An off season that began with the Steelers missing the playoffs. Trading Super Bowl MVP receiver Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets and franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger getting suspended for six games by Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Many fans could understand why the Steelers were looking forward to pouncing on this year’s draft.

ANTONIO BROWN

The Steelers entered the draft needing help on the offensive line. A line that had allowed nearly 150 quarterback sacks over the last three seasons.

Filling their most pressing need, the Steelers selected center/guard LaShawn Maurkice Pouncey, who is 6-5, 305 pounds, from Florida with the 18th pick overall. Pouncey earned All-American honors and also won the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation’s top center.

Rollback prices, bargain basement, lemon laws, all of the aforementioned can be used to describe the flurry of activity to describe the so-called wheeling and dealing of the Pittsburgh Steelers in regards to the juggling of players during the past month or so. The actual 2010 draft will end up secondary in regards to who steps on the field to compete for the Black and Gold.

The Steelers “dun” good by selecting junior center Maurkice Pouncey from Florida in the first round. They finally got it but as I have previously stated they should have concentrated on the offensive and defensive line starting with the 2008 draft. That year, (2008) Pittsburgh drafted a slightly above average running back, Rashard Mendenhall in the first round and a projected slightly above average wideout Limas Sweed in the second.

“Ace” is the name that he most answers to but his full name is Averill Pippens.

However, he is recognized by numerous other titles. Son, dad, brother, coach…Now that includes football coach Ace, basketball coach Ace, baseball coach Ace, and AAU Coach Ace…well, you get my point.

‘ACE’ PIPPENS

But let’s start at the beginning. An Oliver High School grad and star triple-threat athlete in football, basketball and baseball he was a star in track too, but it sounds so much cooler when you say triple-threat. Pippens was named to the All-City Baseball Team, Kenny Durrett High School All-Star Basketball Classic and received the Distinguished Athlete of the Year award from the U.S. Marine Corps., among many other awards.

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—They began filling up the streets around the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field hours before, a sea of black, green and yellow.

Thousands of Jamaican track and field fans had come to see their star, three-time gold medalist Usain Bolt, live up to his fitting last name, and dazzle in his return to Philadelphia.

IMPRESSIVE SPRINT—Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt smiles after crossing the finish line to win the 4x100 relay at the Penn Relays athletics meet, April 24, in Philadelphia.

Bolt dazzled them all with a lightning fast final leg of the 400-meter relay, taking the baton in a near dead heat, then overtaking USA Blue’s Ivory Williams to win the event at the Penn Relays.