Panthers are the pick for Valley

For those of us who were fortunate enough to have worked with Ed Trgovac (father of Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac), it's easy to pick a team to root for in Sunday's Super Bowl XXXVIII.
For Browns and Steelers fans, it's shouldn't be a hard choice. Perhaps by default, the Panthers are the Valley's sentimental favorite to win.
Steelers fans haven't forgotten who devised the defensive scheme that beat the black and gold in the AFC Championship game two years ago at Heinz Field.
Browns fans remember who ended quarterback Bernie Kosar's tenure in Cleveland 10 seasons ago.
Belichick factor
The success of Patriots coach Bill Belichick irritates most Browns fans. Belichick's rise to the top of the NFL's coaching ranks is a hard pill to swallow for those who suffered through his learning mistakes by the lake.
For Browns fans still on the fence, consider this.
Belichick (the Browns coach from 1991-95) already owns three Super Bowl rings. He earned two as Bill Parcells' defensive coordinator when the New York Giants won after the 1986 and 1990 seasons.
He won the other one two years ago when the Patriots upset the St. Louis Rams.
Belichick also was the Patriots defensive coordinator in 1996, the season after Art Modell fired him when the Browns relocated to Baltimore. The Patriots eliminated the Steelers in the playoffs in January 1997 and represented the AFC in the Super Bowl, losing to Green Bay.
If Belichick hasn't already earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a victory over the Panthers will seal the deal. And the 29-year NFL veteran is far from ready to retire.
And then there's Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who engineered the upset of the Rams and has blossomed into a solid NFL quarterback despite being drafted in the sixth round out of the (all together now Buckeyes fans) University of Michigan.
While Brady is making his second Super Bowl trip, several first-round quarterbacks from the 1999 class -- Tim Couch (Browns), Donovan McNabb (Eagles), Akili Smith (Bengals, but now out of football) and Daunte Culpepper (Vikings) -- have a combined zero Super Bowl appearances.
If the Patriots win, Brady will have two Super Bowl rings, the same as John Elway (Broncos), one more than Brett Favre (Packers) and two more than Fran Tarkenton (Vikings), Dan Marino (Dolphins) and Jim Kelly (Bills).
A second ring doesn't ensure Brady a spot in Canton, but he's young enough to have several more opportunities for a third.
Do Buckeye fans really want to see a Michigan quarterback in the Hall of Fame? The Panthers' bandwagon is pulling into the station. All aboard.
The Pirates are coming
The Pittsburgh Pirates Winter Caravan will be in Youngstown Monday at noon at the Butler Institute of American Art on Wick Avenue. For reservations, call (330) 743-1107, ext. 122.
General manager Dave Littlefield and manager Lloyd McClendon will lead the Pittsburgh contingent, along with shortstop Jack Wilson and outfielder Jason Bay, who was acquired from San Diego in the Brian Giles trade.
The Pirates' annual visit to the Butler is always a fun event -- the setting is perfect, the pictures on the wall are beautiful and the luncheon features a fine meal. The autographs are free and the atmosphere is usually celebratory.
Wonder what the mood of the fans will be this year? Will they accept management's annual claims that better days lie ahead or has 11 straight losing seasons killed their optimism?
Do they care that Littlefield gave away power-hitting (but expensive) third baseman Aramis Ramirez to a division rival (Cubs) for nothing except payroll relief?
With few major league-caliber hitters on the roster, does anyone care that the Bucs will be lucky to win 70 games, especially now that Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte have relocated from The Bronx to another division rival (Astros)?
Monday's visit should be interesting.
XTom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at williams@vindy.com.