The Storm of “This” Century

I dug my car out from the parking lot of Channel 4 this morning after the snow had finally stopped. It took a half hour to finally free my Acura from two feet of snow. It was just proof that no matter what we have planned, mother nature runs this show.

As I left the station for home, I drove along the freshly plowed parkway. I gazed out the window to see the untouched snow cover the sides of trees, roadways, jersey barriers and various signs. The sun had just emerged and the combination of the bright sun on the white snow made for a perfect winter picture.

That’s the fun part of the blizzard. A storm so powerful that it knocks over trees and power lines and makes us prisoners in our own homes, also looks so beautiful the morning after before the plows, snow shovels and the pets have trudged through it.

Certainly, it wasn’t pretty the night of the storm. The snow came early and fast. It overwhelmed any previous predictions or forecasts … and, as Stephen Cropper told me, it was ever changing. The total snowfall kept rising by the hour and those who thought they time to spare found themselves getting stuck in snowdrifts.

The day after outside our studios in Wilkinsburg  ( Courtesy Jill Perkins )

The storm turned all but those who had to work late Friday night into prisoners in their own homes. I had enough friends who said as soon as they shoveled, five more inches covered the ground. Of course, if you lived on any side street, you might still be trapped inside your home.

That being said, the storm also allowed us to experience something rare: time alone with the ones we love. When its just you and your significant other or you and the kids, you find things to do. As some of my friends told me, you have a chance to “bond”. Hopefully no one turned it into time where everyone scattered around the house for personal time with their favorite personal electronic device.

I’m sure years from now we’ll be talking about this storm … and we’ll be saying where we were when it happened. The amount of snow that we received will only grow with the tales that are told about what took place. No matter what, we can all talk about our shared experience with the “Storm of this Century” … so far.

Meal Game Plan for Men

“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”.

That adage is true … in both a positive and negative way.  Sure, you can get to a man’s soft side through his taste buds but you can also find a fast track to heart disease if that man is gobbling up the wrong things.

I’m a guy who loves fried chicken, ribs, steak and all sorts of other things can do damage if eaten in the wrong amounts or not balanced with the right things. Since I started running, I have tried to be more aware of what I eat. Perhaps my downfall is sushi … with too much soy sauce. But I also find I eat too little or at the wrong times. Probably explains why I have peaked ( or reached a plateau  ) when it comes to weight loss.

My story Wednesday at 5 brought me face-to-face with Leslie Bonci. She’s the director of sports nutrition at UPMC and nutrition consultant to the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. She just finished her third book on nutrition, “Sport Nutrition for Coaches”.  She has run marathons and travels the country preaching the gospel of good nutrition. She told me that men often face obstacles when it comes to nutrition. For example, unlike women, if it doesn’t taste good we won’t eat it. Also, we are not into smaller portions. We want size as well as taste.

Smart snacks for men: Pistachios, Popcorn and Veggies with Bean Dip

Bonci’s advice: put together a day long eating plan based on taste and substance:

Breakfast: Oatmeal, cereal, peanut butter or a banana. These are all things that start your day and give you energy as well as stick to your ribs.

Lunch:  Turkey chili, or turkey meatball. Once again, its tasty and sizable .. and Bonci says soups are very appealing this time of year just from the warm-up factor.

Snacks: Pistachios, popcorn and vegetables with bean dip. Bonci especially likes pistachios because they must work to take the shell off and eat. In her words “shelling” foods means you won’t be “shoveling” them down your throat and eating more.

Dinner: Stir Fry. Its a sizable meal with the option of adding more vegetables or other things to enhance the meal.

Seems like a lot of food … and it might be … but the substance and types of food ensures men will be able to lose weight, prevent heart disease and give yourself energy. And as a bonus, men won’t feel like they are missing out on a good-sized meal.

Now, if I could only fit this plan into my 3pm to 11pm work life.

Fredo Comes to Pittsburgh

I think the Haiti story has touched many hearts and inspired record donations. Amazing when you consider that most of those people have never met the people who are suffering much less been to Haiti.

However, your perspective changes when you actually comes close and get personal with those who have stared death in this face and saw the tragedy. Such was the case for me today when I met Jamie and Ali McMurtie. You know their stories by now and, if you don’t, I’m guessing you don’t live in Pittsburgh. In short, working at the Bresma orphanage in Haiti during the quake, they watched over 54 orphans until a massive rescue effort could save them.

