Alive & Well

The year is 2009. At least that is what the calendar tells us, but sometimes there are events that take place in this world that make you wonder whether its 1969 … or 1889.

Two recent events come to mind. The first happened across the state, outside Philadelphia, where a group of African-American children say they suffered the ultimate humilaition. They were campers – paid campers – at this private swim club. However, when the 65 kids dove in, they say they faced derogatory comments from the people already there … and some parents pulled their kids out of the water.

The group, Creative Steps, was later told their swimming privileges were being rescinded and their $2000 fee for the summer was being returned. The club president later told a Philadelphia TV station that club member complained because the children “fundamentally changed the atmosphere” at the pool, but it had nothing to do with race. They say the isssue is overcrowding and lack of facilities. 

The club board has since said the any chares racism is completely untrue.

Obviouisly, I would be more sensitive to cases of racial discrimination, but we should all be outraged that this is even going on. There really is no defense for the members of the swim club and their alleged behavior. The least they could do is come to sort of comprimise on pool use if “overcrowding” is the issue. Racism or not,  to put children in the middle of this is the worst form of child abuse I can imagine.

However, racism need actually take place for it to hurt and anger. A recent story on ABC News.com left me wondering if we had made any progress at all. The title is “Will Michael Jackson’s ‘White Kids’ Get Along in a Black Family?”. The gist of the story is that Jackson’s three young children – Paris, Michael and Blanket – must not only deal with the loss of their father but must adjust to life with a black family, should a Jackson family member end up with custody.

Not to oversimplify, but this article turned the children plight into a story of trans-racial adoption and the difficulty for the children to adjust with their lighter skin to the darker-skinned members of their family.

Are you serious?

Does anyone realize that these kids are not suddenly being thrust into an African-American family and culture? Janet Jackson has been their aunt since the day they were born and its quite obvious that these children know the rest of the family and what they look like. Anyway, does anybody remember that Michael Jackson ( appearance aside ) is an African-American?

Its an insulting theory to the children and to the Jackson family. Its also an insult to African-Americans when you say that you wonder how “white kids” will adjust and yet no one is ever concerned with a white family adopts a child of a minority group. It reminds me of the comment I heard when Sharon and I first started dating. She is Serbian but her appearance is Caucasian. Someone asked me “what do her parents think?”. Never was she asked what do my parent think.

Race has always been that issue that we – as a country – have never been able to deal with and always walked around with kid gloves. Unlike the comments of Attorney General Eric Holder, I do not think we are “A nation of cowards” when it comes to race. We just have a subject that is not easy to break down, filled with a strange and painful history and one that has no easy answers.

All that being said, there are examples of stupidity in the racial discourse of this country. These are two clear examples.

A Pro Pittsburgh Stance

Imagine this:

You come into my town and make your fortune … paying a nominal fee to do yuor business in my backyard …. and then leave, taking your riches elsewhere.

OK, that’s pretty simplistic, you get the idea if you have heard the latest proposal from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. He wants people who work in Pittsburgh, but choose to live outside the city limits, to pay more than the current $52 work tax. He is lobbying state lawmakers to give them the power to raise that tax on “suburbanites” to $145 annually.

On the surface, its hard to argue. Pittsburgh is a city in need of money to balance its budget and give its residents the services necessary to live. Why not tax the folks who benefit from Pittsburgh but don’t live in the city. Its a stance that will win him the votes of residents and those who are complaining don’ t have a vote in the city’s next mayoral race.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl: Proposing raising the tax on “suburbanites” who work in Pittsburgh. Great political move … if you live inside the city limits.

Of course, there’s a flip side to all this.

At best, this can be called taxation without representation: taxing people who have no vote. It’s also raising the tax on people who more than just come into town and make their fortune within the city limits. Pittsburgh is not just the city’s name, its the region;s moniker and if not for those who work in it but choose to live outside of it, Pittsburgh might have gone under long ago. They may be taxed just $52, but I’m sure they spend more than $52 every year on food and parking. Suffice to say, the greatest economic impact comes from the people who commute into town to work every day.

What’s the answer to raising more money for a financially-strapped city? I do not know. State lawmakers from our region opposed to the idea say cut the fat and look for ays to reduce the amount the city spends. That’s nice in theory, but you tell me how popular you are going to be when you cut $80K from expenses by passing on that Pens championship parade.

