jimmy_g: Bob, it's always fun to have you knock-out for Jerry, so here goes: Did the Pitt Panthers stop their slip, sliding away last night?

Bob Smizik: That's a tough call. I wasn't at the game last night. I was covering the Penguins. It's possible they snapped out of their slump. We'll know better against Marquette. They're a good team that was in a five-game slump. It would not be unreasonable for them to snap out of it.

jimmy_g: Do you have any insight on Nady's problem?

Bob Smizik: No.

jimmy_g: Speaking of slip sliding away, it looks like the Penguins are doing a little of their own. What are your thoughts?

Bob Smizik: The Penguins are still in reasonably good shape. Even though they lost last night, it was a good performance. If they can continue to play that way they should be able to make the playoffs. But it's no sure there. They are closer to 10th than they are to first.

Barr-roid_Bonds: Your initial impression of Mike Tomlin?

Bob Smizik: An impressive guy thus far. I think the players will like playing for him. But as a first-time head coach he'll have many obstacles to overcome. He's succeeding a man in whom the players had great faith and confidence. We don't know a think about how he runs a team or a staff or a game. It should make for an interesting training camp and season.

mxpxbv82: Does the Aaron Smith extension mean Faneca sees UFA? And your thoughts on Faneca sticking around even after hitting UFA?

Bob Smizik: I would highly doubt the Steelers would let go of Faneca, who should have many good years. The signing of one player does not exclude the signing of many more. I would expect Faneca to retire a Steeler.

jimmy_g: What odds do you give for the Steelers switching to a 4-3 defense?

Bob Smizik: I think they'll stick with their 3-4 this year because that's the talent they have. I also think Tomlin is more comfortable with the 4-3 and he'll eventually go to that. The key to a 3-4 is plenty of good linebackers. The Steelers are kind of light at LB so the time is close at hand that the move could be made.

mxpxbv82: Shero's overall grade? I give him a B. He didn't give up anything they truly valued (you can debate Welch). And he filled maybe the 2nd and 3rd needs, toughness and playoff experience. But he didn't fill the #1 need of a top4 D. The market was too expensive.

Bob Smizik: I'll give him a B-. True, he didn't give up anything of great value but nor did he receive anything of great value. I don't think the team was lacking in toughness. I know some people think an "enforcer" is a must. Tell me this: Who was the "enforcer" on the Stanley Cup championship teams?

Barr-roid_Bonds: What is the holdup on the new arena financing? Will it ever get done?

Bob Smizik: The two sides are, correctly, negotiating out of the public eye. I hear they are close. I also hear the Penguins, because they have the leverage, are trying to get everything they can. If one side was holding it up, I'd say it was the Penguins. That's not a knock on them. They're just being smart.

mxpxbv82: As a followup to my Faneca question, are you suggesting all 3 of A Smith, Faneca and Polamalu receive extensions? I like all 3 players, but that seems out of line with "THE STEELER WAY." Along with that, I believe Haggans and Porter are out--hopefully, Porter as of next week.

Bob Smizik: I would be shocked if all three are not signed. The Steelers way is to keep the players they can and who are in their prime. Sometimes they can't keep all of them, sometimes players are let go when they're on the downside of their career. There is enough money to keep all three of those key players.

Windber-Rambler: Bob, what's the difference between Roberts and John LeClair? If we we're giving up on Welch, Sopel would've been the better acquisition...

Bob Smizik: I think Roberts is a little closer to his prime than LeClair. He has more left. The Penguins got who they could get.

jimmy_g: What are your early thoughts on the Pirates this year? Will it come down to pitching, pitching, pitching?

Bob Smizik: Pitching is always the key. They have a decent eight men in the field. I think they are a year away from a winning season. What must be considered is that their success has much to do with the rest of the division. How good will the other five teams be? If the Pirates aren't the third best team in the division, they won't finish at .500.

Windber-Rambler: Did you ever think you'd see the day that the Pitt Women's hoop team would be outdrawing the Duquesne men's?

Bob Smizik: I hadn't thought about that. If you had suggest 10 years ago that this would happen, I would not have believed it. What we don't know is how many people are getting in for free at each place.

mxpxbv82: Also, in 1990-1992, there were two guys named Stevens and Tocchet around.

Bob Smizik: If you are suggesting those two were ``enforcers'' I must strongly disagree. They were tough hockey players. You can never have enough of those. You don't need ``enforcers.''

Windber-Rambler: In your opinion, when does the Pitt football team reach the 8 win plateau?

Bob Smizik: If they don't get to eight wins next season, with that cheesy home schedule, Dave Wannstedt is in trouble.

Windber-Rambler: In your opinion - Best Pittsburgh pro sports athlete (current)?

Bob Smizik: Sidney Crosby. No one else is close.

pensrule: Bob: Make believe you are Kevin Colbert/Mike Tomlin for a moment ... what needs do you immediately address in the draft, and with what players (assuming they are available)?

Bob Smizik: I must admit I'm not up to speed on the draft at this date. But the Steelers have several needs in particular. I'd say an outside linebacker/defensive end would be high on their priority list.

jimmy_g: It's been an interesting college basketball year. With the recent problems that Florida and North Carolina have had could it be that the Ohio State basketball team will do what the football team couldn't?

