Clint Hurdle = NL Manager of the Year

Congrats to Clint Hurdle on being named NL Manager of the Year for the job he did during the 2013 season. He received 25 out of 30 possible first place votes. He was able to doing something that previous managers such as, Gene Lamont, Lloyd McClendon, Jim Tracy, and John Russell which was lead the Pirates to its first winning season since 1992 and a playoff birth. He led the Pirates to its first playoff win since 1992 when they beat the Reds in the NL Wild Card game at PNC Park. I had the opportunity to meet Clint Hurdle through a mutual friend during the last homestand of the regular season and I believe that the award could not have gone to a better person and to a guy that WANTS to be in PITTSBURGH for a long time to lead the Pirates to a World Series Championship.

Ben Roethlisberger Trade Request?

Hours before the November 10th game against the Buffalo Bills, the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said that Ben Roethlisberger was "Incredibility Frustrated with the team and will them for a trade during the offseason." By the time halftime of the game came, both Pittsburgh Steeler's president, Art Rooney II and Ben's Agent, Ryan Tollner both said in a statement that none of this was true and they have no plans to for a trade to happen. During Roethlisberger's post game press conference, he said that the allegations of him requesting a trade is 100% false and that he wants to be a Pittsburgh Steelers for the rest of his career.

I for one, believe that they should at least explore a possible trade destination for him as the Steelers are in a obvious rebuild mode and I do not think will be competitive for at least 2 to 3 years. While I believe Ben is still a top quarterback in the game, I also believe that by the time the Steelers are competitive again, Ben will be on the downside of his career if he isn't already and you might as well get something good for him while you still can.