Steelers – Page 15 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Chuck Sanders, Steelers Running Back, 1986-1987

First, can you let readers know about Fever beverages and your Pittsburgh restaurant, the Savoy. How did you get the idea for both and where did the desire come from to get into the food and beverage industry?

Fever started off as an investment but turned into a passion for me. Biz Markie is an old friend of mine and when he told me about it. I was very interested. It’s a healthy alternative to Red Bull – I’m the largest investor in Fever now. It did great in Miami so we brought it to Pittsburgh and it’s doing great.

The Savoy – I always wanted to start a high-end restaurant here – I thought Pittsburgh would enjoy it. May 5th is actually our one-year anniversary. I’m just really excited to see the diversity that comes in every day. Pittsburgh isn’t a racially divided city – it’s just separated by bridges and communities but one race. To see the different people come in from different ilks is exciting to me.

Continue reading “Chuck Sanders, Steelers Running Back, 1986-1987”

Jim Boyle, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1987-1988

First, can you let readers know what you have been doing with yourself since your NFL days – and how you got involved in your post-NFL career?

Since I last played football I have taught school in the Cincinnati Public School system for five years before changing my career to the City of Cincinnati’s Recreation Department. I have been doing this now for sixteen years. I am a Service Area Coordinator for the city and I run a recreation center in one of our inner city’s neighborhoods.

Working with inner city kids has been and always will be my drive in life.

Continue reading “Jim Boyle, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1987-1988”

Tom Myslinski, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1996-1997, 2000

First, can you give readers a quick rundown of your coaching career since your time as a player in the NFL?

I completed my Masters at Pitt in Exercise Physiology, and then worked five years for the Cleveland Browns (two as an assistant, three as head strength and conditioning coach). I also worked four years in the NCAA at Robert Morris, Memphis, and North Carolina.

As of January 27^th of this year, I was named the Head Strength & Conditioning coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Continue reading “Tom Myslinski, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1996-1997, 2000”

E. Lee North, Author, Battling the Indians, Panthers & Nittany Lions: Washington & Jefferson College’s Century of Football, 1890-1990

E. Lee North:

First, can you tell readers a bit about your writing career and how you got started as an author? What about your time at Washington & Jefferson influenced your writing career, and how?

Well, I have said it was W & J that got me into writing, as I was editor of The Red and Black for a couple of years and did a lot of work on our old Alumni Bulletin. But not too long ago I found my diary for the year 1941; I was a senior at Bay Shore, LI, NY High School.

Why, I do not know, but I recorded just about everything from January 1st into September, 1941. That was one of the most critical years in US history — along with 1776, 1861, 1929, and 2001. Author House published the diary a few months ago as “The 1941 Diary of a Deaf Long Island Teenager.” But there is no question that the work at W & J propelled me ahead into the literary world.

Your new book “Battling the Indians, Panthers & Nittany Lions: Washington & Jefferson College’s Century of Football, 1890-1990” covers W&J’s football history – what inspired you to write this book and what are some lessons/stories about the program you were most anxious to get across to readers?

I was lucky to enroll at W & J, particularly since I was brought up in New York. My Dad, Lt. Col. Edward L. North, fought in both world wars but moved from civil engineering to management at Wheeling Steel in 1942–before he re-joined the Army for WW II..

W & J was close by, so I visited, and was accepted. I not only learned of some of the Presidents’ athletic and educational super-stars, I met some, particularly Wilbur F. “Pete” Henry, our athletic director. Although he was an all-time All-American football player, at W & J and in the pros, he was one of the most unassuming gentlemen I ever met. I had to put a whole chapter on Pete in “Battling” to tell his story.

Many may not realize how many modern day connections there are between this small school and today’s NFL. Roger Goodell, Dan Rooney, Dan Rooney Jr. all attended W&J, as did Green Bay’s former offensive coordinator Joe Philbin. How did W&J end up having such an impact?

Going back to W & J’s early football years, despite an enrollment of under 500 students (and we were all-men til 1970), the Presidents competed with Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, and many other top gridiron elevens. I think Coach Bob Folwell (1912 to 1915) was one of the finest football coaches ever, anywhere.

After graduating from Penn, where he was a star and football captain, he started coaching at Lafayette in 1908. As did W & J, Lafayette took on the grid powers. Coach Folwell led them (1908-11) to a 22-4-1 record and they were ranked with the top teams. Enter W & J’s great Graduate Manager Robert Murphy: he heard the rumors that Coach Folwell was not happy with the situation at Lafayette.

