In more ways than one, Blair chasing Pittsburgh history

‘ ‘ ‘ It’s just after 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, and DeJuan Blair is the center of… ‘ ‘ ‘ It’s just after 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, and DeJuan Blair is the center of attention. ‘ ‘ ‘ Preparing to board the team bus to the airport, Blair answers questions from a crowd of reporters about his upcoming matchup with Xavier, the pressures of playing in the Sweet 16 and, most of all, the chance at making history in the NCAA Tournament. ‘ ‘ ‘ Turns out, at least in the city of Pittsburgh, Blair might be closer to history than even he knew. ‘ ‘ ‘ Turn back the calendar 80 years to when Pittsburgh, as diverse a city as any at the time, is host to two of the greatest Negro League baseball teams in history: the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Like Blair last season for the Pitt basketball team, an 18-year-old righty by the name of Josh Gibson was becoming the heart of his sport. ‘ ‘ ‘ So what could Gibson, a Hall of Fame Negro Leaguer who thrived in the 1930s have in common with Blair, a center for the Pitt men’s basketball team? It takes a history lesson to really understand. ‘ ‘ ‘ Gibson moved from Georgia to Pittsburgh when he was 11 and lived in the Hill District. He played baseball for both the Grays and the Crawfords throughout his entire Negro League career before his death in 1947. ‘ ‘ ‘ In short, Gibson’s talents on the field had him standing out like a turbo-charged Mack truck in an Indy race. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Rob Ruck, a Negro League historian and senior lecturer at Pitt, said the power-hitting catcher delivered some of the longest home runs in history and may be the greatest black hitter of all time. Professional baseball recognizes it, too. Gibson’s plaque in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which he was inducted into in 1972, credits him with hitting ‘almost 800’ home runs. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ But it wasn’t just how Gibson played that brought him so much attention, it was what he did off the field, too. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ In a time that blacks weren’t allowed in the Major Leagues, Gibson became black Pittsburgh’s poster boy. His smile and happy-go-lucky personality earned him respect and admiration around the community where he had made his home. The talents on the field didn’t hurt, either. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘People can really call Josh their hometown hero,’ said Sean Gibson, Josh’s great-grandson. ‘You have an icon in the Negro League that you can mention anywhere in the United States, and people will know about him.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Gibson, who heads the Josh Gibson Foundation in the Hill District and works closely with kids in the community, said that Josh Gibson was the kind of guy who embraced the idea and loved the support. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ That’s one of the places that Blair comes in. Today, Blair is quickly turning into a major face in the city and a national figure. After leading Schenley High School to a state title his senior year, Blair had a seemingly endless list of scholarship offers. He could’ve gone anywhere in the country, but stayed in his hometown, just a five-minute walk from the Petersen Events Center. His decision to embrace the city and stay close to home is the thing that’s boosted his popularity even more. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I think the key part is that you’ve got two African-American athletes, a guy who grew up and lived on the Hill in DeJuan, and a guy like Josh Gibson who lived on the Hill and played for the great baseball teams,’ said Sean Gibson. ‘It’s a great concept to put the two together.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Physically, they match. Both show broad shoulders and are defined by power. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ And personality? Blair flashes his famous court-wide smile on just about every occasion. When he dunks, it stretches to the other free-throw line. When he blocks a shot, the same thing. Even when a referee calls him for a foul, he’ll sport a grin like he just unwrapped a new set of Legos under the Christmas tree. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Gibson had the smile and the personality,’ said Ruck. ‘It’s this upbeat, happy guy with an infectious smile. It’s very much a DeJuan Blair persona.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Turns out that Blair grew up just blocks from where Gibson’s Morgan Street home stood. And when Blair was 11 and 12, he played in the Josh Gibson Little League, where he got to know Sean Gibson. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I wish we had old pictures, because we couldn’t even find pants for him,’ said Gibson. ‘He had to have been about 6-foot-3.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ That height might be the biggest difference between the two. At 6-foot-7, Blair stands about 6 inches taller than Gibson did. But Ruck said that back then, it’s not like 6-foot-1, 215 pounds was small. In fact, Gibson was one of the biggest players around. Include that with the success at such an early age, the close connection with Pittsburgh and dominance in their respective games, and 78 years isn’t nearly enough to separate them. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ When shown a picture of Gibson, Blair showed that same evaporating smile that’s been seen by so many opposing players and coaches throughout the season. He embraces the idea that Pittsburgh is his city, and so many are starting to look at him as their basketball player. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ And if he does lead Pitt further into the NCAA Tournament, he might have a shot at joining Gibson as a legend not just on the Hill, but in the city he calls home. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I hope I can,’ said Blair. ‘That’s why I came to Pitt.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ More information on the Josh Gibson Foundation can be reached at www.joshgibson.org. ‘