BILL NEAL, LEFT, WITH CRITICAL MEMBERS OF THE SPORTS SHOW TEAM. (PHOTOS BY DAYNA DELGADO)
:10- “Champions Live” sports and entertainment talk show ended its 20th season with three of Western Pa.’s greatest hoop stars. Terry Knight, Pitt University’s Iron Man, sat in with Eric “Crusher” Jefferson of Northeastern University and Coach Corey Gadson of St. Francis College to talk all things basketball! The topics ranged from A to Z with various opinions, but to a man they all agreed that Ja Morant has run his tab out with the top brass at the NBA level and the 25-game suspension he received was just for his continuous Clint Eastwood/Josey Wales impersonation. Similarly, most opinions were about the same in selecting their top five ballers of all time…including Magic, Jordan, Kareem, Kobe, Shaq, Dr. J., LeBron, Steph, and Bill Russell, give or take one or another.
Lest you be reminded, Terry Knight, younger brother of the legendary Billy Knight and brother to the Knight Basketball Family Dynasty, was a member of the Pitt team from ‘74-’79 during the glory days and was a draft selection of the San Antonio Spurs. He was also a member of the Rankin Gangsters team in the Connie Hawkins Pro/Am Summer Basketball League where he and the great Hosea Champine joined forces with Eric Jefferson, Petey Harris, Jeff Baldwin, Kevin Price, Sr., Shane “The Claw” Bibbons, Alex Johnson, Kevin Kelly, Robert Clanagan, Allan Richardson, S. Carrington, and Lonnie McClain, all under the masterful direction of Coach Eddie Jefferies.
:09-While we’re talking “Gangsters,” allow me to clear up some confusion still held by LeVon Johnson, the coach of the Cosmic Echoes and several members of both “Clairton’s Finest” and “Bump Yes” that the Champine-led Gangsters were the only three-time C.H.L. champions and the only back-to-back winners, thus making the order of the league’s greatest teams being the Rankin Gangsters, Cosmic Echoes, Clairton’s Finest and Bump Yes. And I will shout it out to the world with my last breath that “The Dons” coached by yours truly comes in fifth on the list with four final four appearances and two championship games without bringing home the gold due to some various, and I dare say highly questionable, circumstances to this very day???
:08-Sorry I got sidetracked. Back to the show. Also on the mic a few Wednesdays ago at Vicky’s Soul Grill and Q&M’s Restaurant in Penn Hills was Eric Jefferson. AKA “Crusher” because of his dominant rebounding career while at Northeastern University under the coaching of the legendary Jim Calhoun, when he led the nation in rebounding. But don’t get it twisted, Jefferson could score the ball from quality spots on the court and when it was time to “D-up” he was your man.
:07-Here’s another side bar for ya. Imagine this if you can. Close your eyes for a moment…drive down Braddock Ave. about six blocks and hang a left…and then a quick right and you’re in “The Alley,” yep, “The Alley!” “The Alley” with the old-old school rim on the telephone pole where Jefferson, Knight and his four brothers, Champine, and Harris learned and played the schoolyard game that landed all of them in Division I Basketball programs! Simply unbelievable!
:06-The third member of that historic night was Corey Gadson, AKA “Coach Corey”…AKA “Deep in the Corner Gadson.” Gadson was a silent assassin that did most of his talking with the ball going thru the hoop. A member of Clairton’s Finest along with the late great Darrell Gissendanner, “Big John” Marshall, Curtis Aiken, George Allen, “Dr. Hook,” and other Clairton greats. After his run at St. Francis College of PA, Gadson went on to have numerous successful years of coaching on the high school level impacting and changing the lives of countless young men.
:05-To help keep the conversation in balance, the crew was joined by Margo Hinton. Hall of Fame basketball star out of IUP and the first woman to play in the nationally recognized Connie Hawkins League. And the answer to your question is yes!!! She could play with anybody, anytime, anywhere. Hinton, whose talents also include writing music, poetry and rapping. That, of course, is when she’s not teaching middle school students and hosting her own podcast.
:04-Of course C-Live team member Alexis Cobb was on stage with her considerable sports and verbal skills. And is the only one of us who has the definitive answer to most questions of issues, because she is both an attorney with Cobb Counsel and also a sports agent representing numerous professional athletes. Most importantly, she brings to the conversation a strong and unyielding position about the sports world that very few women in the business does.
:03-Needless to say, the show is not a show without sports and baseball historian Wayne Moody. Once a member of the Mets organization on the way up in the MLB ladder before injury, Moody brings a matter-of-fact /having been there position, then generally brings the room to a calm. The proud grandson of a former Homestead Gray, published author, and sports official, “Wayne’s World’ takes sports to another level.
:02-Add to all that the very important and timely presence of former CCAC basketball player Larry DiCicco speaking on plans for the college to honor legendary coach Bill Shay. The unbelievable brilliance and longevity of Charles “Buddy” Allie, the fastest 75-year-old man in the world in the 100 and 200 meters, who was recently honored in Barcelona as Masters Division Athlete of the Year. And the continued caring and sharing of the Elite Corvette Club of Pittsburgh and their nonstop efforts to aid our community in multiple ways. Represented by V.P. Tia Harris and Milt Oliver, one of the original Black Corvette Club Members.
:01-We want to thank the entire “Champions Live” team for their great and nonstop commitment to sports talk excellence. First and foremost, Ken Ogilvie, who serves as Master of Many Talents. Aside from co-hosting the show for nearly “20 years” with worldly expert opinion, given his travels as a world-class photographer, he double downs as sound man and video man, with his fabulous wife Judy, without whom the show would not go on, and of course as “photo-2-man.” We also want to thank our good friend and all-around sports professional, Vince Butts, for his matter-of-fact and on point weekly commentary. This year we owe everything to our new best friend, Mr. Rob Piedra, who brought a new level of genius to the operation that allowed us to put our show on the map globally, unlike ever before. And last, but not least, our thanks go out to our many guests and fans who attended the show, our sponsors: UPMC, the New Pittsburgh Courier, Goodrich and Geist, Judge Dwayne Woodruff, Atty. Shawn Flaherty, Atty. Alexis Cobb, Atty. Jack Goodrich and Associates, Diversified Municipal Service, OSA Global Security, The Office of the Chief Exec. Allegheny County, and House of Law Funeral Home. Needless to say, a thousand thanks to Ms. Vicky’s Soul Grill and Q&M Restaurant Services for their time, support, space and hard work!
:00-Game over….’til Jan. 2024! See you then. To see past shows streaming, go to Achieving Greatness Inc. on YouTube and pull up Champions Live.
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