I had the opportunity to spend some time with the sisters today. When you meet them, after all that you have heard, you expect to meet some larger-than-life people. Instead, they are two very young-looking woman who could easily be your neighbors down the street. Nothing on the outside would clue you into the emotional trauma they experienced less than a week ago.

“Hello Pittsburgh”! Fredo, with his adopted sisters Jamie and Ali, with a greeting for his new home.

Then, I met Fredo. Fredo is the three-year-old orphan whom their family adopted from the group of 54. He speaks Creole and very little english. His smile is wide and joy is from ear to ear. There is nothing about him that says he has endured such heartbreak. Not only the trauma of the earthquake, but also the heartache of not having a family to call his own. He seems unaffected.

He has adjusted well to his new surroundings. He marvels at a cell phone and its keys. He is first scared, then cuddly with a dog that laughs automatically. He gets enveloped in the love of his new family … easily calling Jamie and Ali his sisters.

After our 45 minutes together, I left with one question on my mind. Would we all be so brave as those girls were in the face of the earthquake and given the charge of taking car eof 54 orphans in the front yard of a crumbling orphange? Would I say to a possible rescue “all of us or none of us”? I would like to think we all would be able to step up in the face of such danger but its hard to say.

I asked Ali if she minded being called a “hero” as many have done just this past weekend. Ali accepts it but adds there is so much to do … and that a hero wouldn’t quit at this stage of the game.

Well said.

By the way, I did ask. No movie offers …. yet.

Orphans In Your Own Backyard

The story of the Haitian orphans has moved the people of western Pennsylvania. It has rallied them to action. It has made many open up their wallets and now, their homes.

I spoke with directors at two local adoption agencies today who told me that have been inundated with phone calls inquiring about adopting the Haitian orphans who have either been brought back by the McMutrie sisters or are still in Haiti looking for homes.

While the generosity displayed is no doubt sincere, it does make one wonder why doesn’t charity begin here at home? Why don’t more people offer to adopt the thousands of children in this state? There are 1800 children in Allegheny county alone who need homes? Today, I went after the answer to that vaery question.

Prior to the earthquake, adoption agencies like the Children’s Home and the Three Rivers Adoption Council say they had gotten a few inquiries daily but nothing like the deluge that hit them after the Haiti orphans story started making the rounds. UPMC Chief of Psychology Paul Friday says it’s those images that have led to such intense interest in adopting the orphans. He says, for many, the desire is emotional. Think about it. You probably know someone who said out loud that they wanted to adopt one of the orphans after watching the coverage.

Pittsburgh has opened its arms to the Haitian orphans. Will this lead to residents opening their doors to its own children looking for families?

Directors at both adoption agencies tell me there are many children right here who are in need of love, attention and homes  and the children are readily available. Children’s Home adoption director Connie Back told me African-American infants are available almost immediately after you complete the training and background checks which take about four months. For those who want a Haitian orphan, if you put that child next to an African-American child, there is virtually no difference in their life experience  except one has been through an earthquake. Both understand pain. Both have experienced loss. Both know life without a family.

It’s clear no place has a bigger heart than the people of  Pittsburgh. Thats been made clear by the outpouring of support and love for the displaced children of Haiti. Those orphans will be taken care of and be raised in good homes. Count on it. While we look outward, it was clear from my interviews today that looking inward was also a dire need. 20,000 children in Pennsylvania need a family and need a home.

Mission Accomplished!

Don’t you just love a happy ending?

The story of the McMutrie sisters of Ben Avon and the 53 orphans that came home Tuesday is one of the most heartwarming and inspiring stories that we have seen in this region in  a while. But its more than the tale of two brave sisters and 53 orphans. It’s the story of how people: from government leaders to everyday people worked together towards a single goal … and getting the job done.

I first learned of the entire situation from a good friend of mine named Diane Rua. She told me about the grassroots efforts on behalf of the McMutrie family to rescue Jamie, Ali and the kids. There were people trying to get a plane and others trying to find facilities to house the orphans if they could get them to Pittsburgh. But the majority of this grassroots effort was people calling thier congressman and their elected officials. Keeping the heat on the people in power … and it was that effort started the wheels in motion which led to the dramatic rescue which was completed on Tuesday.

The McMutrie sisters and the orphans. Now they are in Pittsburgh thanks to a truly grassroots effort.