I’m sure there will be a happy medium reached … and that means the city work tax will most certainly go up in the coming year. While the money is needed, and the argument from the city side is understandable, please don’t make those who live outside the city limits and work inside seem like some sort of carpet baggers.

The Circus Gets Real

I have to admit when I tuned in to watch today’s memorial service for Michael Jackson, I was expecting to see a concert. I was expecting to see more of a freak show than a tribute to the musician. I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised.

The service, on the whole, was dignified and poignant. It focused on the positives without being over the top ( even the $25K gold-plated casket ). It was filled with more music than talk and more singing than speeches. Other than Al Sharpton who somehow connected Jackson’s breakthrough on MTV 28 years ago to helping Barack Obama becoming President of the United States ( a bit of stretch as far as I am concerned ), I thought it was fairly normal.

All that being said, it wasn’t until the end that I finally realized that someone had died.

Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris: For me, her words made it real.

I’m serious. I saw the “celebrity” grief, complete with matching sequined gloves and all the family members wearing sunglasses – indoors. I saw Brooke Shields cry and Jermaine Jackson hold back emotional as he sang, but I never sensed any real grief … until Jackson’s 11-year-old daughter spoke.

She was not wearing sunglasses. She wore her pain on her face for the whole world to see. She was simple. She was real. She was elegant. She was simply a daughter who had lost her father. No matter what you may think of the man, the molestation charges, the weirdness or the plastic surgery, there was one role he served that was indisputable. He was this young girl’s father … and this daughter was suddenly without a parent.

Frankly, that was all I needed to see to understand that someone had died. That made the whole Jackson thing real … at least for me. My only hope is that this girl finds some solace and comfort … and does not become the next sacrificial lamb for the tabloids.

Of course, I know better.

Death: Its Only the Beginning

He did die Thursday, June 25th, right?

Just thought I would check because with all the coverage on the national network and cable news, you would think Michael Jackson is on his deathbed. No matter where you turn, there are shows with the “inside” story on Michael Jackson: his death, the drugs he was taking, the people he was with at the time, the secret tapes, etc.

It’s quite obvious that Michael Jackson was loved by millions worldwide, influencing a generation of musicians and young people. He made people very happy and despite the child molestation case, he is genuinely loved by people around the world.

All that being said, since when did this guy who hasn’t had a hit record in five years suddenly earn the kind of deity status reserved for heads of state? Here’s Al Sharpton( and since when did he become the conscious of  a nation ) asking that Tuesday’s memorial service become a national day of mourning. Folks, I know he was the “King of Pop”, but last I checked no one voted him into that office. Come to think of it, I don’t the death and remembrance of Ronald Reagan lasted this long.

While I think it makes sense to broadcast the proceedings Tuesday inside the Staples Center ( 17,000 seats and 1.6 million applied to get tickets ), I think all the ancillary coverage has gone way too far. It’s even being called a seminal moment, his passing, like that of Elvis Presley a generation ago. The difference is that we live in a world which celebrates celebrity to excess.

The late “King of  Pop”: Sorry to see him go, but given the amount of coverage his passing has been getting, is he really really gone?

Truth be told, I don’t even know if he is truly dead. I keep hearing it, but until I see MJ in that $25K gold-plated casket, I probably won’t believe it. The cynic in me says that this is all part of this comeback tour and somehow on Tuesday he will rise from the dead and start this concert tour he planned before his passing.

OK, I am getting cynical, but I’m getting tired of hearing from all the members of the Jackson family … who by the way are now planning a concert tour to remember Michael. Oh great, the Jackson 4 … or will LaToya and Janet be joining them.

I will always hjave fond memories of  Michael Jackson, the artist. He could sing and he could write great music. His appearance? Let me just stay away from that. I guess what I’m saying is leave me with my memories and please don’t tell me this is something greater than what it is: the premature passing of a pop music performer.

Head Scratcher in South Carolina

There are some stories you just cannot make up. The latest to cross our desk is the deal in South Carolina involving the Governor and his affair with a woman from Argentina. In case you haven’t heard about this, I will give you the Cliff Notes version:

Governor goes away to Argentina without telling his staff – or anyone else for that matter – and consummates a long-time, e-mail relationship with a woman from South America. Upon returning, he’s busted and holds a news conference professing his guilt to the media. The govenor has a wife, four kids and possible Presidential aspirations. As of tonight, he still has the wife and four kids.

