Entertainment – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Etta Cox, Pittsburgh Musician

Etta Cox:

First, can you tell readers how you got started as a musician and how you’d describe your music?

I started singing at the age of three. At seven I began piano lessons and voices lessons at twelve. I graduated from college with a degree in Music Education and Voice. In my mid twenties I gravitated towards Jazz.

How did you settle into this style of music for yourself – what made it “right” for you?

I found that there was a freedom in Jazz music that I had never experienced before. And I felt it was a good mix.

What local musicians/artists have you looked up to -and have any helped you over the years in any way?

The first local Pittsburgh band that I performed with was the Al Dowe Band. I truly knew nothing about Jazz and Al Dowe became a mentor to me. I provided me with recordings to listen to and let me sing with his band on a regular basis as I grew into the music.

How has the city been as a venue for your music? There seem to be a number of local talented artists yet there’s not been that one big breakout act yet -is there something more the city can do to “get the word out”?

The City of Pittsburgh is a great venue for Jazz and there are loads of Jazz lovers here. When you say that “breakout” act I guess you are referring to someone or some band that hits it nationally and internationally and makes loads of money. Well if you are working steady gigs and making a living doing it as a jazz musician that is quite an accomplishment.

At the present time there are some “young guns” that are doing great things in the field of jazz. To name a few: Brett Williams (pianist) going to the Monterey Jazz Festival, George Heid II, (drummer), Craig Davis (pianist), Benny Benack III (trumpet). Give them some time. They are really going to “break out”!

Are you a sports fan – if so, what teams/athletes do you follow?

Yes I am definitely a sports fan. STEELERS of course! But on any given Sunday during football season I watch all the games even if the Steelers are not playing; just to see what the Steelers will be up against.

Was a big Chiefs fan before moving to Pittsburgh (I am from St. Joseph, Missouri). I always had dreams of going to the Olympics in gymnastics (that was another life). Love Tiger Woods but I can’t bear to watch him lose. Baseball – Wellllll it’s way too long! Love Michael Vick, MIke Wallace, and the younger Peyton (so gutsy)!

Have you had the opportunity to perform in front of any local sports venues/players? If so, how were those experiences?

I have sung the National Anthem for the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium (years ago), the anthem for the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. Great experiences because the crowd goes wild after you sing; not for you but for the fact that the game is finally starting.

I also appeared with Hines Ward for one of his favorite charities at the Vangura plant.

What have been some of the more memorable performances for you -and what made them so?

Opening for Mr. Ray Charles at Heinz Hall, performing at Wolf Trap twice, appearing in my first Broadway Show “I Love My Wife” then “The 1940’s Radio Hour”, “The Me Nobody Knows”, and appearing with Danny Glover and Ossie Davis at NYU.

I was one of the Rod McKuen girls at Lincoln Center an opened and appeared at my first casino Trump Plaza!

Many see the music business as “all glamour” -but the constant travelling, especially as you are trying to establish yourself, can be very difficult. How do you deal with the travel and rigors of the business?

Aside from being a jazz performer I also teach at CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts High School). Teaching is more rewarding for me than you can ever imagine. I keep my travelling down to the summer months; unless something comes up that I just cannot refuse. The glamour for me is in the clothes. After that it’s just a job that you love.

Where can fans (and future fans) find and purchase your music?

I have a website that needs to be updated but you can order cds there. Ettacox.com

Any last thoughts for readers?

I feel very blessed to be doing what I love most. And having the opportunity to share my talent with others. Check out my website for my new cd coming out this winter.

Benstonium Viral Videos

First, can you give readers a quick overview of Benstonium. What you do and how readers can find your material?

Benstonium creates Pittsburgh-themed viral videos, which mostly combine sports and comedy. All of these jagoff-produced creations can be found on our website Benstonium.com and our YouTube page (//yt.Benstonium.com)

How did you get started – who inspired both the idea for Benstonium and the direction/success you’ve had?

The name Benstonium was originally a drunken nickname based on m last name Benson, so it was appropriate that Benstonium found its roots with videos inspired by the consumption of beer. In 2008, Benstonium videos, which were mainly intended for a limited audience, went viral with the release of our yinzer-laced Mike Tomlin / Iron City press conference parodies and our path towards Pittsburgh-themed videos was serendipitously established.

