Media – Page 5 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Don Skwar, ESPN

Don Skwar, Senior News Editor, ESPN (March 9, 2011):

First, can you briefly explain you role as Senior News Editor at ESPN – what that entails?

I oversee the Event news editors – there are eight of them – whose job it is to ensure the editorial directionof the games that are on ESPN’s various networks as well as ABC. I also oversee the bureau reporters and producers, whose job it is to report on various breaking news and feature and enterprise stories that will make their way onto ESPN’s various programs.

You seem to be very involved in the development of journalists – as the President of the APSE (Associated Press Sports Editors) and with your work at the Sports Journalism Institute. What advice would you give young journalists trying to get started today?

I actually don’t have a role with SJI, although one of the people who works with me – Sandy Rosenbush – is a co-founder of SJI. I was the president of APSE back in 2001-2002. As to what advice I’d give to young journalists trying to get started today: Same as I gave in the ‘80s, ‘90s and ‘00s – make sure you’re passionate about your work, because the long hours and grunt work won’t seem like work at all; be fair and balanced in your reporting; and realize the importance of being right, not first.

What have been some of the most exciting – and most difficult – stories you’ve overseen in the seven years that you’ve been at ESPN?

The Tiger Woods controversy. Barry Bonds’ pursuit of Hank Aaron’s home-run record. The BALCO/steroids issue. And by the way, I was involved in the coverage of all of these, but I wouldn’t say I oversaw them.

As advertising revenue on the web becomes harder to maintain, how are you able to leverage your content to find alternative sources of revenue? What’s worked – and what hasn’t?

I’m not involved in dotcom, so that’s hard for me to answer. I do know that ad placement is key, as is the charging for our Insider package – and we’re able to do that because of the talented insiders we have. And that only comes because we’ve outlaid money to get them. Some things never change: Money does help to beget money.

How do you differentiate yourself from the ever-increasing number of independent news sources -blogs, twitter….how do you deal with those as information rivals?

They’re very real, and very immediate. The landscape for competing media has changed drastically in the last five or so years. We need to be aware of that competition but, as I mentioned above, we also have to be sure we’re right, not necessarily first. It’s great to be first, but not if you’re wrong.

I also think that some blogs and sites don’t really care about being accurate as much as they want to get the word on the street out there and let the readers decide if it’s true or not. While that’s an interesting philosophy, I still think readers will have a greater tendency of returning to a source of news that is reliable and accurate.

What are your big objectives for 2011 at ESPN? Any specific objectives you are looking to accomplish?

I’ve got a new job heading my way in a few weeks: as the overseer of the weekend SportsCenters. The amount of talent on the various SportsCenters is overwhelming, and it’ll be humbling to work among that talent. I look forward to it, nonetheless.

From a Pittsburgh perspective, some fans have complained about the fact that ESPN’s sports coverage has become too general and nationally focused for the Pittsburgh market. Radio stations have removed local broadcasting in Pittsburgh, for example. Can you explain how you have addressed the need to create more locally-focused content portals for Pittsburgh fans and what future plans for doing so might entail?

I don’t know enough about what’s going on in the Pittsburgh market to comment intelligently on this. I do know we’ve started and have been successful with local dotcoms in five major markets – Boston, New York, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles – and there’s always a possibility we could expand into more markets in the future.

There is an increasingly large number of stories covering the personal and legal lives of sports figures. How do you determine what to publish these stories and when you have enough information to cross the line from a potential story to a story you decide to run?

It’s really a case-by-case basis, with the popularity of the person, the severity of the crime and several other factors coming into play. As to the legal side of things, we will run a story if an athlete has been charged. We won’t necessarily run it if that athlete has been accused. We also weigh how much play that story might be getting in other media outlets. So a lot of issues and circumstances have to be out there.

How do you address those who say ESPN is too closely tied into the leagues/teams it covers and sometimes appears biased or unwilling to tackle stories that are negative towards those leagues and teams?

We definitely have ties to leagues and teams. We’re rightsholders with a lot of them. But I can say unequivocally that our affiliation – large or small – with a team, a league or a player doesn’t interfere with our pursuit of any story.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Just to hit ‘em straight.

Joe Starkey

Joe Starkey, Tales From the Pittsburgh Penguins (August 12, 2011):

First, what made you decide to write on this subject and include the past as well as present team stories?