Somehow Manager Murphy convinced Folwell to switch to W & J. In his four years at Jay (1912 through 1915) , Folwell’s teams won 35, lost four, and tied three. But did they play anybody good? Well as examples, they beat Pitt three times in four games, and won two and tied one in three games with West Virginia.

Folwell went on to coach at Penn and Navy, and coached the NY Giants first football team in 1925. Health problems forced him out of football in the 1920s. Noted football statistician Tex Noel lists Folwell as one of the top five college coaches.

How did you go about researching this book – who helped and were you able to work with any of the people you wrote about in the book?

I received help from dozens of people in doing the Hundred-Year history… since we contacted every team W & J ever played (still extant), we managed to include inside information on many of the stars W & J played against.

From the W & J side, I have to salute then-Pres. Howard Burnett, Athletic Director Paul Reardon, and publicists Ed Marotta and Susan Isola. And Coack John Luckhardt provided tremendous help (see Ch. 17 and 18. I did list more than one hundred helpers in Appendix I (“Acknowledgments.”) BTW, I searched through many athletic histories in libraries, and believe ours has the most comprehensive index of all.

What were some of the biggest surprises you came across as you researched the book?

To be honest, it was one surprise after another, all the way from W & J’s season of 1890 thru most of the 1930s. How could this little college compete — and beat — so many great football teams? I think it was a combination of western Pennsylvania athletes; people who dedicated themselves to the Red and Black; and especially – Grad Manager Robert Murphy, so dedicated he mortgaged his house to get the funds to take his family to his own Rose Bowl game.

How can readers purchase the book?

Contact the Book Store, W & J College, 60 So. Lincoln St., Washington, PA 15301. Also, the publisher, Daring Books, Canton, OH. And it’s listed on the internet outlets.

There were dozens of NFL players from this small school that played in the 20’s and 30’s – why was this the case and who were some of the most notable players from that era?

Again, I think it was dedicated people— the coaches and administrators, who sought out and trained W & J’s football players. And the fact that western PA has always been a fertile ground for football talent.

Our most noted gridders would include Pete Henry, Clark Shrontz, John Spiegel (led nation in scoring in 1913), Britt Patterson, Bill Inglis, Forrest “Jap” Douds (blocked THREE punts in a West Virginia game), Burlieigh Cruikshank, Bill Amos, Russ Goodwin, Scrubby McCreight, Charles “Pruner” West, and — maybe the best of them all — Hal “Swede” Ericksen, played 1919-22 including the Rose Bowl.

Alas, there are really a hundred W & J players who could be added to the list, please see our Chapter 19, wherein we list the best players by position and list our top opponent players.

You were the Publicity Director at Washington & Jefferson for a while as well. What are some of the interesting experiences you had in that role?

There were many, but I’ll just mention four—

1/ that trip to Forbes Field and the press box with Pete Henry;

2/ W & J put forth plans for perhaps the first “green” study in the country. Our office got a lot of publicity out of it. It was to be an environmental program and would be funded mostly by the state. Plans were approved by the state legislature… BUT our Board of Trustees turned it down! I was a bit disappointed, but in retrospect, believe the Board did the right thing, they did not want the state to start running our school.

3/ President Jim Case asked me one day if I’d go to Pittsburgh with him to a Board meeting. Of course I agreed. It was in a nice old hotel as I recall, with one of those long oval tables. Purpose of the meeting was I believe for President Case to defend his “overspending.” Case was adamant in explaining “G D it, we have to go ahead, we cannot go back,” and more words to that effect. I was a bit of a 24-year-old neophyte, but I worried that Case would be gone. He soon was.

4/ Invited to speak at a youth affair, I walked up stairs to the meeting behind Honus Wagner, the Pirates’ Hall Of Fame shortstop. I’d heard that he was quite bow-legged. It was true, I could see people up ahead while looking up through Honus’s legs. What an honor!

Are you a Yankees fan as a New Yorker now? I know you are a big Pirates fan after living in Western PA for a while.What are your thoughts on the Pirates today – do you see real progress being made?

No, no, I am not a Yank fan, that was only in my teen years. Since I went to W & J and Pennsylvania, I’ve been for the Pirates. Loved those “Lumber Company” (Stargell and all) signs we used to see by the airport. Recent years have been terrible for the Bucs, but there’s always a next year. I do think they’ll improve a lot this year.

