Tube City Almanac

March 07, 2008

This, That, T'Other

Category: Mon Valley Miscellany || By

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During Black History Month, the News had a lot of neat stories about local people of note.

Here's a nice profile by Stacy Lee about 77-year-old city resident Al Kimber, who served in the U.S. Army's last so-called "Buffalo Soldier" unit --- a regiment of all African-American soldiers.

Kimber, reports Lee, had only two weeks left on his tour of duty in 1950 when his unit was shipped from Japan to Pusan, South Korean, to defend the city from the North Koreans.

"All the white troops were in Northern Japan," Kimber tells Lee. "We were not allowed to fraternize. It was strictly segregated except for a few white officers. The white officers were bitter because being assigned to an all-black outfit was a form of punishment. Some were very nice, though. They came from every state in the United States. The officers from up North were always better with getting along with the black troops than the Southern gentlemen."

The story was in last Tuesday's paper; it's worth seeking out.

. . .

Those Darn Catholics!: A recent letter to the editor in the News from a North Huntingdon resident alleged that Serra Catholic High School won the WPIAL football and boys' basketball titles this year because it recruited students to play sports.

It's a perpetual charge levied against Catholic high schools. And it could be the case that Serra's been recruiting.

But if they're recruiting, why have they been recruiting so many bad student athletes for all of these years?

Because for most of my life, Serra's football and basketball teams have stunk out loud.

And it's not like something changed this year. Serra's athletic director and men's basketball coach have each been there more than 20 years. I had both Bill Cleary and Bob Rozanski as teachers, for goodness' sake. (It's not true that Mr. Cleary had a complete head of hair before I was in his class, but I'm sure I didn't help lower his stress levels at all.)

So c'mon, people. Don't take this accomplishment away from this group of kids, or their coaches. How petty can people be?

. . .

Continuing Decline of Western Civ. Dept.: I've said it before, I'll say it again: The Mon-Yough area is not in need of its own Mensa chapter.

City police have nailed a ninth-grader at McKeesport Area High School who called in three bomb threats this week, writes Raymond Pefferman in the Daily News. The suspect is currently making new friends at Shuman Center.

I have a vague memory of being 14 years old, and I did a lot of immature, stupid, annoying things. (And if you've been reading the Almanac, you know that I haven't changed much.)

But I can remember discussions around the lunch table that pretty much concluded that calling in a bomb threat was the lamest form of prank.

So I can't put myself in a mindset that would think calling in repeated bomb threats was funny or in anyway subversive ... not to mention that back in "our day" no one had caller ID, and a phone trace was complicated.

Calling three times is pretty much the height of stupidity; after the second threat, he had to know they'd be watching the phones. This turkey even left a voice mail for the cops to use as evidence against him.






Your Comments are Welcome!

How petty can people be? When it comes to their kids and sports, you have no flippin’ idea.
And apparently this isn’t random conspiracy theorizing…there are some states (New Jersey comes immediately to mind) that have separate state tournaments and championships for public schools and private schools.
Vince - March 07, 2008



Jason,

Actually….

Bobby Rozanski has had a winning hoop program since back in about 1980…. when Serra RAIDED McKeesport (and got caught) of a lot of talent.

Kids follow good coaches.

Bob is solid as was Dick Bowen back in the day. That was the draw.

Do Catholic Scools recruit? Absolutely. Most are smart and don’t get caught. Eastern PA Catholic School take it to a much higher level than our Western Fish on Friday guys.

Why do you think the Philly Catholic League is STILL not part of the PIAA?

I hear tell that their is a push to have a CATHOLIC ONLY Leaque or leagues soon.

I disagree with that move. Why not just let all high schools recruit instead?

Why shouldn’t parents and chidren be able to choose their future?

For many student/athletes, athletics are their ticket to a college education, a succesful career and even a shot at “the league”.

Why shouldn’t they be able to select which high or prep school gives them the best opportunity?

I remember when Anthony Epolito’s parents were deciding on McKeesport/Serra for their son. Anthony Sr. (“EP” as he is known in the Port) let word get back to me, through a friend, that he wanted to talk to us coaches about opportunities at McKeesport. Our hand were tied. We aren’t, by rule, permitted to talk to any kid, even if he LIVES IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, about coming to play for us and his options.

Anthony goes to Serra, we lose possibly the best pure shooter since Ryan Sturgess, we lose a PIAA play-off game 37-36 and Serra advances….

See my point?

I like Serra basketball, Bob, Mickey Koten, rest of staff and their kids. I hope they win it all!

Very few of our kids have left for Serra over the past five years because we have gained respect as coaches and as a program.

Only takes one to make a difference.

~ Coach Sluggo Shelly
Sluggo (URL) - March 09, 2008



It’s a shame, to me anyway, that a child and/or parents decide on what school a student goes to because of what kind of athletic program offered. All it takes is one injury and the student could be left with a second-rate education. Colleges should not give out scholarships for athletics. Maybe a free dorm, but I draw the line there. Free tuition should be based on ACADEMIC performance. Unfortunately, people don’t pay hundreds of dollars for seats, food, and paraphernalia to watch two universities compete in a biochemistry experiment. You’d think those football games and the revenue they generate would make tuition cheaper for all the other students. shrug

In the meantime, I do think that public and private schools should be in separate leagues. If the parents have to pay for their kids to go to a private school, with no assistance from the government, then they deserve to have the school with the best academic and/or athletic programs.
The Dude from West Mifflin - March 10, 2008



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