The Sports Monitor

Man, I just can't get enough of AMC's "The Walking Dead." I got hooked last season and watched the six episodes of Season 1 at least a couple of times and never tired of it. It quickly has become one of my favorite series to watch, filling a void left by "Battlestar Galactica." Coincidentally, Bear McCreary did the score for BSG and does TWD as well. The man is incredible. Anyway, back to the Dead. It returned to TV on Sunday night and didn't disappoint. Zombies, blood, gore, drama and more. It had it all, including a stunning plot twist that I didn't see coming. Maybe it was because I was too wrapped up in it. I won't spoil it if you didn't see it. And, if you haven't seen the series, check it out.

Our family has made it an annual event to drive to Cedar Point for their HalloWeekends. This past weekend was cooler than usual, but it was perfect for us to get in the mood for Halloween. The crowds were sparse on Friday night, which allowed my sons to jump in line for practically any ride with a maximum 15-minute wait. The downer was WindSeeker, the park's new ride, being closed for the whole weekend because of -- ironically -- high wind. Otherwise, the rain stayed away and we had a blast. Millennium Force remains my favorite ride in the park. The ride is pure speed and is a smooth ride. Maverick is my second favorite, and the ride from the front is awesome going down the first hill, which is 95 degrees. And I have to mention Top Thrill Dragster and its 120 mph launch. We did a first this year going through the many haunted houses at the Point. The houses are very well done and they offer up scares, as my sons can attest. It was quite a trip this year and we can'...

I've never seen a more exciting night in baseball than Wednesday when the Braves completed their collapse and the Red Sox finished their epic fall, allowing the Cardinals and Rays to earn berths in the playoffs. The whole night was an instant classic. Within minutes, the Red Sox blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning. They were just one out away from forcing a playoff for the American League wild card. Instead, closer Jonathan Papelbon gave up a double, another double and a single to blow it. Papelbon doesn't get all the blame. Outfielder Carl Crawford couldn't come up with a diving attempt at a single to left field, which drove in the winning run. Three or four minutes later, the Rays capped their rally from seven runs down to beat the Yankees. Evan Longoria smashed his second home run of the game, setting off one heck of a celebration in Tampa Bay. Longoria's homer hugged the foul pole and just cleared the fence. It was amazing switching from game to game, ...

When you get down to it, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-1 after Sunday night's uninspiring 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts. But, man, it feels like the Steelers are 1-2 and the season could be in jeopardy. Rashard Mendenhall had no room to run, Ben Roethlisberger committed crucial turnovers and the defense let a third-string quarterback drive his team for the tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. When it mattered, however, Roethlisberger put the Steelers in position to win the game. So it was, in fact, a win. So that should be enough to celebrate. Maybe the injuries and the performance of the offensive line are putting me in such a sour mood. At some point in the fourth quarter, I'm pretty sure Flozell Adams got a phone call in the middle of his 100-chicken-wing snack and beer. The Steelers need some help on the line. Fast. I know the O-line has been criticized endlessly the last couple years, but that weakness is about to catch up with them. They cr...

The Pittsburgh Steelers' fall from the top of the AFC North didn't last very long. Sunday's win over the Seattle Seahawks proved just how fickle life in the NFL can be. A week after the Steelers were left for dead after getting beat up by the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh has new life. The Steelers took out their frustrations on the Seahawks, shutting them out 24-0. The Ravens, on the other hand, the new favorite in the division, lost to the Tennessee Titans 26-13. That's quite a turnaround in seven short days. But that's how things work in the NFL these days. One day, you can be the best player or team ever. The next, you're washed up. I thought after the Week 1 loss to the Ravens that the Steelers weren't that bad and Baltimore wasn't as good as one might think. The Steelers simply caught the wrong team at the wrong time. The Seahawks, however, aren't a very good team, so it was good to see the defense have its way. As we enter ...

The landscape of college athletics could be in for another change if a New York Times report plays out. Pitt and Syracuse, according to the Times , are taking to the Atlantic Coast Conference about membership. The second graph of the story was interesting: No one from Pittsburgh, Syracuse or the A.C.C. denied the conversations were taking place. Officials from all three entities declined to comment on the matter. Maybe it'll happen. Maybe it won't. I will say this, however, if the Big East can't get Notre Dame or final other colleges to expand, having Pitt jump to the ACC is a good move. I love the Big East for basketball. I think it's the best conference out there. But for football? As much as I'd like to see Pitt succeed in the Big East, I have to wonder about the future of football playing in the Big East. The Big East gets no respect when it comes to football. Even when it had Miami and Virginia Tech, the conference didn't get a whole ...

It's clear that it's going to take a while for the Pitt Panthers to adept and learn Todd Graham's offense. A much-closer-than-expected game against Maine last Saturday proved as much. But three things were evident against lowly Maine: Ray Graham really can play, the Pitt defense needs to get better and quarterback Tino Sunseri just isn't getting it done. The high-octane offense that's supposed to be a trademark of Todd Graham was simply the Ray Graham show, which isn't a bad thing. But if you can barely beat Maine 35-29, then there's a problem. And if your quarterback goes 21-of-35 for 224 yards and two interceptions against Maine, then there's a problem. I'd like to see the switch to freshman Trey Anderson. Now. As in this week's game against Iowa. I've seen enough of Sunseri. Graham's offense needs someone to make quick decisions, and I don't see Sunseri as one who can perform at a high level. I'd like to see And...