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Paul Zeise's sports chat: 04.09.20
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Zeise
12:02
Let’s get it rolling
Jacque Strap
12:03
Hi Paul, did you watch 'The Scheme' on HBO? If this stuff goes on, everyone knows it, and it basically goes unpunished, can Pitt basketball ever compete at the highest level trying to do things 'the right way'?
Zeise
12:06
This is a great question but I would answer it this way. From about 2002 until about 2012 Pitt competed at the highest level and was a couple of bounces of the ball from getting into the Final Four. Pitt won the Big East Tournament a couple of times even though dirty programs like Syracuse and Louisville were clearly making their own rules. Pitt was a No. 1 seed at least once (maybe twice actually). Pitt has proven it can compete at a high level and do it without getting involved in these kinds of things.
Jacque Strap
12:06
Do you think Fillipponi really believes that Jameis to the Steelers is a good thing, or a possibility, or is he just doing it for the Twitter action and to get people worked up?
Zeise
12:08
He is a talk show host and one of the most naturally talented talk show hosts I’ve worked with. He does believe Jameis Winston would be a good fit for the Steelers. But clearly now he has turned it into almost a parody and is getting the reaction he has wanted. It is fun and it is what makes him good at his job.
Jacque Strap
12:08
Do you think the Rooneys called in a favor to avoid having to do 'Hard Knocks'?
Zeise
12:11
I don’t know, I am not big into sports conspiracies. However, it wouldn’t shock me ha ha The two sports conspiracies I do subscribe to are The lottery being fixed for the Knicks to get Patrick Ewing and the lottery being fixed for the Penguins to get Sidney Crosby. Ewing to the Knicks was great for the league and Crosby to Pittsburgh might have saved hockey in one of the NHL’s most important markets. Of course I have no proof of either but these are the only two conspiracies that I think might hold some water
Retire21
12:12
Paul: Since we may be eschewing handshakes for good, should hockey teams now end their playoff series with elbowing each other to the head, high sticking or cross checking?
Zeise
12:12
Just keep their gloves on and fist bump each other as they go through the line
BB Fan
12:12
Schools are done for the year. I hate to be political but, we need to do more testing to get back to sports and somewhat regular activities. What do you think?
Zeise
12:14
Absolutely. And that is what will happen. They aren’t going back to sports unless there is testing available readily.
Retire21
12:14
This is purely a compliment. My wife hates your voice. She makes me turn it down in the car. She also hated Myron Cope's voice. And you two newspaper background guys have that in common....and you're very good. So how would you rate your voice?
Zeise
12:15
Your wife obviously has terrible taste in men’s voices....... I have no idea where my voice rates, I just talk on the radio and hope people are entertained
Retire21
12:15
You mentioned on the air you like golf. If things happen as plans, how are the networks going to deal with golf's majors all in the middle of football season? Me, I'll go nuts.
Zeise
12:19
It will be incredible. And believe me - the networks will love having too many sports to try and squeeze in. They have lost a lot of revenue and will happily try and make it back. I close my eyes an envision a Sunday when I watch the Masters all day, the Steelers at 4:15 and a playoff baseball game at 8
FatBuddy
12:19
Paul, do you think we address our needs for back up lbs in this draft?
Zeise
12:20
Yes. I actually do. And it won’t shock me if it is with that early (No. 49) pick
TP Ranger
12:20
Paul, the Winston-to-Pittsburgh talk will probably prove fruitless, but what if the Steelers approached it like this:  Bring him in (if somehow, they can afford it) and get him up to speed on the offense in case Ben has a relapse. If Ben is fine, then at some point during the season, when some team is looking to replace an injured QB, the Steelers can flip him for a draft pick.
Zeise
12:21
That would be bad business. I would only want him on like a 5-year deal so Ben’s successor is in house and the transition would be smooth.
GSMP
12:21
As a long time Pitt football season ticket holder, I can assure you we have been practicing social distancing at games for many years.
Zeise
12:21
This has been the running joke since Heather Lyke said she can’t imagine football without fans.....
Randall
12:22
1) What is your son Elijah doing as far as football. 2) Do you think Ben R. really influences Steeler backup QB or drafting QB situation. He has never endured a QB controversy where fans chant for backup after an interception.
