Virginia Montanez – That’s Church Blog

Virginia Montanez – That’s Church Blog:

First, can you tell readers about your blog That’s Church – what you cover, what inspired you to start the blog and what readers should expect in 2012?

I started my blog on a whim, really. Back in 2006, I just wanted a place to put down my thoughts about Pittsburgh, so I started The Burgh Blog thinking it wouldn’t ever become anything. Little did I know.

I mostly like to draw attention to the things that make Pittsburgh great, the news stories that make Pittsburgh quirky, and the sports teams that make Pittsburgh rabid. I’ve been doing that since 2006, and 2012 will be much the same.

“That’s Church” – ok … are you a Snoop Dogg or Monk fan – and is Snoop Dogg being a Steelers fan a good or bad thing?

I’m not really a Snoop Dogg fan, but I am a huge Monk fan. It was my sister, however, who drew my attention to the fact that Snoop Dogg used “That’s church” in a Monk episode. She used the phrase in a family email and I just stole it and made it my own.

I don’t think it’s a bad thing that Snoop is a Steelers fan, but let’s remember he’s been spotted in a Patriots jersey and has attended Ravens camp, too. I just don’t see how you can be a Steelers fan AND a Patriots and Ravens fan. Not possible!

You also write for Pittsburgh Magazine. What stories of yours are you most proud of so far, and why?

I’m most proud of my column about my experience flying home one Christmas with my children, and how Pittsburghers made the trip much more bearable. I’m also proud of my letter to Roberto Clemente. I wish more than anything that he could read it.

If you could ask any Steelers and Penguins player one question each, who would you interview, what would you ask them, and why?

First, can I add in the Buccos? I realize they suck, but I’m a huge fan. If I could, I would ask Andrew McCutchen and Mike Wallace if they would agree to a foot race to settle once and for all who is the fastest runner. My money is on Andrew.

As for the Penguins, I’d probably ask Matt Cooke about how he felt about his reputation as a dirty player and what was the single biggest thing he did or change he made that allowed him to alter his game to fix that reputation.

You have covered Pittsburgh extensively, expressing a deep appreciation for the city and it’s sports teams. From your point of view though, does Pittsburgh place too much of it’s identity in the hands of it’s sports teams? Why/why not?

Maybe there was a time when we did, but I don’t believe we as a collective whole do that any longer. We have way too much to be proud of and to identify ourselves with outside of sports.

We have technology and world-class education and a vibrant, active outdoors lifestyle. We’re greener than we ever were, more Hollywood than we ever were, smarter than we ever were, and more innovative than we ever were. I think now more than ever, when you tell someone you’re from Pittsburgh, their brain might first call up the image of one of our sports teams, but then I think they’ll go to all the OTHER wonderful things they’ve heard about us lately.

What makes Pittsburgh special?

We’re a little big city made up of true neighbors that value our blue collar past in such a way that we continually “keep it real” no matter how successful we become or how many accolades we garner as a city.

It’s like when you meet a famous person and you’re worried he’ll be pretentious or standoffish, and you fret about putting your elbows on the table or saying the wrong thing, and then you get to know him and he’s the most down to earth, normal, unaffected person you could ever meet. THAT’S what Pittsburgh is.

What’s next for you? Are you looking to further parlay your writing career/blog to radio or other media?

I’m a writer. I use my words … my written words … to profess my love for the city. I don’t particularly have much desire to branch out into other media. I’m shy. I’m not exactly the most extroverted girl you’ll ever meet, so, no, I think I’d like very much to just stay a writer.

What Pittsburgh athletes have you met (if any) – and how was that experience? If you haven’t met any, which would you most like to hang out and have a beer with, and why?

Well, I met Mario Lemieux at a fundraiser and chatted with him for a short bit and the experience sort of blew my mind. He was tall and gentle and kind and soft-spoken and perfectly normal. I don’t remember what exactly I said to him, but whatever it was, I know I sounded flustered and ridiculous and probably a bit worshipful, and that’s fine with me.

He’s a Pittsburgh icon and if I ever meet him again, I will probably be just as awkward. He fries my brain or something.

If you could be the GM of one Pittsburgh team for a day, what team would you choose and what would you do as GM?

Oh, man. I’d choose the Buccos, of course. But honestly, what can you possibly do in one day to fix twenty years of losing? I’d probably bring a priest, a voodoo doctor, a scientist, a witch and Anthony Robbins with me to see if they could maybe put their heads together and figure out a way to remove the curse that has clearly been a pox upon our team since that day Sid Bream destroyed our 1992 World Series dream.