Last week, I had a chance to interview the sister-in-law of the women as well as the husband of Jamie McMutrie. They shared with me the story of struggling to make contact  the girls, their plight in Haiti and the lack of time to make something happen. They showed me pictures and shared the stories of these two girls and why they believed being in Haiti was the best thing for not only them, but also the orphans. They relayed stories of late night phone calls with various elected officials pleading for action. That led to the involvement of literally dozens of people in positions of authority, all working together with one single purpose.

In the hours since the flight arrived with the children, I have read the family’s Facebook page and have gotten some comments on my page. There is true joy and happiness in the area as well as a great sense of pride in Pittsburgh. It’s easy to understand because this was mostly a Pittsburgh operation: from the residents rallying to the hospitals offering their services to involvement of congressman Jason Altmire.  However, this is more than a Pittsburgh story. I would like to think this could happen any in America given the circumstances and the people who went all out to make this miracle happen would have done it whether they live in Pittsburgh or not.

Yet, there is something about this region that seems to make this Hollywood script of a drama more believable. You can imagine your neighbors giving what they can for someone they don’t know. You can see major local  hospitals asking what can we do for the common good. You can see those in political power forgetting party affiliation and doing some as one for the common good.

As for that “Hollywood script”,  I’m sure we will see on the big screen on the small tube sometime in the future. After all, a movie was made about the rescue of the Quecreek 9. When you think about it, in many ways, the stories are very much the same: facing difficult odds, a small group hunkered down while an entire community came together to rescue them.

If there is one thing I do hope happens, on a personal note, is that the spirit of wanting to help these orphans will spill over into the 1800 foster children we have right here at home. They need families and homes and while they may have not been in an earthquake, many have been through their own ordeals and are looking for love just like those children from Haiti.

Yes, I love happy endings.

The “Spirit” of the Rule

Former Steeler Chairman Dan Rooney is now the U.S. ambassador to Ireland. He leaves behind a great legacy, playing a front office role on all six Steeler Super Bowl championships.

However, in my opinion, the greatest impact Rooney leaves on the game of football has nothing to do with the Steeler success on the field … at least directly. He is the force and creator of what’s known as the “Rooney Rule”. It was designed a few years back by Rooney to discuss the clear inequality of minority head coaches in the NFL.

The problem was not just the lack of numbers, but the lack of opportunity for qualified candidates of different ethnic groups to get interviews and get in front of the decision makers. The rule, established in 2003, has opened the door for many coaches of color including Pittsburgh’s own Mike Tomlin.

I sat down and talked to Rooney about the rule back in 2004 and the spirit behind it. He told me the idea behind it was to allow teams to get a chance to meet and talk with coaches of color and, by virtue of that opportunity, the best man would win the job and sometimes that man would be the minority candidate. Dan Rooney was quite clear during our discussion that this was not a “token” interview situation.

Pete Carroll: The New Seattle Seahawks coach but was the “Rooney Rule” violated in his hiring?

Fast forward to 2010 … and the spirit of the rule has been lost … as has the execution. The Seattle Seahawks hired college coach Pete Carroll to turn around their fortunes. The hire was no surprise to anyone as of Friday when word leaked out. However, this past weekend African-American assistant coach Leslie Frazier interviewed with Seattle. Today, Carroll was hired.

Commission Roger Goddell said the Rooney rule was satisfied in this instance. After my conversation with the man who created the rule, its my opinion that not only this rule ignored, but Frazier had what amounted to a “token” interview. Even if they didn’t offer Carroll the job until after they interview Frazier, are you telling me only one person was worthy of an interview before hiring Carroll.

Teams will always have their eye on a coach or two as they look for a new leader. However, it does them no service to make a mockery of the hiring process by not interviewing several candidates before choosing the apple of their eye. That’s the spirit of the “Rooney Rule”. That is the right thing to do.

5 Stories That Shaped My 2009:#1

We’ve seen it all, haven’t we Pittsburgh? We have been on the world stage for so many things: G-20, the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup. We have been talked about in so many different mediums for so many different things. We have been held up as an ideal for what a city looking to escape the economic doldrums should aspire to.

If there was ever a year a medium-sized city should feel good about itself, it would by 2009 in Pittsburgh. Yet, it was through tragedy, that this city showed more about itself that any triumph or success. The events of the morning of April 4th and the days that followed showed us at our best as our community came together to experience a moment that may have been our worst.

