Will Salvino be forced to return to Leopards’ bench?

a little food for thought to help

Here’s start your week:

• Over the many years of his legendary coaching career, Joe Salvino and I had this little moment we used to enjoy.

Often times, when I was interviewing him before a big game – whether it was a WPIAL championship game, a PIAAplayoff game against a highly-regarded private school foe, or just when I wanted to add levity to the moment – I would tell Salvino very honestly, “If you don’t win this game, you’re fired.”

He would break out that deep, throaty, gut-busting laugh of his that he is known for.

Last week, when I was working on BVA’s preview story before the quarterfinals, I broke out the “fired” line. It was just after he announced that after this, his 41st year as a coach, he was calling it quits. Of course, he got a big laugh as always.

A personal tradition was continued. After many years of sharing this routine privately between ourselves, today I’m going to allow all the readers to be a part of the last funny moment we will share as writer and coach.

BVA (20-4) will play North Catholic (195) for the WPIAL 4A title Thursday at the Petersen Events Center.

Joe, if you don’t win, they are making you come back for a 42nd season.

OK, so it may not have the same effect. That’s OK.

Now, go get that WPIAL hoops crown you and your team have worked so hard all season to play for.

• Add WPIAL finals I: BVA won’t be the only are school trying to bring back the gold at the end of the week. Serra (21-3) will take on highly-favored Neighborhood Academy (23-1) in the boys 1Achampionship game Thursday.

For coach A.J. Corso and his team, it will mark the third time the Eagles have gone against the NA juggernaut squad. The first two meetings ended in lopsided defeats.

Hopefully, Corso’s Eagles will figure out how to climb that mountain.

• Add WPIAL finals II: Three more schools had the chance to play forWPIAL gold later this week. Elizabeth Forward fell to No. 1 Blackhawk in a girls 4Asemifinal.

The Clairton girls, however, did punch their ticket to the Pete. The Bears hammered No. 2 Geibel by 20 in their semifinal Monday. With a player like Iyanna Wade, anything could happen when the lights are their brightest. No. 1 Union will put up more of a fight than the Gators, though.

On the boys side, SouthAllegheny (21-3) will play Mohawk (19-5) in a 2Asemifinal tonight.

• Well, I’ve officially given up on Pitt’s basketball team for the season.

Although the Panthers lost a few tough games and some games they definitely should have won, I always felt this team had the talent to play in and compete in the NCAA Tournament.

But, alas, after yet another disappointing loss, I’ve come to the realization that this team just isn’t as good as I thought it was.

• With the passing of former Penguins’ broadcasting legend Mike Lange, many fans like myself can close the book on having listened to three of the real icons of sports broadcasting ever to be heard in Lange, Myron Cope and Bob Prince.

I doubt there was ever a professional sports city who had a greater triumvirate of announcers like Pittsburgh was blessed to have. Let’s not forget Bill Hillgrove and Stan Savran as well.

• Any ‘food for thought’column I write these days would not be complete without a take on the Steelers and here goes this one: Neither Justin Fields nor Russell Wilson will return to the team for next season as both will sign elsewhere.

The Steelers will then get another veteran signal caller as the latest stop-gap after the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger.

Although I would hope that quarterback would be Matthew Stafford, I’m afraid it will be aging Aaron Rodgers. We’ll see how that interesting marriage between headstrong coach and quarterback plays out.

• I find myself almost incredulous about how some Pittsburgh media and fans, alike, are anxiously waiting to see how the Pirates perform this season.

Really? I think it is just as interesting to see what color clown face GM Ben Cherington is wearing as he talks about how excited he is for the upcoming season.

At a time when the Pirates could really use a bona fide hitter or two to bolster an anemic offense to support a pitching rotation led by Paul Skenes, Cherington announced they signed another pitcher inAndrew Heaney.

For a team that has more utility players than regular everyday players on its roster, they could add Tom Seaver, Bob Gibson and Nolan Ryan and still not finish above .500.

What a shameful off season it has been for Pirates fans.

Anyone with any thoughts, opposing views or comments on this column can reach Jeff Oliver by emailing justjto@verizon.net.