Five Questions for … Dan Cortese
My sisters love him. My mother loves him. And you, Pittsburgh, will love him, too, after reading this interview.
You might know ‘Burgher Dan Cortese from many shows since he first entered the scene as the host of MTV Sports. To name a few places you’ve seen him: MTV Rock n’ Jock, Melrose Place, Seinfeld, Veronica’s Closet and What I Like About You.
Question: I thought I knew all the celebrities that hailed from Pittsburgh, but when Tall Cathy from KISS 96.1 told me you were a ‘Burgher, I almost fell out of my chair. I had no idea! I’m disappointed in me. My first question for you is, do you still have a connection to Pittsburgh, either through family or perhaps just in your heart? Does Pittsburgh still mean anything to you?
Answer: My parents and oldest brother still live in Pittsburgh. And as far as "Pittsburgh meaning anything to me," I will forever consider myself a Pittsburgher. I’ve lived in L.A. for 20 years and still to this day when people ask me where I’m from, I always say Pittsburgh. There’s a special bond with people from Pittsburgh. It’s where I was raised and where my "working class" ethic and mentality were instilled. But what I love most about people from the ‘Burgh is that what you see is what you get. They are decent, good, real people. No games, no B.S. If they like you, they tell you. If they don’t like you, they tell you. I love that!
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Q: You are going to be 43 this year, and you are—easily—more in shape than most 30-year-olds. I know this because I watched a lot of What I Like About You. How do you stay so fit nowadays? I’d love it if you tell me you’ve discovered the secret to staying in shape without diet and exercise. Please?
A: First off, thanks for stating my age. I will now finish this interview balled up and crying in a corner. Now, how do I stay in shape? I don’t want to tell you all of the secrets that are going to be in my book, but here’s a hint: Tomatoes, hot peppers, chicken and red wine (and an Iron City and Primanti’s sandwich every now and then doesn’t hurt, either!)
Q: I know you’re still a Steelers fan, and I tell you, Pittsburgh seems a bit divided when it comes to Ben Roethlisberger. It ranges from those that want him neutered to those that want his name glorified above all other football names. I’m somewhere in the middle. I’m so disappointed with him, but I don’t believe anyone is ever too far gone that they can’t change. What do you think about the whole situation?
A: Wow. You realize any way I answer this question, I’ll [tick] off at least half of your readers? That being said, here’s my humble take on "Bengate." I do not think Ben is a bad guy; I actually think he’s a good guy who, unfortunately, has made some really bad decisions. While his past judgments strayed beyond embarrassing and verged on appalling, I can also understand how he got to where he is. As the 20-something, two-time Super Bowl-winning, $104 million quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the media and we as fans helped to create the "Big Ben" persona; that’s our fault. The problem is, he came to believe it; that’s his fault. While I do honestly believe Ben will continue to do all that he possibly can to do the right thing and put this behind him, only time will tell. All I can say is this, the time has come for Ben to stop acting like a "one of the guys" and start acting like a "man." And I think he will. Now I hope No. 7 can get back to the business at hand: Getting the Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh No. 7! Good luck, Ben. I’m pulling for you.
A: What I liked and respected about everyone on this show was their drive and determination. These were not wealthy people and they were betting $10,000 of their own money on themselves. They all had come to the point in their life where it was imperative to make a change, and God bless them, they decided to do it on national television. And the fact that they all had a sense of humor on their individual journey was not only heartwarming, but inspiring as well.