That morning, I was heading down I-79 towards my alma mater, Ohio University. Set to speak to a collection of journalism students, I got a call from our newsroom. There was a shooting in Stanton Heights … and it involved a police officer. I turned around and headed back towards the city, not knowing what to expect. My best guess is that one officer was shot, the suspect was apprehended and the scene was secured.

When my car pulled up to the police line, it was obvious this was different. Watching the 30 or more officers in riot gear run by me was the first indication. The sound of gunfire was the other. It sounded like firecrackers popping and it went on for a good ten minutes. From the point in which we held back police, we couldn’t see the shoot-out that was underway but we could hear it.

What followed was a morning of tragedy: the death of three Pittsburgh police officers in a quiet residential neighborhood. I remember being live all that morning and later that night at Pittsburgh police headquarters. I remember trying to talk to a woman who was at the scene and was inconsolable. She told me to get away when I tried to talk to her on camera. She was the Richard Poplawski’s mother.

I remember how cold it was … and I remember how things moved so quickly … even though it was almost four hours from the shootings to the clearing of the scene. I remember being at police headquarters for the press conference later than day and seeing the emotion and the tears in the eyes of their fellow officers.

But nothing stays with me more than what happened later that night. I went out to dinner because I hadn’t eaten all day and was craving a hamburger. My journey for food took me to Tessaro’s in Bloomfield. Of course, it never dawned on me until I got there that this was the neighborhood in which officer Paul Sciullo grew up. I was met by a constant wave of folks from that neighborhood. Some were complementary of our coverage while others simply wanted to tell me stories about. I learned about his neighborhood ties, his passion for golf and his decision to give up a financially rewarding career to become a cop.

As the days went on towards the funerals, it was amazing to see how the city and the community came together. Many to mourn and grieve while others wanted to raise money to help the families. It’s the kind of thing that shouldn’t surprise us about the community in which we live. Still, when it happens its nothing short of amazing.

Tonight, as I am writing this, it will be eight months since that tragic morning. The images are still fresh. I can still feel the chill of that cold morning. I can still feel the uneasiness among those bystanders as the firefight went on down the street. These are images that eight months later stick with me … and likely for years to come.

Maybe with the community at large, but definitely with me.

5 Stories That Shaped My 2009: #2

It’s the closing moments of the greatest sporting event in the world. The Steelers are driving down the field towards what could be the winning touchdown and where am I to see this moment in Super Bowl history? Under the stands t at Raymond James Stadium … watching it on TV.

I’ll explain how I got there in a moment.

I have covered three Steeler Super Bowls and there is nothing like being in the city where the game is being played that morning. You know the whole world is watching and most of the planet would give their right arm to have the access you do during Super Bowl week.

Channel 4 Action News photographer Dan Pratt helping Steeler punter Mitch Berger scoop up confetti off the field at Raymond James Stadium.

While I seen the Steelers in the Super Bowl before, this one was different. It wasn’t the first after a long drought like Super Bowl XXX in Arizona and it wasn’t the “one for the thumb” like Super Bowl XL in frigid Detroit. This was a Steeler team that had a new head coach, a completely different identity and an opponent which failed to strike fear in the heart of Steeler Nation. The Arizona Cardinals had been a punchline for most of their existence until reaching Super Bowl XLIII.

For me, I have to admit there were mixed emotions. As a news anchor, I no longer go to Steeler practices and the locker room on a regular basis. I didn’t personally know many of the younger players while I was very familiar with some members of the Arizona Cardinals. I knew head coach ken Whisenhunt so well that I was the first to let him know about Ben Roethlisberger’s motorcycle accident because I had his cell phone number. Receiver Steve Breaston and defender Reggie Wells were players I first covered when the played high school football in these parts. Russ Grimm and Larry Fitzgerald were people who played or coached here who I knew very well. No matter who won, I would have had reason to be happy for the victors.

As for the game, Guy Junker, Sally Wiggin and myself were seated at the highest most seats in the grandstand at the Stadium. We had  bird’s-eye view of  the 100-yard return by James Harrison and the spectacular halftime show. However, we were supposed to be on the air, broadcasting live back to Pittsburgh, as soon as the game concluded … so we followed the media horde down to the tunnel under the stadium with five minutes to go.