Your work has spread pretty quickly and can be seen in various local media. What got the ball rolling for you – how did you get noticed so quickly?

An important factor in spreading our videos is the connections we’ve made with big names in many different local media outlets and the help they’ve offered in promoting our work. We strive to maintain a great reputation by consistently releasing viral videos of the highest-quality, and this has gained us a lot of respect among local media.

You come up with a lot of new material – how do you decide what to parody next and how? What’s the creative process?

One of our goals is to please our fans by appealing to Pittsburgh’s attitudes regarding timely topics. A key to creating videos with viral appeal is being timely, so we are always brainstorming video concepts related to Pittsburgh’s current hot topic. There are ton of great ideas that get thrown out because production would take too long for a timely release. Even if it’s the best video or most creative concept we’ve ever had, if it’s a day late, then it won’t go viral.

What are some of what you would consider your most inspired/best works to date, and what makes them so, from your perspective?

The viral video world is interesting in the fact that sometimes videos that require very little effort have the most viral impact and vice versa. When the amount of effort coincides with the viral impact, I consider it very rewarding.

One video that made a huge impact and also required a lot of effort was a sports / movie trailer I created in August 2011 which combined The Dark Knight Rises with the Steelers, and more specifically Ben Roethlisberger. The video took about three weeks to complete and quickly went viral upon release, being championed by national media outlets. When I received word that the video was also approved by Big Ben himself, I knew I had done something right!

Most of what yo do is parody/humor-based. Have you considered/done more serious/dramatic work as well? What, if so….If not, why?

We try to do about 70% parody/humor and about 30% dramatic/inspiring. I feel parody/humor can usually be done effectively in a more straightforward, simplistic way with considerably less production time. When I create dramatic/inspiring videos, I see them more as a work of art and effectively evoking those desired emotions from the viewer takes a lot more thought and effort than in comedic productions.

I love it when I’m watching my own dramatic/inspiring videos and they even give me chills.

Have you gotten any feedback/collaboration from teams and players – if so, what was that feedback and from whom?

Most of the feedback that we’ve received has been positive. When we’ve heard that our creations have actually reached the players/teams that they were about, it is very rewarding. It was really cool to get props from Big Ben about The Dark Knight Rises movie/sports trailer that focused on him. The latest Benstonium Penguins tribute, which parodied an ad from Google, was saluted by the Penguins video team and organization.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, with our first viral videos, which posited Mike Tomlin in a press conference full of drunken yinzers inquiring about his fictional trip to a local strip club, the response was less than accepting. The Steelers’ organization was [allegedly] looking into bringing a lawsuit against us and continued to monitor our videos for some time after that.

As most of the members of Benstonium were still in college and had very little to lose financially, we saw this this [alleged] response from a billion dollar company to something we created as a win. It’s still pretty cool to be able to say I was almost sued by the Steelers [allegedly].

What makes Pittsburgh sports/sports fans such an easy target for you?

All of us at Benstonium have lived our entire lives in the Pittsburgh area and surrounded by its amazing sports culture. It is easy to relate and appeal to Pittsburgh sports fans because we are born and bred Pittsburgh sports fans. Because the attitude and topics surrounding Pittsburgh sports is always evolving, there will always be content for new and different Benstonium viral videos.

From a Pittsburgher’s perspective, does the city and it’s people rely too much on sports to define the culture of the city in your opinion?

Pittsburgh sports and sports in general is like being immersed in a never-ending film. When you go to a movie theater, you spend two hours living in the fictional world provided by the movie screen. You become the ideal, you become the hero, you become the person you strive to be.

The athletes that we often hold up like movie heroes, leave us striving to be more than we are in our mundane lives. I don’t think there is anything that could bring an entire city like Pittsburgh together with an unbreakable bond that supersedes all of our petty differences like our sports teams. They are our never-ending blockbuster movies that always keeps us striving to better ourselves…as individuals and as a city.

What is success for you – and what’s next for Benstonium?

I hope to one day turn Benstonium into a career, where I can not only continue to entertain the city of Pittsburgh but do that for a living. I think as we continue to grow and gain followers, this goal will gradually become easier to achieve.

What would surprise readers most about Benstonium and the work you do?

