
RAUL: "I REFUSE TO SHARE STAGE WITH DONNY"
PITTSBURGH - WEAE Radio talk-show host Mark Madden issued a press release yesterday announcing that he has decided to enter a Catholic monastery where he can “spend the remainder of his days contemplating the mysteries of the only entity in the universe worthy enough to call me peer, God.” Madden, who is known for his acerbic wit and extraordinary intellect, was unavailable for comment. A WEAE Radio spokesman said that Madden had taken a vow of silence, and was busy making travel arrangements. 

HOLLYWOOD - Mel Gibson has issued a statement explaining his comments evincing hatred of Jews made following his arrest last Friday on suspicion of drunk driving:
PARIS - The French media claims that three-year old American Faith Jones tested positive for an elevated ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone following her amazing tricycle ride from the top of her driveway all the way to the mailbox three houses down the street.
LATROBE, Pa - Steelers Coach Bill Cowher and first round draft choice Santonio Holmes were seen strolling down a deserted country road this morning, heading in the direction of the fishing hole. Both men had their rods over their shoulder. Coach Cowher allegedly maintained an expression of paternal satisfaction across his face during the entire five minute walk, once even breaking into a broad grin when Mr. Holmes stopped to skip a rock across the water. 

FORTY REPETITIONS PER DAY ORDERED; MAYORAL SPOKESMAN TO REMOVE DENTURES TO AVOID INJURING MAYOR'S HANDS
PITTSBURGH - A secret memorandum authored by Mayoral spokesman Dick Skrinjar reveals that Skrinjar intends to maintain the pretense that Mayor Bob O'Connor is alive even if he should succumb before his term is up, and even if it requires Skrinjar "to personally murder, with my bare hands," members of O'Connor's staff, including director of intergovernmental affairs Dennis Regan, as well as O'Connor's wife Judy and O'Connor's son, a Roman Catholic priest, to keep the Mayor's death quiet. The memorandum details at great length and with gruesome and sadistic particulars the methods Skrinjar plans to use to eliminate each of the "potential obstacles."
PLEASANT HILLS, Pa. - A robbery at Radio Shack in Century III Mall was thwarted this morning when police arrived while the thief was still in the store. Police say that the 54-year old thief, Nate Roadhouse of Mount Lebanon, was delayed in fleeing because the store's clerk wouldn't let him go until Roadhouse told him his zip code.
PITTSBURGH - Last Wednesday, G. Ogden Nutting, the formerly reclusive controlling owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, came out -- to PNC Park, that is, surprising members of the local media by prancing through the press box, throwing handfuls of confetti and delivering a non-stop barrage of bawdy jokes laced with doube entendres. Nutting even jumped into the lap of shocked Tribune Review Pirates beat writer Rob Rossi and asked him, "Don’t you think we need more switch hitters on this team?”
Nutting said it is his dream that every boy who comes to PNC Park will want to come out -- to PNC Park again.

FORMER ALLEGHENY COUNTY COMMISSIONER SAYS LICENSE "NOT A BOONDOGGLE"

LAW BREAKERS LURED TO LARGE BY TAX BREAKS "AND NO QUESTIONS ASKED" IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN TOWN'S "CLAIM TO FAME"
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Pirates this morning announced a stunning trade that will send Freddy Sanchez, Jason Bay, Zach Duke, Sean Casey, Jose Castillo, Jack Wilson, Jose Bautista and Ronny Paulino to an undisclosed team that General Manager Dave Littlefield said plays in a ballpark next to an Iowa cornfield, in exchange for eight unnamed players. Littlefield refused to discuss how the deal came about, but persons who asked not to be identified told this news source that Littlefield had been hearing a disembodied "voice" for the past several weeks that instructed him to make the trade.
Littlefield was tight-lipped about the players the Pirates are acquiring but hinted that one of them has a lifetime batting average of .356 and doesn't like to wear shoes.
The eight Pirates being traded were taken to Iowa this morning in a van operated by two men who resemble actors Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones.
LAS VEGAS - Las Vegas entertainers The Blue Man Group are wanted in a series of bank robberies throughout Nevada. Police say the exploding blue dye packs that banks insert in stolen money are ineffective to stop them.