More than 1,000 interviews of Steelers players, coaches, front office staff, media and more with those that played in the 50’s through today’s current roster.
Kirkland: “I worked out twice a day before most were doing that and had a boxing coach too. Some looked at me as too big but I had quick feet and was aggressive,”
Kirkland; “As I played and got more confident, my personality came out more. I made fun of Dawson and even Cowher”
TE Bishop: “Kirkland was also a big influence by the way. He started a football camp in South Carolina and flew eight-to-nine of us down. “
“Ron Lippock had a great idea and he turned it into an excellent book for Steelers fans. It’s called “Steelers Takeaways” and it’s a book full of soundbites. “
//www.observer-reporter.com/20160910/time_for_pitt-penn_state_game_to_be_played_every_year
Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades – Order Today!
First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself lately career-wise and personally?
Well, I’m not currently employed – I’m just enjoying retirement. I do a lot of personal appearances – things of that nature. My relationships have grown because of that. People think it’s just about smiling, taking pictures, and signing autographs. But if you take a step back and ask and answer questions, you’d be amazed at the people you meet.
Now, I have gotten a couple of coaching offers – but that’s not my forte’. I’ve had opportunities. If the right opportunity comes along, then I’d make that happen.
Tell us about getting drafted by the Steelers, Were you surprised to be drafted by Pittsburgh?
First of all, I never imagined being drafted. Everyone was saying that coaches and scouts were talking about me, but the athlete I was – I wasn’t into it until I was into it. Once I left school I went to the Senior Bowl and that’s when I really found out that I could be playing for an NFL team. People after the Senior Bowl were saying mid-second round to the fourth round. I went on a few trips after that – to teams and a few combines – and my stock went up. Now people were telling me mid-to-late first round. I said “Ok – that was fine with me!”
I just wanted to be drafted. A number of teams would call asking if I wanted to play for them. It didn’t matter to me who it was – I just wanted to go somewhere.
Continue reading “Louis Lipps, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1984-1991”
First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?
After Pittsburgh, I still wanted to play and had opportunities at Miami, Atlanta, and wound up in San Diego (1989), but I didn’t make it and was released. I knew my career was over then. I jacked up my elbow in Pittsburgh. I couldn’t really bend it – I was in extreme pain. So I retired and went back to college for two semesters and got my degree.
Continue reading “Mark Behning, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1985-1987”
As heard on Tunch & Wolf show, ESPN, 93.7 The Fan, TribLIVE Radio, KDKA, SB Nation Radio and more!
If your a Steelers fan, you’ll love Steelers Takeaways – taking the best stories and quotes from over 600 Steelers interviews and breaking them down by topic and generation. Just $20. Order via Amazon and Barnes and Noble!
See what these former Steelers and others have to say about the book!
Continue reading “Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades – Order Today!”
This is becoming a game of chicken, this battle between four NFL players (Julius Peppers, Mike Neal, Clay Matthews and of course,. the Steelers’ James Harrison) – and Roger Goodell’s NFL.
Simply stated, Roger Goodell is requiring – under threat of suspension – that these four NFL players submit to questioning over a story accusing them of taking illegal performance enhancing drugs (PEDS).
The catch? This story was recanted by it’s writer quickly after it was published. This would have seemingly ended the conversation. But Roger Goodell is still requiring those four players submit to questioning. And Harrison, on advice from the NFLPA and due to his own desires, is refusing to do so.
So, why not just submit to questioning? What’s the harm in doing so?
Continue reading “Are Harrison and other players pawns in a larger game between NFL and NFLPA?”
Summer Olympic Games are always full of feel-good stories and triumphs
By Jim O’Brien
Grantland Rice, the greatest sportswriter of his era, once wrote that when you stop finding heroes in sports you should get out of the sportswriting business. I agree.
Count me as one of the sportswriters who still gets a kick out of watching the Summer Olympic Games. I have been a fan since the 1956 Games in Melbourne, Australia, and know the history of the Games before that in Helsinki, London and Berlin. They may take afinancial toll on the host nation and some critics believe they have outlived their usefulness because of the cost involved, but I hope they remain on the sports schedule.
First, can you let us know a bit about what you did with yourself after the NFL?
After being cut by the Steelers I returned to Oklahoma University to finish my degree. Then the following year I went with the Dallas Texans and played there two years, becoming a two-time All Pro Bowler with them. When the Texans moved to Kansas City to become the Kansas City Chiefs, I retired from football but remained involved helping with the transition of the team. At the same time I joined the national staff of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, whose offices were also in Kansas City. I have been vice-
president of an insurance agency, developed youth homes to house and work with troubled youth, worked with a nationwide prison ministry, built and operated an adult retreat center, and eventually went back to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, finally retiring in 2002.
I fully retired six years ago, though I serve as the Chaplain for the Dallas NFL Players Association Alumni Chapter.
Continue reading “Bill Krisher, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1958-1959”
First, you’ve been coaching track and field for over twenty years now. How did you get started in this and why track and field?
I originally started the Track Minnesota Elite program to help my kids and others to develop their track skills and increase their opportunities to receive college scholarships, which I proudly state “mission being accomplished”. All three of my kids received division 1 scholarships and 90% of our participants have received academic and athletic scholarships the past 15 years.
Considering I was part of the 1983 Pennsylvania high school state champion and in consideration that my wife and I whom both competed in track at the University of Minnesota, developing a track and field program was a natural, plus I coached youth football (The Minnesota Steelers) and high school for seven years.
Continue reading “Mel Anderson, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1987”
O’Brien column for The Valley Mirror July 28, 2016
I had a dream this past Monday night about the Steelers starting their summer training camp at St. Vincent College this weekend.
I was in the room I used to occupy back in 1979 and the early ‘80s at Bonaventure Hall and I heard some noise outside my window. There was a cemetery on the hill behind Bonaventure Hall so you didn’t want to hear any stirring back there.
Continue reading “Jim O’Brien: Stupid behavior puts Steelers behind Super Bowl quest”