In order to meet our self-imposed deadlines in order to keep our videos as timely as possible, many of the Benstonium videos are completed at 3a.m. or later…and we still make it to our day jobs a few hours later. Benstonium takes priority over sleep.

Any last thoughts for readers?

We are trying to get back to our roots (a la our Mike Tomlin /Iron City Press Conference parodies) and do more live-action comedy videos. We have a series of football themed videos coming up this season, which we hope will take the Benstonium brand to the next level and “Turn Pittsburgh Upside Down”.

Thanks!

Jim Patrinos, Owner, Primanti Brothers

Jim Patrinos, Owner, Primanti Brothers’:

First, can you let readers know how Primanti Brothers’ got started and how you took over ownership?

Back in 1974, I went to the Strip one day to visit my favorite sandwich shop and it was closed – and had a for sale sign on the door. I thought to myself this was a busy little place and so unique – so I called the number and a few weeks later the deal with Dick Primanti was done.

You’ve continued to expand into new areas – what’s your most recent expansion and what’s next for Primanti’s in general?

Our most recent expansion was in Mt. Lebanon. We like to purchase the buildings and property where we expand and the opportunity came up for a great location on the corner of Route 19 in the South Hills. We just opened in June and so far the community has welcomed us with open arms.

You’ve become a part of the culture of Pittsburgh – how does that put a different kind of pressure and expectation for you as a business and how do you handle that?

It does put some pressure on us. Pittsburgh is a city with raving fans who love their sports teams and their heritage. We have become part of that tradition and we’re honored.

Are you concerned about getting too big and perhaps losing your local “charm”?

That’s part of the reason we are not franchised. We are asked everyday about expanding to cities all over the country. It’s a Pittsburgh thing right now. I have expanded to Florida with another partner that is from Pittsburgh but right now that is as far as we will go.

Why do you think Primanti’s has done so well in Pittsburgh – is this a restaurant that could survive in every city, or do you think it’s more geared towards blue collar cities like Pittsburgh?

It certainly started by catering to the blue collar, truck-driving steel workers of Pittsburgh but now we’ve seen such a growth in the food culture that we have become a “foodie destination”. Rachel Ray was in last week.

How much of your success relies on the local sports and music industry, and how so?

Oh, when the Steelers win, we win! I think every business in the hospitality industry can attest to that. But we do have specials during sporting events that really do help increase sales.

You’ve managed to gain a great deal of media attention over the years. What’s behind that success and what makes Primanti’s so fun?

Yes, we’ve been very fortunate. We have a great PR company that stays on top of all the buzz in and around the city. We have been on the Travel Channel three times in the last year and a half…like I said…the traveling “foodies” helps!

What is the biggest misperception you think people have about Primanti’s?

We are about our sandwich; it is our number one priority and the butter on our bread per se! But we do have expanded menus and sports bars in the suburbs. In particular, we sell fresh made-from-scratch hand-tossed pizza and breaded wings that customers just love.

How much interaction have you had with the local sports players, and how so?

Of course they have ALL been to Primanti’s. It’s fun for us when new recruits come to town. It’s one of the first things they have to do!

How much do you work with the teams themselves in your promotions.

We do have a location in each of the three sports venues and once in a while we will partner with the teams on charity events and PR opportunities as they arise.

Any last thoughts for readers?

We’re honored to be the city’s Sandwich and hope that we continue to provide quality ingredients with great service at all of the Primanti’s twenty locations.

Bill Deasy, Pittsburgh Musician

Bill Deasy:

First, can you tell readers how you got started as a musician and how you’d describe your music?

I got into music at an early age because of an obsession with Elvis Presley. The old Elvis songs (“Hound Dog,” Jailhouse Rock,” “Don’t Be Cruel”) blew my mind as a young kid and inspired me to beg for my first guitar.

I would call my music folk rock for lack of a better term. The lyrics matter but I still want to rock!

How did you settle into this style of music for yourself – what made it “right” for you and who are some early influences?

Let me answer those questions in reverse. As I mentioned, my first influence was Elvis. I later fell under the spell of stuff my older was into. Neil Young. CSN. Jackson Browne. Springsteen’s Nebraska. That music really resonated with me and sort of provided my songwriting education. My style springs directly from those wonderful artists.

What local musicians have you looked up to and worked with – and have any helped you over the years in any way?