Well, my former colleague at the Trib, Mike Prisuta, gave me the opportunity and passed along the project from a publishing company in Chicago. Their whole theme was to do ‘greatest tales’ books on teams and players.

How were able to research those older Penguins teams to uncover the stories as you did – who were you able to speak with and how much fun was it to connect with those older players?

It was incredibly fun.

I already had tons of numbers from covering the team, but Cindy Himes at the Penguins connected with me a lot more of the old-time players and people like Paul Steigerwald, Bob Grove and Tom McMillan — with their encyclopedic knowledge of team history — gave me tales to pursue and people to connect with.

How was the game different then – how has it changed, and has it done so for the better, do you think?

So many things are different. I remember looking at one of the old photos and seeing the glass was only a few feet high. People could and would stand to reach over it.

No helmets, obviously, and less equipment, which actually prevented a lot of the gutless, idiotic plays you see nowadays. More equipment means more courage.

Also, as players will tell you, they protected each other back then. Of course, they also had bench-clearing brawls.

The biggest difference of all, as in any sport, is the size and speed and strength of players. Just no comparison. The size of goalie equipment, too, is a joke nowadays. You look at old-time goalies, they practically look naked in the net.

Their masks were much cooler then, too. I miss end to end rushes and slap shots off the rush. But overall, the game is better because of the skill and speed. Simply put, more players are good.

The Penguins came such a long way from sad sack team to contender – what happened organizationally to make this happen?

It started, of course, with Mario Lemieux, and Eddie Johnston’s willingness to go to great lengths to secure that pick (nice way of saying Penguins tanked it for top pick). EJ then would not be tempted by any trade offer for top pick.

Later came Paul Coffey, which was the kind of trade that made people say, wow, if the Penguins can get a guy like that, anything is possible. Then, of course, Craig Patrick came along and brought in Bob Johnson and Scotty Bowman, and suddenly the Penguins had one of the most respected management teams in the game.

Who were a few of the more memorable characters on those older teams –what made them so – any examples?

Eddie Shack stands out. Just a complete nut. Commandeered the Zamboni for a few rides. Crazy end-to-end rushes captured fans’ imagination. Bryan “Buggsy” Watson took the team’s hotel shuttle for a ride one time, kicking the driver out of his seat, and Andy Brown was the last goalie to play without a mask.

What would surprise fans most about the early days and about the success the Penguins finally realized?

One thing that surprised me in researching was that George Steinbrenner almost became owner of the team at one point early on. That would have been interesting.

Also, the NHL at one point seized control of the franchise. There were financial issues from the get-go.

Oh, and by the way, there were financial issues with the company that published the book, too. It went bankrupt and folded!! How ironic is that? Is ironic the right word there? I don’t even know where the book can be found at the moment. Probably on Craig’s List or something, or at somebody’s garage sale.

If you could put a finger on it, what did those Penguins teams of old “do wrong” in their inability to win on the ice and win over fans?

Couldn’t beat the Islanders, for one thing.

You wonder how things might have been different if they hadn’t blown the 3-0 lead in 75.

The constant trading of first-round draft picks was probably the biggest mistake. Eddie Johnston ended that habit, emphatically.

Besides the obvious players like Lemieux, Jagr….who were some of the more memorable players for you on these recent teams that didn’t share as much of the limelight, and what made them so?

Hans Jonsson wore blue socks every day. Darius Kasparaitis was probably my favorite player to cover. Just a warrior and a naturally funny guy. Never forget him playing with a torn ACL. Also the way he hit people (like Lindros).

Brad Werenka was an interesting person. I remember him constantly reading on the team plane (he went on to become a lawyer). Jiri Slegr wearing literally pounds of jewelry around his neck. Kip Miller played the guitar fairly well. Robbie Brown was a great guy. I remember my first trip with the team being a bit uncomfortable walking onto the team bus — especially when I got the stare from Barrasso — because there were no seats up front. I wound up in the back, next to Brown, and he couldn’t have been nicer.

This offseason, the Penguins lost a couple of their “heart and soul” guys in Rupp and Talbot. How damaging are those losses to the locker room >>> > chemistry and to the team’s “grit”? Who replaces those personalities?

Always hard to tell how losing certain players will affect chemistry.