Of course, it wound up being the best part of the game … and we were stuck watching it on TV as we waited to take the field. I will say that Sally and myself rode the roller coaster in that time, watching the Cardinals take the lead, then seeing the Steelers comeback and win on Santonio Holmes end zone grab.

As soon as the clock hit zero, Sally and I grabbed each other’s hand and made a mad dash for the field. We stayed close so we weren’t run over by the mass of media descending upon the field. Once in place, we had players come join us for live interviews. They were like little kids, especially offensive lineman Max Starks who hugged both of us … and nearly squeezed us to death in the process.

However, one moment from that post-game celebration stays with me. The team’s punter, Mitch Berger, joined us for an interview. So what do you ask the punter? Well the simple question is to ask “how do you feel?”. His answer said it all. He was signed to replace the team’s regular punter who was injured. Mitch said after many years in the league, he never expected to have this chance. He pointed to his dad in the stands and said how much it mean that his dad was there. Berger then said he would grab handfuls of confetti on the ground and take them home to remember this moment.

The Super Bowl means different things to different people. For me, it’s the greatest sporting event in the world … and one of the greatest displays of passion and pure emotion you will ever see. Hopefully, I won’t have to wait long for another chance to take part in “Super Sunday”.

 

 

5 Stories That Shaped My 2009: #3

Editors note: This is my look back at the 5 local stories that I believe had the greatest impact on our community in order of importance and impact. This is my opinion … and the narrative is told from this reporter’s view, offering a view of each story from a unique perspective.

While those of us who reside in Pittsburgh around proud of our city, our teams and our history there is still this sense of self-doubt that often rules. Pittsburgh knows it can be a great city, but even if you ask its residents some wonder just how it ranks with the rest of the country and whether those who aren’t from here truly appreciate what we have in this region.

The answer came emphatically from the White House in August. A very brief announcement by press secretary Robert Gibbs that Pittsburgh would host the G-20 Summit. The news was greeted by chuckles among the  White House press corps … and shock from people back here. Why in the world was the world coming to Pittsburgh?

The answer said a lot about our President, our region, our people and our future. It told me that President Obama had not forgotten the role this region played in his historic victory. It told me that our region had made a full comeback from the collapse of the Steel industry to become a leader in “green” technology and medical science. It said that what was being done in this region was a blueprint the rest of the country and the rest of the world could follow for future success. Most of all, it said the people of this region were both resilient and forward-thinking.

What was said and discussed at G-20 was really not as important as hosting the event itself. It allowed world leaders to see Pittsburgh, but it allowed the world to discover Pittsburgh: the new Pittsburgh. People who had not been here in ages were surprised by what they found. Those who had never been to Pittsburgh discovered a vibrant, growing city. Those who had abandoned the city during its hard times, rediscovered a city born again.

G-20 from my digital camera: This was noon Thursday on the North Shore. No traffic, no people, plenty of secutiry

However, the G-20 was far from perfect. We had protests that, at times, took a violent turn. We had international attention focused on the turmoil these protests caused and clashes between protestors and police. But nothing was as bad as the one thing the g-20 failed to showcase: the people of Pittsburgh. With security heighten and every entrance to the city shut down or gated off, few bothered to venture into the city those two days.

I was based on the north shore across from the Convention Center doing live reports. I had time to walk into an empty city populated by more security forces than actual residents. I know of people who chose to leave the city rather than deal with the closing down of the city. It’s a shame because what makes Pittsburgh unique is its people … and they were not to be found.

So was G-20 worth it? That’s the question that will be answered in the years to come. We are already hosting another world conference next year: a direct result of hosting a mostly peaceful G-20. Pittsburgh, for two days, was in the international spotlight. We’ll see if that results in new business coming to our town.

What I will say about G-20 is this: from my vantage point, I saw something that as recent as ten years ago would have been unimaginable. In many ways, I look at G-20 the same way I look at the Pro Bowl ( pardon the sports analogy ). It’s the honor of being named and not the event itself that is truly the thing worth celebrating.

5 Stories That Shaped My 2009: #4

Editors note: This is my look back at the 5 local stories that I believe had the greatest impact on our community in order of importance and impact. This is my opinion … and the narrative is told from this reporter’s view, offering a view of each story from a unique perspective.

It was a quiet August night in the newsroom. Kind of one of those summer nights where most residents in the region were outside enjoying the weather. There was nothing in the air to suggest a night of terror was soon to unfold … in all places … a health club.