I have been helped along the way by many, many musicians. All the members of the Gathering Field and my current band; guys a little ahead of me on the path such as Joe Grushecky and Donnie Iris; my compatriots the Clarks and Rusted Root. I’ve written, sung, recorded and/or performed with all of them and they’ve all impacted my journey in beautiful and unexpected ways!

In the 1990s Pittsburgh was on fire with original local music. I can’t imagine that any city in the country was more supportive in that time period and I feel lucky to have been a part of it. Pittsburgh is friendly and inspiring with its cultural diversity and beautiful architecture and landscape.

As for breakout artists, I’d say we have had some, though not in my genre. Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller spring to mind. two artists from the ‘burgh who celebrate their Pittsburgh roots.

Are you a sports fan – if so, what teams/athletes do you follow and what are some of your favorite sports memories?

Yes I am a sports fan. Especially into the Pirates and the Steelers. Have fond, if somewhat vague, memories of the 1979 World Series…my brother and I celebrating in the schoolyard behind our house after The Pirates won.

Other highlights: Santonio Holmes Superbowl touchdown catch. That whole crazy playoff game against the Colts where we manhandled Manning, the refs blew that call, and Bettis fumbled yet we still managed to win the game.

Have you had the opportunity to perform in front of any local sports venues/players? If so, how were those experiences?

I’ve done lots of anthems for Pirates and Steelers…and had various Pittsburgh athletes and coaches at gigs throughout the years, which is always fun. Sports are the fabric of our lives here, so local music is bound to reflect and interact with that.

What have been some of the more memorable performances for you in general – and what made them so?

Almost every performance is memorable for one reason or another. I guess one that stands out is a Gathering Field Fourth of July outside Three Rivers Stadium. It was our peak in terms of popularity and career surge (we’d just signed with Atlantic, Lost in America was all over the radio) and there was this moment where I lifted my arms at a certain point in a song and fireworks started as if we’d planned it that way – and people went crazy and I felt like was floating or something!

I’ve kind of eased past that portion of the journey. Not touring as much as I once was. To be honest, though, when I was, I loved it. It’s a unique experience being in different cities night after night, connecting with people through music.

The travel I did for songwriting was, perhaps, more grueling, where you stay in one city and cram in as much co-writing as you possibly can.

What would surprise fans/readers most about you and your music?

Maybe that I always get really, really nervous to perform – to the point of flat-out dreading it sometimes…though the first moments completely erase all that, without fail! Some people may also not know that I’ve published three novels and am currently working on a screenplay.

If you could be the GM or player for any local team, which would it be and what would be the first thing you’d do?

Probably the Pirates…and the first thing I’d do is have all the players jump into the Allegheny River so that 19 years of losing could be ceremoniously washed away!

Where can fans (and future fans) find and purchase your music?

www.billdeasy.com is the portal to all things Deasy!

Any last thoughts for readers?

Go Bucs!!!

Interview with Founders of Steel City Buzz

Founders of Steel City Buzz

What are your backgrounds and how did you come up with the SCB concept?

Bill Hinchey – Rob Phillips and I went to 1^st grade together in Elizabeth Township just outside of McKeesport and we’ve been friends ever since. Rob’s background is selling data services to large companies and I have been entrepreneur and marketing guy. The idea for SCB was simple – we wanted a social network that was just about Pittsburgh sports. We were tired of all the NOISE that you have to wade through on Facebook and Twitter. So, we built our own and we are psyched to bring Steel City Buzz to Pittsburgh fans all over the world.

Describe Steel City Buzz and why you think Pittsburgh fans will use it?

Rob Phillips – Here is SCB in a nutshell – It is a virtual stadium, where you get to pick who you sit with! We created a place that you can chat with an entire nation of Pittsburgh fans OR just a couple of your friends. We’ve included local media personalities and current and past Pros like Chris Hoke, Louis Lipps and Lawrence Timmons. Our app is free, easy-to-use and you can personalize the experience. That means you can block content, invite and create friend circles, and share posts on Facebook and Twitter. We also provide real-time scores and we will be rolling out new features on almost a weekly basis.

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

Bill Hinchey – Software development is just hard. The end product should look simple-to-use and be “seamless” or “intuitive”. But the process of getting the app to look and feel that way as well as perform at a high level is a major challenge. Oh, and one more thing, you only get one chance to do it right or you’re toast!