Any new books on the horizon?

Mentioned the new 1941 Diary above. In addition, I’m working on a wolf book. My “EYES THAT HAUNT” novel was published a few years ago, It’s a story of a man saving a wolf from a trap, and the wolf later returning the favor. We’ve gotten some nice reviews, but the best was from W & J President Tori Haring-Smith: “Thanks for your wonderful book, Eyes That Haunt.

As you may know, I am an animal lover, and the relationship between Trapper and Kai-No [our wolf] is beautifully drawn.”

In response to your question, I’m working on a sequel to “”EYES”… they’re shooting the wolves from airplanes and helicopters in Alaska, and I’m hoping my Trapper and his little wolf pack can put an end to it.

Any last thoughts for readers?

I hope they can find a copy of “Battling” — it’s in some libraries and last I knew, the College has more for sale.

Thanks, Pittsburgh Sports Daily, for having me.

David Rosen, Rose Klein & Marias Law Firm, on Joel Steed Lawsuit Against NFL

David Rosen,

First, can you give readers a quick synopsis of the reason for Joel Steed’s and other players’ lawsuit with the NFL?

An issue is that the NFL had actual knowledge of the extent in which mild head trauma could lead to permanent dementia and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). It’s important to make the distinction that we’re not suing the NFL because players got hurt from regular game injuries. We’re suing the NFL because they knew that repeated mild – not necessarily concussive – head trauma can lead to those issues.

And it’s not just hits to the head. It can come from hits t0 the body and shoulder-to-shoulder hits, like when an offensive lineman blocks a defensive lineman.

First, how do you know the NFL had awareness of these issues?

The NFL was aware that mild brain trauma occurs. We know that because of the doctors they had used to consult with them over the years. Those same doctors were writing articles about mild brain trauma causing dementia and CTE at the same time they were consulting with the NFL. So the NFL knew

Additional evidence also exists in the documents and testimonies of the people involved as well.

Not everyone suffers from dementia and CTEs though. Does that matter?

Take the analogy of the car company that looks at their cars every day then says they didn’t know that when a car crashes people get hurt. No, not everyone does get CTE from mild brain trauma. Most don;t get dementia or CTE. No one can predict who gets it, but we know some will end up that way.

We’re saying the NFL should have reacted quicker and earlier. We’re seeing the NFL reacting now.

Do you see that almost as an admission of guilt?

As an observer of the NFL, you can see it’s doing more now than it did even a year ago. But no, I can’t make a judgement as to why. It’s just a fact.

What should the NFL have done earlier, from your viewpoint?

The medical literature showed that repeated mild brain trauma/concussions were much worse when they occurred while a player was still recovering from a brain trauma. It’s much more dangerous. They should not have allowed injured players to return so quickly.

We see the return to play rules have changed now too. While there’s not an exhaustive list in front of me on what the NFL should have done, the return to play rule is a good example. That alone would have changed a lot. As soon as they knew there was a problem they should have not allowed any strenuous activities until the symptoms were gone – that’s what the return to play rule is now starting to consider.

The NFL is being sued…but not the teams themselves, correct?

The team is not in the suit – just the NFL. Each team as an employer cannot be sued – it’s a principle of civil law. Take for example a worker injured in a machine shop. They get worker’s comp. The Exclusive Remedy Doctrine forbids them from suing their employer because they get workers comp.

But, you can have third parties at fault. For example, if there was a faulty machine that caused the injury. You can then claim workers comp and sue the manufacturer of the machinery, That’s how we can sue the NFL – we sue them as a third party.

And you are suing Riddell, the helmet manufacturer, as well?

A few of us are suing Riddell for defective design, lack of warnings and possibly being in cahoots with the NFL.

How do you draw the line between “defective design” versus just not strong enough?

As the product designers and manufacturers, they are held to be experts about their products. Riddell had the responsibility based on their knowledge of the issues of head trauma to design a safer helmet

It’s important to note, by the way, that workers comp is no fault. No matter who’s fault it was, the law prevents double-recovery.

Did the NFL share their findings with players?

They didn’t share their information and did not act on it.

What do you say to those that say that “Players knew the risks”?

They didn’t know the risks of permanent dementia going in. They knew they could get headaches and broken bones. But they didn’t know they could permanently lose the ability to think.