The story should, for the public’s purpose, should have ended there. However, Governor Mark Sanford showed off his gift for gab at the press conference where he admitted to the affair. Now, he’s gone one step further.

South Carolina governor Mark Sanford … and the ultimate example of TMI.

In what was described as an emotional interview with the Associated Press, Sanford admitted he had “crossed the line” with other women but did not have sex with them. Wait, it gets worse – and even harder to believe. He calls the “other” woman his “soul mate”. Still, he says he would “try and fall in love” with his wife all over again.

Did I really need to know this? More to the point, did his wife need to know this? I can see the breakfast conversation the day after these interviews. She asks him not to do her any favors and “try” and fall in love with me all over again.

What was this guy thinking?

When one spouse cheats on another, it’s never pretty. However, there are different ways to admit your infidelity. The best is just to admit doing it without giving too many details. Hearing the “other woman” is still his “soul mate” can’t make Mrs. Sanford very happy and to hear the governor is going to “try” and fall in love with his wife again might be worse than the original sin.

Political figures seem to always end up in these sexual quagmires. Some will actually save their careers … and their jobs. Sanford offers a textbook example on how not to handle scandal. In this case, less would be more. Instead, his political career is history and I would assume his marriage may follow.

The Superstar Next Door

When it comes to sports – as a nation in general – we have a rather limited concept of what truly constitutes a sport. If its not football, basketball, baseball, hockey or NASCAR, its often doesn’t get network coverage or big-time attention. That’s too bad because some of the most incredible athletes live on the fringe.

Such is the story of Kristi Leskinen, who has become a bona fide star in the sport of freeskiing. Essentially, the half pipe and other forms of performance skiing that need not only skill, but also creativity, daring and a flare for the dramatic. She has become the leader in this genre known as Action Sports. By the way, did I mention she was from Fayette county?

Now, she has an opportunity to show her stuff to the entire country. Kristi is competing on the ABC reality series “The Superstars” where she matches wits and talents with the likes of Terrell Owens, Brandi Chastain and Lisa Leslie. I had a chance to sit down with Kristi at her Fayette County home. You know it better as The Summit Inn. The resort has been run by her family for some 60 years.

Kristi ( Second from left ) with her mother, two sisters and a visitor

That’s where Kristi grew up and learned skiing and just about every other sport under the sun. She says Farmington is a wonderful place to come back to … and the skills she learned as a child have helped her in this competition against some of the heroes she grew up watching.

But for Kristi, instead of individual fame, she says her appearance on “The Superstars” is her chance to advance the cause of Action Sports. Except for the X-Games, their sports get very little attention. Kristi figures if she can perform well and equal her contemporaries from other sports on the field of play, the audience will want to learn more about this freeskiing star from Fayette County … and the sports she plays.

You can count me as one of her new fans … and one who wants to learn about her field of play: the world of Action Sports.

Another Talent Taken Too Soon

This is getting really scary.

I’m not one to follow the celebrity culture and I have no fascination with celebrity deaths. That being said, I cannot turn away from all these famous people passing before their time.

Farrah Fawcett, while was battling cancer, still died well before her time. You know all about Michael Jackson. Now, another celebrity has passed … and quite unexpectedly. He is famous, but  only to a certain group of people. Those whose follow infomercials and a desire to buy those items that claim to do the outrageous. Everything from remove scratches with a pen to remove any stain with a lump of something that looks like lard. I’m speaking of Billy Mays.

While I do not know Billy Mays personally, there is a connection. There is his Pittsburgh connection. He’s a McKees Rocks native that worked his way up from the ground level to become America’s foremost pitchman. He became a true original who learned the sell is in the pitch as much as it is in the product.

The connection I have is through my segment called “Test It Tuesday”. Our weekly segment is pretty much having viewers like you putting the products that Mays pitches to the test …. to see if they do what they claim in those commercials. While the results were mixed, Mays’ pitches and products were a great source of material for me.

McKees Rocks native Billy Mays: Pitchman extraordinaire who passed well before his time.