You have a lot of celebs and pro players on your app. What has that experience been like?

Rob Phillips – Working with guys like Mel Blount, Peter Taglianetti, Chris Hoke, Louie Lipps has been one of the best parts of this journey. We had ZERO idea if they would want to be a part of a social network or even talk to us. What we found is that they loved the idea of connecting to Pittsburgh fans and talking about the sport that was that loved so much. Each one of them has a great story and SCB gives them a chance to share some of themselves with the best fans on the planet.

How many downloads or users are on Steel City Buzz?

Rob Phillips – We don’t disclose that information but I can tell you that we are seeing a tremendous uptick in downloads, and we built our network to handle well over 100,000 users. We have partners in place who can scale up in literally 24 hours of notice. We will be ready as more of Steeler Nation comes knocking at our door!

What is next for Steel City Buzz?

Bill Hinchey – We’ve built a great platform that is available on the web and on every mobile device – iPhone, iPad, Android phone and tablet. Now our focus is to get the word out to Pittsburgh fans and let them create a social network that is full of great content. Our tag line is Chat, Rant, Rave 24/7 and lately it been more RANT with the collapse of the Pirates and the two Steeler losses. That’s ok. At least fans have a ONE place to go and get it out of their system. We also want to create a charity component to raise money for charities such as The Mel Blount Youth Home. Honestly, we have only shown fans the “tip of the iceberg”; there is so much more to come.

What is the best way to reach you guys?

Rob Phillips — Fans can download SCB directly from our website at www.steelcitybuzz.com and can follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Other inquires can be sent to us at info@steelcitybuzz.com

Daniel Piacquadio – Harold’s Corral Sports Bar

Daniel Piacquadio – Harold’s Corral Sports Bar:

First, can you tell readers about how you got involved with Harold’s and when?

I grew up in Pittsburgh and moved here out Arizona in ’87. I graduated from Seton-LaSalle high school.

My dad owned a couple of restaurants (Pasta Too in Bethel Park and Piacquadios in Mt. Lebanon) in Pittsburgh. He started dating a lady that lived in Cave Creek Az. and fell in love with Arizona. He moved out there to the Cave Creek area – at that time, Cave Creek was about a a half-hour to 45 minutes from Phoenix. Later, I went to Arizona State University – I had some friends from Pittsburgh there so it was an easy transition.

My dad bought Harolds in ’87. Before then, my friends and I used to watch Steelers games in the back of bars when I was still in school. After three years of owning the restaurant, we started going and spending time watching the games with my dad at the restaurant. It started off with maybe ten or twelve people. Now, we have over 1,500 in the fan club and over 600-650 people come to see the games, on average.

What makes Harold’s so unique?

There are lots of Steelers sports bars, but this is unique in that a guy from Pittsburgh owns it. I am able to do stuff that maybe other fan clubs can’t. We have the passion for it. We have a 10×11 screen. We know and serve the Pittsburgh food – we put that in there. We give you the full Pittsburgh experience, even though it’s a country western bar with boots hanging from the ceiling.

What are some of the more memorable times/occurrences you’ve had at Harold’s, and what made them so?

We got 3,200 fans for the Seattle Super Bowl, 3,600 for the Arizona Super Bowl and 3,800 for the Green Bay Super Bowl. We’re right next to a Green Bay sports bar and share a parking lot, so during the Green Bay Super Bowl we actually together had over 6,200 fans!

I remember a few years ago I got a phone call from Mel Blount. He was referred to me by the Steelers marketing director Tony Quatrini and Bill Hillgrove. He asked me if I knew who he was and I said of course (laughing). I asked how I could help him, and he said they wanted to come out to Arizona for the Steelers game and expand their fundraising efforts there and wanted our help working with our fan club.

Well, we created events – a golf tournament and fan fest on saturday the day before the game- that brought in over $30,000.

Mel Blount called me again a couple of years later and we threw a huge event and gold tournament. Blount, Mike Wagner, Andy Russell all came and Donnie Iris played. We had over 2,200 people rocking to Donnie Iris. Bill Hillgrove mc’d – it was a great experience.