Zeise
12:26
Elijah is done. He took his one shot at the NFL and played in four preseason games. He got cut and came home and said “I’m good, time to move on from football, I have no regrets now” and he used his dual accounting/finance degree to get a job working for a financial firm here in Pittsburgh. I couldn’t be prouder of him. And I would say Ben’s reaction to the drafting of Mason Rudolph - it was very negative - suggests he has no power to control what the Steelers do in terms of signing and drafting a backup QB
DavieJ in WI
12:26
I know it’s early but Steelers D...top 3 in the nfl? Yay or nay?
Zeise
12:28
I think so provided they stay healthy. They really don’t have a ton of depth. They need Bud Dupree, TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cam Heyward and both corners to stay healthy. But yes I think they can be that high of a level of a defense
James
12:29
Kudos to you Paul for your recent radio show soliloquy on mental health and depression during this time of social distancing and self quarantine.  I have no doubt that your words and advice will benefit a number of people now and in the future.  THANK YOU PAUL!
Zeise
12:30
Thanks - if people can get to the point where they view and treat their mental health the same way they view and treat their physical health we will be in a much better place.
Jacque Strap
12:30
Please provide some tips for those out there having a hard time dealing with the isolation, lack of sports, and social contact. Those who might be prone to depression. Thank you.
Zeise
12:35
Sure. Again depression is real. I’ve lived with it, fought with it and battled it my entire life. I’ve been hospitalized for it multiple times. And times like this are very tough on people who suffer from depression and this is a critical time to take care of yourself. So here are some things that have helped:  Get enough, consistent sleep. I try and get in bed at the same time and get out of bed at the same time every day. Notice I didn’t say wake up I said get out of bed. You need to get up and move. You need to eat good, but don’t over eat (when we are bored it is easy to sit around and snack all day). You need to be informed but don’t overdo it with watching the cable news and whatnot - it can become overwhelming and doom and gloom is not good for your mind. So you need to get away from the TV. Take a few walks a day. Yesterday I rode a bike for almost 10 miles. Just the fresh air and change of scenery helps. Also make sure you take your medication
12:36
Those things all help me cope with what is going on.
TP Ranger
12:36
Hi Paul, hope you and your family are doing well. The loss of college spring football practice gives a big advantage to the junior- or senior-dominated teams next season, provided that the games are played in the fall, doesn't it?
Zeise
12:38
I don’t know. Spring football is very overrated to me.I would say this - a new coaching staff or a staff with a new coordinator who is gonna change the scheme is at a disadvantage. Those spring practices are important for that kind of installation
DavieJ in WI
12:38
Hola PZ! ANY reason why the Steelers CANT win their division this year (barring injuries)????
Zeise
12:40
The Baltimore Ravens? Ha ha. I think the Steelers can win the division but I don’t know that they will. I think the Ravens are better and the Browns will be better than they were. It will be a tough ride
Dave
12:40
Paul, is the NBA or MLB paying their players?
Zeise
12:42
Yes both have some sort of fund and pay scale for their players during this. I read about it a few weeks ago. Veterans get one amount, middle aged type players get a little lower amount and the least experienced players get a lower amount
jake
12:42
Hi Paul, hope you and your family are staying safe. I know the Steelers are looking for playmakers on Offense and I totally agree that we need someone who can get the ball in the end zone, but from looking at the depth behind Bush, Williams, Watt, and Bud, I have to say its would be scary if say Watt and/or Bush got hurt for an extended period of time. Do you think they look to the Draft for depth or do you think they could bring a guy like Clay Matthews in being that he played both Inside and Outside LB for GB?
Zeise
12:43
I don’t know what Matthews would cost but there is no doubt they will, either by draft or signing, address the lack of depth at linebacker. They need to and they know they need to. Matthews might be out of their reach but they will have to get someone.
Zman
12:44
I’ve been a Pitt fan since 1963, so I  have witnessed it but still defies belief to me an historical football program like this can be mediocre, not better, not worse, for nearly the last 40 years. What holds them back Paul? Is the only way out of this is to catch lightning in a bottle with a coach who turns out to be a dynamic recruiter?
Zeise
12:48
I actually think the opposite - they need to stop changing coaches all the time and build a program. They seem to be on the right track with Pat Narduzzi and just need to let him keep doing his thing. There are various reasons why it hasn’t worked out for 40 years but if you count interim coaches there has been about 16 different Pitt coaches since 1975. That’s not ideal
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