Steelers slash, raise prices

Late-summer observations as the real games get closer:

Cable-TV channel Spike TV has hired former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis to appear on a show called “Coaching Bad.” Lewis’ role is to help coaches with anger issues.

I can only presume it’s a comedy.

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers for doing the right thing by slicing ticket prices for preseason games.

Before this season, the Steelers have charged season ticket-holders the same price for all 10 games (eight regular season games, two preseason). This year, the Steelers cut the price for the exhibition games (also known as second-string auditions).

Our upper-deck tickets for tonight’s game against the Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field cost $62. The regular-season price for those seats is $79.

The total charge for the package did not go down. Instead, the Steelers increased the price of two regular-season games to $96. Those dates are Oct. 26 against the Indianapolis Colts and Nov. 2 against the Ravens.

The move was made with little fanfare. Quietly, the Steelers have acknowledged what NFL fans have known all along — it’s not fair to charge full price for exhibition games.

Next year, this fan would like to see them charge higher prices for the three division games against AFC North opponents and the best non-division game. That would allow the Steelers to slice preseason prices even more.

It won’t happen but an NFL fan can dream, right?

Maybe Spike TV can get recently sentenced Justin Bieber to guest star on “Coaching Bad.” Bieber and Ray Lewis could have a “won’t get angry” faceoff.

This week, ’70s shock rock star Alice Cooper performed at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls and First Niagara Pavilion in Burgettstown, Pa. Chances are, he also hit the links before the shows.

I’m aware that many feel that Alice Cooper still performing is a scary thing. This might scare you even more: Alice Cooper is an extremely talented golfer. In his 2007 autobiography “Alice Cooper, Golf Monster,” he wrote that he golfs 300 rounds a year and has a handicap of 2.

Alice Cooper became a golf addict when he gave up alcohol in the ‘80s. Seven years after his book was published, his rounds probably are down and handicap probably is up. Still, it makes me wonder how Alice Cooper would do if he were eligible for our “Greatest Golfer of the Valley” tournament.

Speaking of scary, NFL fans received a dose of chills when HBO’s “Hard Knocks: Training Camp With the Atlanta Falcons” debuted.

Falcons backup defensive end Kroy Biermann is married to Kim Zolciak, who was hyped as a reality TV star. (Since I wouldn’t recognize a Kardashian if one strolled into the newsroom, I’ll take their word for it.)

Zolciak dominated when the camera was pointed at her. I’ve yet to detect her talent — maybe it’s making her ferocious on-the-field hubby appear to be a puppy at home.

I love “Hard Knocks,” but the Falcons aren’t giving the cameras much to feast on — too bad the Cleveland Browns aren’t the 2014 subject.

During last week’s Steelers-Giants telecast, analyst Edmund Nelson surprised me when he commented that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had some clock-management issues last season.

But then Nelson remembered his job is to hype the team producing the telecast and he quickly said something to the effect that Coach Tomlin is excellent as always.

Preaseason analyst isn’t an easy job, but flip-flopping that fast can be dangerous.

Spike TV should invite Alice Cooper to challenge Ray Lewis to a golf match, with Zolciak as a caddie. The possibility of losing to a 66-year-old rocker would require a lot of managed anger, wouldn’t it?

Tom Williams is a sportswriter at The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @Williams_Vindy.