Big Changes in the Works for Pitt; Pirates

I thought this was the perfect week to launch this blog. Write a story about quarterbacks, a long-time debate among NFL fans, catch up on the NCAA basketball season, do the same for hockey, finish up with the Super Bowl, bing-bang-boom and the blog is off and running. Then big-time rumors started to develop over the weekend about two of Pittsburgh’s marquee sporting attractions. I do not think you can have a Pittsburgh themed sports blog without at least confronting the two big elephants in the room with regards to the Pittsburgh sports scene. Of course the two big elephants are the internet rumors about the University of Pittsburgh joining the Big Ten Conference and the reported offer by Mario Lemieux, Ron Burkle and the Penguins to purchase the Pirates from Bob Nutting and his ownership group. Let’s tackle the University of Pittsburgh decision first…

(One side note: This column is a bit long, so I advise you may want to print it out and take it with you the next time you are taking care of your business.)

First and foremost, let me stipulate that these reports seem false and there is no impending decision, let alone action, of Pitt joining the Big Ten Conference. There are no informed reporters covering the Big Ten or the University of Pittsburgh, nor any major decision makers confirming that these rumors are true. Quite the opposite in fact, with all parties denying any conversations on the matter and most beat reporters reporting that no talks have taken place. That does not mean, however, that this is not a fun topic of discussion. Let me just get it out there in saying that it should be a no-brainer for Pitt to jump at the chance to join the Big Ten Conference. I know that is not going to please many of the Pitt fans, especially the basketball fans, and I know that making such a dramatic move will not be easy, but I see no way that a move to the Big Ten would not be in the best long-term interests of the University.

If the Big Ten were to extend an offer to Pitt, I can only see two scenarios that would get in the way of Pitt accepting. The first, and this is the subjective reason, would be pride. Steve Pederson, the Athletic Director, and Mark Nordenberg, the Chancellor, were instrumental in putting back together the Big East after the departures of Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College. No doubt that many sleepless nights, incredible amounts of hard work, and laying a lot of reputations on the line occurred in the reformation of the Big East Conference as a viable BCS Conference in football, a superpower in basketball, and one that worked logistically for all other men’s and women’s sports. The time, effort and commitment these men put in, along with many others in the Big East Conference, would be tough to forget and abandon in such a short period. Do not take this reason lightly, as Pederson and Nordenberg are very bright, dedicated and prideful men that may want to stay and prove that the Big East can become as successful as the Big Ten is already. The second reason, this one being much more objective, would be the costs associated with leaving the Big East as negotiated when the Big East was reformed. I do not pretend to know exactly what these ramifications are, but my understanding is that a severe cost is associated for breaking a school’s commitment to the Big East Conference and therefore making a switch to the Big Ten impractical. Both of these reasons are legitimate, but there are far more outweighing factors that should make the switch a practical one for Pitt.

The reasons for Pitt to jump to the Big Ten are too numerous to detail them all here. Let’s start with the simplest generalization, and that is a move would ensure the best long-term outlook for the University athletically, economically and academically. The economic and academic benefits of a move to the Big Ten (what are they going to call it with 12 teams, the Big 12 already exists!) are quite easy to see and understand. The Big Ten has the largest alumni base out of all conferences, the best television ratings, the highest paying bowl alignments, its own network and more exposure than Pitt could ever dream about in the Big East. The football television share of each Big Ten school is over five times - let me repeat that – OVER FIVE TIMES that of each Big East school. The Big Ten is chalk full of nationally reputable academic schools including Michigan, Penn State, Purdue, Ohio State, and Northwestern just to name a few. The ability for Pitt to rake in millions of more dollars to apply to the academic side, as well as the increased exposure of the school and its athletic teams would only enhance Pitt’s growing academic reputation. We might all forget why colleges exist sometimes, but the reason all of this is supposed to occur is to provide the best possible education for students.

The move would have great results for the athletic department as well. First, all of the University’s athletic teams would benefit from the increased revenue with better facilities to more scholarships available. This aspect of the move should not go unnoticed, but we all know the only thing people will talk about is the effect on football and basketball, so let’s quickly address those. The football team should be competitive from the get-go under Dave Wannstedt, and his brand of football will fit in perfectly with the brand of football played in the Big Ten. Pitt probably would not compete for the conference title right away, but strong bowl games and competitive rivalries, especially with Penn State, would be formed right away. Yes, overall Pitt would be taking a step up in competition but the increased exposure and revenue generated by the move would allow the team to widen their recruiting base and eventually compete for the title in the Big Ten. On the basketball side, there is no denying that the Big East is the best basketball conference in the country and the tournament at Madison Square Garden is second to none in terms of atmosphere and competitiveness. But the Big Ten is no slouch either. Just in the last decade alone, Michigan State (four times), Ohio State, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin have all made a Final Four. That’s one thing Pitt has not done in all its greatness during the decade. Yes the Big East Tournament will be missed, but with Pitt joining and improving an already existing strong league, what’s to say that the Big Ten Tournament does not take on a great life of its own. Jamie Dixon mentioned it may be harder to recruit east coast kids playing in the Big Ten but that is a bunch of bull. Kids choose basketball schools based on the coach, and pretty much the coach alone. Yes certain schools have advantages like great facilities and great arenas, but Pitt would lose none of those advantages in the Big Ten. If anything, Pitt would have a leg up in recruiting by having already established ties in the major east coast cities. In the end, there would be some small negative consequences in hoops, but they would be more than offset by all of the positives for the rest of the athletic department.

