About Kate Benz

Kate Benz 412-380-8515
Fanfare Columnist
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Kate Benz is the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Fanfare columnist.

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Tuesday - May 21, 2013

Monday - May 20, 2013

Saturday - May 18, 2013

I love this! I could stay here all day,” commented Ron McCreary as he intently watched an archive video of NFL footage in all of its black-and-white glory.

What could quite possibly be described as the ultimate man cave, the Senator John Heinz History Center, last week unveiled Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The museum rolled out the red carpet on Thursday for a roster of pro-athlete alums, including L.C. Greenwood, Frenchy Fuqua, Mike Wagner, Tony Dorsett, Lydell Mitchell, and Herb Douglas (the oldest living black Olympian).

As if that weren't enough to put more than 200 VIPs over the edge, the evening celebrated the 120th anniversary of pro football, the 80th Pittsburgh Steelers season, the 50th year of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the 40th year of the Immaculate Reception.

“It's been a good 40 years,” offered Franco Harris.

Co-chaired by his wife, Dana, and Nadine Bognar, the exhibit enjoyed its debut as the first stop on a national tour, showcasing a jaw-dropping display of 200 carefully chosen goodies from the Hall of Fame as well as clips from the NFL Films archives that the HHC's Brady Smith accurately described as “Disneyland for adults.”

“I think this is fantastic,” offered Hall of Fame prez Stephen Perry. “We love it, because it's a way we can bring a piece of the Hall of Fame to people to give them a taste of what they can see in Canton.”

Making the rounds were HHC prez Andy and Debbie Masich, board prez Bob Cindrich, Bruce and Barbara Wiegand, Art Rooney Jr., Art Rooney II, John and Virginia DiPucci, Jerry and Wanda MacCleary, Dok Harris and Alexis Wukich, Jackie Dixon and Dino DePaulo.

1. Steelers’ Polamalu trim, fit as he arrives for OTAs
2. Steelers quarterback Roethlisberger likes the revamped offense
3. Penguins Insider: Time is right for Jokinen’s return
4. Kovacevic: Pens improve under microscope
5. Steelers notebook: Less talk, more work is Tomlin’s theme
6. Neal’s solid play soon could pay off on scoresheet for Penguins
7. Peduto secures Democratic nomination for Pittsburgh mayor
8. FBI: Man fatally shot in Boston bombing probe
9. Pirates notebook: Penguins jerseys in fashion for road trip
10. Bilik DeFazio leads race for Westmoreland County judge on both ballots
11. Penguins notebook: Morrow leaves practice with injury

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