Bob Smizik: Ohio State is very good. They are one of about half dozen or so teams that have a good chance of winning the national championship. I don't think they will win it, but I wouldn't be astonished if they did.

jimmy_g: With Barr-roid in the room, I'm compelled to ask this question: Can anyone really be rooting for Barry Bonds to break Hank Aaron's record?

Bob Smizik: There are a lot of people in the San Francisco area rooting for the Sultan of Sullen. He's very popular with Giants fans, if no one else. He's just not a nice person and doesn't care about other people.

Windber-Rambler: Better Pirate lineup: Castillo at second or Bautista at Third?

Bob Smizik: I think they'd be better with Castillo at second. He is more of a proven commodity than Bautista. Let's not forgot Bautista had a horrible finish last season. He is totally unproven on the major--league level. He might have a higher upside than Castillo, but he first has to prove it. Bautista on the bench also gives the team more versatility. I was surprised by the treatment Castillo has received so far. I'm guessing Tracy is sending him a strong message.

jimmy_g: Sidney Crosby is probably already in the top ten all time for Pittsburgh sports athletes.

Bob Smizik: I wouldn't go that far. He hasn't played two seasons yet. I can easily think of 10 athletes who would be ahead of him.

roninbuc: Pitt was impressive in the second half after the 1-8 start on 3 pointers, to hit 6 in a row in the second half was clutch. Any news on how serious Sam Young's knee problems were and can they finish strong without him, if necessary?

Bob Smizik: I have no update on Young. I'd be surprised if it keeps him out for very long. If it does, it severely curtails Pitt's depth. Much is made of the team's 9-man rotation, but did you notice how few minutes Benjamin and Biggs got last night. Dixon already is shortening his bench. They need a healthy Young.

Windber-Rambler: Any opinion on the Bucs' alternate (red) jerseys?

Bob Smizik: Don't like 'em. I'm a traditionalist. It's strictly a marketing gimmick.

roninbuc: Every once and a while, you hear rumors that Troy Polamalu would eventually like to play on the West Coast? Have you heard this from a good source, and do you think Troy wants to see his role in future Tomlin defenses before he commits to the Steelers on an extension?

Bob Smizik: I've never head that about Polamalu. I suppose it could be true. I think the Steelers will lock him up well before free agency and keep him here. You don't wait for guys like that to get into their final year. And even if he wants California, a contract in hand, worth millions and millions, is hard to bypass.

Tanjacket: Could we possibly see Aaron Gray in a Pittsburgh Xplosion jersey next year?

Bob Smizik: I think Gray will be playing in the NBA next year. He's still a first-round draft choice and such players are rarely cut. I expect him to have a long NBA career.

roninbuc: If Eldred has a monster start in AAA and Bullington, Burnett and VanB continue to recover, does Littlefield have some great trading chips to fill out future needs on the MLB club for 2008 and beyond by the trading deadline?

Bob Smizik: If all that happens, yes, Littlefield has some trading chips. He'd have enormous pitching depth. But it will take a full injury-free season for all three pitchers before they could gain the kind of interest from other teams that you are talking about. Eldred is intriguing because his power is outstanding. He'd also have to do it for a full season.

Barr-roid_Bonds: How would you grade the Pirates' off-season?

Bob Smizik: Getting LaRoche made the off-season outstanding. It's not often you can add a player of that stature. I also liked the fact that Littlefield stayed away from the outlandish free-agent market. He exercised good judgment.

Barr-roid_Bonds: Are Bendel and Benz gaining any ground in the ratings vs Madden?

Bob Smizik: Little or none. Madden's ratings were very good. I don't think Bendel and Benz are doing much better than Savran was, if that good. They have a terrible lead-in, which hurts. Madden is so well established and his appeal to the under-80 crowd (IQ, not age) makes him tough to catch.

Ronam67: How high a pick do you feel Tyler Palko will be in the upcoming draft, and any other Panthers going high?

Bob Smizik: From all I've read, he's a late-round pick. He has a chance to stick with a club and have the kind of career that Alex Van Pelt had. He also could be out of football in a couple of years. He's a great kid and I wish him the best. Revis is a first rounder and a great talent.

Tanjacket: If Pitt loses early in the tourney again, do you forsee any heat on Dixon?

Bob Smizik: None whatsoever. Pitt is very happy with him. As long as he is near the top of the Big East and winning 20 games a season, I don't see him being in trouble. The Pitt administration has some sensible people at the top.

Barr-roid_Bonds: Do you like Dick Vitale?

Bob Smizik: Personally, Vitale is a great guy and a tremendous ambassador for basketball. Professionally, I can't stand his style.

mxpxbv82: Bob, Gary Bettman is booted out of his office, and you are named the new commissioner of the NHL. What are the first steps you take to market/change the game?

Bob Smizik: Wayne Gretzky.

mxpxbv82: Another Madden question (sorry). I admit to listening at times (flipping between stations actually). Is being the 'king' of sports talk radio in Pittsburgh really something to brag about? Not to paint all fans with a broad brush, but the majority of callers ARE the stupid fools Madden makes them out to be. Why is it a good thing, ego wise (I understand ratings wise) to be so loved by people who really don't know what they are talking about anyway?

Bob Smizik: Like I said, he appeals to the under-80 crowd. He's making a lot of money and making his station happy. I don't think he particularly cares about the quality of his listener. I agree. You've got to be pretty dull to stick around to be insulted. As always, it has been my pleasure. Jerry Micco will be back next week. Thanks to all.