situations going into the game yesterday was .375.

What exactly did Aramis Ramirez do to deserve the continual booing he receives at PNC Park? Ramirez didn't ask to be traded at age 25, when he was he was in the midst of his second 100-RBI season (Roberto Clemente had two such seasons in his entire career). Such fan behavior is the height of unsportsmanlike conduct and shows a decided lack of knowledge of the game.

Jason Kendall is earning $11.5 million this season with the Oakland Athletics and will make about $13 million in 2007. If he keeps playing as he has -- .233 batting average, .279 slugging percentage -- he'll be making nothing in 2008, not that he couldn't afford to retire. Oakland general manager Billy Beane came out a distinct second to Dave Littlefield on this deal.

Agnus Berenato has done a remarkable job of coaching and promoting women's basketball at Pitt. But, when she suggests there was a "national championship" at stake while playing in the women's NIT, she loses a lot of credibility. They don't call it the Not Important Tournament for nothing.

Where are all the people who thought the Pirates' problems were because of Lloyd McClendon or Spin Williams or both?

If you don't like Barry Bonds, you'll want to read "Love Me, Hate Me," by Jeff Pearlman. In the words of the people who know him best, his teammates, Pearlman paints Bonds as a despicable person, a steroid-abuser, a man who is as quick with a dollar as he is with a smile and one of the great baseball players in history. It's a tremendous read.