Say it with us all together ... "Plex-ic-o." Again ... "Plex-ic-o."
Now, was that so hard? Really, if you're going to scream at a guy for dropping the occasional pass, the very least you could do is pronounce his name correctly.
And, since we're on the subject of screaming at Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress, it's only fair to note that he probably doesn't deserve all that noise. He's ... getting there.
Look at his stats though 12 games: 45 catches for 638 yards and two touchdowns. Great? No, but the guy isn't chopped liver on the field. In fact, the argument could be made that the Steelers' offense didn't take off until Burress started playing near his considerable potential in late October.
Maybe this sounds too much like cheerleading? Like we're trying to defend Burress? Well, if that's what it takes to get us into one of his parties, so be it. We're guessing the one he might throw in New Orleans the first weekend of February would be worth a little sucking up on our part.
Q: When you meet people, how often do they mispronounce your first name?
A: Ninety-nine, 100 percent.
Q: What's the worst way you've heard "Plaxico" said?
A: Probably ... "Plee-ax-ic-o." But that was a long time ago.
Q: Is it just a local thing where Pittsburgh people mispronounce it?
A: Not really, it's been that way all my life.
Q: You don't wear any gloves on the field; why do you wear all the tape on your fingers?
A: I guess because I don't wear any gloves I want to have some sort of protection. The ball comes so hard all the time, it's really hard not to dislocate a finger. A lot of wide receivers tape their fingers right around the joint areas so they don't pop it out of place.
Q: Favorite album of the past year?
A: Jay-Z's ["The Blueprint"]. It was probably one of the better albums to come out where you could just let it play all the way through. You didn't have to skip any songs.
Q: How heated is the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry?
A: Whooooo ... That's serious. That's hatred right there. Maze and blue and green and white don't get along ... at all. I played in it a couple of times and, well, that's just the game you look forward to because you know how physical it's going to be.
Q: Did you see the game this year?
A: [Smiling] Yes.
Q: How much would a loss have affected you?
A: Well, it's bragging rights. If you went to the University of Michigan or Michigan State, you do not miss that football game.
Q: Strangest story you've heard about the rivalry?
A: A Michigan State guy actually admitting that Desmond Howard caught that pass in the end zone.
Q: Was that guy banished from Michigan State?
A: I'm not going to say his name.
Q: Some things people might be surprised to find in you refrigerator?
A: Them gogurts or yogurts ... push-up yogurts.
Q: What flavor?
A: Strawberry.
Q: Halle Berry or Vanessa Williams?
A: Halle Berry.
Q: That was quick. Why?
A: Just watch "Swordfish."
Q: Worst pick-up line you have used or heard used on a woman?
A: "Do you think I'm cute?"
Q: It worked?
A: Of course.
Q: How many times would you guess Coach Cowher has spit on you while talking to you?
A: Every time we have a conversation.
Q: Do you wipe it off?
A: You just go on with the meeting.
Q: What surprised you most about Pittsburgh when you came here?
A: When I first got here and I saw Downtown light up at night, I thought, "This is a pretty cool city." Then it's like [rolls his eyes].
Q: Like ... "That's it?"
A: Yeah, exactly.
Q: Best place to party in East Lansing, Mich.?
A: Wow! Probably IM West and The Landshark. The IM West parties were just big parties because the place was just an old gymnasium. Everybody would come out to do their own partying. But The Landshark was the spot for Thursday nights. They just had these sharkbowls and filled them up with ... juice.
Q: How do people get invited to one of your parties?
A: Are you kidding me? [Laughs] You have got to know me personally and for a long time.
Q: How much crap did you take -- and when did it end? -- about spiking the ball last season against Jacksonville?
A: Oh, I still hear it. People still make little jokes, but it's cool now. I hear it all the time, to this day. People just say something here and there, but I really haven't heard it too much lately. It will come up again before the season is over.
Q: How many tattoos do you have?
A: Seven.
Q: Favorite one?
A: The one on my shoulder that says "Live For the Day."
Q: Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson?
A: Magic, because he went to Michigan State ... and he was one of the best passers I've ever seen. But then you'd have to put a slash and pick Michael Jordan because he's the best basketball player who ever lived.
Q: Who would have won a one-on-one game?
A: Jordan.
Rob Rossi can be reached at rrossi@post-gazette.com
Names & Games: Out of bounds with Plaxico Burress 
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