News with Views: Hardest shot at Highmark?

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

News with Views, on the Riverhounds …

• There’s no radar gun at Highmark Stadium, but there also was no disputing Sunday among longtime observers that no one had ever struck a soccer ball successfully with as much force as Rob Vincent’s explosive goal in the Riverhounds’ 3-1 victory over FC Dallas Reserves.

Here, watch for yourself …

I know, right?

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Saturday site stuff: Worth 1,000 words

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10578028_1477009115873524_1062304959_nPHOTO-ILLUSTRATION: ALEX MESSMER

DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

A weekly look at what’s new and what’s coming on our site …

• Thrilled to announce that we’ve signed a one-year agreement to buy pictures from Getty Images, which in my opinion produces the best live sports photography in North America. You’ve already seen seven such photos here. The difference now is that we’re under contract, and you’re assured of seeing their work accompanying columns on a regular basis. That will happen mostly off live games. We were going to wait a while before taking this step, but your remarkable support has us off and running.

• We’ve also signed a contract with Brisk Mobile of Canada to develop our app. Here again, Brisk is top of the line. They’ve built apps for Disney and NBC, among other prominent entities. There will be much more about this as time passes, but the goal for the launch of the iPhone version — Android will follow — is Oct. 9 to time with the Penguins’ opener. Yes, the app will be free. And if you’ve subscribed here, it will carry over there.

• The exact one-month point for the site passed at midnight last night, and here’s the most important figure of all that data: We’ve got 2,825 subscriptions, and this in the context of a full-year goal of 10,000. This blows my mind. I can only guess where we’re headed, but I’m sure right now that we’re off to a tremendous start.

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Friday Insider: What had Troy so hot?

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

PHILADELPHIA — A weekly feature aimed at rounding up a whole lot of odds and ends from a whole lot of time spent around our local teams …

• Apparently, TV only caught a moment of Troy Polamalu getting heated on the Steelers’ sideline Thursday night in the loss to the Eagles, but I’ve since heard from witness that it was really, really passionate at one point.

Below is a shot taken by DKonPittsburghSports.com subscriber Greg Conn from his seats at Lincoln Financial Field. It’s after the fact, but you can see the defense off to the left and Polamalu kind of being held off at the right …

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Column: Which Standard is The Standard?

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

PHILADELPHIA — So wait, which Standard is The Standard?

Because if it’s true what Mike Tomlin’s been saying all these years, what’s now sculpted in sterling silver outside the Steelers’ home locker room, that The Standard is The Standard, then someone seriously needs to square that up with Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount being arrested on a Wednesday, then sent right out into action on a Thursday.

Oh, for real.

Bell and Blount, both taken into custody by Ross Township police for marijuana possession and, in Bell’s case, driving under the influence, were full participants in that 31-21 preseason loss to the Eagles: Bell took the opening two handoffs, no less, and wound up with eight carries for 18 yards. Blount had six carries for 26 yards. Both played well into the fourth quarter.

It was astonishing.

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Interview: Steve McLendon, Steelers

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

Be patient with Big Mac.

Steve McLendon speaks in a hushed, reserved tone, which might give off the initial impression he doesn’t have much to say. It isn’t so. The Steelers’ nose tackle is as introspective as anyone I’ve encountered on the roster. He’s imaginative in his preparation, once having turned to ballet as part of his workouts. He’s intense. And he’s supremely determined to be the man who succeeds — in every sense of the term — Casey Hampton.

Give him a chance. I think you’ll like what he had to say in this three-minute chat the other day on the South Side. And pay no mind to that ruffling sound. He was taping his fingers the entire time.

I’m traveling to Philadelphia today for tonight’s 7:30 kickoff with the Eagles. I’ll have full coverage, including a column, from there.

Column: Not exactly 1 of 162, was it?

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

The general consensus around PNC Park’s home clubhouse late Wednesday night was that the Pirates’ 3-2, bottom-of-the-ninth, come-from-behind, seven-game-losing-streak-ending, Gerrit-Cole-revitalizing victory over the Braves was no big deal.

Gaby Sanchez, whose sac fly finished it with fireworks, might have summarized the mindset best: “We don’t get caught up in anything other than the now.” 

The general consensus was, of course, bunk.

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Column: Bell, Blount already guilty … of idiocy

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

Idiots. Both of them. Just idiots.

All kinds of justification is sure to follow the dual arrest of the Steelers’ two running backs, Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount, by Ross Township police Wednesday, with both facing charges of marijuana possession and, in Bell’s case, driving under the influence. The news was broken by Colin Dunlap of 93.7 The Fan.

I don’t want to hear any of that justification.

I don’t want to hear that Blount was some bad influence on Bell, even though he comes with a checkered past that included this infamous punch thrown during a college game. Because I’ve gotten to know Bell and, as such, I know he’s plenty smart enough to be capable of thinking for himself. Instead of being an idiot. He didn’t need to get all buddy-buddy, as was described in our Friday Insider feature here last week, with a guy who could get him in trouble.

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News with views: Gilbert’s payday too early?

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

News with views related to your Pittsburgh Steelers …

• Marcus Gilbert’s five-year, $30 million extension, announced Tuesday afternoon, comes as at least a small surprise.

Sure, Kevin Colbert had identified Gilbert as one of his targets for a possible extension this preseason — along with Shaun Suisham (done), Jason Worilds and Cortez Allen — but there figured to be more to the situation with Gilbert, given his inconsistent past. Also, everyone — and I do mean everyone — inside the camp knew Gilbert had prepared himself like never before, fully aware this was to be his contract year.

Now, you can say big deal, whatever it takes. But bear in mind that carrot is now gone, if it really was money that was Gilbert’s primary motivator.

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Podcast: Talking Pirates, Steelers with Madden

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

Here’s the podcast of a rather lively segment — they always are — just now with Mark Madden on 105.9 the X. We fussed about the Pirates’ ticket controversy, about whether or not the team can bounce back, and about the Steelers’ $30 million extension for Marcus Gilbert.

Pirates urge 20-game-plan fans to upgrade

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

The Pirates have sent out a letter today to their season-ticket holders with 20-game plans that, if they don’t upgrade to full or half-season plans for 2015, they won’t be guaranteed playoff tickets this fall. And they’ve been given 10 days to do this.

As one might imagine, I’m being hit with a lot of complaints from angry fans. If you’re one of them, by all means, please feel free to use the commenting platform below to share your view.

I’ve also reached out to the Pirates for their explanation.

I’ve got my own thoughts, but it’s always fairest to hear from all parties before mouthing off.

UPDATE 3:37 p.m.: Here’s a screengrab of the message sent to those customers:

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