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Are there projects you want to talk about that you are working on now?
For the last few years I have been working with oil painting – pictures of events and people that I have personally had the experience of getting to know a little about their lives.
My work can be seen here: https://www.raysokolowski.com.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Pittsburgh Artist Ray Sokolowski”
First off, what have you been up to since the NFL?
After that last season in Pittsburgh ended in 1990, I went to Canada and played for a year with Winnipeg. I had an injury since college that affected me throughout my time playing. I was only 25 and had a lot left in the tank but my hamstring injury just wouldn’t go away. As a running back and speed guy, that’s your bread and butter. It was frustrating having to stop.
It was disturbing to me – it challenged me spiritually and mentally. I signed with the London Monarchs of the WFL – that was a great opportunity for players needing another chance. But my injury never healed – each pull got worse.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Elgin Davis, 1989”
First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself now?
Well, it’s a loaded question because I’m involved in a new venture. I’m working with a telecom company. This will disrupt the industry like Uber did for transportation. We sell sim cards – charge users $300 only and buyers get unlimited text and data and phone use for nine years. Including international use. The site is tearupyourphonebill.com and we’re reaching all over the globe.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Kicker Norm Johnson, 1995-1998”
What have you been up to – still making music?
Well before Diamond Reo broke up, we did some demos. I didn’t think that much of them – I thought my voice sounded like I swallowed a scarf. But Norman {Nardini} tried to get the demos digitized and played the demo for a guy who knew a guy who gave them to Bryce Foster. Bryce went nuts over them and remixed them and made it come alive. He brought it to life.
So those have been released just recently. Gregg Kostelich with the Cynics – they were big in Europe and he’s helped to push it. He has a zillion contacts.
First off, what are you up to now?
I’m retired now – I’m getting old! I worked with the Riverhounds and enjoy going to as many of those games as I can. It’s good to keep in touch with them but I retired about three years ago. I hope they rebuild the stadium in a few years. I did youth development in the Pittsburgh area for them and worked at Point Park College for a bit with my son. When I was out of it I worked at Allegheny Millwork as a project manager.
At 73 I’d love to still work with the kids but it takes my body too long to recover! I still do some coaching on the side with the Riverhounds. It’s been interesting to see how much soccer has grown in the United States in the past 35 years. That’s why I came to the states and played in the ASL – to promote the game. It makes me feel good to see how far it’s come.
First off what have you been up to lately – any new projects or things you’d like to promote?
I’m going to be re-releasing a lot of my music and am working on some TV projects as well – but those take a long time to do. I’m still writing music and next Summer I expect to be performing again.
I also own the Aiken House with my husband – it’s a venture house that, as we say in our tagline, turns ideas into brands. I like working with brands that, as cliche as it sounds, want to change the world.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Pittsburgh Musician Kellee Maize”
First off, what have you been up to lately – any new projects or things you’d like to promote?
I’m in mommy-hood now! I did just work on a couple of movies that will hopefully come out soon – one with Catherine Hardwicke and another called “Wake” with Chris Parnell and Penelope Ann Miller.
I’m still acting and looking for that next gig. If I had my druthers I’d work for a show like “The Pitt” or “Succession” – a show that’s true to life, with complex characters and backstories. The kind that people get invested in.
The market has changed so much with the strike, Covid and streaming. You have to take what you can get.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Pittsburgh Actress Heather Mazur”
First off, what have you been up to since your playing days?
Well, I retired in January of 2001 and I’m here now in Atlanta. I’m married and living the dream. My goal was to retire and not have to work after football – I wanted to set my family up after football and that’s what I was able to do.
Now I’m doing some golfing, camping, horseback riding and riding my Harley every now and then and going to bike rallies!
Continue reading “Exclusive With Former Bengals Wide Receiver Carl Pickens”
First off, what have you been up to since your time in the NFL?
After I was done playing I got into medical device sales. I’m selling neuro-modulation devices – nerve stimulators. I started because of Matt Kranchick – he asked if I could help him and I said sure – that was the start for me.
Was the post-NFL adjustment difficult?
It wasn’t difficult no. My mindset was to get to the NFL and play but I was also realistic that I wasn’t going to be a 10-to-15 year player. I knew another career was going to be needed – that I was going to have to do something else to make money.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End Issac Smolko, 2006”
First off, what are you up to now in your career?
I’m here in Minneapolis – I’m semi-retired and concentrating on projects that I really like and working on my LP Music project with my associate Paul Peterson – we both played together with Prince.
We also brought back the group The Family – we regrouped from The Family that Prince worked with in the 80’s. We call it F Deluxe now sometimes though.
And I’m a Yankees and Dodgers fan – I’m a bi-coastal baseball fan so I watch them a lot. I used to be a Pirates fan when I lived there during the height of the franchise in the 70s and 80s!
Continue reading “Exclusive with Eric Leeds, Saxophonist for Prince”