I don’t think much if Crosby and Malkin come back and play well! I think the chemistry was excellent before Rupp got here and will continue to be so. He contributed, for sure, but I wish he’d playedmore in Game 7 vs. Tampa.

Talbot’s contributions won’t be forgotten. But I think the team will be fine if its top-end talent comes through.No shortage of grit when you look at who could be on the third and fourth lines.

The Penguins have become one of the most community-oriented franchises in sports. Do you think this is in part to secure their place with a fan-base that they had lost much of years ago (to the point of almost having to relocate)?

I just think they’re really good at reaching out in creative ways, like having Sid show up at somebody’s house with tickets. That kind of thing. They’re smart people. But I also think winning is the best fanattraction of all.

Any plans for a new book?

None at the moment, but I’m open to suggestions!

Any last thoughts for readers?

Should be a fascinating training camp, especially day 1. If No. 87 is cleared for contact and ready to go, I can imagine very good things for this team.

Stan Savran

You are missed on the radio by fans – are there plans for you to get back on air soon?

I am going to be starting a new show on the new 970 ESPN on January 3rd. 　I’ll be on the air from 10 to 11 am….and then when the Steelers season is over, and Tunch and Wolf are no longer on, I will expand my show to 10-12…and it will stay at that time from that point on.

What are your thoughts on the state of sports broadcasting today – has it become too reliant on gossip and shock as it competes with the internet? What are some of the up-and-coming Pittsburgh broadcasters you think highly of?

I’ll be honest and say I don’t listen to a lot of sports talk radio…hardly any at all. I’m in it, and I’ve been dealing with my Own shows for years now, so I prefer to listen to music when I’m in the car.

I don’t know about other markets, but I think in general, sports talk radio is pretty tame in Pittsburgh compared to other markets like New York and Philly, for example. 　And I think the reason for that is…the market here doesn’t appreciate a whole lot of it. 　Obviously, there are some guys who are doing it very successfully. 　Equally as obvious is the success Mark Madden has had and is having. 　But Mark is able to do it first of all with a solid foundation of sports knowledge. 　Plus he has great intelligence and wit, which is what it takes to pull that off.

As far as young up and comers, this is an older market, so I think the sports announcers tend to be a bit older. 　Clearly, I’m a Big Guy Junker fan. 　Bob Pompeani as well. 　Ken Laird is a terrific reporter, and Jim Colony is not only good…but unique. I Also have to give shoutouts to my FSN colleagues as well.

How as an announcer 　do you stay true to news and avoid opinions in discussions. 　And how/when do you decide to cross that line and offer opinions?

I think it depends on what hat I’m wearing. When I was a sporta anchor on Channel 4, I tried to do it straight, and save the commentary for when I was actually doing a commentary…and labeled it as such. Sports talk radio IS about opinion…if you don’t have one…generally a strong one…then you shouldn’t be on the air! 　SportsBeat was as popular as it was because people basically tuned in to hear the opinions of Stan and Guy.

What are some of your best (and worst) experiences reporting on Pittsburgh teams and players over the years?

Certainly the 3 Stanley Cups and the Super Bowls the Steelers won since I’ve been here. 　But the best story I ever covered here was Mario’s comeback in 2000. 　That was magical. 　The worst? 　Two of them. 　The death of the Chief, Art Rooney Sr. 　And the horrific accident to Gabe Rivera which ended his career…and subsequently sentenced him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. I have never gotten over that.

What are your thoughts on the litany of NFL fines and how the Steelers players, coaches and the front office have handled the situation?

I applaud the league for its objective, but not in the way they’ve handled it. 　They’ve got a lot of work to do in the offseason to explain exactly what they want from the players. 　James Harrison may or may not be a league target, but he has been too stubborn. 　You can indignantly claim you’re being victimized, but all your doing is costing your team 15 yards with each hit. 　At some time, you have to change what you’re doing. 　Even Mike Tomlin has said that.

How has this team changed under Tomlin over the past few seasons and what are your thoughts of him as a head coach. 　How has he differed from Cowher and even Noll? 　　　　

Tomlin is an interesting mix of the previous two. He keeps his distance from the players like Noll, but they never doubt he’s got their back. 　He’s not as close to them as Cowher was, but he still is closer and engages them more than Chuck. 　I think Tomlin is a man of tremendous character and ethics. 　I admire him as a person first, before I admire his coaching abilities.