I actually went to Mel Blount’s boys home ion Washington, PA. I was blown away by his dedication to those boys. He was raised on a farm and now owns acres of land. He has the boys do what he used to do when he was on the farm growing up – taking care of the animals and the farm. He’s an impressive man – he’s still bag and looks like he could still play today!

From caged lions and tigers to frequent visits by celebrities, Harold’s has a rich history. How did that history come about – what made Harold’s such a unique place from it’s beginning?

The Corral started in 1935 – it was started by a guy named Johnny Walker. And that time it was a liquor stand really – that’s all they did. Two dams were being built in the area and the construction workers would come there and buy beer – it was really their one social engagement they had.

Harold bought it in 1955 and did some crazy stuff to bring people to Cave Creek from Phoenix. Live tigers and lions, gunfights….stuff like that.

No live animals today?

(laughing) We inquired with the zoo to see if we could bring in a live tiger to celebrate the anniversary of Harolds, but that didn’t go over. We do live gunfights still – we just use blanks!

We’ve added to it since. One of Harold’s grandsons has become a big Steelers fan. He’s happy to see what we’ve done with it now. It’s now the biggest Steelers bar in the country, I assume. It’s bizarre but a really cool thing.

What’s the most difficult aspect of running a place like Harold’s, and why?

I was flipping pizzas since i was twelve. The restaurant business is in our blood – my grandfather and father both owned restaurants.

It’s rewarding meeting people. We sell season passes for tables, just like they do in the stadium for seats. There are some people who have sat at the same table for fifteen to twenty years. We’ve gone to weddings and made lots of friendships with those people.

The challenges are really just of the every day business. It’s not the easiest business to be in.

What’s next/new for Harold’s in 2012-2013?

We’ll bring in a recently retired Steelers player this year – I can’t say who it is yet. We’re not playing the Cardinals this year in Arizona, so the fan club will do a road trip – probably to Pittsburgh.

As a Steelers fan, what are you looking forward to most from the team this season and why?

I love this year’s team. Cincinnati with their young players will be tough. Baltimore’s always tough. Playing them twice in three weeks – I just hope we survive and don’t have any injuries.

I think Haley will inspire Ben – he’s still one of the best quarterbacks in the league today. I think he needed that push Haley will give him. The concern is that we lost veterans like Hoke, Farrior and Hines, but the bond in the locker room overcomes that.

I’m excited. I’m optimistic at this time every year, but I think this is the year. I think this team is better than last year’s.

Michael Gablicki of Rusted Root:

First off, can you tell readers what you’ve been up to lately and about your new album and upcoming gigs?

We just finished with our new record – we went to Philly to do that. I think this will be our best record yet. We’ve been touring on it for about a half-year – playing the new stuff live. We got feedback from the fans on what songs they love – as we play, we get a feel from the audience on what they latch on to. We can see what they like -which songs – and then we picked the songs for the record that way and continued to develop them and work on them and revise them every show.

Isn’t that backwards from how most bands tour? Don’t most make the album then tour?

People do it both ways I guess. Doing it this way works well for us because we try to bring so much live energy to the record.

Continue reading “Michael Gablicki of Rusted Root:”

David Todd, ESPN Radio

David Todd

First, congratulations on your new show on 970 ESPN, The David Todd Show, which started last Wednesday. What should fans expect from your show and when are you on the air?

Thanks Ron. There is a lot going on for me right now and I’m excited to get this opportunity. The David Todd Show airs on 970 ESPN daily from 2-4 pm. During the Steelers season the second hour of the show will be simulcast on Steelers Nation Radio so it will be exclusively Steelers. Of course that means there will be a ton of other topics to cover in the first hour.

I’ll be hosting a couple of other shows as well. Tailgate Talk will air four hours before each Steelers game, a two hour pre-pregame show if you will. If you want to load up on football on Sundays that is the place to start. Also, two hours before each Pitt home game I’ll be hosting the College Football Hotline show from The Rivers Casino. Both shows will air on 970 ESPN as well.

How did you first get interested and involved in sports radio?

I’ve always been a pretty passionate sports fan. As a kid, I was consuming everything that was available. Back then, that meant reading the two local papers, listening to games on the radio and watching the few that were on television. Clearly that has changed over the last 30 years. Now sports is available 24-7. People want to talk about what is going on and I felt like it might be something where I could contribute, hopefully bringing an insightful perspective.

