Pitt

Gov. Shapiro will be courtside for broadcast of Syracuse/Pitt at Petersen Events Center

Jerry DiPaola
By Jerry DiPaola
1 Min Read Feb. 17, 2025 | 10 months Ago
Go Ad-Free today

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who threw out the first pitch at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home opener in 2023, will be back in town Tuesday night, taking another swing in the sports world.

Shapiro will sit courtside with longtime Pitt broadcasters Bill Hillgrove and Curtis Aiken at Petersen Events Center and call a few minutes of Pitt’s basketball game against Syracuse on 93.7 FM.

Shapiro appointed Aiken to Pitt’s board of trustees in 2024.

Shapiro is no stranger to the basketball court. He was captain of the Akiba Hebrew Academy high school team in suburban Philadelphia and had hopes of a collegiate career.

He attended the University of Rochester, a Division III school, but was cut from the team. At that point in 1991, he decided to enter politics and became the first freshman elected president of the Students’ Association.

At PNC Park two years ago, Shapiro came equipped with his own glove and carried the baseball with him as he left the ballpark. Asked later if he threw a strike, he told TribLive, “You bet I did. I have proof. No scuff marks.”

Share

Tags:

About the Writers

Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.

Sports and Partner News

Push Notifications

Get news alerts first, right in your browser.

Enable Notifications

Content you may have missed

Enjoy TribLIVE, Uninterrupted.

Support our journalism and get an ad-free experience on all your devices.

  • TribLIVE AdFree Monthly

    • Unlimited ad-free articles
    • Pay just $4.99 for your first month
  • TribLIVE AdFree Annually BEST VALUE

    • Unlimited ad-free articles
    • Billed annually, $49.99 for the first year
    • Save 50% on your first year
Get Ad-Free Access Now View other subscription options