Come and listen to my story ’bout a man named Jed, poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed, then one day he was shootin’ at some food and up through the ground came a bubbling crude oil, that is, Texas tea, black gold. First thing you know, old Jed’s a millionaire, friends said, Jed, move away from here. Said that California was the place he ought to be. So he loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly, Hills, that is, swimming pools and movie stars. (Lyrics the theme from ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’) There are many words that have been written about the “bad conduct” of Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Even though the conduct of Roethlisberger should not be recommended to any young athlete or non-athlete, his alleged misdeeds were not life-threatening to Big Ben or those who were allegedly victimized by him.
PITTSBURGH (AP)—Eminem mentions Ben Roethlisberger in his latest song: “Despicable.” The million-selling rapper refers to the Steelers’ troubled quarterback in explicit lyrics and with the lines, “I’d rather turn this club into a bar room brawl. Get as rowdy as Roethlisberger in a bathroom stall.”
An off season that began with the Steelers missing the playoffs. Trading Super Bowl MVP receiver Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets and franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger getting suspended for six games by Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Many fans could understand why the Steelers were looking forward to pouncing on this year’s draft. ANTONIO BROWN The Steelers entered the draft needing help on the offensive line. A line that had allowed nearly 150 quarterback sacks over the last three seasons. Filling their most pressing need, the Steelers selected center/guard LaShawn Maurkice Pouncey, who is 6-5, 305 pounds, from Florida with the 18th pick overall. Pouncey earned All-American honors and also won the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation’s top center.
“Ace” is the name that he most answers to but his full name is Averill Pippens. However, he is recognized by numerous other titles. Son, dad, brother, coach…Now that includes football coach Ace, basketball coach Ace, baseball coach Ace, and AAU Coach Ace…well, you get my point. ‘ACE’ PIPPENS But let’s start at the beginning. An Oliver High School grad and star triple-threat athlete in football, basketball and baseball he was a star in track too, but it sounds so much cooler when you say triple-threat. Pippens was named to the All-City Baseball Team, Kenny Durrett High School All-Star Basketball Classic and received the Distinguished Athlete of the Year award from the U.S. Marine Corps., among many other awards.
Rollback prices, bargain basement, lemon laws, all of the aforementioned can be used to describe the flurry of activity to describe the so-called wheeling and dealing of the Pittsburgh Steelers in regards to the juggling of players during the past month or so. The actual 2010 draft will end up secondary in regards to who steps on the field to compete for the Black and Gold. The Steelers “dun” good by selecting junior center Maurkice Pouncey from Florida in the first round. They finally got it but as I have previously stated they should have concentrated on the offensive and defensive line starting with the 2008 draft. That year, (2008) Pittsburgh drafted a slightly above average running back, Rashard Mendenhall in the first round and a projected slightly above average wideout Limas Sweed in the second.
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—They began filling up the streets around the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field hours before, a sea of black, green and yellow. Thousands of Jamaican track and field fans had come to see their star, three-time gold medalist Usain Bolt, live up to his fitting last name, and dazzle in his return to Philadelphia. IMPRESSIVE SPRINT—Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt smiles after crossing the finish line to win the 4x100 relay at the Penn Relays athletics meet, April 24, in Philadelphia. Bolt dazzled them all with a lightning fast final leg of the 400-meter relay, taking the baton in a near dead heat, then overtaking USA Blue’s Ivory Williams to win the event at the Penn Relays.
by Dennis Waszak Jr. NEW YORK (AP)—Tears welled up in David Clowney’s eyes as he watched a group of Haitian children roam the streets of Port-au-Prince with nowhere to go. Shoeless, shirtless and homeless, they made the New York Jets wide receiver think about his little brother, Jordan. DAVID CLOWNEY “Just seeing how these kids who had no families were living was devastating,” Clowney told The Associated Press. “I have a 10-year-old brother and I just can’t imagine him living that way.” Clowney, who had 14 catches and a touchdown last season, spent three days in Haiti last month as part of a missionary group that included Jets teammates James Ihedigbo and Vernon Gholston and former cornerback Ahmad Carroll. They worked with members of Yele Haiti, musician Wyclef Jean’s charity, to help with the relief and recovery efforts following the earthquake that killed an estimated 230,000 and left 1.3 million homeless in January.
Guests at the 12th annual Mel Blount Youth Home All-Star Celebrity Roast knew they were in for a treat as the line of NFL players and coaches, past and present, entered the ballroom of the Hilton Hotel April 16. Being honored that night was Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward. Following in Steelers tradition, Ward is known for his efforts on and off the field as a four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection and a devoted philanthropist. STEELERS FOR LIFE—Surprise guest Jerome Bettis, left, with Hines Ward and Mel Blount, share many laughs at the roast. “I understand what it means to be a true Pittsburgh Steeler,” Ward said. “Being honored at the dinner means something because it reflects what I do outside of football, too. Even though we are not paid to be role models, we are role models.”
The Pittsburgh Public School District is now working to address a decline in female participation in athletics after a presentation earlier this month by a consultant who conducted an audit of the district’s compliance with Title IX, a law that requires equal opportunities for both males and females in education programs or activities that are federally funded, i.e. high school athletic programs. The audit found that there is a significant difference in the number of female athletes compared to male athletes. DASHAWNA CAREY, a senior at Perry High School, was the top female basketball player in the city this year. “We are always looking to improve,” said Michael Gavlik, director of Interscholastic Athletics for the Pittsburgh Public School District. “The school district requested the audit to see where it stood and what improvements needed to be made.” Reluctant to speak, Gavlik added that each school is different and their needs vary, but what remains important is making sure their facilities are maintained and that students are equipped with what they need.
by Jim LitkeAP Sports Columnist (AP)—The calls that every agent with a kid in the draft dreads most are about money. “The first call is always about taxes,” longtime NFL agent Ralph Cindrich said a while back. “So few of these guys have had after-school jobs that they see their first paycheck and demand to know where the rest of the money went.” That won’t be a problem with Ndamukong Suh. NDAMUKONG SUH
