Big Steve’s Jackass of the Week

Because it’s never too early for me to start ripping on the biased sports media that is ESPN! Today, we take a look at a man, an insignificant man, who I’ve had a hatred for a LOOOONNG time.  That man is former Steelers running back (seriously)

Merril Hoge

It is no secret this man LOVES the Steelers! He wraps himself in his Steeler bed sheets every night before he is tucked in, we watches old tapes of himself playing for the Steelers every morning, kisses his picture of Terry Bradshaw before he leaves for work and drinks coffee out of his Steelers travel mug.  Every chance he gets, he mentions how he played for the Steelers on every ESPN NFL related show.  No matter how bad the Steelers are doing, guess what, Merrill picks them to win the Super Bowl! Big shocker!

I mean come on, Merrill, who do you think you are, Franco Harris. This guy talks like he single handily brought those Super Bowl championships to Pittsburgh.  Yes, you led the team in receiving and passing four out of the seven years spent with Pittsburgh, but what did that result in… No championships.  That just means every other wide out on that team was awful.  You NEVER broke 1,000 yards in your career, passing or rushing, and 32 fumbles in 7 years in Pittsburgh doesn’t merit you any kind of Ring of Honor recognition.

I mention all of this because during the unnecessary waste of time that was the 11 day spectacle of the schedules being released, Hoge was in full blown Steeler love fest mode.  Even when discussing other teams schedules and being asked which he thinks will be the toughest opponent for them, it was the Steelers and no one else.  Not the Ravens, Colts, Patriots, Vikings, Chargers….no sir, just the lucky, horseshoe up the butt, Super Bowl Chump Steelers.

He discussed what do you look for on the schedule first, and he proceeded to tell us as if Chuck Noll or Bill Cowher (who ever was coaching at the time) gave two craps about what Merril Hoge thought of the schedule.  You know what the Steelers coaching staff thought before every season, Merril “do we really need someone with a girl’s name on our team?”  or “how many fumbles do you think Hoge will have this year” (Hoge finished his illustrious career with 32 total fumbles, nice hands, feet).

Merrill get off your Steeler high horse.  No one knew who you were until you bombarded the viewing audience with your Steeler Love.  Dial it down, and be fair and balanced like Trent Dilfer.