What would surprise us about this Steelers team and coaching staff? 　Any under-the-radar young players or strategies we should look out for?

Despite his problems of a year ago, and some this season, I think they’re still very high on William Gay, and wouldn’t be surprised to see him start at corner next year. 　Especially if Ike Taylor leaves via free agency.

We hear a number of fans express concern over Arians as a coach/play caller. What are your thoughts on this – is this just an issue of lofty fan expectation or are there real issues with Arians?

I have always had two big issues with Arians. I firmly believe in a strong running game…and to have that, especially with this offensive line, you need a fullback. 　Arians uses a tight end instead, and I’m sorry, a TE is never going to be as effective at the point of attack as a Dan Kreider type. 　Secondly, I don’t think Arians is as good at play sequencing….meaning calling a play in the 1st quarter just to set up something later in the game. 　Whisenhunt was a master at it.

What does the Pittsburgh Power, the area’s new team, have to do to be successful?

I don’t think they will be, no matter what they do. 　True, Pittsburgh is a great football town, but it’s also a very discerning football town. 　I think, after the curiosity wears off, they’ll see that this is a novelty rather than the kind of football that will satisfy the hard core fan.

What are some of the blogs/sites you rely on for sports news now?

ESPN, NHL.com, NFL.com….and the local team sites.

Do you see competition between the area’s teams for PR/audience share – and how does that occur if so?

I don’t think It’s direct competition, but I do think that the successes of one franchise puts additional pressure on others to succeed.

Anything you’d like to add/further thoughts for Pittsburgh Sports Daily Bulletin Readers your work and Pittsburgh sports in General?

Just a huge thank you to all those who have watched/listened/supported me over the years…through several moves up and down the dial. 　It means everything to me, and you guys are the reason I keep at it, trying to give you the best I’ve got every time I go on the air, no matter where it is. 　I hope you’ll tune in when I start the new show on 970 ESPN. 　I also want to thank all those who sent best wishes during my recovery from open heart surgery!

Continue reading “Stan Savran”

Craig Wolfley, Steelers offensive Lineman, 1980-1989

Where can fans find you on the air and online?

My blog is //craigwolfley.com/ and on 970am ESPN Pittsburgh – we moved to 12-2 with our In the Locker Room show with Tunch Ilkin.

What would surprise fans most about this team?

No surprises at this point. Biggest thing about this team is its tremendous belief in one another. Its about their belief that it’s about what WE do – not about the other team. They honestly believe that it’s not about their opponent – that if they do what they need to do as a player and team they will win. The other team doesn’t matter. Its as simple as that.

They don’t believe in emotion as much as enthusiasm. Emotion is too fleeting – this goes back to Chuck Noll days. If you take pride in what you do and have passion for the game, you will win. Emotion only goes so far and is an up and down thing.

Continue reading “Craig Wolfley, Steelers offensive Lineman, 1980-1989”

John Steigerwald

John Steigerwald, Sportscaster and Author “Just Watch the Game” :

In your book, you detail how you started and how you got to the level of prominence you are at today. How hard was that initial struggle to “make it” and did you ever see yourself finding this level of success then, and did you even want it?

The chapter in the book is called “Look out, Curt Gowdy.” I started out with the intention of becoming Curt Gowdy, who was the top guy at NBC at the time and doing all the major events –World Series, Super Bowls, Rose Bowl etc. I wanted to do play-by-play because, for me, it’s always been about going to the games.

It was a struggle in the beginning but I was thrilled to have every job that I had, including my first one at a Cable TV station in Sharon, Pa. that paid me two bucks and hour. I didn’t make much money doing play-by-play in the minor leagues but I loved every second of it.

People often look back at their struggles to “make it” as some of the best times of their career. Is that the case for you –why/why not and what experiences really helped to motivate you and shape your career?

I can’t think of any specific experiences that motivated me. I was always confident in my ability and – justifiably or not–always felt that I could be good at anything that I put effort into.

In the same vein – what people motivated and inspired you most, and how so?

I was motivated by Bob Prince. Listening to him doing Pirates games beginning when I was five or six years old, made me want to be a baseball announcer…as soon as I realized I wasn’t going to be a Major League Baseball player.

Your book reflects your “no pulling punches” style of broadcasting. How has that helped you over the years and have you ever experienced regret at any point for potentially going “too far”? If so, when?

