By Kara Lockhart-MilanEAST LIVERPOOL -- We know the Pittsburgh Steelers can play football, and they have six Super Bowl rings to prove it. But now we know that the gridiron gladiators can handle themselves on a basketball court too.
The Steelers Footballers Basketball Team took the court at the Potter Field house for a charity basketball game against the ELHS Wrestling Team on April 19. Entering the gymnasium at approximately 8 p.m. were players Antwaan Randle El, Charlie Batch, Deshea Townsend, Justin Vincent, Dennis Dixon, Nick Eason, Anthony Madison, Brandon London and Stefan Logan.
Tip-off time came; Steelers Antwaan Randle El was met at center court by all 13 wrestlers who wanted to show they meant business and official Scott Dieringer. Rules of the game were explained by Dieringer, then the trash talking began.
From tip-off, play was about as intense as it was funny. The Steelers faced some tough competition on the court; out sized for the m
ost part the wrestlers gave it their all. The Potters 103-pounder, Frankie Williams, was picked up by Steelers 310-pound Nick Eason at one point so he couldn’t do a thing; the crowd went wild. It was a night of laughter and excitement for all. A highlight of the evening was when wrestling Coach Jimmy Joe Savage put down his camera and took the court; he showed the kids you’re never too old to put in two minutes on the court.At halftime, the Steelers signed autographs for fans. The best way to describe the game is that it was a bad, yet hilarious version of a Harlem Globetrotters game that kept the fans cheering for both teams. Early in the fourth quarter the Steelers saw their lead become a deficit with a little finger work of the scoreboard controls. When the final buzzer sounded, the Steelers were 107-99 winners, real score never to be known. The big winners of the night were the wrestlers that had an experience of a lifetime playing the Steelers.
The charity basketball game was sponsored by the EL Takedown Club to benefit the East Liverpool Wrestling Program.
Photos, from top: #7 Steelers Antwaan Randle El and Deshea Townsend kept the laughter going on the bench; #24 EL Junior Kody Edwards trying to guard Steelers Nick Eason; #41 EL Senior Ryan Milan and Steelers Antwaan Randle El say "cheese"; #28 EL Senior Ryan Milan tries to take the ball from Steelers Nick Eason;#12 Coach Jimmy Joe Savage forgot it was basketball and tried a wrestling move on Steelers Dennis Dixon; #33 Potters 103 pounder Frankie Williams was picked up by Steelers 310-pound Nick Eason so he couldn’t do a thing.
