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Thursday, July 25, 2002

Myron Cope is so busy these days, he doesn't expect to reach Latrobe until Monday afternoon. Yesterday morning brought a commercial shoot. Same thing for Monday morning. Then there was that matter of a doctor's appointment for his aching spine.

Sheesh, first Mahrn. Now Marty Straka. If you're a splendid fellow of 5 foot 9 or less, this is a good week to watch your back. For real.

On top of all this, his new book, "Double Yoi," is scheduled to hit bookstores in late August. That means a batch of book signings and appearances and all sorts of peachy-keen stuff to keep him occupied. "I'm leaving the marketing to them," Cope said of Sports Publishing of Champaign, Ill., who handled the 240-page book with his mug on the cover. "I ain't getting involved with it. I got enough. My dish is full."

With the team's training camp officially opening today, the voice of the past three-plus Steelers decades spent a few minutes chatting about 2002 Steelers issues.

Super Bowl prediction: "Henh, henh. I'm going to go no further than to say it'll be an interesting season. They've got a lot of good players, and coming off last season. ... I know it's a cliche, but a lot depends on injuries. The Steelers were lucky last year, they only had two major injuries. There are some teams in the preseason that get shot down for the year. People are really exuberant, though."

The key to success: "I'm very curious to see how Jerome Bettis' groin holds up. That took him down and down again last year. He hasn't outgrown ability, in terms of age -- he still has great ability. But if the injury persists, of course you've got a big problem there."

Position to watch: "Kendrell Bell makes up for losing Earl Holmes. I don't know how James Farrior will be, but your linebacking is exceptional with Jason Gildon and Joey Porter and Bell. The guard position? Personally, I think Oliver Ross is going to surprise a lot of people. I think he's going to be a very good player."

Expect improved special teams: "They better be. That's an area where they absolutely must improve. That's one thing people overlook when they put them in the Super Bowl already."

About the book: "I'm pleased with it. My editors, all three of them, and others who saw the manuscript were pleased. I just go by what they tell me."

Station change

The PG's Ed Bouchette, a k a One of America's Greatest Football Writers, is staying on KDKA-TV -- although in slightly abbreviated form -- but is switching radio stations to WEAE-AM.

Bouchette long has been the Steelers expert on KDKA television and radio, appearing on one of the two almost daily during the season. He will continue on the TV side, though that station's newscast alterations mean he'll appear only on weekends with the pregame, postgame and the Sunday night "Sports Showdown." With the radio side having budget cutbacks, Bouchette left for a better deal with ESPN Radio 1250, where he'll come on with Mark Madden twice weekly (in addition to newsbreaking appearances) along with pregame shows and other local programming.

Cry Wolfley

On Saturday, Larry Holmes is scheduled to box the same Butterbean, a k a Eric Esch, who knocked out Steelers radio commentator Craig Wolfley six months ago.

Wolfley offered that getting into a ring against this round mound of punching power at age 44 wasn't such a great idea. But Holmes, at age 53?

"If the 'Bean doesn't get him in four, look out," Wolfley predicted of the pay-per-view bout. "It's supposed to go 10 rounds. I was thinking about tuning in, but if they want more than $4.95, it may not be worth it: two guys doing rope-a-dope."

Duquesne University football games will be heard this fall on WBGG-AM, Fox Sports Radio 970. Alex Panormios and Chris Kucharski will handle the announcing on all 11 games.

WBGN-TV, the station that used to bring you Friday night football in the fall, will produce and broadcast the SupHer Bowl Saturday at Pine-Richland High School. The station will show the National Women's Football League championship game locally on tape delay at 10 p.m. (consult your cable listings). The pay-per-view Webcast -- at www.nwflcentral.com -- will be available as live audio Saturday night, then video Sunday.

Anybody out there still wish cable-magnate John Rigas had purchased the Pirates instead of Kevin McClatchy?

Tim Benz. Tim Benz. Tim Benz. Tim Benz. Tim Benz. Tim Benz. Tim Benz. Tim Benz. Tim Benz. That better, bud?

Chuck Finder can be reached at cfinder@post-gazette.com and 412-263-1724.