Heath’s next stop is the Valley’s Hall of Fame
Sports, Sports Columns
MID MON VALLEY ALL SPORTS HALL OF FAME
June 18, 2026
Editor’s note: This is the sixth of a series of stories introducing the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. By the Mon Valley Independent Monessen has long been known for producing...
Doug Dascenzo spent more than 4 decades in baseball
Sports, Sports Columns
MID MON VALLEY ALL SPORTS HALL OF FAME
June 17, 2026
The former Brownsville star moved into coaching after his major league career ended in 1996. By the Mon Valley Independent Brownsville High graduate Doug Dascenzo has spent nearly his entire life arou...
Bernadowski earns fourth hall of fame honor
Sports, Sports Columns
MID MON VALLEY ALL SPORTS HALL OF FAME
June 17, 2026
Editor’s note: This Hall of Fame feature is running again due to a production error in Tuesday’s edition. For the Mon Valley Independent A 1958 graduate of Elizabeth Forward High School, Frank Bernado...
Bernadowski earns fourth hall of fame honor
Sports, Sports Columns
MID MON VALLEY ALL SPORTS HALL OF FAME
June 16, 2026
Editor’s note: This is the fourth of a series of stories introducing the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. For the Mon Valley Independent A 1958 graduate of Elizabeth Forward Hig...
Labor standoff may help Pirates hold onto Skenes
MLB, Pittsburgh, Sports, ...
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
June 15, 2026
The new vernacular in sports talk these days is the term “hot takes.” Hot takes are comments and/or predictions that often defy logic or are on the boundary of lack of believability. So many talking h...
Jansante joined family’s path to success
Sports, Sports Columns
MID MON VALLEY ALL SPORTS HALL OF FAME
June 12, 2026
Editor’s note: This is the second of a series of stories introducing the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. By the Mon Valley Independent Athletics were deeply rooted in the Jansa...
Hisiro one of the greatest to wear red and black
Sports, Sports Columns
MID MON VALLEY ALL SPORTS HALL OF FAME
June 11, 2026
The annual banquet on June 19 is a sellout with no tickets available. Editor’s note: This is the first of a series of stories introducing the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. By...
Salvino earned his spot in WPIAL’s Hall of Fame
High school, Sports, Sports Columns
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
June 8, 2026
On Friday night, Joe Salvino took the final step of his amazing 41-year career as a head coach by being inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame. If there has ever been a coach more deserving of that hono...
Brumfields created storied legacy in football at EF
Sports, Sports Columns
June 6, 2026
Elizabeth Forward has produced its share of standout athletes over the years, but few Valley residents may realize the school also graduated one of the nation’s most respected basketball writers in Mi...
Bad news overshadows O’Hearn’s return from IL
Pittsburgh, Sports, Sports Columns
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
June 1, 2026
There was good news and bad news provided by the Pirates before Sunday’s game with Minnesota. Unfortunately, most of that news was bad. Basically, there were four pieces of news fans were given to dig...
Remembering ‘Skins’ Coleman a year after his death
Sports, Sports Columns
SPORTS STEW
May 29, 2026
By WAYNE STEWART For MVI Sports Art “Skins” Coleman left a lasting legacy on basketball courts throughout the Mon Valley, and when the Ringgold legend passed away on May 13 of last year, the Valley lo...
Fix the Pirates’ bullpen while the season can still be saved
Pittsburgh, Sports, Sports Columns
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
May 26, 2026
What started out as a promising and even highly regarded season for the Pirates has suddenly turned into mediocrity, even after Monday’s 2-1 win over the sagging Cubs. And if GM Ben Cherington doesn’t...
Steelers kick can down the road with Rodgers’ return
NFL, Pittsburgh, Sports, ...
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
May 18, 2026
“You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” That’s a statement we are all very familiar with and probably have even muttered a time or two in our lives. I’ve gotta wonder if that’s a sentiment ...
Steelers should end their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers
Pittsburgh, Sports, Sports Columns
By By JEFF OLIVER MVI Sports 
May 11, 2026
Idon’t know about you, but I got a report that Aaron Rodgers was spotted in Rostraver Township looking for a good Chinese restaurant Sunday. You believe that one and I have a bunch of other hot takes ...
Trying to figure out what the WPIAL will do
High school, Sports, Sports Columns
I’M JUST SAYIN’
May 7, 2026
For the next two days, the ball is in the WPIAL’s court ... or on their diamond. Today, the district will release the softball brackets with the baseball brackets coming tomorrow. So, let the second-g...
Ringgold hoops roll call
High school, Sports, Sports Columns
SPORTS STEW
May 7, 2026
The Ringgold Rams basketball program has been blessed with a slew of outstanding athletes, many of whom set school records while posting eye-popping statistics. Looking back at players from the progra...
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
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...