What do you get when you throw these guys and gals listed here together in front of a camera: Damian Jones-Moore (Central Catholic), Daniel Bradley (Gateway), Rushel Shell (Hopewell), Nolan Toran (Gateway), Jones (Central Catholic), Davantae Butler (Gateway), Mike Caputo (West Allegheny), Thomas Woodson (Gateway), Dillon Buechel (Montour), Haakim Oliver (Gateway), Greg McGhee (Perry), Steel City Models and the Pittsburgh Force Women’s Professional football team? You have the makings of the greatest show on earth.
For 10 years running, Steel City Sports World has given awards to the top high school football players in the area.
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| STEEL CITY STARS—Front Row: Members of the Pittsburgh Force Women’s professional football team. 2nd Row: Model Ashley Mittenzwey, Davantae Butler (Gateway), Model Ashley Kennedy, Model Janea Barlow, Damian Jones-Moore (Offensive MVP, Central Catholic), Model Bella’lisa Smith and Smokin’ Jim Frazier. 3rd Row: Daniel Bradley (Gateway), Haakin Oliver (Gateway), Thomas Woodson (Gateway), Nolan Toran (Defensive MVP, Gateway) and Dillon Buechel (Montour).
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Luther “The Prophet” Dupree, host of Steel City Sports World, and Co-host Kelly “Freight Train” Russell have been shining a light on youth athletics since 1998.
Unless you’ve been living in Pittsburgh in recent years, you’ve probably never heard of Steel City Sports World. What really makes this show, though, isn’t the interaction with their guests but with their callers, who are lining up on hold at the switchboard well before airtime.
“The reason we started Steel City Sports World was to give recognition and honor to high school kids who were doing the right thing,” said Dupree. “Especially to the kids in the city who don’t get the love that they should.”
Dupree is one of the community’s greatest ambassadors who helped set the highest possible standards in sports talk and has a positive image.
As the Steel City Beauties Models lined up, having a look that causes men to salivate, Dupree and Russell announced their crown jewel titles.
Steel City Sports World’s Defensive MVP went to Gateway’s strong safety Nolan Toran. Toran and Gateway have been knocking on the door of a WPIAL championship for years. Toran, who is being recruited by Illinois and Indiana, is one of the most consistent defensive backs in the WPIAL; he’s always in condition and always brings his A-Game to the field.
“I try to fulfill every aspect of being a leader,” said Toran. “As a group we are known as S4G which means Stand For God.”
Steel City Sports World’s Offensive MVP went to Central Catholic running back Damian Jones-Moore. Jones-Moore’s drive to be number one is remarkable. His determination to achieve his goals is not just reserved for the football field.
“I want to thank my midget league coach Ronnell Stackhouse, my high school coaches, my parents and my offensive line, because they are the reason for my success,” said Jones-Moore. “I work just as hard on my academics as I do training for football. I plan on having a double major when I get to college.”
Ask Thomas Woodson to name the team that he would love to play again from last season and he quickly wipes the grin off his face. “I want Central Catholic again,” the Gateway super sophomore quarterback and safety says. “We had them on the ropes in the playoffs and we felt that we let one get away.”
West Allegheny’s Mike Caputo, who plans to attend the University of Wisconsin next fall, admits that his work ethic sets him apart. “Hard work succeeds over talent when talent fails to work hard. I go by that motto,” said Caputo. “I got to work on everything and the sky is the limit.”
Hopewell’s Rushel Shell has established himself as one of the very best running backs in the country since he stepped on the gridiron in 9th grade. Shell has a chance to topple 9,000 career rushing yards. Shell, a junior, rushed for 2,510 yards with 27 touchdowns in 2010.He has 6,766 career yards and needs 981 to break Mike Vernillo’s WPIAL record.
“Everything that I do is magnified, so I have to make the right choices,” said Shell. “I work on my stamina with my strength and conditioning coach. We don’t lift heavy, we do a lot of reps and work on getting cuts. I pattern myself after Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) because he is strong and fast.”
Many shows are pretty good, but most lack the commitment to youth sports.
True dominance is King HenryVIII, Serena Williams, Michael Jordan, Gateway High School and Steel City Sports World.
There’s going to be a mighty force blowing over the city of Pittsburgh this year. Steel City Sports World is planning to dominate and conquer. Steel City Sports World is going to cover high school athletics better than any other show and will not take any prisoners. This team will not rest until they are the undisputed number one show. In the words of Lenny Kravitz, “it ain’t over till it’s over.”
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