However, slowly after 8pm, word started trickling into our newsroom from Collier Township that there had been a shooting at the L.A. Fitness Center on Washington Pike. As with such stories, confusion reigns in the early moments of such a scene. How many people were killed? Was the shooter still in the building? Was he alive?

We were fortunate as a news organization that night because we had people who lived in the area or nearby. We were able to learn the scope and size of this tragedy. For me, I nearly joined that gym when I lived in Bridgeville and it wasn’t far from many good friends that I had.

It was while Wendy and myself were on the set, breaking into programming to give as much information and details as we could, that I first discovered very important first-hand for the first time: the power and immediacy of social networking.

A night of terror unfolded before ouu eyes in Collier Township August 4th.

Many of you who normally read my blog know I have both a Facebook and Twitter page. Usually, the pages are used more for fun and games but on this night, they helped keep me in touch with people who lived in the area. People I knew. It was also the first time I had friends I knew so well so close to an unfolding story. So close that one of my friends called me later to tell me she literally had pulled out of her parking space at the gym as the shooter pulled in. She said to me later she left earlier that usual.

Well, you know what happened that night that put our community in the national headlines. Three women who went to the gym for their evening workouts were killed. Even looking at their pictures and hearing their stories, it is still hard to believe they are gone in such a senseless act.

And the man who killed them? We were given a rare glimpse into his mind through his own personal videos of his pursuit of a girlfriend. A pursuit that ended with lives being lost, families being torn apart and a community coming together to mourn. But we also saw great bravery and heroism. People pulling others out of the gym as the shooting began, the healthy helping the injured and those brave women who did survive their wounds.

 Today, the fitness center still stands and is still in business. Nothing outside the building to give anyone the idea or hint that something so horrifying had taken place. However, western Pennsylvania people have a way of not forgetting the past. There’s this adage that if ask a local person for directions, they won’t use street signs or even current markers. They will refer to what used to be there.

Such will be the case for years to come, I sense, at that facility in Collier Township.

5 Stories That Shaped My 2009: #5

Editor’s note: Over the next 5 Days, I’m looking back at the 5 local stories that I covered on Channel 4 Action News that  I think most shaped this year. I’m presenting them in a manner in which you will see what they looked like and what they meant from this reporter’s point-of-view. An inside look, as it were, starting with #5.

Sitting outside watching hockey on a giant screen in June?

That’s hockey: Pittsburgh style.

Pro hockey has been a part of  Pittsburgh since 1967 when the Pens first put on the blue shirts and skated in the then 12 team NHL. Maybe it only stands to reason that they would go back to the baby blues when the transformed hockey in this town.

Mario Lemieux had led the Pens to two Stanley Cups in the early 1990’s.  He turned Pittsburgh onto hockey for the very first time in a mass way. Children actually started skating en masse on the dearth of local rinks. Nearly two decades later, it was Sidney Crosby and a group of youngsters who got a new generation of kids living for life on the ice.

However, they were just a bit too young to lay claim to hockey’s holy grail. In 2007-2008, these “baby” Pens reached the Stanley Cup finals only to lose the modern-day “Red Army:  The Detroit Red Wings. It was clear the Wings were playing hockey on a completely different level that year and their Stanley Cup victory over the Pens didn’t shock anyone that really follows the game.

But a year later, the mantle was ready to be passed. Crosby, Malkin, Fleury were one year older and one year better. They were not intimidated by the Wings and they had overcome an even bigger challenge during the season. Trapped in 10th place in February when a little know minor league coach named Dan Blysma took over the bench. Blysma was the calming influence, sticking to his pre-game burrito tradition, that helped these young skaters once again reach the Cup finals against the Wings.

Sid no longer “the Kid” and neither were the Pens. The team became every bit as popular as the Steelers during thier Stanley Cup run in 2009.

While I no longer worked in sports, I did watch the games with interest from our studios in Wilkinsburg and when the Pens forced the Red Wings into a winner-take-all Game 7, I was sent to Detroit along with Guy Junker and Sally Wiggin to cover the biggest Game 7 in recent team memory.

I remember seeing the ravenous Red Wings fans outside Joe Louis arena, every bit as fanatical as we are about our Pittsburgh Steelers. I also saw quite a showing of Pens fans on the shores of  lake Ontario right across from Windsor Canada. After doing our live pre-game live shots on this nice evening in Detroit, I took my media pass and went off on what would be the greatest challenge of the night: finding a seat on media row.

