Paying another visit to the variety store...



That’s Italian!

As the King of Ashtabula County Media, the reign of Joe “Mr. Sports” Pete just keeps expanding and expanding.

As the host of the thrice-weekly popular Sports Report show on ESPN 970 WFUN, Pete is busy preparing for his high school football broadcasts as well.

But he’s found the time in his busy schedule to line up a special editon of his Sports Report, which airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on ESPN 970 WFUN. The special editon, titled Italian Heritage Night, will be held on Thursday, Aug. 5. The broadcast will originate from the dining room of the Crow’s Nest, located at the corner of Lake Road and Route 11 in Ashtabula and run from 5-7 p.m.

Mr. Sports will welcome two very special guests that night to work the broadcast alongside him — former Cleveland Browns head coach Sam Rutigliano and Cleveland Indians vice president of public relations Bob DiBiasio.

The show will feature looks back at some of the great sports moments in Cleveland history.

“Through the years, I have been fortunate enough to get to know Sam and Bob in a personal and professional manner,” Mr. Sports said. “They are both great ambassadors in the Cleveland sports world. Not to mention, two of the nicest, classiest guys you will ever have the pleasure of meeting in this business.”

DiBiasio, who has become a face of the Indians organization for more than a quarter of a century and is always quick with a smile and a greeting and possessor of a remarkable memory of details and stories from Tribe history, shares Mr. Sports’ enthusiasm for Italian Heritage Night.

“What could be better than talking sports — especially with the great Sam Rutigliano — and sharing an Italian feast at the Crows Nest?” he said. “One of the great aspects of the Italian heritage is the combination of family, friends, food and lively discussion.

“We will enjoy all of that on Aug. 5, thanks to WFUN’s Joe Pete, who is the brains behind what should be a wonderful evening.”

The homey atmosphere of the Crow’s Nest, owned and operated by Nick and Ron Detore, will serve as the perfect backdrop for the evening’s festivities. The Crow’s Nest will be offering a wide range of Italian food specials that night and fans and listeners of the Sports Report are encouraged to make reservations as soon as possible to ensure a table. Reservations can be made by calling the Crow’s Nest at 964-2696.

“I am looking forward to doing this show at the Crow’s Nest,” Mr. Sports said. “And having both Sam and Bob on the show with me at the same time will be a great thrill for me personally and I am sure it will be a memorable evening for everyone who comes out to the Crow’s Nest to join us and who joins us on the air that night.

“Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to Aug. 5.”

All three celebrities will be more than happy to sign autographs and pose for photographs that night.



Keep ‘em coming

Yours truly has received more than a few reponses to my request for your tales of acts of kindness, or great sportsmanship or simply goodwill gestures.

It’s still not too late to get yours to me, too, Loyal Readers. You can do so by emailing me at the address at the end of this column, faxing it to 998-7938 or, if you prefer, the snail-mail method by sending it to P.O. Box 2100, Ashtabula, Ohio 44005-2100.

Please put the word “Inspire!” in the slugline on emails or below my name on envelopes.



Sports talk

A great deal of preparation and planning goes into being a public-address announcer at high school football games.

It is with that in mind that three clinics for anyone wanting to learn more about being a Man of the Mic are being staged across the Buckeye State. The clinics are sponsored by The National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers (NASPAA), the professional association for sports public-address announcers.  

Two of the clinics are set for Saturday, Aug. 7. One will be conducted at Gahanna Lincoln High School from 9 a.m. to noon. The host clinician will be Bob Kennedy, the public-address announcer for Ohio State University. The other clinic that day will be at Cincinnati Princeton High School, where the Stadium Announcer for the Cincinnati Bengals, Tom Kinder, will be the host clinician.

A lot closer to home, the third clinic will be conducted on Saturday, Aug. 14 at Hudson High School. Also running from 9 a.m. to noon, that clinic will be hosted by Jeff Kurtz, PA announcer for Kent State University.  

The clinics are for PA announcers who announce junior high/middle school, high school, college, and youth football. Substitute announcers, as well as high school and college students, who would like to learn how to announce or who are announcing, are encouraged to register. The registration fee is $65 for adults and $35 for students.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association, an affiliate member of the NASPAA, is sponsoring two scholarships to each clinic. The scholarships will pay the registration fees of the first two adults to register at each of the three clinics who bring a high school student announcer with them to a clinic.

The clinics will address the announcer’s role, PA announcing expectations, Do’s and Don’ts of announcing football, how to handle emergency situations, as well as scriptwriting and working with a spotter.  

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in voice training and announcing exercises. A football official will review new rules changes, officials’ hand signals and ways that officials and PA announcers can better work together.

“Sports public-address announcers should enhance the spectators’ enjoyment of the game without inserting themselves,” Brad Rumble, NASPAA Executive Director, said.  “PA announcers can also be a force for good sportsmanship and public safety.”

For more information about the clinics and to obtain registration, visit www.naspaa.net.



Super 7

Just a reminder, Lakeside will host a 7-on-7 passing exhibition today at 10:30 a.m. at beautiful Lakeside Stadium. Joining coach Bill Lipps’ Dragons will be coach Jimmy Henson’s Jefferson Falcons as well as Ursuline, University School and Cathedral Prep out of Erie.

There is no admission charge for spectators.

McCormack is the sports editor of the Star Beacon. Read his blog at donmac1.blogspot.com. Reach him at donmac@suite224.net.