I’m pretty sure it all started there.

Mike Connelly, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1968

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?

I’ve been in the securities business as a registered rep (stock broker)

You’ve been active with the NFLPA. Tell us about your work with the NFLPA and how you got involved?

Our NFLPA chapter in Dallas builds a home for a needy family every year. We start by bulldozing their old house and build them a new home furnished and landscaped. We start the first week in November and give the keys to the family before Thanksgiving. This year will be our 14^th home built.

Continue reading “Mike Connelly, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1968”

Kendall Simmons, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 2002-2008

First, can you let readers know how you are doing these days and about your Swing 4 Diabetes and other efforts to help others with Diabetes?

Since retiring from the NFL, I am busy at home with my family. Soccer, gymnastics, dances; date night and homework with my three little girls and wife keep me busy.

Outside of the efforts to combat Diabetes, what else have you been doing since your time in the NFL?

I’m currently a National Spokesman for Novo Nordisk. Graphic design has always been a passion of mine, so I’ve doing a little freelance work. I’ve also taken advantage of the NFL Career Transition Program. The Swing 4 Diabetes Golf event my wife and a friend of ours put on every year is very important to us.

You were the first round pick of the Steelers in 2002 – how much pressure did you feel as a first rounder and how did you prove yourself to the players and coaches your rookie season?

The first round pick has a lot of pressure on them to play immediately. There were two ways I wanted to prove myself to my team. I wanted to keep my mistakes to a minimum and to play fast. I would rather have had the coaches tell me to slow down then speed up.

You were a star defensive lineman in high school. What caused the conversion to the offensive line in college and how do you think playing defensive line in high school helped you as an offensive lineman?

I had to play both sides of the ball in high school. The offensive line coach at Auburn University who recruited me during that time was Rick Trickett. Coach Trickett was the only coach that wanted me to play offense instead defense. He felt that I had a better chance of starting as a freshman on offense and making it to the NFL as an offensive lineman.

Who helped take you under their wing as a rookie and helped you adjust to life in the NFL – both on and off the field? How did they do so?

Marvel Smith, Alan Faneca and Jeff Hartings all contributed to my growth while I was in Pittsburgh. Marvel Smith is like my brother off the field. Alan Faneca’s knowledge of the game and his physical approach is something I have always admired. I watched him closely and asked a lot of questions.

I owe Jeff Hartings a special thanks for letting me lean on him when it came to blocking assignments my rookie year. Hartings also taught me how to relax on the field.

You were diagnosed in 2003 with Diabetes – how did you take the news at first and how did the front office and coaches work with you after the diagnosis was made?

When I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2003 I did not know what was going on with me physically and if I would ever play again. I owe Mr. Dan Rooney, the owner of the Steelers at the time, special thanks. I really appreciate how he checked on me every time I saw him downstairs. I also owe the training staff John Norwig and Ryan Grove huge credit for going to all my doctors’ appointments at Faulk Clinic with me. They also did a great job with all my needs on the field.

How did the disease affect your play and preparation for the game after you returned to the field? What extra precautions and steps did you have to take to prepare for games each week?

I did not realize at the first how hard it would be to feel normal again. It was very hard to get back to the level of performance needed to play in the NFL. I had to constantly check my blood glucose levels. I would test five to six times on practice days and on game days it went to about eight times. The only way I could feel well enough to play was when I kept my blood sugars below 180. That was extremely hard because adrenaline causes your blood sugar levels to rise.

My target numbers were 120 and 170. If I dropped below 80 or were higher than 180, it affected my performance.

Who were some of the biggest characters on those Steelers teams you played for – what made them so? Any examples?

Troy Polamalu! One night, Troy and a couple of the guys were hanging out. They decided to play a prank on my wife and I at 3 a.m. They rang our doorbell and ran away after leaving old food at our door. They came back again and this time, I let my Great Dane out on them. A year or so passed by until I found that Troy was behind it all.

You were released in 2009 and went on to play for the Patriots. How difficult was that release for you and how did playing for those new teams comparing not the Steelers?

Well putting those feelings into words is still very hard. It hurt and I really didn’t see it coming. It is difficult to get over until you realize football is a business.

Once I became a free agent, I had two options New England and Buffalo. The time I spent with the Patriots taught me to lean on God more and to realize that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

I felt as if I fit in at Buffalo from the time I got there. Sean Kugler was the offensive line coach while I was there. He made the transition easier for me. Neither team compared to Pittsburgh.