When I moved back to Pittsburgh I wasn’t sure exactly what I was going to do. It had been suggested to me many times that I get involved in sports. Through a friend I met someone at Clear Channel and they were kind enough to give me my first opportunity in radio. From there, thanks to the company and some hard work, I’ve gotten to this point, having my own show.

Can you describe your approach to sports broadcasting – how you want to be perceived by fans?

Great question Ron. Obviously listeners are going to make their own decisions, but I hope people tune into my show because the want to hear informed, intelligent conversation about sports. I strive to be as well-prepared as possible each day and to talk about the topics that are foremost on people’s minds.

I’ve got opinions and I’ll certainly let those be known. I relish debate from others, but I don’t need to get into a shouting match with callers. Reasonable people can disagree, there is a lot of room for gray. That doesn’t mean it can’t get animated now and then, nobody wants to listen to boring, mundane talk either. The key is to find the right balance.

Who are some of the media personalities you have learned most from during your career so far, and what lessons have you taken away from them?

After growing up in Pittsburgh I spent a lot of time living in NYC. I listened to a lot of the local guys there and many of the national guys as well. Until the past few years I always listened as a fan and not really as a person looking to get better at his craft. That has changed as I’ve gotten involved professionally. Nationally a guy I think is exceptional is Scott Van Pelt.

There are also some very good professionals in the Pittsburgh market, but I hesitate to name names. I will say I think Joe Bendel is the most underrated broadcaster in Pittsburgh in my view. I think he does a great show. Hopefully I can get some of his listeners to tune in a little earlier and catch some of my show as well.

What would surprise fans most about the business of sports radio – what do you think is the biggest misperception fans have about what you do?

That it is glamorous. I really don’t see it that way. It’s a tough business. A lot of people would like to pursue it as a career, but opportunities are few and far between as I have come to learn. It’s not a business to get into if you are looking to get rich. There are very few people who become Bob Costas, Jim Nantz or Scott Van Pelt.

Also, many people who work in the industry for a living become a bit jaded dealing with athletes everyday and they lose the passion they had for sports when they started. That isn’t good or bad, it’s reality, but hopefully, by pursuing this later in life, I’ll have a bit of a different perspective.

Who have been some of the most interesting interviews for you so far, and what’s made them so?

Clint Hurdle is always a great interview and I had him as the first guest on my show. //www.970espn.com/cc-common/podcast/single_page.html?more_page=2&podcast=David_Todd&selected_podcast=20120829142130_1346268161_14949.mp3 He is smart, thoughtful and is willing to expand on the question. If you are prepared he will give you all you want. He’s also got as many anecdotes as anyone of ever met. He always adds color to any interview.

There are a ton of other guys who are top-notch in their field and I try to get them to join me regularly on the show. Rather than list them all, I’ll just encourage readers to join me and take a listen.

Who have been some of the toughest athletes for you to interview, and why?

I don’t know that I’ve found many athletes to be “tough” to interview. If that is the case I figure I didn’t do my part well.

What stories have been the most difficult for you to cover personally, and why?

The Penn St. story is just brutal for all the reasons that people can clearly see, but also because I have a lot of close personal friends who went to Penn St. and are terribly hurt and saddened by what has happened.

While the Sandusky case is certainly black and white, many of the other issues are much less so. People have incredibly strong, entrenched positions and can get very emotional about it.

After covering teams for an extended period of time, you must get closer to some of the athletes. How difficult is it for you and any sports broadcaster to remain impartial when discussing those players? How do you handle that?

I spend less time with the athletes than the beat writers do. I consider myself more of an analyst than a reporter, so often times I talk less with players and spend less time in locker rooms and clubhouses. Thus far personal relationships haven’t been an issue, but I am very cognizant of what I am saying when I am being critical. I want to be sure I am looking at things as objectively as possible and have a rational, reasoned point of view.

How do you find the Pittsburgh sports media market? Is it more of a collaborative-type fraternity or does it more contentious/competitive? If so, why?

People here have been incredibly good to me across the board and I am very appreciative of that. Yes, there is some level of competition, but I assume that is because everyone wants to be good at what they do. I’ve got no problem with that.

