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.”

(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

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.

Pittsburgh is turning into the mecca of boxing as evidenced by the standing room only crowd that packed Saddle Ridge in Station Square April 17. The State Golden Gloves Open Class Championships is a show that brings a genuine who’s who of past and present stars.

CHAMPIONS—2010 Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves champions Anthony Burgin, Keivon Paschl, Donovan Malovich, Robby Dinero, Mark Rideout, Tyrell Colston, Damon Allen, Khalib Whitmore, Andreas Kamerouyou and Vinnie Macellaro.

The matches this year were outstanding. The Pennsylvania Golden Gloves never had it so good. And there was one among them who proved he was a “cut above the rest”—Andreas Kamerouyou, this year’s Apollo and amateur boxing’s new Sun God, brought the fans from the edge of their seat to cheering on their feet with his explosive power. Kamerouyou, 152-pounder from South Park Boxing Club, defeated Stafford Weatherburne of Harrisburg to earn a gold medal and a trip to Little Rock, Ark., May 3-8, for the National Golden Gloves Tournament.