I think being willing to “tell it like it is” sets you part…especially now when there are so many generic people working in radio and TV. I haven’t really expressed at going to far, but I’ve had several episodes when I had to defend myself against viewers, listeners or readers who thought I went too far. I really can’t think of any one example when I went farther than I wanted to.

In your two-plus decades with the Steelers, who were the people –players, coaches, front office people – that really symbolized for you how the game should be played, and what made them so?

Chuck Noll is the most impressive person associated with the Steelers that I met. He exuded authority, toughness, intelligence and class. There aren’t a lot of people in sports who have as much of all those qualities as Noll had.

The Chief, Art Rooney, was one of the nicest, most unassuming guys I’ve met in sports. No player on the Steelers impressed me more than Joe Greene.

Of all the sports media people you’ve worked with, who were some of the most –and least –enjoyable – and what made them so?

There are too many people who I worked with still working in the media now for me to answer that question.

What do you think Bob Prince would think of today’s Pittsburgh Pirates-and would you agree with him?

Bob Prince would think that this year’s Pirates team was exciting.

He would have become disillusioned and fed up with Major League Baseball a long time ago. I can’t imagine him having any patience for the economic disparity and what it has done to the Pirates.

In your book you discuss the pleasure – and sometimes displeasure –of the hundreds of interviews you’ve gotten to do over the years. Who were some of the most and least enjoyable Pittsburgh sports figures to interview – and what made them so?

Most enjoyable interviews: Terry Bradshaw, Bubby Brister, Chuck Tanner, Kevin Stevens, Joe Greene, Phil Garner, Dwight White, Jerome Bettis

Least enjoyable: Tom Barrasso, Tom Barasso, Tom Barrasso, Barry Bonds, Greg Lloyd, Tom Barrasso, Bill Cowher.

What’s wrong with professional sports today?

The biggest problem in professional sports today is a lack of perspective. Fans and media have assigned way too much importance to sports.

There’s no better example than the violence between grown men wearing opposite replica game jerseys.

In your book, you discuss the “Demise of the pick-up game”. What’s to blame for this –and can it be turned around, in your opinion?

The pickup game is dead. Air conditioning was one of the early reasons for its demise. Overprotective parents and too many kids whose fathers are either not around or too busy to teach them how to play ball and the overemphasis on organized sports at a young age are also major contributing factors.

Video games haven’t helped.

I don’t think it can be turned around. Parents have become convinced that their kids can’t play sports unless they’re involved. It’s sad and pathetic.

What’s the one thing you would like most for readers to take from your book – and why?

I would just hope that people would get a laugh from some of the stories and maybe some insight into the behind the scenes aspects of sports and the media. It’s not exactly ” The Brothers Karamazov.”

How has the venture with Trib Total Media/TribLive Radio going? What have been some of the successes and frustrations so far of being part of Pittsburgh’s first internet radio station?

I’m having fun doing internet radio. It’s a new venture and I’m just glad someone is still willing to pay me to spew my BS. So far, no frustrations.

Jim O’Brien

Jim O’Brien, Steelers Author and Sports Columnist (July 15, 2011):

You’ve covered Pittsburgh sports for over 40 years and won numerous accolades across your journalism career. What stands out as the greatest accomplishment for you, and why?

I am proud that I have had two publishing ventures in Pittsburgh and that I always paid my bills.

Beano Cook and I began publishing and editing Pittsburgh Weekly Sports in the fall of my senior year at Pitt in 1963. and we continued to publish this lively and sometimes controversial tabloid for another five and a half years.

We closed down when Beano went to New York to work as a publicist for ABC TV and I went to cover The Dolphins for The Miami News in 1969. We made good on all our subscription orders and we paid all our bills. That almost never happens in such ventures.

I started publishing and editing books on Pittsburgh sports scene, the first two with publisher and Graphics artist Marty Wolfson, and 18 more on my own in 1980. The books met the test of the market place and have been popular the past 30 years. I have not borrowed any money in either venture and do not owe anyone a dime.

I was the smallest kid in my neighborhood in Hazelwood yet I managed to make it to the major leagues in every sport you can name.

You’ve written a number of books on Pittsburgh sports –Lambert, the Man in the Middle and Other Outstanding Linebackers, The Chief, Fantasy Camp, Pittsburgh Proud and so many more. Which of your books are you most proud of, and why?