I did once try to get an interview with Mr.Mays … with no luck. He was too busy moving at the time. I also felt I would get another chance to talk to him at his Florida home. This is why you never make plans for the future because the future is never guaranteed.

The early word is that the 50-year-old pitchman passed in  much the same way actress Natasha Richardson died: a delayed reaction to a serious shaking of the head and brain. For Richardson, it came from a ski accident. For Mays, a hard landing at the airport.

It’s a shame when anyone passes before there time, but its even harder when its someone with obvious talent …. whether it be an actor, a singer, a physician or a pitchman. In this case, the pitchman who made his first sale in McKees Rocks.

So much for these things happening in threes.

Shocked By the News

“He’s dead”.

Those are the words that came into my ear around 5:44pm Thursday as our 5pm producer, Thomas West, told me that Michael Jackson had died. We had been following the news for almost a half hour and I had no BlackBerry, laptop or computer on the desk with me. Wendy Bell and I were depending on the word from our producer booth.

“He’s dead, Credit the website”.

The website in question was TMZ, the celebrity gossip site, which many in the traditional media tend to frown upon. However, to this station’s credit, we used it as a credible source based on its history and track record … and we continued to source them during our coverage. That’s why our viewers heard about his passing before those watching CNN, Fox News, etc.

That being said, it was one of those moments that completely shocked me … and I am never shocked by anything anymore. I guess I have become a cynical news reporter, never being blown away by anything I hear. I guess I have heard of the worst things people have done onto others, so its hard to be surprised by anything I hear anymore.

The death of Michael Jackson shocked me.

Now I will admit, while I did love his music I thought he was a little bit of a freak show. Skin disease aside, his desire to change his appearance to look more like Diana Ross was kind of strange. Also, let’s not forget the whole child molestation case as well as his dangling of his young baby out a hotel window. Plus, the man was no money manager. Reportedly, he was deep in debt.

All that being said, his music is part of my life and my generation. His songs as a member of the Jackson Five take me back to my youth. His “Thriller” album hit the store shelves while I was in high school. I was one of those kids who rushed home in anticipation of seeing the “Thriller” video. While I never bought one of  his albums, I always seem to pause and listen to his sonsg when they pop up on the radio.

And I was always remember Michael Jackson’s passing. I have to. It’s the same date as my wedding anniversary. Now, I have joined the likes of friends who have birthdays or anniversaries on holidays or significant dates in history. Now, those special dates have been completely overshadowed by events in pop culture.

I will finally say this. It was strange to say “Michael Jackson has died” on the air last night. We all know that in television news, we are often reporting information to people for the very first time. It’s weird to know I may have told thousands of viewers about the passing of Michael Jackson. I’m sure they had the same reaction Wendy and myself did when we heard it from our producer.

We didn’t believe it, either.

An Introduction to Pittsburgh …. Thanks to You!

Boy, when I ask for help, you blog readers really come through. I have gotten more than a few suggestions for ways I should show Pittsburgh to a newcomer. They came from this blog and also from my Facebook page and they came in mass.

Showing someone their new home in one afternoon? Thanks to your suggestion, I have a game plan for showcasing Pittsburgh.

For those of you wondering what this is all about, on my blog Tuesday I asked readers to help me. The best friend of a high school friend of mine just landed a job here in Pittsburgh. She has not been here in quite sometime and I have been asked to show her the city she will now call home. While I think I know Pittsburgh as well as anyone, I still want to make sure I present the most positive image of our town. So I asked you to suggest stops to make and things to see Sunday afternoon when I serve as host of this guided tour.

I got about 30 e-mails suggesting everything from letting the city speak for itself to not letting anyone with a Pittsburgh accent get within 30 yards of this woman. While there were many different suggestions, there were a few things that it seemed everyone suggested.

Mount Washington:  Almost everyone who sent me an e-mail says the tour should include the $64 billion view of the city from Mount Washington. While that price tag may have dropped in value because of the economy, the view is still priceless. Many of you said its the perfect place to tell anyone the story of the city of Pittsburgh, although I doubt she will be listening when looking at this view.

The inclines: While there are faster ways to get down from Mount Washington, none is more unique that riding the incline down. As one person told me “it brings the past and present together as you slowly descend down from Mount Washington”.

