A little while back, Andrew McCutchen was given a brief respite on the Pirates bench. This official “sitting down” was a result of Andrew not having “ants in his pants” and dancing toward first base after striking out when the catcher had simultaneously lost control of the baseball. He was of course called out. Manager Clint Hurdle then called McCutchen “out” again by removing him from the starting line-up the next day because of a lack of hustle.

Looks as if the rain bailed Mr. Hurdle out because if he was really trying to stress and promote discipline, McCutchen’s penalty would have been implemented or resumed on a sunny nine inning baseball day. The Pirates were trailing in the “sit out McCutchen contest” 1-0, when the game was rained out after two innings, go figure.

(NNPA)—Local and state governments are just like the federal government. They want to keep their largesse ways and not face the demand for austerity and good fiscal management. When times get tight they seek to get into your pockets via obscene taxation on any and everything they can find. There is no regard for the underserved or populations that can least afford damaging taxation for the sake of keeping massive governmental infrastructures.

Many cities and counties are slipping taxes on cell phones like they are luxury items. The truth is cell phones are security items, family management tools and access to the Internet. Black citizens use cell phones as their number one vehicle to the Internet. So, when they start slapping taxes on your child’s phone and you are on a limited fixed income or assistance it becomes terribly damaging. They are doing this with reckless abandon and that is why we are pushing for a federal bill that will declare cell phones interstate commerce and prohibit any further local taxes for at least 10 years.

It was a warm, muggy evening at the Peterson Events Center where a buzz was beginning as the pre-reception for the main event, “Athletics at Pitt: The Forefront of a Century of Change” was about to commence. This was an occurrence that may have arguably been the most important recognition and celebratory experience in the history of Black athletics at the University of Pittsburgh.

TRIO OF ALL-TIME GREATS—Football icons Bobby Grier (first African-American to play in the Sugar Bowl in 1956), Tony Dorsett (four-time All-American and Pitt's only winner of the Heisman Trophy) and Rev. Jimmy Joe Robinson (first African-American to receive a football scholarship at Pitt) enjoy the festivities. (Courier Photos/Thomas Sabol)

This was a gathering of Pitt athletic greats for the ages that would be the envy of any organization or institution. All of the “griots of time” were there including Herb Douglas—Pitt’s oldest living African-American athlete (89); first African-American football walk-on; and Olympic Bronze Medalist in 1948 (London). To this day in the United States, he is one of just two athletes to score a touchdown against Notre Dame and win an Olympic Medal.

:10 If you missed Charlie Wilson at the Monroeville Convention Center Sunday night you missed the “‘Par-tay,’ of the year... cause ‘ain’t no party like an old school party cause an old school party don’t stop!” Chuck Sanders and the Savoy Restaurant blew it up again.

:09 About the Concert:

BILL NEAL

1. Fellas, sunglasses indoors? Lame, played out, and just stupid!

2. Ladies, one size does not fit all!!

3. For those who didn’t dress up, please do so the next time, show some pride, shorts and flip-flops... c’mon man!