Author: pittsburghsportsdailybulletin

First off, can you let us know what you’ve been up to since your playing days?

When my career was over I still felt like I could contribute to the game and help others. I wanted to be a mentor for others and help them reach their goals to play in the NFL. That has always been my mission – to help guys make it to the league. So I’ve been training young players now.

What do you focus on most with them, do you find?

I teach them that it’s all about choices. I did way too much partying when I played and you can’t do that if you want to be a top-tier athlete. I see kids today allowing social media to raise them and see them doing too much partying. That will catch up to you. It’s my job to teach them that.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Bengals Quarterback Akili Smith”

Fist off, why did you decide now to write this book?

After I wrote my book on Edgerrin James, I wanted another project to work on. I covered the Steelers as a journalist and wanted to do something on them, so I researched to see if there was a book on Tomlin and saw there wasn’t. I thought that would be a good topic to explore and that’s how I started with “Tomlin: The Soul of a Football Coach“.

I looked at what the best way would be to approach a guy people don’t know well. My chore was to discover who the real Mike Tomlin is – that was my challenge. He wouldn’t do an interview for the book, but there were plenty of people to talk to. Not doing the interview was pure Tomlin – he wouldn’t be in his own biography. So the challenge was to do the research and talk to those he coached, his former coaches, family members and everyone else he was close with.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Author John Harris, “Tomlin: The Soul of a Football Coach””

First, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your time in the NFL?

Well, in 1978, when I was still playing, I started a lumber business here in Ruston, Louisiana. I grew up around lumber and construction. My father was an NFL player – he started a lumber company of his own after he played, so it was something I knew and enjoyed. I always intended to go back to Ruston after football and enjoy life there after I was done with football – to go back to where I was raised.

How did the lumber business start?

My brother was on the track to becoming a partner at a law firm – he went to law school but was just a cowboy at heart. He figured once he made partner he’d never get out – I mean, he had an undergraduate degree in animal husbandry – that shows you how different he was from most people.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Colts Quarterback Bert Jones”

First off, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your football days?

I’m invested in a company I’m launching – Kudosnacks.com – we’re partnered with the UFC. It’s a protein packed popcorn – healthy and vegan friendly. I’m getting into that now. It’s been my main focus – getting that off the ground.

I’m putting my kids through college as well and just trying to relax a bit.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Bengals, Patriots Running Back Corey Dillon”

First off, can you let me know how you get start in your art work?

I went to school for graphic design and got some short jobs afterwards. But it wasn’t working for me, which I guess was a blessing. After I got laid off I started honing in on my art skills – I was always into being an artist since high school but I always wanted to be better than I thought I was.

I had a lot of support along the way, looking back on it. At the beginning I just wasn’t satisfied with my work. I started off doing portraits of Steelers – the first was one of Myron Cope and the Terrible Towel – I did that for my husband. After that I did one of Big Ben.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers/NFL’s First Female Licensed Artist Tempy Moore”

First, can you let me know how the Steeline got started?

The Steeline started in 2012 – I encountered drumlines in grad school at Missouri and met people who were involved with the drumlines with the Chiefs and Rams. I thought it was a really cool thing. I was originally from Pittsburgh and had planned to come back to Pittsburgh after I graduated. So I thought it would be awesome to start one up in Pittsburgh.

I moved back and got together with a few friends of mine in college who were also drummers – we developed the idea. The music, uniforms, persona, logos….We then approached the Steelers to see if we could work with them. We had some contacts in the community – the team brought in high school bands for games and we knew some of those guys – so we were able to get in touch with the team.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Vince Wallace of the Steelers Steeline Drumline”

First off, what have you been up to since your time in the NFL?

Well, I’m retired now. I play a lot of pickleball and have a lot of grandkids, so I do a lot of things with them – sporting events and those types of things. I also play a lot of golf when the weather is nice. And I stay involved in the community.

You are involved with the NFL Alumni Association there too correct? 

I’m President of the local chapter here yes. We focus a lot on kids – reading programs for kids to ensure they don’t get too far behind. We have a golf tournament we do with St. Elizabeth’s Hospital as well.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Cincinnati Bengals Kicker Jim Breech”