Just Ducky: I like this idea because I don’t have to drive. It takes about an hour and you can see the city by land … and by water. There is the amphibious Just Ducky Tours or the more traditional Gateway Clipper.

Pittsburgh museums: From the Heinz History Center to the Carnegie Science Center, nothing gives you a better understanding of our town than the museums that we have. They tell the story of the history, the pride, the sports and the people of western Pennsylvania. Plus, given the temperature outside, they give us a chance to cool down and spend a few moments indoors.

The Fort Pitt Tunnel: OK, this is an easy one. Pittsburgh is the only city with an entrance … and what a view it is. However, that’s what I think everyone who comes to visit expects to see. One reader suggested that instead I take the back way up Mount Washington …. the winding roads all the way to Grandview Avenue and to the view of Mount Washington.

But perhaps the best and most unique suggestion I got was one in which I would be driving and talking. Try this on for size: Downtown to PPG, then cut through Liberty and head down Grant street to the Boulevard of the Allies. From there, head to Oakland, down Forbes Avenue and circle the Cathedral of Leanring. Next stops: Carnegie Mellon and through Schenley Park. Follow the winding roads down through Bates Street at across the Hot Metal bridge to South Side Works. Thanks Rico. Hope I got that right.

I was also told to avoid a number of places: west end construction and the tunnels before the ball game. However, one person said I should show off the orange cones.

Thank you for all your suggestions and ideas. I think one thing is clear from every submission I received: Pittsburghers are proud of their town and that pride can be shown in many different ways. So many that I know I cannot show all of them in one day … so why try. I’ll take some of your suggestions for my tour on Sunday.

I like to think the greatest thing about Pittsburgh is that you can be here a day … or 14 years like myself …. and learn something new. Maybe, with apologies to Michael Chabon, that is the true “mystery of Pittsburgh”. It’s thinking you know the city, but always being pleasantly surprised.

I’ll lety you know how the tour turns out.

Residents of Pittsburgh: Help Me Out!

I’m putting out an ABP. I need your help long-time residents of Pittsburgh as well as those who have called this place home for only a short time.

I know I have been here 15 years so I should have a handle on the town I call home, but I have been given an enormous responsibility. My friend from high school has a friend who has landed a job in Pittsburgh. She hasn’t been in the city in more than a decade … and now she’s about to call it hone.

So where should I taker her? How do I show off this beautiful town without giving everything away. How do I give her a taste of  Pittsburgh without feeding her the whole Primanti’s  sandwich? You get the point here.

How would you show off our city to a newcomer in one afternoon?

So I’m aksing you, loyal blog readers and your friends. If you only had a few hours, what would you show a newcomer and furure resident of  Pittsburgh. That’s what I want to know … and I want you to tell me. Send me your best ideas over the next two days and I will create my own trip guide for this latest person to call Pittsburgh home.

Thanks, in advance, for your help … and feel free to sell it to me in Pittsburgh-guese. You can send your ideas to the link right here on my blog page.

Jon … Minus Kate & the 8

I have never heard of Jon & Kate until last week. Had no idea what the show was all about and didn’t even know what network carried the program. Apparently, I was in the minority.

“Jon & Kate Plus 8″ has become a cable television hit. The program has been on for a few years and has gained a loyal and growing following. The story of the Gosselins and their eight children in Wernersville, Pennsylvania is a compelling one. Raising eight young children should give any writer enough stories for a season-long reality series.

However, the story that was all about the kids has taken a twist. The focus soon moved to the husband and wife. Jon and Kate are showing the stress of the children – and the constant eyes of the TV cameras – has taken its toll on their marriage. There have been rumors of infidelity on both sides, rumors each spouse denies.

The 8 … minus Jon and Kate. The parents are splitting up. So what happens to the reality TV show?

Finally, all the speculation bubbled over on Monday’s season premiere. Even the mainstream media – and Channel 4 – were doing stories about what would happen in tonight’s season premiere. Even though I had never seen the show, it was easy to guess that the couple was breaking up. Jon says he’s moving out, while Kate stays with the 8 kids.

I would love to write this off as reality TV, but these are real people … with 8 real young children. However, its become nothing more than a plot twist for viewers. In a report from our sister station in Harrisburg, there was this one guy waiting outside the house today hoping to catch a glimpse of Jon or Kate. He said he found their story “compelling” and wanted to see them in person. Paparazzi was stationed outside the home, hoping to get a picture.