You see, the NHL has this habit of assigning more credentials than seats … and chairs were at a premium inside Joe Louis Arena. I managed to find one, fortunately, right next to a correspondent from CBS radio whose normal beat was news but did all the big name sporting events: Super Bowl, World Series, etc.

Together, we watch a close battle between two teams who had played what amounted to over 100 games that season for a shot at the Stanley Cup. The tension was unbearable and the excitement was indescribable. However, when Max Talbot broke through with the game’s first goal, I sensed this would be the Pens game.

I never got to see the final seconds … or the hoisting of  Lord Stanley’s Cup at game’s end. I had to be outside ready to go live minutes after the game. My close-up with history was seeing the Cup being taken out of its box and taken down the tunnel towards the ice.

I did get a much better seat for the team’s victory parade back home. Wendy Bell and myself co-hosted coverage from the podium. It was a shining day, sunny and warm.  There were thousands of fans, many of them young children wearing their favorite players’ jersey. The players diving into the crowd and staying to sign autographs.

It was the culmination of a season … and a long journey for hockey in this city. But finally, the coolest game on ice took its place alongside Pittsburgh red-hot football culture. While some will always say this is a football town, at least for this season we learned that we are a town that supports winners and great stories …. no matter the sport.

Defining This Decade

I’m watching CNN “Larry King Live” and they are having a debate on whether there is an afterlife or not. On the panel, a skeptic, a spiritual adviser, a medical practitioner… and a conservative commentator. I will leave it at that.

I was also watching CNN ( which I do from time-to-time ) and they were doing what every news and commentary program will be doing the next week leading up to New Year’s eve: trying to make sense of the first decade of the new millenium.

It’s hard to believe ten years have come and gone … and I’ve only moved down the hall in the newsroom. No, seriously, it feels like just yesterday we were freaking out about Y2K and the end of civilization as we know it. Now, ten years have come and gone and we have seen our fears grow and our world shrink.

OK, it wasn’t the best of decades. But were the 2000’s really that bad? ( Courtesy: Time Magazine )

Quick refresher course: the 2000’s has seen the attacks of 9/11, wars in Iran and Afghanistan, the internet bubble burst and the economy go into the tank. We have seen our first African-American President and the final remnants of such American staples as the typewriter and the home telephone cord. Cell phones and in the internet have made our world smaller … yet we have more video choices than ever. As we near the end of the decade, we are having babies in numbers not seen since the “Baby Boom” and yet, we are getting divorced in greater numbers.

Finally, we all have to have our 15 minutes of fame … and it’s not just a moment, it’s a mini-series. Andy Warhol’s famous prediction has morphed into an entire industry where it seems every American has been on TV … or the internet. If they haven’t, no problem. They can create their own show and distribute it to the world through the web.

So what do we make of this decade that made cell phones required gear and gave us everything we wanted anytime we wanted it? I think I heard one person, and forgive for not remembering their name, give this decade a perfect title: the reality decade.

This will go down as the decade where reality TV went from fad … to format. Think about it. This decade began with “Survivor” and now, there are more reality shows than scripted shows. The “real” world made news more than just information … and on some levels, it truly is entertainment. The web allows us to get real with others, using social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.

Whether it was manufactured or real, “reality” has pervaded our life and when all is said and done, that is what will define this decade.

Bad Times in Steeler Country

Everyone loves a winner, but I think you often discover more about a person, a player, a team and a town when things go south. Such is life in Steelers Country these days.

Ever since the Super Bowl champions started off their title defense at 6-2 we have seen a steady decline in performance from the team, patience from the fans and decorum from players.

We have witnessed a quarterback and receiver playing out thier difference in the press. We listened to a defensive back who got some fan hate mail and chose to use it as a springboard for bashing the media which he feels speculates too much. We have seen the loyalist fans in the NFL slam their Steelers and take aim at everything from the club’s heart to its head coach.

Not exactly what we expected when Sports Illustrated picked the Steelers to reach their 7th Super Bowl when the publication handed out ist mid-season report card.

Now, as a former sports reporter who covered this club on a regular basis for a decade, I could give you the clinical analysis of what’s wrong with the team and the weaknesses are obvious and many. The Steelers can’t close the deal with a fourth quarter lead. Their defense can’t stop the league’s worst offenses and, in my humble opinion, it’s because the team lacks the suffocating run game of the Cowher years. Remember those days when they would just give the “Bus” the ball and kill the clock.

