Is This Aid from a Higher Source?

READING TIME: Two minutes:

St. Peter’s Church in Pittsburgh, proximate to Three Rivers Stadium, offers its parking lot (and a Mass) to Steelers fans heading to the game. It must be having some effect because the place is packed and the team has won five straight at home.

One might question why ex-Navy great Joe Bellino is being inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor in a big ceremony in Miami at the end of the month. While the recently retired Navy reserve captain was brilliant and won the Heisman Trophy as a Mid, he was held to just 4 yards in eight carries while losing to Missouri, 21-14, in the 1961 game.

So far, at least, Shaquille O’Neal is doing a good job for the NBA, speaking from a television perspective. His Orlando Magic games on TNT are matching the ratings the Celtics were accustomed to getting with Larry Bird.

Considering Manon Rheaume was inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame last week, what happens if the aspiring hockey goaltender ever climbs above third string for the minor-league Atlanta Knights?

Here’s one you probably didn’t know: One of every 700 Americans is a graduate of what Big Ten university? Hint: There’s a sly trick in the question. Answer later.

Football lost one of its most solid citizens last week when Pete McCulley died after an apparent heart attack. Pete was a tireless worker as an assistant at Navy and with the Baltimore Colts. He didn’t appear quite ready for the head coaching job when he was thrust into the position by Joe Thomas with the San Francisco 49ers. He maintained a home in Annapolis, Md., for about 30 years and son Kit, a defensive back, was an Academy grad.

I don’t know about you, but I sort of enjoyed David Klingler catching his lumps (10 sacks) during Cincinnati’s 21-9 crunching by the Steelers last Sunday. Recall some of the things Dave and Houston did to some of their opponents while in college: 95 points against SMU, seven touchdowns and 750 yards passing vs. Eastern Washington.

Good line from the master of ceremonies at a recent luncheon celebrating the 25th anniversary of Atlanta Hawks basketball. “When he played for the Hawks, they called Tom McMillen ‘Senator,”’ said radioman Steve Holman. “As a matter of fact, in Washington they used to call him ‘Congressman.”’