The Post-Gazette's Steelers-Eagles coverage Monday (especially Ron Cook's column and the Report Card) was an example of the unrealistic and sore-loser-attitude of Steelers fans and observers.

Philadelphia clearly had more on the line in [Sunday's] game. A brief look at the division standings will tell you that.

The Eagles, playing without their best offensive player, threw everything they had at the Steelers. And yet it was a one-possession game deep into the fourth quarter.

The Steelers were physically outplayed for sure. Thankfully, the Steelers themselves accepted that, gave credit where it was due, and are moving forward to Week 4.

Your press coverage, conversely, was dire and over-reactive.

CHRIS COUCH
Sewickley

I am a Yankees fan, Celtics fan, and Steelers fan. Those team organizations are special because they are professionals at the highest level and are committed to excellence. When Mike Tomlin did not kick the field goal as soon as he was in range [late against the Eagles], he quit playing a team sport. He gave up on his team. That can set the tone for a season.

Only in golf do you go for the green when you should lay up. So when you blow it you only burn yourself. Against the Eagles, the coach burned the team.

BRANNON YANCEY
Roselle, N.J.

I am a former varsity head coach and a current PIAA official and I feel that once again soccer is getting the short end of the stick ("Soccer ejections a growing problem," Sept. 19). The article by Mike White compares ejections of soccer players to that of football. The article says that 25 soccer players and coaches have been ejected vs. six for football. What White and Tim O'Malley of the WPIAL fail to note is that there are, on average, six times the number of games each week in soccer. Also, I would love to know the last time a head football coach has been ejected? It does not happen. If an officiating crew throws out a football coach, they would never work at that school again.

The rules of soccer set by the PIAA also lead to more ejections. If a basketball player steals the ball, goes in for a layup and has his shirt grabbed, at most what will happen is two foul shots and possession of the ball. In soccer, the player would be ejected from the game and forced to sit an additional game for that one foul. Likewise, if a player deliberately uses his hands to prevent the ball from going in the goal, he is ejected and forced to sit another game.

I am a realist and know that soccer will never be the sport of choice in Western Pennsylvania, but it bothers me when articles are hand fed to reporters to make soccer players and coaches look bad.

CHRIS CATANESE
Glenshaw, Pa.

Now that the baseball season is over in Pittsburgh and other major cities are getting ready for postseason play, it is time for our team's marketing department to start working on the slogan for next year. How about this one: "The 2009 Pittsburgh Pirates -- Expect Nutting, Get Nutting"

JEFF MORGAN
Banksville

[Recently], a group of friends and I took the afternoon off and went to [a Pirates game]. Our seats were very good on the third base side. We arrived early enough. Just as the game started, more and more people were coming into our section and they all had red paper wristbands on. We were able to figure it out that they were on a business bonding outing. This is when the manners were forgotten.

The entire group did not come for the game, they came to play musical chairs, see who could talk the loudest and longest, and out-drink everybody else. It was very difficult to hear anything but them. I never met up with such an obnoxious group of people. One of my friends went to guest relations and, because they were not using foul language, all they could do is suggest we move.

The organization needs to go over protocol with groups. Hopefully, someone from the group out of hell will see this and it will make them think.

PEG BITTNER
South Park