A good example is with hazardous jobs like construction – they knew they could fall or get hit. But they didn’t know fifty years ago that if they breathed the ventilation dust it could kill you.

Can you speak on Joel Steed’s case in particular – does it differ in any way from the others? How is his health?

His case was filed later that our firm’s first filings because he retained us after the original filings… I’m not going to address his personal health now.

Where do the cases stand now?

Some players filed workers comp versus their teams beginning over two years ago. Afterwards, a few lawsuits were filed against the NFL and Riddell. By the end of 2011 – probably about eight to ten different suits. Some against the NFL, some against both the NFL and Riddell.

The suits got filed – some in state courts, some in federal. All the state suits were legally removed to the federal courts by the NFL and Riddell – the legal term for them being moved to the federal courts. By December of 2011, all the cases were in different federal courts.

The NFL then petitioned for the creation of one Multi-District Litigation (MDL). The league wanted all of the cases in one place. A joint panel on the MDL decided on whether the MDL should be created, and where it should be held.

In Florida in January, no one opposed the league’s request for the MDL. The panel was told by the NFL that they wanted it in Philadelphia – I can’t speak as to why, but all parties agreed to that, with few exceptions. Now, since February, nearly all of the cases are in one MDL in Philadelphia.

What do you say about those who feel now all of your eggs are in one basket, so to speak?

For the purposes of trial, all the eggs aren’t in one basket. This isn’t a class-action lawsuit or consolidation. All the cases are in front of one judge for pre-trial purposes only – issues like discovery. That all goes in front of one judge.

But, the cases are still tried separately in court once the trials start. The MDL is for pre-trial stuff only. Player one’s brain trauma is different from player two’s, etc…

That’s an important distinction for those unfamiliar with the process.

It is I know and something not everyone realizes. Some cases by the way are not in the MDL. They were filed in state court after the MDL was created and ont taken to the MDL for one reason or another. The Duerson wrongful death case, for example.

Has the NFL been in touch with you yet about the MDL?

Nothing pro or con from the NFL -more procedural stuff. It’s early – that’s not unusual. The first hearing is on April 25th – and that’s entirely procedural.

How would you ultimately like to see this all end- what’s a “win”?

We’re suing for damages for the injured players and, for those who passed away, their families. For those with no diagnosed injury, they may still get dementia or CTE. They are entitled to medical monitoring to stave off dementia for as long as possible.

Chris Fuamatu-Maʻafala, Steelers Running Back, 1998-2002

You’ve been heavily involved in youth sports since the NFL – especially in Hawaii. What brought that interest on and what do you enjoy most about this work?

I love working with the kids. In my line of work, I’m in charge of overseeing everything from the rooms to making sure they all have a safe environment. I make sure they all have fair playing time – I can make all of those decisions and make the adjustments to make sure they get playing time.

I know what it feels like to be the kid who had to wait because the game was too tight and the coaches kept the stars in.

Continue reading “Chris Fuamatu-Maʻafala, Steelers Running Back, 1998-2002”

Pete Rostosky, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1983-1986

First, can you let readers know what you have been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL, and why you decided to enter this line of work?

I am currently self-employed and own Rostosky Coal , LLC – a surface mining and reclamation company. I am second generation in this company as my dad started it in 1954.

Ever since I was a child, my dad took me to work and I learned the business from the bottom up; actually running large equipment since I was eleven years old. My dad passed away seven years ago, but I am sure he would be pleased to know the business still carries on.

Continue reading “Pete Rostosky, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1983-1986”

Mike Taylor, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1968-1969

First, can you let readers know what you have been doing with yourself since your NFL days and how your time in the NFL helped influence your post-NFL careers?

In 1972 while I was playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, I decided to buy an 18-wheeler and start an independent trucking business named for myself. Shortly thereafter, my wife and I started a small woman’s clothing apparel boutique that she managed near our home in Alta Dena, CA. About 1980

I set my independent trucking interests aside and became a supervisor for a fairly new privately held California trucking company called Viking Freight Systems that was later acquired by Fed-Ex. I stayed there until my retirement as the Operations Manager in 2006. While working for Fed-Ex, my passion and zest for Southern cuisine – specifically BBQ Ribs, Tri-Tip, Chicken, Cajun Sausage and those great culinary delights I’d experienced from my youth – led me to begin a restaurant in Folsom, CA that I named BBQ-Express.

Continue reading “Mike Taylor, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1968-1969”

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”