The only thing that surprises me is that some media members are thin-skinned and feel like they shouldn’t be criticized. We are in an industry where we critique players and coaches all the time. We should be critiqued as well. If someone doesn’t think I am on point or doing a good job they have every right to say so. If that is the case, hopefully I’ll learn from it and get better.

Any last thoughts for readers?

I’m thrilled that I have been able to build up an audience and hope people will continue to tune in to the show. They can also hear me on The Terrible Podcast with Dave Bryan (//itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/steelers-podcast-terrible/id405990739 ) of SteelersDepot.com and read my work on BucsDugout.com where I also do a podcast with Charlie Wilmoth.

I’m thankful that Clear Channel has given me this opportunity on ESPN and hoping to build it into some that listeners really enjoy.

And thank you Ron for the conversation and the great work you have been doing putting together so much good information in an easy to use format. I know tons of people in the industry have come to rely on you to make their life easier.

REVENGE IN THE ROCKIES” (ALL DAY Steeler Fan Rally)

STEELER FOOTBALL IS BACK!!

What better place is there to begin our “stairway to seven” than in Denver? We all remember the last matchup, the last play and the bitter taste of defeat we so rarely experience. THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW!! Come welcome Peyton back into the league with thousands of the greatest and most devoted fans in the world, as we INVADE DENVER with towels waving and lungs blazing! The madness officially begins one day early before we seek…

“REVENGE IN THE ROCKIES” (ALL DAY Steeler Fan Rally)

Saturday, September 8

Featuring two fromer Steeler greats…

ANDY RUSSELL and JOHN “FRENCHY” FUQUA

Rusty Bucket Bar & Grill, 3355 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80227

(303) 980-6200

~ FREE entry to Steeler fans

~ Player autographs

~ LIVE Steeler DJ & Fight Songs

~ Steeler Highlight films

~ Black and Gold Raffles by Steelcity Mafia

~ LIVE Polka by “Accordion Joe”

~ Iron City Beer and Primanti Style Sandwiches

**Doors open at 11AM and will close when we can’t scream anymore!!

MORE INFO ONLINE AT :

www.SteelCityMafia.com

www.The-Rusty-Bucket.com

Hank Williams Jr.

First, can you let readers know about your upcoming album – what should readers expect from your latest work and when does it release?

My new album comes out on July 10th. It is traditional Hank! You know I was pretty motivated after last year’s ESPN situation. Songs started coming to me in the middle of the night and I would grab the ipad and start writing. This album has a lot of what America wants to hear but so many are afraid to say it. This album is dedicated to all hard working Americans.

Tell us about your upcoming tour – and are you coming to the Pittsburgh area?

The Taking Back The Country Tour is just another tour. You know I only do twenty-five shows a year. So I get to choose where I perform and when I perform. I love Pittsburgh. My friends from Pittsburgh include Dan and Art Rooney as well as John Wodarek from the Steelers organization. They have been real good to Bocephus!

How much of an influence was your father in your approach to music – both in what you wanted to emulate and in the desire to create your own direction?

I am who I am. When I was young everyone wanted me to be exactly like daddy. But that wasn’t me. So the music now speaks for itself.

You were born in Louisiana but are a self-professed Steelers fan. How did that come about – what about the Steelers made you become a fan?

You know I was born in the Shreveport Sanitarium in the same hospital as Terry Bradshaw. I have been a fan and friend of the Steelers for many years!!!!

Who are some of the players you’ve gotten to know over the years and how?

I love soo many of the players. Heinz Ward, Terry Bradshaw, Troy Palamalu, Ben Roethlisberger .. but I am very close with Bill Cowher. I loved Cowher as we both understood each other very well.

What are some of your most memorable moments interacting with team members?

In my career with Monday Night Football, I have been to six Super Bowls. But nothing is as fun as when I am at a Super Bowl with The Rooney Family at the After Party and we are celebrating the BIG Win!!

What are your thoughts about the team’s chances this season?

I think they have a chance. Its about the rebuild and having strong players.

How familiar are you with the Pittsburgh music scene? Any musicians from the area you follow – and how do you think the Pittsburgh music industry can improve and get more talent to be seen and heard nationally?

Well my buddy Wodarek with the Steelers has a band The Stickers. I have been asked to sing on their record, so who knows what will happen.

What are some of your more memorable experiences playing in front of crowds in Pittsburgh?

Being on the stage is what we do. Everything else is work.