TEMPE, Ariz. (AP)—Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill has received the Paul “Tank” Younger Award for diversity in his hiring practices.

BIDWELL HONORED—Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwell answers questions during media day for the NFL’s Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Florida, Jan. 27, 2009.

The award is presented by the Fritz Pollard Alliance, formed in 2003 to promote diversity and equality of job opportunity in coaching, front office and scouting staffs in the NFL. The award recognizes individuals for their “extraordinary contributions toward diversity in the NFL.”

Gateway High School was ranked No. 1 in the state for most of 2009 and has been a primary stop for college recruiters. Seven Gateway seniors have received full football scholarships: Brendon Felder (North Carolina), Dayonne Nunley (Miami, Ohio), Orne Bey (Miami, Ohio), Omarr “Big O” Finn (Prairie View A&M), Shawn Brisker (Prairie View A&M), Delbert “The Hitman” Tyler (Hampton University) and Mitch DeVall (Seton Hill).

Prairie View A&M had a season to remember in 2009, as the Panthers went 9-1 overall and undefeated in the Southwest Athletic Conference (7-0). They won their first SWAC title since 1964. This year Prairie View A&M came to ‘Six-burgh’ for a couple more pieces to their championship puzzle, Finn and Brisker (Gateway).

EYES OF STEEL— Tawayne Steele of Oliver is determined to get around Allderdice’s Ishmael Swain in the Bears 50-43 win on Feb. 16. Steele scored 10 points.

As far as the state of the 2010 Pittsburgh Steelers is concerned, I will attempt to clarify and validate my position by comparing some elements of the 2009 squad to an old liars’ club story. A member asked one of his cronies what was the worst house he had ever seen. He answered, “I once saw a house that was in such disrepair I thought I was having an illusion. This place had to be blown up before it was fit to be remodeled.”

Well the nucleus of the 2010 Steelers isn’t quite that bad but there are facets of the team that need a bit of retooling starting with the “Dee…..fense.”

Basketball contests resumed last week with a major upset. Top-seeded Perry suffered their first loss on Feb. 15 to Peabody, 77-75, in overtime.

“We’ve been fortunate to have made some good shots at very crucial times,” Perry Coach Marco Corona said. “This season has been a good one so far and this proves that we have to work hard throughout the duration of it.”

Perry (16-2, 12-1) could not stop the unselfish and relentless attack of Peabody, as they finished with four players in double figures.