My favorite book out of the twenty-three I have written, twenty on Pittsburgh topics, would have to be MAZ and The ’60 Bucs.

That is a coming of age book for me. I entered Pitt as a freshman in September of 1960 and one month later the Pirates were playing the mighty New York Yankees in a World Series less than two blocks from the Pitt Student Union.

I thought I couldn’t have picked a better place to go to college. I would later (1966) meet my future wife Kathleen Churchman, who had an apartment on Oakland Avenue a block from Forbes Field when we were both in grad school at Pitt.

Any new books from you that fans should be waiting for?

I have outlined at least seven future books, but have the next one on hold because the book business has been in a state of flux for the past three years, with Borders declaring bankruptcy and Barnes & Noble being up for sale, and payments not being made on product sales.

I hope to write some more books when the retail market scene improves and the book store chains are paying their bills. Right now, I am concentrating on selling the seven books in my series that are still available. The rest are out of print.

Which of them surprised you most in terms of the learnings derived from the research you conducted to complete them – and what about that research surprised you?

Some of my favorites to interview through the years, who were good ballplayers and know how to tell a story, are J.T. Thomas, Dwight White and Mike Wagner of the Steelers, Bob Friend, Ron Necciai, Frank Gustine Sr. and Frank Thomas of the Pirates, Eddie Johnston , Jack Riley and Pierre Larouche of the Penguins, Joe Gordon who worked as a publicist for the Rens, Hornets, Penguins and Steelers, and I have always appreciated what down to earth guys Bill Mazeroski and Arnold Palmer have remained through the years.

On every successful team there are stars, and Pittsburgh has had numerous ones over the years. But there are also the unsung heroes. Who have been some of the more under-appreciated Pittsburgh athletes/coaches over the years, and what made them so, in your opinion?

Dwight White’s death was a real tragedy. He was doing so much good in our community. He called me “Bookman” and he was real passionate during our interviews. He came from humble beginnings and was a real success story. He often said, “I had to come up to hit bottom.”

What has been your favorite Pittsburgh sports teams to cover over the years, and what made them so?

I liked covering the Steelers because Art Rooney Sr. created a culture that still rings the right bell. I always knew Mr. Rooney was special and I welcomed opportunities to sit and talk with him.My grandfathers were dead before I was a year old, and Mr. Rooney was the grandfather I never had. I learned a lot from the man and I still respond to situations by first asking myself, “What would Mr. Rooney do?”

Highly-regarded Pittsburgh sports historian Robert Ruck in a recent interview (//www.pittsburghsportsdailybulletin.com/page106.html) stated that Pittsburgh has come a long way in regards to improving racial attitudes in sports, but still has a way to go. What are your thoughts on this –what differences do you see between the attitudes of fans towards Pittsburgh athletes now versus 30-40 years ago?

I never had a problem as far as racial relations were concerned in my career in sports.

I started my own track team in Hazelwood when I was 12 years old and I recruited young blacks from another neighborhood to compete for my team. When I worked in Philadelphia, Miami, New York and Pittsburgh, I always thought I enjoyed an edge in interviewing black athletes because they trusted me with their stories. I always thought they had more interesting stories to share.

Wilt Chamberlain was one of my boyhood heroes, and I enjoyed great time in his company and got along well with Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and other great boxers, and Dave Parker of the Pirates.

More than half the athletes profiled in my books are black, and it bothers me that so few blacks – Maybe one per thousand books – ever buys one of my books. If someone is going to have racist tendencies – and that works both ways – sports will not solve their problems in that respect.

You’ve encountered scores of memorable athletes over the years. What players have stood out to you most over the years, and why?

I’ve been fortunate in my lifetime to meet and spend time with some marvelous athletes, and I never took it for granted.

I had one of the four best seats in the house at Madison Square Garden for the first Ali-Frazier fight, billed as “The Fight of the Century.” I have met and interviewed Ali and Frazier, Joe Louis, Joe Greene, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Namath, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Johnny Unitas, Willis Reed, Bill Bradley, Michael Jordan, Mike Ditka, Danny Marino, Joe Montana, O.J. Simpson, Billie Jean King, Olga Korbut, Mary Lou Retton, Chris Evert, Donna de Verona, Bruno Sammartino and I once met and shook hands with former President Harry S. Truman in Kansas City.

