Editor’s note: I’m running this story because our sports duo of Micah and Perry is from Philly, and sometimes they need to be taken down a peg. — John

From our Posterboy sports blog:

If you have ever been down to Strip District and walked into Wholey’s, you know that the owner definitely doesn’t give a shit. Don’t get me wrong, you get the best and freshest seafood, (which is saying something for the city of Pittsburgh because it’s not exactly near the ocean) but they hack it up and dish it out right in front of your face. And now the owner of Wholey’s will be refusing to sell any octopi to Red Wing fans for fear of them throwing it on the ice at the Mellon Arena. From the countless songs to beer specials for shitting on Sienna Miller, Pittsburghers think a little bit differently than other sports fans and Mr. Wholey is just one more example. Here are a few reasons why Pittsburgh is better than some other sports towns:

Philadelphia: Pittsburghers only boo guys named Kordell Stewart.

Boston: Pittsburghers aren’t self-loathing and don’t want to slit their wrists after every loss.

New York: Pittsburgh news outlets do not report anything bad about the athletes, and lead broadcasts with player vacations to their homeland.

Dallas: Pittsburgh teams have a little respect for the game rather than bringing in guys like T.O. and Pac Man. Also, three more words, No Jerry Jones.

Oakland: Do not dress up like the Legion of Doom or have an owner that resembles a character from a movie based on a Roald Dahl book.

Baltimore: Pittsburgh has a hockey team, a quarterback and a football team that isn’t purple.

Cleveland: Pittsburgh has won a title in the past 50 years, and doesn’t lose franchises.

Everyone else: Jesus is on Pittsburgh’s side.

Myron Cope, the 35-year color commentary man for the Pittsburgh Steelers died Wednesday morning in a nursing home in Mt. Lebanon, Pa. Cope had been struggling with his health since leaving the broadcast booth after the 2004 season.

Before joining the Steelers family, Cope was a widely read freelancer for Sports Illustrated reporting on such iconic figures as Howard Cosell and Roberto Clemente. He later moved onto to television at the request of a station manager, before being hired by a franchise that had not yet seen much success in a nearly 50-year history.

Cope along with a certain fair haired quarterback from Louisana Tech made their respective debuts with the Steelers on September 20, 1970, and it took only two seasons before the once pride less team became arguably the greatest dynasty in professional football history.

During this time Cope developed a relationship with the fans of Pittsburgh that rivaled none, delighting fans with his “yinzer” accent and quirky catchphrases that only he could get away with using. His countless “yoi’s” and “double yoi’s” as well as his classic music video will live on throughout the history of the Steelers as the turning point. A turning point from a baseball town to a football town, it was a turning point that gave the city and fans an identity.

“I guess sometimes in the football business we all take ourselves too seriously and Myron never let anybody do that, so he had that knack for sort of reminding us of what business we were in,” Art Rooney once said of the 5’4″ broadcasting icon.

His contributions also ranged to five books, none entirely about the Steelers, the prevalence of the term “the Immaculate Reception” and most of all his creation of the “Terrible Towel.” The towel was original and has not been done better in more than 30 years, but the truly significant fact about this favorite dish rag is that in 1996, Cope donated his ownership of the trademarks to the Allegheny Valley School. Over $1 million has been raised to support this institution caring for over 900 physically and mentally disabled children.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made, but expect nothing short of a remembrance rivaling the man who hired him, Art Rooney. Steeler nation will genuinely mourn grieve after this loss and reminisce as this is the end of an era. In Pittsburgh his passing will be taken as a loss of royalty because when it comes to the Steel City, Myron Cope is as close as you can come to being a king.

Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor is in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida today after being shot in his Miami-area home early this morning.

The former All-American and Pro Bowler was shot just before 2 a.m. as a result of a possible burglary attempt, authorities said. Taylor was shot in the leg and damaged his femoral artery, resulting in major blood loss leaving him "nonresponsive and unconscious" said to his lawyer Richard Sharpstein.

Taylor has been at his home in Palmetto Bay, Fla. nursing a knee injury for the past few weeks. Eight days ago, Taylor’s home was burglarized with the house empty. A kitchen knife was left on a bed in the house, and Taylor was allowed to miss a team meeting this week due to this situation.

The safety is a four year veteran and was the 5th overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. He has had an up and down career with numerous problems on and off the field.

Taylor has been fined on a number of occasions, including spitting in the face of Buccaneers player Michael Pittman in 2006. He was also charged with a felony in 2005 after beating a man with a gun.

