Coaches' lifestyles not easy

Now that World Cup Soccer is down to four European teams, are South Americans, Asians, Australians and Africans all that more passionate about this week's tournament than North Americans?
In football news, Steelers coach Bill Cowher, 49, has created a bit of a stir in Pittsburgh because he hasn't agreed to a contract extension. It's not because the Steelers aren't trying.
Cowher's inaction indicates that he can look into the not-too-distant future and see a day when he's not an NFL head coach.
Steelers diehards have been wondering how Cowher, the longest-tenured coach in the league, could walk away from his dream job.
Then Northwestern coach Randy Walker, 52, dies of a heart attack. Now, Cowher's right to look ahead to a day when he isn't consumed with the next game-plan, draft strategy, salary cap forecasting or knucklehead arrest makes a lot more sense.
The lifestyles of head coaches for NFL and major college programs are special. But paired with the fame and the money of big-time success are stress and sacrifice. And eventually they take their toll.
Coaches sacrificetheir family lives
There isn't one top coach whose family life hasn't suffered a little in the pursuit of championships. Think Cowher hasn't missed a few of his daughters' sporting events or school functions? Think Ohio State's Jim Tressel could take his family to Cedar Point or King's Island and not create a fuss?
These days, coaching in the NFL pretty much means a 11-and-a-half-month job. Cowher describes it as a consuming grind. It's hard to imagine some, say Patriots coach Bill Belichick or Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, not coaching.
But for Cowher, who would have instant television offers if he decided to not coach the Steelers, channeling his coaching passion into family time is conceivable.
The Steelers' Super Bowl win over the Seahawks on Feb. 5 has clinched a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for Cowher. Don't be surprised if that induction ceremony takes place within 10 years.
Tribe fans celebratewith fireworks, Yankees
Despite the Indians' steep fall from playoff contention, a huge crowd is expected tonight at Jacobs Field when the Tribe (37-43) opens a four-game series against the New York Yankees (45-33).
Is there a better way to celebrate the nation's 230th anniversary than baseball, fireworks and a somewhat struggling super-rich arch-rival that hasn't purchased a championship in more than five years?
Indians fans are disappointed/disgusted with a team most thought was on the verge of returning to the playoffs after falling just short last September.
But a look at today's standings shows that the Indians could have eight more wins (and eight fewer losses) and they would still be tied for third place in the American League Central Division with the Minnesota Twins, eight games behind the wild-card leading White Sox.
What has gotten into Central Division teams? Remember when the Indians consistently dominated the Twins, White Sox, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals?
If the season ended today, the Yankees' streak of not winning the World Series would be extended to six seasons because New York would miss the playoffs.
For Cleveland, it's spoiler time.
All-Star feverdescends on Pittsburgh
Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates attracted their second sellout crowd of the season. The first came on Opening Day.
One reason baseball owners awarded the All-Star Game to Pittsburgh was to help boost ticket sales. There's no doubt in anyone's mind that it worked (season-ticket holders are the only ones with access to face-value tickets for the All-Star Game and Home-Run Derby).
It makes you wonder what Pirates attendance would be if Pittsburgh weren't the host city for the All-Star Game on July 11.
Despite having the worst record in the National League, General Manager Dave Littlefield said Sunday that the Pirates' season is not a total lost cause.
They might need a better marketing strategy when the off-season begins.
Tom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com.