How have you passed along your experiences outside of your various books and columns?

I am proud that I mentored and helped develop and get jobs for a dozen interns who have become really outstanding public relations executives, sports information people, and writers during my time as the public relations director for the athletic department at Pitt from 1984 to 1988.

I always thought of myself as a teacher disguised as a sports writer.

What are some of your greatest Pittsburgh sports memories –encounters with athletes, interviews, observances…..can you name a few that have stood out to you most, and why you think they have done so?

I attended the 21st birthday party for Muhammad Ali when he was in Pittsburgh prior to his fight with Charley Powell at the Civic Arena in January of 1963.

Myron Cope was there and he had written a story for a national magazine on Ali, who was then Called Cassius Clay. Clay kept calling Cope “Mickey Rooney” during the press conference at the old Sherwyn Hotel, now the main building for Point Park University.

By the way, I met Myron Cope for the first time when I was fourteen and serving as the sports editor of The Hazelwood Envoy. We were both covering the Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at the Pitt Field House.

I asked him, “Mr. Cope, what do I have to do to become a writer?” He replied, in that wonderfully unique voice of his, “Kid, you gotta sit down and start writing!” It’s still the best advice I ever received.

I came back to Pittsburgh in 1979 after a year in Miami and nine more years in New York in time to see the Pirates win the World Series and the Steelers win their fourth Super Bowl in six years. Talk about good timing!

The Steelers were beating the Houston Oilers in the AFC championship game at Three Rivers Stadium, and Rocky Bleier had just scored a touchdown to clinch the contest.

I was standing with the other members of the media in the end zone, so we could get a headstart on getting to the dressing rooms after the game. I think I had a tear in my eye and Joe Gordon,the team publicist, spotted it and recognized my quiet mood. “You OK?” he asked me, and I nodded in return.

But I was emotionally moved because I was thinking, “I’ve come home to Pittsburgh and now I’m going to the Super Bowl with the Steelers? Can it get any better?”

What are your thoughts on sports journalism today with blogging, tweeting and other forms of social media creating a rush to get stories out so quickly, and often creating friction between journalists (as we’ve seen between some in the Pittsburgh sports media industry)?

There’s too much media today for sports, world news, business news, entertainment news and modern technology permits too many people without credentials to write about these things and some unreliable and unreal stuff gets out there.

There are too many tape recorders and cameras everywhere and a lot of irresponsible reporting.

Journalistic judgment is lacking. Sportswriters and sports media don’t care about their personal appearance. Check out the contrast between the media and the athletes. I was told once that if you dress like the equipment manager the ballplayers will treat you in kind. I was told a long time ago to save the tough question for last so you don’t end up with an empty notebook.

Pittsburgh sports journalist Jim Wexell and others have lamented the fact that sports journalism (and to an extent fans as well) has lost the appreciation for getting to know the athletes as people, instead of just their contributions to the team. What are your thoughts on this? Is there truth to this in your opinion? If so why do you think this?

I used to love to spend a few weeks with the Steelers at St. Vincent College during summer training camp. You really got to know the players, coaches and other members of the media, and some great fans as well.

You had great access to the players. You could schedule interviews with them one-on-one and visit them in their rooms.

Now there are too many ropes, too many restrictions, too many rules regarding inter-action with coaches and players, and too many sound-bites gotten on sidewalks outside cafeterias and the like.

I loved to write stories about the players more so than reports on the games. I was able to introduce a lot of great athletes to the readers. There are no true sports publicists anymore. No one offers story ideas. Most of those p.r. people from my early days in the business were former newspapermen and recognized a story when they saw one. There are a lot of good guys in the business, but their roles have changed dramatically.

Any advice for young, aspiring sports journalists?

I would advise anyone interested in being a sports journalist to keep their options open and to be versatile.

The business is going out of business in too many ways. Newspapers and magazines are going out of business. People tell me they don’t have time to read anymore. I feel a little smarter every time I read a book, magazine or newspaper.

If you can write well and speak well you can always get a job. I was a Journalism major for one year at Pitt and then switched majors to become an English major. It was a wise decision. I have worked in every possible form of sports media. Using proper English will still set you apart from the pack.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Some Pittsburgh sports media knock New York, but it was a great place to work when I was in my late 20s. There were twice as many teams in every sport, and I covered some great champions in my day.