Opposing these problems are a 2006 Pro Bowl appearance and a reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the NFL. He also is the team leader in interceptions with five despite missing two games.

Miami-Dade police are continuing to investigate and no word has been released about any possibly suspects.

Barry Bonds broke the all-time record for home runs on August 7, but he now faces a five count indictment from a San Francisco Grand Jury and the possibility of 30 years in prison.

Bonds’ lawyers expressed surprise today when the decision came back with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice.

The charges come as a result of testimony Bonds gave in December 2003, while his trainer Greg Anderson was on trial for the BALCO scandal in San Francisco.

The BALCO era has been linked to many other professional athletes including Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield.

This legal situation comes one month after Bonds filed for free agency in hopes of catching on with a club other for a 23rd Major League season. He tallied 28 home runs and 66 RBI during the 2007 season and talks were of him ending up across the bay in Oakland next season, taking advantage of the DH rule.

The 43-year-old Bonds began his career in 1986 with the Pittsburgh Pirates before signing with the San Francisco Giants in 1993. Over his career Bonds has amassed 762 home runs, nearly 2000 RBIs, 14 All-Star appearances and a record seven MVP awards. His prickly media demeanor however, has damaged his public opinion in every city away from the Bay Area.

This public opinion is sure not to change in the coming weeks and months as more information presents itself and the investigation continues.

A thank you goes out to Mr. Stallone for providing my generation with a Rocky film that we could go to the movie theater and encounter for ourselves. Also, I would like to thank Stallone as a Rocky fan in general for giving the public a sense of closure for one of the the greatest underdog stories ever told. Arguably, because I feel that honor belongs to Rudy.

However, that is as far as I will go with the thank yous. Stallone did a disservice to the legend by putting together the second straight Rocky travesty and further tarnishing the legacy by building on the poor precedent set by Rocky V.

You can’t help but notice the disappearance of all barriers brought up in the preceding Rocky films. (mainly the lack of money and brain problems, Rocky must have got the okay from some of the NFL’s concussion specialists.) This may be attributed to the main theme of the film, the death of Adrian, but in this devoted fan’s mind, this is a loss of credibility. It should have been addressed through a flashback at least, because any flashback to the greatness of I-IV could only be a good thing.

After the death of his wife, Rocky opened an Italian restaurant called Adrian’s. Rocky roams the floor doing the same pose in every photograph and making like Artie Buco, taking part in the table conversation. These practices annoyed me throughout, but I could say that they spoke to Rocky’s dim-witted side and this did set the scene of the life of a retired athlete; no excitement, no adrenaline, no prestige.

The action starts when ESPN airs a simulated, video game match between Rocky and the current champion, Mason "The Line" Dixon, played by real-life middleweight Antonio Tarver, and probably the best name of any Rocky opponent. Rocky knocks Dixon out, and the fake match draws interest back to the old boxer. With no legitimate contenders (much like heavyweight division today), Dixon and Balboa agree to an exhibition match.

I was pleased with the film and the direction that it was going until this point. I was greatly anticipating the training montage, his run up the steps, and the fight itself. Unfortunately, my high hopes were unfulfilled, much like Philadelphia sports fans hopes in general.

Just think about the defining moments you remember from past Rocky films; the press conference in Rocky IV; when Adrian comes out of a coma in Rocky II to only say "Win." That defining moment is overlooked in this latest chapter. At one point, Rocky talks to his son about life and why he wants to fight one more time. I was left waiting for the music to cue in and the running to start, but all that came was more of the same scenes in the restaurant.

The training did come, but it was short and unfulfilling, like the Bulls in the post-Jordan era or a handshake on a first date.

One piece of the movie was refreshing, however. The entire final fight scene was innovative and used cuts to flashbacks, the crowd and the fighters’ corners more effectively than I have ever seen before, and I hope to see it again.

Another bright spot of the film was, as always, Paulie. And this is particularly evident in “Rocky Balboa.” The movie constantly shows him trying to be serious, and it comes out utterly hilarious, like watching Flava Flav trying to hook up.

Overall, Rocky fans should go see this movie, but don’t get your hopes up. If you watched the trailer, you already saw half the movie anyway. Just be wary, you will see a great story, with two long lost characters from Rocky I, but in the end it will leave you asking why “Rocky Balboa” didn’t stick to its guns.

In retrospect, it was still better than Tommy Gunn and Rocky V.

P.S. There is a Mike Tyson cameo, how much nose candy did they have to dish out to get that?