Movie Exclusive: John Steigerwald to Star in "Anchorman 2: Ultimate Sports Guy"

In a Triple Threat Media exclusive, we have obtained the trailer for the upcoming movie "Anchorman 2: Ultimate Sports Guy." The new movie, set in Pittsburgh in 1981, stars Pittsburgh sports media stalwart John Steigerwald as the title character.

Also starring Will Farrell and Paul Rudd, the movie is a spin off of the first Anchorman. Will Farrell, as Ron Burgundy gets fired from his network job and ends up taking the only job he can get, as a station manager for WTAE in Pittsburgh. Languishing in third place in the local ratings, Ron tries to use his TV savvy to boost the ratings. But when all else fails he finds a young beat reporter named John Steigerwald and realizes that he holds the key to zapping the competition!

The exclusive trailer shows John Steigerwald undertaking a variety of wacky sports roles in Ron's advertisement for the new "Ultimate Sports Guy" on WTAE.



The movie is slated to arrive in theaters in May 2011.

Media Cage Match: Steigerwald vs. Madden

Let's get ready to rumble!

It's the mustache vs. the super genius. Steigerwald vs. Madden: two of the premier names in Pittsburgh sports talk squaring off in the city of bridges. It's the tangle in the golden triangle, the melee on the Mon, the tiff at Fort Pitt.

Madden in his blog on 105.9 the X, recently criticized John Steigerwald's (ed. note. yes he's my uncle) accusation that Big Ben may have been high on something during the night he was accused of sexual misconduct. Madden, bless his heart, was obviously concerned that Steigerwald may get into legal trouble over the supposed accusation and wrote that "[his] implication is reckless." Madden, who has been known to defend Roethlisberger to the ends of the earth, also criticized Steigerwald's retelling of a supposed incident where Ben blew off a Make-A-Wish kid, asking where the proof was. .

John Steigerwald, perhaps as an answer to Madden, proceeded to post multiple new blogs, detailing just how he came to learn of the Make-A-Wish Roethlisberger incident. Steigerwald, immediately came back swinging (although not actually calling Madden out by name, I think we can all infer on this one.)

"Ok. I’ve been called everything from a hack to a scumbag and I’ve been accused of accusing Ben Roethliesberger of being high on drugs the night he was accused of sexual assault. Anyone with a brain knows that’s not true and it’s not going to get any truer no matter how many times it’s posted here.

I merely pointed out to those who were pointing out that he didn’t appear to be drinking a lot that there are other ways of getting high. Only a moron would call that an accusation. There are actually people out there who think that I could be sued for making that observation."

If, "actually people out there who think that I could be sued for making that observation," isn't a shot at Mark Madden, I don't know what is.

To be fair to Madden, Ben hasn't been convicted of anything except having bad judgment, at least not yet. But the constant cheerleading for Ben is getting a little old. Can't we just agree that he's a great quarterback whose kind of a jerk off the field, and makes questionable decisions with women.

Madden has been all quiet on the Western PA blog front since Mondays salvo by Steigerwald, but needless to say one can only assume that Madden will get in his shots either on the air or in print.

Stay Tuned.

Pittsburgh Sports Radio Welcomes Another Future Mark Madden Victim

Move over 1250 ESPN Radio, 970 Fox Sports Radio, 105.9 the X from 6-10am and again at 3-6pm and 102.5 DVE every hour on the half hour, there's a new station coming to the already bloated Pittsburgh sports centered radio dial.

93.7 aka "B94" aka K-Rock aka "The Zone" aka B94 again, has again changed its format and acquired the unique call sign of "the fan."  Abandoning its pop format 93.7 has instead embraced the single most important thing in Pittsburgh, sports talk from sunrise to sunset.

But Is there any room on the Pittsburgh radio dial for another station completely devoted to Pittsburgh sports talk? Is there room for anyone (both figuratively and literally) on the same format dominated by the sports juggernaut known as Mark Madden.

A sample listening of "The Fan" over the past few weeks has revealed absolutely nothing that wasn't already on the radio dial. Paul Alexander and Joe Starkey are more than capable hosts from 2-6, and are superior to 1250's awkward trio of Paulson, Logan and Crow, but they add very little to the conversation. The same opinions are the same opinions, regardless of whether they're on the FM dial or the AM dial.

Mark Madden's ever skyrocketing ratings are a result of going against the Pittsburgh sports radio status quo. He's not intimidated by the Steeler hype machine and he's not impressed by the "old guard" of Pittsburgh sports media. He doesn't worship the Steelers, he barely tolerates the Pirates, he's constantly right about the Penguins, he's mouthy, he doesn't tolerate stupidity, and he's always entertaining. Listeners may hate him, but yet they can't stop listening to his show. Ratings keep rising and Madden keeps getting the last laugh. Madden succeeds by having opinions that differ from the homogenized stew that is Yinzer sports talk.

So far "The Fan" fails to impress. As the new station in town it had better embroil itself in some controversy, anything to get people talking about the station. Madden dominates by weaving a beguiling mix of sports, sex and outrage. "The Fan" is predestined for failure. Pittsburgh can't support a new sports station, and its doubtful they will be able to take down 970am or 1250am as they have the backing of Fox Sports and ESPN respectively. The X has the biggest name in Pittsburgh sports plus the Penguin broadcasts. No offense to the station or hosts, but if anyone thinks that Ron Cook and Jim Colony is going to attract more than a few token listeners, you're in for a Mark Maddenesque surprise.