All in all, if the Big Ten comes knocking on Pitt’s door, I think the University must accept the invite and become the 12th member of the Conference. Look at the bright side though, Pitt fans, you will finally have the opportunity to beat JoePa and the Penn State faithful on a yearly basis. On to the Pirates…

Unlike the University of Pittsburgh story, reports of a meeting between Penguins’ management and the Pirates’ management seem to be absolutely true. This does not mean a sale agreement is in the near-term, and probably does not mean a sale will ever develop. For my money, actually, I would bet that Pitt joining the Big Ten has a much better shot at happening than Bob Nutting selling the Pirates at this point. Again, this does not mean that the discussion is not a fun one to have. Let us quickly get the details of what happened, or what appears to have happened, out of the way.

Dejan Kovacevic, who does a fabulous job of covering the Pirates for the Post Gazette, reported over the weekend that a meeting occurred between Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle, the principal owners of the Penguins, and Bob Nutting, the Chairman and principal owner of the Pirates. The details of the meeting are coming out somewhat different from each of the sides, but I think it is safe to assume that some form of interest in buying the Pirates was presented from the Penguins ownership group to Mr. Nutting. Whether this interest was in the form of an offer or not is anyone’s guess, but let’s just go on the assumption that Mr. Burkle and Mr. Lemieux are serious about purchasing the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pirates’ fans would begin rejoicing in the streets if Mario and company were to successfully purchase the Pirates from the Nutting family. I, too, think it would be great for the long term health of the franchise if a new ownership group were to emerge. However, this notion that the Penguins group would spend money and make this team an instant contender is nonsense and not based in reality. The Pirates projected payroll of $35-$40 million this year is just fine by me. It may have taken 14 years to realize a plan was needed to rebuild the organization from within, develop prospects, and add free agents when the time was right, but this plan is now in place and being executed. If the Pirates were to up their payroll to the $70-$80 million range like so many fans are calling for, would that really make the Pirates a contender? Would the additions of Ben Sheets, Jason Bay and Johnny Damon, who would take the payroll into this range, make the Pirates contenders this year? No they would not. They would take the Pirates projected win total from somewhere in the high 60s to the mid 70s, and maybe with a bit of luck they could get to .500, but that is not what I would want to see as a fan. The goal is to win championships, and the only way to win championships in a low revenue city is to develop superstars within and put pieces around them. The Pirates current plan is exactly what is needed to contend in the current economic system. The question is whether Neal Huntington and Frank Coonelly are the right men for the job, and only time will answer this.

Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle are smart men, good business people, and obviously winners both in and out of sports. They would and probably already recognize the plan in place for the Pirates is the competent one. Hell, it is what probably peaked their interest in buying the Pirates four months ago after having never been interested in previous years while the Pirate organization was wondering around aimlessly losing season after season. How do I know the Penguins would recognize this plan…because they have already executed it successfully in rebuilding their own organization. They did not take ownership of the Penguins and start spending immediately. Even after the lockout and a salary cap was in place, the Penguins smartly began building around their young superstars, avoiding the temptation of adding high priced free agents, and maintaining a healthy financial plan. In case Pens and Pirates fans forget, the Penguins did not make the playoffs in Sidney Crosby’s first season and spent nowhere near the cap in the first year after the lockout. After the pieces began to be assembled and the revenues began to increase as the team got better and excitement built around the young superstars, only then did the Penguins’ management team led by GM Ray Shero begin to add the necessary pieces through free agency and trades to put this team on its way to its first Stanley Cup in nearly 17 years. The Penguins had a much easier path towards winning with a salary cap in place, great luck and great drafting, but that does not mean a plan was not in place and executed to perfection.

This is where I think the positives from an ownership group led by Mr. Lemieux and Mr. Burkle come into play. I do think Mr. Nutting and the Pirates have a plan in place currently, but I have no faith that they can execute this plan over the long-term and I am not totally sure they have the intent too. Oh I do believe Neal Huntington and Frank Coonelly think they have the support of ownership to carry out the plan, but when the time comes for Bob Nutting to shell out the money to keep his own star players and put the finishing touches around them, I have no confidence he will be willing to do that. I know that Penguins ownership will do what they say, put the necessary money on the line, and have this organization back competing for championships at some point in the future. I do not think Bob Nutting intends to sell, I do not think public backlash will convince him to sell either, as the man seems to be immune to public sentiment, but we can all hope and dream that one day he will. In the instance that he does sell, and if happens to be Mr. Lemieux and company, temper your immediate expectations, but be prepared in dance in the streets at some point again for the Pittsburgh Pirates.