Sports

Crosby Honored By American Ireland Fund

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― They're two influential Pittsburgh sports icons and this weekend, Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney and Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby got together for the American Ireland Fund Gala where Crosby was honored. KDKA's Jory Rand had the rare opportunity to interview both of them together.

Rooney: "Well I met him at the Dapper Dan banquet and he was just an outstanding young man and I was very much impressed with him. Then I heard his name is Sidney Patrick Crosby and that sold it."

Crosby: "It's a huge honor and I looked at the list of names that won this in the past and I don't see too many athletes that win it so it's a huge honor especially coming from Mr. Rooney."

Rand: "How have you seen the culture of hockey in town change. Of course it's been up and down. It took a little dip but now that this guy's back in town how have you seen kind of the culture of hockey change here in town?"

Rooney: "Hockey is very big in Pittsburgh and Sidney is the guy that did it - there's no question in my mind. I mean, you know, Mario did it in his time and it carried through and there's just great fans here."

Rand: "When you were drafted here in town, what did you know about the Steelers and what did you know about Mr. Rooney and what have you learned about them since?"

Crosby: "Well I think it was just the franchise itself how historical it was and ... I think you think football, you think Steelers, Cowboys, I mean for me that was the way it was. We used to see a lot of Bill Cowher being an intense coach and Jerome Bettis was here obviously too but those were the names I remember watching a lot."

Rand: "Obviously that came together because of the man sitting next to you. What do you think of the man right there?"

Crosby: "It's the biggest thing to me is just the experience, what he's been through, and the stories and experiences that you hear from someone who's been through so much. It's pretty unique for me to hear that."

Rooney: "I just want to say that it really is an honor to give the American Ireland Fund trophy. I mean, this is something that we've worked on now - long before Sidney came and it's done so much in Ireland and to have him as part of this is really a good thing. This is something he probably doesn't know is that they do have hockey - ice hockey too - in Ireland."

Rand: "Have you been to Ireland?"

Crosby: "I haven't yet but you never know."

The American Ireland Fund has raised more than $300 million trying to bring about peace in the war-torn country. Crosby was honored for his charitable efforts in the Pittsburgh area.

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