Closing out his celebrity-packed variety show at PPG Paints Arena on Wednesday, ex-NFL player and sports commentator Pat McAfee picked up a bright orange sweatshirt that had been thrown onstage, to shout out an Arnold institution.
Sweatshirt in hand, McAfee, a Plum native, sang some free advertising for Fazio’s Pizza and Italian Foods to the tune of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” just before he bid farewell to attendees at his “Big Night Aht” event.
“An Italian restaurant. This is Pittsburgh … paisans,” he said. “Hell yeah, baby. Goodnight.”
In the crowd, close to the stage were Richard Thimons, Jr., co-owner of the nearly 60-year-old business, and his girlfriend, Keely Lewis.
Thimons, a 35-year-old Harrison resident, said he and Lewis, 27, had brought the sweatshirt purposefully, hoping to interact with McAfee because of the proximity of their seats. But as the show closed, he said, the two saw their last chance.
“I told her, I said, ‘This is your last chance. Throw it up there, and see if he grabs it,’” Thimons said.
Since McAfee posted a clip of the show, which included the sweatshirt, the video has received thousands of likes and hundreds of comments.
As for Thimons, he said the video has “blown up” since Wednesday, and he has received calls from friends as far away as Texas and Florida who saw it.
At the deli, Thimons’ mother, Brenda, said the the shop’s regulars came in discussing the shoutout, but it had not immediately generated new business. Both Thimons and his mom agreed it was still early.
“I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what happens with it all,” he said.
The show included musical guests, including Jelly Roll, Snoop Dogg and Pittsburgh-native Wiz Khalifa, in addition to local sports celebrities, such as Ben Roethlisberger, Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin and Paul Skenes.
Also featured were more eclectic acts, including magician “Oz the Mentalist” and a sumo wrestling match, plus cash giveaways totaling nearly $2.5 million.
Outside of the attention for his business, Thimons said he appreciated the marathon event.
“The show was awesome,” he said. “It’s really nice to see Pat really put on a show locally for Pittsburgh, being that he grew up here.”
