CURBSTONE Positives of sports hailed by Borghetti

The University of Pittsburgh administrator is a graduate of Neshannock High.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Some sports have their share of sleaze, unethical and immoral behavior, and bad people, but on the whole, taking everything into account, they actually provide a wholesome and uplifting service that Americans should protect and ensure stays that way.
That was the message delivered to the Curbstone Coaches by E.J. Borghetti, assistant athletic director/media relations at the University of Pittsburgh, Monday at their noon luncheon at Lockwood House.
"The good [in sports] crushes the bad and it will always be that way as long as we promote the good," said Borghetti, a graduate of Neshannock High (1988) and Pitt (1992), whose father, Dr. Ernie Borghetti, is an Ursuline High and Pitt graduate and was an All-American lineman for the Panthers.
E.J. Borghetti, in his seventh year with the Pitt athletic department, said that he promotes the positive value of sports whenever and wherever he can because he believes they have "rehabilitative" powers to both the athlete and the fans who choose to participate.
"I respect the game too much to let it lose its integrity," said Borghetti, who lauded the Curbstone Coaches for their role in advancing youth and sports throughout the years, which also happened to include himself.
Second-grade impression
He recalled that he attended a Curbstone luncheon as a second-grade student in 1978 to hear guest speaker Matt Cavanaugh, a Chaney High graduate and Pitt quarterback who went on to play in the NFL.
"It had an impact on me that day. Matt became a big [influence] in my career," Borghetti said.
"My two biggest heroes are my mom [Susan Henderson] and dad," who were among a big family turnout at the luncheon that also included stepmother Katy Borghetti and brother Brad Borghetti, an Ursuline student-athlete.
"I hope in some small way that I can make you proud of me," he told his family.
Borghetti gave two other examples of what he believes are the benefits of sports on society.
He called Larry Fitzgerald, Pitt's All-American sophomore wide receiver and Heisman Award runner-up who recently declared for the NFL draft, an unselfish gentleman and role model with strong perseverance that helped him overcome his mother's death from cancer to excel.
"He threw himself into football and school work," Borghetti said. "He spent extra hours [working] in the film room, in the morning catching passes, in the weight room. Sports became a safe haven for him."
The Macri story
Borghetti also remembered Phil Macri, a former New Castle High athlete whom he knew as a teen-ager, and the tragedy that devastated Macri's life and promising athletic career.
Borghetti said Macri was severely injured 17 years ago in a diving accident while swimming, and became a quadriplegic "with no power in his arms and legs."
Borghetti recently learned that Macri, who now operates a sporting goods store in New Castle, wanted to see the Pitt-Connecticut basketball game.
So Borghetti arranged for Macri to get tickets for the game, and then visited him in the stands at halftime.
"His smile was from ear to ear," Borghetti said. "This shows the rehabilitative power of sports and the inspiring value [of it]."
Next week's Curbstone speaker will be Joe DeRosa, an NBA official.
The guest speaker for the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Banquet on May 16 will be Cliff Stoudt, former Youngstown State and NFL quarterback.
kovach@vindy.com