Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First off, what have you been up to since your playing days?

Right now I’m helping train guys for the combine and pro days. I have a buddy who runs the House of Athletes and I’m working with him when they need me. I’m also supporting my kids in their athletic pursuits as well.

Was the post-NFL transition difficult? 

At first it was difficult – you play for 11 years and have the same routine and then you are out of that routine. You feel lost at first and have to re-find your way. But I adapted. You come to the conclusion that you were blessed to play for so long.  I didn’t think growing up that I would ever play in the NFL. But once you tell yourself it’s over you can then start to find your way again.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers/Ravens/Browns Defensive Back Corey Ivy”

First, tell us a bit about you – your writing career, etc?

I’m a retired school teacher – originally from Mississippi. I taught in Georgia and North Carolina and grew up a Steelers fan.I stuck with them throughout my life. I read all I could on the team at an early age – that’s how I got going early on in my research.

Once I was done with my career I could spend more time on writing.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Author Steve Massey: Revolution: The Transformation of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL”

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”

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.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Pittsburgh Musician Frank Czuri of the Silencers, Diamond Reo and The Jaggerz”

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.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Pittsburgh Spirit, Stinger Player and Riverhounds Coach Paul Child”

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”