What were your best memories of your time in Pittsburgh and what made them so?

The first game that I started at Heinz Field versus the Raiders. Bringing my family down onto the field for Super Bowl XL. Some of the best memories for me during my time in Pittsburgh were the life long relationships I built with some of the players and front office personnel.

Any last thoughts for readers?

There are no other fans like Steeler fans in professional sports. My NFL career changed me a lot as a person but I will ALWAYS be a Steeler. That will never change.

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Continue reading “Kendall Simmons, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 2002-2008”

Lynn Swann, Owner Pittsburgh Power, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1974-1982

How did you learn the skills to be an owner – did you use NFL post-career services or other means to learn?

It’s a business number one. I think years of playing sports and being around sports – working in broadcasting, talking to owners, GMs – you learn a good deal. You learn what your role has to be and what you want it to be.

And what did you decide your role with the Power organization would be?

Some owners like Jerry Jones in Dallas want to be hands on on a weekly basis. They want that appearance – who knows what they are really doing behind closed doors. Al Davis was like that as well – intimately involved in every decision.

Continue reading “Lynn Swann, Owner Pittsburgh Power, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1974-1982”

Courtney Hawkins, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1997-2000

Courtney Hawkins:

First, can you let readers know about your job as a high school football coach and Athletic Director at your alma mater – how did you get started and what do you enjoy most about the position?

I moved back to Michigan and when I got here, my alma mater was struggling on the football field. They won eleven games over a ten year period. A lot of people there knew I was living nearby and they approached me about coaching. At first I was apprehensive, but then I applied and got the job.

About four or five weeks later, the athletic director got another job so I applied for that too and got it.

Continue reading “Courtney Hawkins, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1997-2000”

Chuck Logan, Steelers Tight End, 1964

First, can you let readers know how your NFL career got started?

In 1964, I was drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago Bears and in the 15th round by the Denver Broncos of the AFL. I was selected 1st team All-Big 10 and third team All American at Northwestern University.

In those days, you had to play both offense and defense. I played both tight end on offense and defensive end. I selected the Bears since I was born and raised in Chicago and lived one mile from Wrigley Field, home to both the Cubs and Bears.

Continue reading “Chuck Logan, Steelers Tight End, 1964”

Dwight Stone, Steelers Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 1987-1994

First, can you let readers know about your post-NFL career in law enforcement – what area of law enforcement you’ve been working in and how you got involved?

SRO/Patrol/Emergency Officer – ten years on the force .

What lessons from your days in Pittsburgh – coaching and playing – have influenced you most since your time in the NFL, and how so?

Be accountable…Make no excuse… What you do when nobody looking…tells the Character of the person…. Finally, “PUT THE LORD FIRST THE REST WILL FALL IN PLACE”

Continue reading “Dwight Stone, Steelers Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 1987-1994”

Craig Veasey, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1990-1992

First, can you let readers know what you’ve bene doing with yourself since the NFL?

I’m back in school now, at the University of Houston. I’m getting my B.S. in Construction Management. I worked at a remodeling company for a time, then became a superintendent and project manager for a home building company.

I left that company to become the vice-president elsewhere, then went on to own my own custom home building company. But after my mother died, and with the recession, I just got tired of it.

Continue reading “Craig Veasey, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1990-1992”

Frank Lambert, Steelers Punter, 1965-1966

First, can you let readers know about your career as a history professor – how did you get started and what appeals to you most about it?

As a young boy I was an avid reader, with a special interest in history and biography. In 1985, with much encouragement from my wife Beth, I enrolled in the Ph.D. program in American History at Northwestern University. I was forty-three years old and not at all sure that a university with be interested in someone as old as I would be when I graduated.

But, in 1991, I landed a great position at Purdue University as professor of Colonial and Revolutionary American History. I have been there now for twenty-one years, and what a great life it has been. I spend my time reading, thinking, teaching, and writing, and I get to do all of that on a beautiful campus with bright young people.

For me it is a dream job.

Continue reading “Frank Lambert, Steelers Punter, 1965-1966”

Chris Calloway, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1990-1991

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself since you retired from the NFL and how you got involved in this work?

Since retiring from the NFL in 2001, I got into some entrepreneurial things such as real estate, night club ownership, IT executive recruiting and Network Marketing which all ended around 2009.

After that I interned with a couple of NFL teams (Miami and the Ravens). Currently I am looking for an opportunity in sports, preferably as an assistant player development guy with a NFL team.

Continue reading “Chris Calloway, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1990-1991”