"Pittsburgh Sportsline" Drives Right Through Dormont

Allen Levine sits down behind a series of tables at Cip’s Sports Bar in Dormont and readies himself to helm another edition of “Pittsburgh Sports Line.” The program, produced for and by Bethel Park Public Access and available online, is unlike a plethora of sports talk shows in Pittsburgh. Instead of ruminating only about the “Big Three”—the Steelers, Penguins and this year gloriously the Pirates, Pittsburgh Sportsline only touches on those topics, while giving much more time and effort to just about everyone else living their sporting dreams.

Recently, Bethel Park’s Levine, who calls himself “The Talking Machine” and his co-hosts, the gregarious and engaging “Smokin’” Jim Frazier of Monroeville and more subdued by comparison Chip “The Prophet” Haynor of Baldwin make for a well-balanced team.

Recently the trio welcomed Jason Bergman, a Heavyweight Boxer from the Meadowlands who recently left-hooked his way to the North American Boxing Association title. In a stunning upset, the highly-favored yet puffy John Smith (13-0, 3 knockouts) came from Columbus, Ohio with fabled James “Buster” Douglas to take on Bergman (20-10, 13 knockouts) at the Greentree Sports Complex. A scant 1:28 after the bell rang, 260-lb “Iron Man” Bergman swooped a left onto Smith’s right chin and dropped the taller athlete to the canvas. Smith somehow returned to his feet but didn’t stay there for long as Bergman successfully peppered him in the corner. At 1:55 in the first of a scheduled 10-rounder, Smith was out, only to be spurred awake a few seconds later by his daughter at ringside. Bergman had won the NABA’s then-vacant title.

The NABA, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, among the ever-increasing number of sanctioning agencies, didn’t list either Smith or Bergman on its list of Top 15 fighters in its most recent—June 2013 rankings. Nevertheless, the Heavyweights—and Douglas—highlighted a 6-card bout in Greentree on October 12. The ovation for Bergman’s win was thunderous in the crowd. Levine and Frazier provided television commentary for the fight. Frazier touted that Bergman could “be money” for the Heavyweight boxing division.

It’s that kind of interaction that Levine champions for the live audience at Cip's and the viewers at Verizon 32 or on Facebook.

Another unique venture Pittsburgh Sportsline promotes is the Pittsburgh Bullets, an Elite Professional Development Basketball Team owned by local entrepreneur Marcus Robinson. The team, which has been operating in Pittsburgh since 2010, doesn’t receive the type of attention college or even high school teams do in the city. The team plays in the North American Basketball Development League (NABDLA), which boasts 15 teams in six states. According to the team’s website, the NABDLA’s focus “is to locate, develop, & move prospective amateurs who have expressed an interested and passion in pursing their professional basketball careers.”

Robinson, who plays for as well as owns the Bullets squad, promotes a family-friendly product that also reaches out to youth groups and Pittsburgh as a whole. Most recently, Robinson and the team participated in the Harry B. Davis Basketball Clinic in Squirrel Hill. The team hosts a try-out for prospective players on October 27 at the Youth Places Indoor Complex on the North Side. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., try-outs begin at 4:00 p.m.

The Bullet’s new season is set to begin against the Buffalo Blue Hawks on Sunday, November 17, 7:15 tip off, also at Youth Places Indoor Complex.

Levine, Frazier and Haynor host the weekly talk fest at Cip’s on Mondays, and then tape another show at the Bethel Park Municipal Building the very next Tuesday. They continue to talk sports, albeit without the clinking glasses and plates of the bustling, well-fueled live audience.

At Cip’s the show is fast-paced with guests being welcomed by the hosts. Levine likes to get as many people on as possible, but won’t hesitate to let an interesting guest provide an interesting story or product. Mario Tempest, a Health and Wellness franchisee will talk about how the Boston Red Sox are propelled through the baseball playoffs in part by stocking up on his Mona Vie brand of drinks. Other guests will sell their line of baseball scorebooks.  

Levine is also branching out the brand. On Thursday, October 17, he and the Sportsline gang, which also includes “Little Z” Zach Brenner, Erin Ward and John Kiger, hosted a magazine launch party at Savoy Restaurant in the Strip District. Photographer Bill Boyce is always on hand to capture the moment, along with local models like Valesha Ann and Cassandra Perkins to name just two.

Levine says the advertiser-supported monthly free publication will hit the streets in early November. Some 10,000 copies will flood the marketplace. Levine, who has an extensive career in print and other venues, proves to be a terrific networker. Former Pittsburgh Steeler and Pittsburgh businessman Chuck Sanders owns Savoy Restaurant and was on hand for the party.

Levine called the event a success and he hopes it leads to pleasing advertisers.

Among the other “fringe” sports that are well-represented by Sportsline is the Pittsburgh Force, one of the city’s two women’s football franchises. Owner Kathy Ferrari was in attendance with a number of players, including Siroya “Peach” Mitchell, a free safety who enthusiastically sold her team perhaps as well as any player on any lineup in town. According to Ferrari, the Force will be on Pittsburgh Sportsline soon and Frazier has already talked about them.

Like the Bullets, the Force will hold Open Try-outs, on Saturday, October 26 for players, coaches and other staffers. Those try-outs are at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 318 Kirkpatrick Street, Pittsburgh.

“The Talking Machine” hopes that the Pittsburgh Sportsline brand grows and provides an opportunity for athletes and teams outside of the multi-million-dollar facilities to prosper in Pittsburgh.