Steeler Coach Mike Tomlin: His greatest coaching challenge lies ahead over the next three games.

I could give you many more reasons that I think the Steelers have gone south. However, I would rather give you my thoughts on what the decline has caused. It’s led to a solidified Steeler nation becoming divided and a realization that maybe we have been spoiled. Think about it. How many lean years have we had since 1992 when Bill Cowher became coach? Yes, there have been some teams that missed the playoffs, but never anything like the collapse we are witnessing.

We have been treated to some great football over the better part of the last two decades and a couple of world championships. It makes it hard to complain about having one terrible year, but maybe we would feel better if we were losing to the Colts and Saints, not the Raiders and the Browns.

I do like to make predictions … and my guess is that Mike Tomlin is about to clean house. He has won a world championship, but not with his players or a majority of his staff. Don’t ber surprised to see changes in coordinator ranks … and don’t be surprised to see Mike Tomlin put his stamp on this team with his own draft picks and free agents. Starting next year, expect to see a truly “Mike Tomlin” team.

Finally, watch the final three games of the year. If you are wondering what kind of coach Mike Tomlin truly is, you will learn over the next three weeks. As some wise coach once again, losing doesn’t build character, it reveals it.

Get ready for the big reveal.

Kudos To You!

There was a time when television was a one-way medium. We talk. You listen. I’m not taking about ancient history here, either. As recent as ten years ago, TV was clearly made for the coach potato – but not anymore.

Never was this more true than Sunday morning where freezing temperatures and heavy morning rain turned the local roads into ice rinks. Allegheny county 9-1-1 got 478 traffic calls and the parkways were shut down by PennDot.

While traffic was at a standstill and the region was frozen by, literally, the “perfect storm”, two things happened that kept the crash count from going even higher. First, the fact it was a Sunday morning and not a weekend morning with much more traffic. Second, the drivers in this region had the viewers of channel 4.

While we broadcasted non-stop Sunday morning and even had reporters calling in, we had more than one extra pair of eyes and ears. We had viewers calling us, e-mailing our website and letting us know what was happening all over the region. We had viewers who saw trouble in their neighborhood and after getting off the road, got in touch with us. As Ashlie Hardway reported today, we got dozens of e-mails alerting us to what was happening and allowing us to warn others.

Slick roads, icy conditions made for a dangerous Sunday for local motorists. It could have been worse, if not for you. ( Courtesy: Guy Wathen, Trib )

That is really the “perfect storm” and the perfect combination. While we are the broadcasters and the journalists, you are the people who live life everyday and see everything. You know your towns, your streets and your communities. You have a vested interest in your region and responded as such on Sunday.

A TV station is no longer a one-way street. It’s a community resource and a center of common discourse and discussion. It is a place where, either verbally or electronically, ideas are exchanged and information is passed. In the end, a TV station is a public resource and its only as effective as the citizens who use it.

Sunday, you used it to its fullest potential. Congratulations … and thanks!

Three Close Friends, One Great Idea

Put this one under the heading of “Why didn’t I think of that?”.  You probably have, but you didn’t put the idea into action. Three lifelong friends from Green Tree did.

20-somethings Mike Conley, Tony Ciotti and Danielle Danzuso are the owners and founders of Pittsburgh’s newest venture, Pear Cares. The concept is pretty simple: If you have been out and had too much to drink, they will pick you and your car and take you home. It’s $15 upfront with an additional $1.50/mile and a $7 surcharge if you live outside Allegheny County. All you have to do is call earlier in the night, or make reservations on-line, and they will come get you.

Childhood friends Mike Conley, Danielle Danzuso & Tony Ciotti: The trio has now formed a different kind of bond. One that is getting people home safely.

The concept is not new. Mike tells me he first thought about it when he was in another city and at the urinal. While taking care of business, he looked up and saw an advertisement on the wall for a similar service ( see, bathroom advertising really works! ). The trio started the service in October and now make 7-15 runs on an average night. Most of their cleints:  Not so much the bar-hopping 20-somethings but people in their 40’s and 50’s.

To get in touch with Pear Transportation ( “Pear Cares” ), you can call their office at 724-249-3855 or you can go to their website: www.thepearcares.com.  Be safe and Happy Holidays.