Anything is possible with Jekyll-and-Hyde Pirates
Sports, Sports Columns
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
May 4, 2026
As I kick off my L.C. Greenwood (68) birthday month, here’s a little food for thought: * For the life of me I can’t figure out this Pirate team. Can you? One game they look like they could play in the...
Looking back with Speer Ruey
Sports, Sports Columns
SPORTS STEW
By By WAYNE STEWART For MVI Sports 
April 30, 2026
Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part series on Donora legend Speer Ruey, who died just over a week ago. Among Speer Ruey’s famous friends was Jack Zduriencik, the former general manager of ...
Falbo was quick to debate with ‘wisecracks and smiles’
Sports, Sports Columns
SPORTLIGHT
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
April 29, 2026
Over the years, I’ve written many tributes about athletes, coaches and acquaintances — often with a heavy heart and, quite frankly, a few tears. That’s not the case this time. Oh, I’m not happy about ...
Pittsburgh was complete success as NFL Draft host
NFL, Pittsburgh, Sports, ...
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
April 27, 2026
Other than the embarrassing public snafu the Steelers suffered when it was almost time for them to make their first round pick Thursday, the NFL Draft was a resounding success for the franchise, the N...
Missing my friend Randy Giannini
Sports, Sports Columns
SPORTLIGHT
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
April 21, 2026
One of my favorite stories about Randy Giannini? Sure. It goes this way … Randy would often stop in at my desk at The Valley Independent to say ‘hi’ or talk local sports because there was no bigger lo...
Steelers’ draft brings excitement
Pittsburgh, Sports, Sports Columns
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
April 20, 2026
If you are like me (and I think many of you reading this are) then this is akin to Christmas Week with the NFL Draft coming up in a few days. I always look forward to the draft and I don’t mind saying...
Serving up leftover Stew: Crawley, ‘Pope’ and Montana
Sports, Sports Columns
SPORTS STEW
By By WAYNE STEWART MVI Sports 
April 17, 2026
Previous columns have covered many of the accomplishments of Monessen’s Carl Crawley, often focusing on his outstanding officiating career — and what a career it was. Crawley once said, “I’ve been on ...
Steelers’ draft plans are still shrouded in mystery
NFL, Pittsburgh, Sports, ...
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
April 13, 2026
You have to really give it to the Steelers as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. First, they are successful in getting the draft to make a stop in Pittsburgh as the site of the three-day extravaganza Apri...
’Burgh sports zip into a 180
Pittsburgh, Sports, Sports Columns
SPORTLIGHT
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
April 6, 2026
You can call me a homer if you want, but what I’m about to say is based more on fact than sentimentality. Name for me one other professional sports city whose fortunes have made a quicker about-face t...
Crawley remembered fondly by fellow Mon Valley legends
Sports, Sports Columns
SPORTS STEW
By By WAYNE STEWART For MVI Sports 
April 3, 2026
The Mon Valley lost a sports legend and a genuinely great man 14 months ago with the passing of Carl Crawley. It’s only fitting to honor a man who gave so much to local sports and the people who playe...
UFL has more unique rules for the NFL to consider
Pittsburgh, Sports, Sports Columns
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
March 30, 2026
In about three weeks, all eyes around the NFL will be on Pittsburgh as the city hosts the NFL Draft. And for all you football junkies who can’t get enough of the sport and are looking for a bridge to ...
Pirates’ decision on Griffin wasn’t based on ‘seasoning’
Pittsburgh, Sports, Sports Columns
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
March 23, 2026
According to an age-old saying, a leopard never changes its spots. That has never been more true when we look at the Pirates and how they are handling 19-year-old phenom Konnor Griffin. Griffin, who w...
WBC heating up a chilly spring
Sports, Sports Columns
I’M JUST SAYIN’
March 17, 2026
So it begins here in the Mon Valley, and like clockwork, it’s gone as expected. Spring sports – baseball, softball, track and flag football – are underway and to no one’s surprise it’s snowing as I wr...
Final games should have larger impact on seeding
NCAA, Sports, Sports Columns
SPORTLIGHT
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
March 16, 2026
Trying to figure out some of the “madness” before the Madness starts, here’s some food for thought: • I know sometimes it is tough to determine who gets in the NCAA Tournament without complaining abou...
It’s March, it’s time for madness to begin
NCAA, Sports, Sports Columns
SPORTLIGHT
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
March 10, 2026
“March Madness” means different things to different people. It means the days are getting longer and summer is just around the corner. It means the start of spring sports for high schools and it’s tim...
The wait is over for Heath, but what took so long?
Sports, Sports Columns
SPORTLIGHT
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
March 4, 2026
I recently learned that the late “JoJo” Heath will be inducted into the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026 in June. My first reaction when I heard the news was simple:...
After college, Mark Thomas recruited heavily in Pa.
Sports, Sports Columns
SPORTS STEW
February 19, 2026
By WAYNE STEWART For MVI Sports Editor’s note: Part 1 of this story covered Mark Thomas’ days at Elizabeth Forward, Penn State, and the early stages of his coaching career. Returning to Mark Thomas’ c...
PBC Hall of Fame welcomes ’73 Rams
Boys and Girls High School Basketball, High school, Sports, ...
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
February 10, 2026
Ringgold went 29-2 that season and captured the WPIAL championship. For the second consecutive year, the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Hall of Fame featured a distinct Ringgold flavor. A year after forme...
‘Frenetic February’ to tip off as high school playoffs set to begin
Boys and Girls High School Basketball, High school, Sports, ...
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
February 9, 2026
College basketball has its “March Madness” when the tournament begins and we eliminate the pretenders from the contenders (barring upsets) rather quickly. High school hoops playoffs don’t wait for Mar...
Super Bowl is gamblers’ biggest event of the year
NFL, Sports, Sports Columns
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
February 2, 2026
The biggest betting extravaganza in the world of sports takes place Sunday. In other words, it’s the Super Bowl. Millions of dollars will be bet on a bevy of different props like whether the toss of t...