Lance Cpl. Jeremy Staat, a former second-round draft choice of the Steelers, has been deployed to Iraq as part of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. Steelers fans will recall that Staat played college football at Arizona State University, the same program that produced Pat Tillman (Arizona Cardinals), who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in April 2004. In fact, Staat and Tillman were roomates at ASU, and Staat claims that Tillman inspired him to enlist in the Marines.

Former Steelers LB Joey Porter may have departed for Miami, but he apparently can't let bygones be bygones and make peace with with his old AFC North rivals. Yesterday, Porter was cited for misdemeanor battery in Las Vegas after he punched Cincinnati Bengals OT Levi Jones in the face outside the Palms in Las Vegas. In the process, he managed the drag yet another Bengals player into a high-profile, off-the-field incident.

The Steelers have re-signed CB Chidi Iwuoma to a one-year contract. Losing Sean Morey to Arizona was insignificant but retaining Iwuoma will make a difference. Steelers fans will recall that the team--in a somewhat surprising move--cut him just before the start of last season, and his absence was a factor in a noticeable drop-off on special teams.

Wide receiver Sean Morey signed a three-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday. Hardly a big loss. Sure, he was a capable special teams player, but he also committed some very costly penalties. As a wide receiver . . . well, all Steelers fans know he is not an NFL-quality wide receiver.

Selfishly, my work place has stopped my direct access to blogger. Bloody Capitalists. I shall though, find time to report on my near perfect prediction regarding the Scotland game and a continued look at the smaller nations in the competition.

The Arizona Republic is reporting that new Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt has purchased a $1.85 million lakeside home in south Chandler, AZ, a short distance from the Cardinals' practice facility in Tempe. To read more about the purchase and Whisenhunt's new neighbors, click here.

Teams for Australia v Scotland @ St. KittsOzGilchrist + , Hadyden, Ponting (c) , Clarke, Hodge, Hussey, Watson, Hogg, Bracken, Tait, McGrathScozWatts, Haq, Watson, Hamilton, Brown, Poonin, Smith + , Wright (c), Rogers, Blain and HoffmanScotland won Ze Toss, and have chosen to concede 400 runs and then attempt bravely to chase them down only to be bowled out for 80.

In the first game of the tournament we had a shock, or did we? Playing in front of a home crowd, imbued by Red Stripe and sense of celebration, those gathered to see the West Indies play roared and cheered every ball as though it might be the last they'd see.

This is definately how to catch a ball. Although I am suspicious of all American sports, this 'chuck' or 'lob' or whatever they call it to the catcher was incredible. I shall never say that again, should I die of embarassment. The catcher is called Tyrone Prothro, the chappie who fails miserably to forsee that he was going to catch a baguette shaped object on his back is called a fool.

Just heard on commentary that, there's lot's of spectators standing here...Is that:a) To do with the fact that the stadium was about 0.6% ready at 9.30 am?b) It's an unbelievable game, unparalleled in modern cricketing history?c) It's so hot that people are turning their bottoms into ribeye steaks by sitting down?d) They are in fact sitting down, but Jonathan Agnew has seen a new breed of people?

In the end, the WI, not the God fearing women from middle England, but the Caribbean Cricket team, got a hugely average 241, thanks in no small part to some lusty middle and lower order pinch hitting.Marlon Samuels broke free of the shackles that have restrained him in the early part of his career, and crafted a delicious 63 off just 70 balls including 3 enormous sixes. Accompanying him on his journey were Ramnaresh Sarwan and Lara who got 49 and 37 respectively.

Gayle gone without troubling the scorers much in the third over for two...Sarwan first four in the fourth over... 9/1Windies reach their 50 without further trouble... Chanderpaul 16, Sarwan 30 (15th over)Chanderpaul out in the 20th over to a snorter from Anjum who's been excellent this morning. 64/2Samuels in with SarwanSarwan out!

One of Cricket's truly memorable stadia, Sabina Park has been host to centuries, controversy and cacophanous noise over the years it has been a test match host. The old Sabina Park though, is no more. The advent of the ICC World Cup has brought about drastic changes to the stadium that was host to Sobers' test match batting record. It is now renovated and truly ready to host cricket at the highest level.

Here is a link:http://blogs.cricinfo.com/wc_monitor/archives/2007/03/the_opening_ceremony.phpTo Andrew Miller's potted history of last night's events. The fact that he uses the word 'Jerk Chicken' makes it worth the read.But it is very good and he covers everything that happened.