I just find the whole thing very sad. Divorce is a serious thing, and reality TV has turned it into prime-time fodder. I wish Jon and Kate all the best and hope, privately, they can find some peace … away from the cameras and for their eight children who will have to grow up without the spotlight and cameras and eventually deal with being children of divorce.

Its Truly A Small World After All

When I was first getting into broadcasting I had that desire – like every person who has ever worked in this business – to work in my hometown. For me, its where I grew up: Hartford, Connecticut. That dream came true in January 1991, thanks to a woman who saw things in me I never saw in myself.

Her name was Colleen Marren and she was the news director of WTIC-TV, Hartford’s Fox station. WTIC was relatively new in the news game, up against the more-established CBS, ABC and NBC stations. Colleen had put together a young, but talented group already and was looking for a weekend sports anchor. She went through quite a few tapes … and then chose to hire me.

Believe me, I was a long shot. I never had a job in commercial broadcasting as a on-air person. Once more, I was starting in one of the nation’s top 25 markets. I’m not sure what Colleen saw in this skinny kid with the  afro ( Don’t laugh. It was 1991 ). Whatever she saw, I was grateful. But getting the job was only the beginning.

She gave me my first job in TV news. Now, she’s leading one of WTAE’s competitors. Talk about a small world.

Colleen was like a mom to all of us in the newsroom. She taught me so much about journalism – and about life. She gave me lessons that have stayed with me to this day. I was only at the station for a year and a half, but its still the most important 18 months of my career.

So why do I mention all this … and what does it have to do with the title? Turns out one of our competitors ( the one whose call letters start with a “K” ) has hired a news director. Guess who it is?

That’s right, Colleen Marren. Some 18 years after she hired me, I will be competing against her for viewers. It’s almost like in sports when the coach faces one of his former players. However, in this case, many years have passed and the style I had back then is very different what I do know. Same is true for Colleen who has become a success in so many cities since leaving Hartford.

I’m sure I will be calling her at some point to welcome her to Pittsburgh. I know she will find it as fascinating and welcoming as I have. After all, it was Colleen who taught me to embrace the city in which I work.

The Fly and the Flooding

Let me get the frivolous, silly stuff out of the way first.

Apparently, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has expanded their base. It’s not longer just our furry friends, but also those barely large enough to make a blip on the radar.

In a recent interview, President Barack Obama swatted a fly, killing it. The moment was seen as light – until PETA found out. The group, which protects the rights all of animals, now wants to make sure bugs are protected. They have sent the President a gift”: a humane fly catcher for him to use the next time a fly happens to cross the President’s path.

Obama vs the fly ( Courtesy: CNBC/AP )

At best, this is seizing the moment for publicity sake. At worse, this is the silliest stand this organization can make. I’m going to assume it’s the former because if it is the latter, PETA has done more damage to itself and its very serious message.

Look, I am a pet owner and a pet lover. When I see a bug on the ground or a squirrel crossing the street, I go out of my way to avoid it and give the creature a few more minutes of life. That being said, I will be the first one to crush a fly if it comes into my air space. Is the cruel, insensitive? It’s a fly. Let’s get over it, PETA. I see enough animal abuse stories on a weekly basis on this broadcast that deserve PETA’s attention and focus.

 

Now, onto a more pressing matter: the flooding in Western Pennsylvania.

I think I was like many of you. Awed by the lightning show which initially began the evening, concerned by the dark clouds and funnel-shaped things forming in the sky and then completely shocked by the length and strength of the rain storms.

We were on the air, along with meteorologists Demetrius Ivory, Erin Kienzle and Michael Haynes for five hours. I can honestly say it was difficult to watch some of the video knowing full well that many of those who had their homes damages and their cars submerged were in no position to pay for the destruction about to befall them. It was even harder today to listen to those whose lives and belongings were covered in mud.

Nature can be kind to some and cruel to others … and such was the case last night in our region. Why is one house in Plum standing while the other was hit by lightning and set on fire?

While we all felt the rain, some got the brunt of the storms. Communities like Export and Wilkinsburg saw flooding like they have never witnessed before … and its always the poorest in our communities who seem to get the worst of this.