But I am glad I am now in Pittsburgh, a great sports town. I enjoyed going to PNC Park and being with good friends and baseball fans in a beautiful ballpark before the Pirates were winning more often than losing.

I always thought going to any kind of game was a good way to spend one’s time. My daughters tell me I never had a real job, and for that I remain grateful. My family is my favorite team.

That’s it. Jim O’Brien

You can get a information on Jim and his books on his website at www.jimobriensportsauthor.com

Paul Martino

Paul Martino, Anchor/Report, KDKA News:

Does it get difficult at times distinguishing what’s newsworthy versus gossip when dealing with sports figures? How do you make that distinction?

We do not report gossip!

We hear all kinds of wild stories about Pittsburgh sports figures. Former quarterback Kordell Stewart was the victim of an outrageous rumor campaign that we never reported. You don’t report that stuff unless you have some factual basis. Is there a police report? Is someone with credibility speaking on the record?

That makes it news. But if it’s just an unproven rumor….ITS NOT NEWS.

Continue reading “Paul Martino”

Dejan Kovacevic

The play of the team has appeared “sloppy” as of late. They are not just getting beaten off the ball. Turnovers, missed tackles, poor execution, foolish penalties have all plagued this team even at the end of last season. What do you attribute this lack of discipline too?

There was a complacency in place with the Steelers that really wasn’t exposed until Baltimore. I spoke with those players down there after that game, and I heard a group in denial. They attributed it to nothing more than having a bad day, at having been beaten by a hungrier opponent. After Indianapolis and especially Houston, the denial took other forms — can’t tackle? really? — but it was denial nonetheless.

By contrast, what I saw Sunday against Tennessee was a team that had not only better focus but also a far better plan. Mike Tomlin and the coaches seem to have escaped much of the blame here, other than for the judgments on the offensive line. But I’ve been consistent in pointing out that this team has looked unprepared.

Do you think this team has relied too much on the talent and improvisational skills of its elite talent and is now realizing it can’t overcome their issues with just the elite play of a few stars? Is it fair to see the majority of big plays made by this team lately are done via improvised plays – by Ben, Harirson and Polamalu?

Yes, and that goes to the origin of the complacency: Arrogance. The idea that the Steelers would be able to churn out this jet-setting offense with Jonathan Scott at left tackle was delusional. What good was a bomb-throwing QB going to be if he spent half the game on his back? Where was the short game? Where was the running game? I took a good amount of heat for writing two columns, including off the Indy game, that the Steelers need to run more. They’re a passing team, my critics wrote. They can’t run, anyway. I stood by the columns’ stance that the Steelers MUST run at least a little. And not just for what it does to the defense in terms of balance. It also brings your own offensive line together, as we saw Sunday.

Does this team play to its players’ strengths enough? Does it adapt well enough to talent – or does it squeeze players into sachems that might not be how they are best suited to play?

I don’t see that as an issue at all. No team’s strengths can be on full display without quality line play, offense and defense. The defense, for example, couldn’t get the most of out its elite linebackers until the line finally was effective Sunday. It all starts there.

Some feel Tomlin has been a man of more words than action in terms of solving these issues. Is this a fair criticism or are fans just not seeing what goes on behind the scenes (and if this is the case, any examples?)

I’m not sure what that means. If you’re talking about how he conducts practice, remember that only the final half-hour of those are open to the local media. And what we see in that time is mostly innocuous stuff. If you mean personnel moves, I’d saying yanking James Farrior off the field in the middle of the opener qualifies as action. I’d say allowing Rashard Mendenhall to dress for the game Sunday but just watch as Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer ran all over the Titans, that’s action, too.

Tomlin’s shortcomings, in my eye, have been a failure to prepare this team mentally as if this is it, this is their last year. Go for it. Go for broke. Get off this idea that the group will be together forever.

Is it too early to panic? If so, how does Tomlin and the coaching staff right the ship?

Ha! I don’t ever take sports half that seriously. They’re the Steelers. They’ve had a phenomenal run in terms of team and individual achievements. If they don’t win this year, it should be close to impossible for anyone in these parts to complain. (Though I’m sure most will.) Moreover, although several defensive players are older, it takes only a cursory look at the depth chart to see that there are quality replacements coming at most, if not, all position.