I took the easy way out this week.
While standing in the Penguins’ locker room at their new Cranberry training facility today, it occurred to me that I hadn’t picked my Good Dude of the week. Then, as I looked to my right, I spotted very well the greatest dude ever.
Hockey players are the best, you may have heard. And they are. But there’s only one Marc-Andre Fleury, this week’s good dude of the week.
K
There is something to be said for people in big positions who don’t act like big people.
I can’t possibly conceive of a bigger position in this town than being the man who constructs the Pittsburgh Steelers. Talk about a position of unlimited swag.
But there isn’t a hint of boastfulness or arrogance in Kevin Colbert, a remarkably unassuming man who is good at his job and even better in regards to how he handles himself. This guy is a really, really good dude.
C
Before I started covering the Pirates on a regular basis in May, I had long paid close attention to Clint Hurdle. By all accounts, he was an interesting guy.
But I wondered to myself if, perhaps, there was a phony nature to his persona. I wondered this because, frankly, he seemed a little too charismatic, a little too perfect with words. Was he really that good of a guy? I was curious.
Now I cover the Pirates. And now I know. Hurdle is a treasure of a human being and a very, very good dude.
D
The early Good Dudes have ranged from executives to managers to athletes. Now it’s time for the media to get some love. And no one deserves it more than this week’s winner.
You know him from Root Sports telecasts, and those of us in the business are all lucky to know him personally. Dan Potash is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and he’s this week’s Good Dude.
TV people can be a little unpredictable. Most in the Pittsburgh market are super guys and gals, mind you. But some have the ability to portray a certain image in front of the camera but away from that spotlight are different than you had assumed.
J
This one was easy.
When I started the whole “Josh’s Good Dudes” thing a few weeks ago, I knew there would be an occasion when this guy would be the winner. It’s like saying chocolate is good, or the Pirates don’t play well in Milwaukee. It’s stating the obvious in the most flagrant of ways.
Most people are already aware of this, but it needs to be said once again: Jared Hughes is a good dude.
When you watch Hughes on the baseball field, you probably don’t get the impression that he’s a gentle human being. He charges out of the bullpen with the look of a madman. The last time anyone sprinted like that out of a bullpen was John Rocker, and he’s probably not on anyone’s good dude list.