Erin Kienzle says we are not done. More wet weather is coming tomorrow and while it may not be an exact repeat of Wednesday, it will drop enough rain to make a bad situation worse for many.

I hope you keep your neighbors – the ones you know and the ones you don’t – in your prayers tomorrow as we hunker down for round two.

The City’s Newest Champion

Can you believe the last few days?

Pittsburgh is now home to two champions – with the latest title coming from the Pittsburgh Penguins. The franchise which faced bankruptcy and nearly left town for the riches of a new arena in Kansas City, is now on top of the hockey world … and our city.

I had a chance to see the final pages of this story first-hand. From a trip to Detroit for my first-ever finals game 7 to a front-row seat for today’s championship parade. It was a different experience for me in so many ways. Since I no longer work as a sports anchor, I have not a chance to interview almost all the players, except Crosby. My only meeting with Coach Dan Bylsma was at a restaurant one night.

However, I was able to be there for the game 7 and the most improbably Stanley Cup champion in recent memory. It was thrilling to watch the Pens exorcise the demons of Detroit with the game 7 win. I wish I could have been on the ice for the trophy presentation, but I wound up being outside doing live shots at 11pm.

That was an “interesting” experience to say the least. The Pens fans out there were more than a little sauced and the Detroit fans who joined them were more than a little upset. One peeved Wings fan came up to me and actually said ” What are you going to do now? All you have to cover is the stinking Pirates”.

My answer. Two words: Detroit Lions.

Let’s fast forward to Monday … and the parade. From the start, there was something different about this celebration. The temperature, of course, and then there were the fans. You could sense the Pens fans were younger …  and decidedly female. They seemed to move to a different beat … and a different sound. They also cheer for a group of players who seem to look at their fans differently.

The players were truly humbled by the Cup, anxious to slap hands with their fans and more than willing to sign every autograph. They are clearly not from this region, or this country, but embrace our town and traditions unlike any group of athletes I have ever seen.

Then, there is the Cup. While the Lombardi Trophy represents all the sweat and toil from a Super football season, the Stanley Cup looks more like something out of “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. It’s actually known as “hockey’s holy grail” and it does become a quest to capture the Cup.

It was great to be next to Wendy Bell as we co-anchored the coverage and watch her become a little girl. She is the most rabid Pens fan I know and she literally melted seeing her heroes enjoy the championship.

It was a weekend to remember … and if I could find my camera cable, I would download some of the pictures I took during the last three days. Suffice to say, the memories are burned in my mind for a long time to come … or until the Pens capture the cup next season.

Editor’s Note: By the way you have to see this. While I was in Detroit, I discovered there are folks in Pittsburgh that think I had something to do with winning the Cup. Take a look and listen.

Facing Your Own Game 7

Editor’s note: Andrew will be blogging from Detroit before and after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Look for updates here.

We’re on late tonight because of the NAB finals this Thursday night, so I will have to hurry home and pack my bags. In the morning, it’s off to Motown for game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

I know that I no longer do sports, but as you can tell this event “transcends” sports. It’s more than a game, it truly is an event. The Penguins and Red Wings are about to give us a fitting ending to one of the most exciting playoff seasons in recent memory.

While many fans will tell you they would rather win the cup in four games, there is something about game 7 – in any sport. It is final and puts an exclamation point on the championship chase.

I think we have all faced game 7 in our lives, in one form or another. We have all faced a challenge in our lives where it came down to an all-or-nothing scenario. Whether it be a job interview, a date or perhaps a crucial life-changing decision, we have each been in the winner-take-all scenario. Believe it or not, this is what the Pens and Red Wings are about to deal with tomorrow.

The great lesson in life’s Game 7’s is this: experience helps but does matter when it comes to facing that challenge. What you did before doesn’t count when you face a Game 7 in your life.

Game 7’s can also be seen from two different angles. You could be the favorite, like the Detroit Red Wings, with everything to lose and all the pressure on your shoulders. You could be the underdog, like the Pens, with nothing to lose because no one expected you to be there.

Enough with the analogy. The point is Game 7’s happens rarely in sports, but quite often in life. I think if you are a Pens fan and you are nervous about Friday night, just think back to your own personal Game 7 … and how you handled it.

Now you know why I feel supremely confident.

By the way, can I get anyone something from Detroit when I come back?

A cup perhaps?