It was a bit more than 25 years ago, and my boss at the Post-Gazette asked me to step into his office and close the door. Usually not OK but, in this case, it'd wind up ... just jarring.
He informed me that one of the newspapers in the Twin Cities had reached out to request permission to interview me for the position of hockey writer, as Minnesota was about to receive a new NHL franchise to replace the relocated North Stars. They were prepared to pay well, put up all the perks and cover the team right.
I said no. To all of it, including being interviewed.
Others would reach out over time, including what most people refer to as 'national' outlets. (It's a designation that means nothing. Think about it: I could add the Miami Marlins, Utah Jazz and Winnipeg Jets to our designated teams and call ourselves 'national' if I wanted.)
I said no. To all of them. And I'd interview only twice, those because I thought there'd be a chance I wouldn't have to leave. Wasn't the case. One required New York, the other Los Angeles.
I get that people get goofy about the 'national' stuff. I don't. I never aspired to it. Never will.
Journalism became my career goal in ninth grade at Gateway High School -- under the tutelage of a generous, good-humored teacher named Grace Gunderman, who, by the way, sadly, I just learned passed away last week at age 91 -- and all I wanted to be after that was a reporter ... in Pittsburgh. The best reporter I could be ... in Pittsburgh.
When not one but both newspapers began spiraling in this city, what scared me wasn't losing my job. I was confident I could work elsewhere. But I didn't want to.
So, we started this thing.
And I knew I'd never have to be one of those roaming reporters who moves from place to place, having to pick up on the history and vibes of each new city, each new team, each new fan base. I'd just cover based on what I'd accumulated over the span of an entire lifetime of experiences with the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and, of course, Pittsburgh itself.
What could be more fulfilling?
What could be more fun?
And from the polar opposite perspective, what occupation could possibly be worth the broken heart of being away from it?
I'm happy to have peaked right where I'd hoped to peak, happier still to always, always keep coming back for more:
DEJAN KOVACEVIC / DKPS
Walking across the Sixth Street Bridge toward Downtown this week after covering the Pirates.
NICE WEEK FOR THE DRIVE
We added 36 contributions this week to our special-worker drive, raising our total to 489.
Thank you so much.
If you missed it, we're seeking reader help building a fund from which we can offer 3,000 massively discounted subscriptions for teachers, police, fire, nurses, other emergency workers and volunteers. They're $20 per contribution. We'll then sell these at two-thirds off the full annual price, and that'll remain their price forever.
• This isn't imminent, but our developer friends at BoomPress have come up with a concept for a live game-center presentation that'd take our live files to another level. And yeah, that'd make it possible for our live reporting and your comments to be on the same screen. Again, though, it's a ways off.
• The NFL Draft's coming up in less than two weeks. We'll be all over the actual event, obviously, but there'll also be advance material galore, most of it from Chris Halicke.
• On the travel front, Taylor Haase will have completed her final road trip of the hockey season upon returning from Newark, N.J. ... or so one might think. Stay tuned on that front José Negron's with the Pirates in Cincinnati, and Greg Macafee's got their next one to Los Angeles and Anaheim, Calif., after which José will fly out to St. Louis.
• Everyone loving being ad-free? If you're not there yet, it's only for paying subscribers. If you aren't subscribed yet or if your subscription's expired: This is our subscribe page. From there, make sure you're logged in, tap on the link, and thumb down to the bottom for the SUBSCRIBE button to buy/renew at the monthly or annual level. We also offer mega-discounts, as ever, for student subscriptions and senior subscriptions.
• Grateful that so many are leaving us good reviews on other platforms. Feel free to add your own on our Google business listing, our Appleand Spotify podcast channels and, arguably most important, our own official app pages, whether it's the Apple or Android version.
BACK TO BUSINESS
• Our page-view numbers were 1,018,221, with 30,389 unique users over the most recent full seven-day span, April 4-10. Our most-read original piece was Greg'scoverage of the brutal scene at the Pirates' home opener from PNC Park, at 15,883.
• On the multimedia front, our video views for the past week were 218,553, and our podcast downloads were 104,601.
• Thanks for reading and, as ever, for your support of this proud independent venture.
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THE ASYLUM
Dejan Kovacevic
6:15 am - 04.12.2025DowntownSite Stuff: Why I could never leave
It was a bit more than 25 years ago, and my boss at the Post-Gazette asked me to step into his office and close the door. Usually not OK but, in this case, it'd wind up ... just jarring.
He informed me that one of the newspapers in the Twin Cities had reached out to request permission to interview me for the position of hockey writer, as Minnesota was about to receive a new NHL franchise to replace the relocated North Stars. They were prepared to pay well, put up all the perks and cover the team right.
I said no. To all of it, including being interviewed.
Others would reach out over time, including what most people refer to as 'national' outlets. (It's a designation that means nothing. Think about it: I could add the Miami Marlins, Utah Jazz and Winnipeg Jets to our designated teams and call ourselves 'national' if I wanted.)
I said no. To all of them. And I'd interview only twice, those because I thought there'd be a chance I wouldn't have to leave. Wasn't the case. One required New York, the other Los Angeles.
I get that people get goofy about the 'national' stuff. I don't. I never aspired to it. Never will.
Journalism became my career goal in ninth grade at Gateway High School -- under the tutelage of a generous, good-humored teacher named Grace Gunderman, who, by the way, sadly, I just learned passed away last week at age 91 -- and all I wanted to be after that was a reporter ... in Pittsburgh. The best reporter I could be ... in Pittsburgh.
When not one but both newspapers began spiraling in this city, what scared me wasn't losing my job. I was confident I could work elsewhere. But I didn't want to.
So, we started this thing.
And I knew I'd never have to be one of those roaming reporters who moves from place to place, having to pick up on the history and vibes of each new city, each new team, each new fan base. I'd just cover based on what I'd accumulated over the span of an entire lifetime of experiences with the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and, of course, Pittsburgh itself.
What could be more fulfilling?
What could be more fun?
And from the polar opposite perspective, what occupation could possibly be worth the broken heart of being away from it?
I'm happy to have peaked right where I'd hoped to peak, happier still to always, always keep coming back for more:
DEJAN KOVACEVIC / DKPS
Walking across the Sixth Street Bridge toward Downtown this week after covering the Pirates.
NICE WEEK FOR THE DRIVE
We added 36 contributions this week to our special-worker drive, raising our total to 489.
Thank you so much.
If you missed it, we're seeking reader help building a fund from which we can offer 3,000 massively discounted subscriptions for teachers, police, fire, nurses, other emergency workers and volunteers. They're $20 per contribution. We'll then sell these at two-thirds off the full annual price, and that'll remain their price forever.
If interested: DK@DKPittsburghSports.com
INSIDE THE WORKS
• This isn't imminent, but our developer friends at BoomPress have come up with a concept for a live game-center presentation that'd take our live files to another level. And yeah, that'd make it possible for our live reporting and your comments to be on the same screen. Again, though, it's a ways off.
• The NFL Draft's coming up in less than two weeks. We'll be all over the actual event, obviously, but there'll also be advance material galore, most of it from Chris Halicke.
• On the travel front, Taylor Haase will have completed her final road trip of the hockey season upon returning from Newark, N.J. ... or so one might think. Stay tuned on that front José Negron's with the Pirates in Cincinnati, and Greg Macafee's got their next one to Los Angeles and Anaheim, Calif., after which José will fly out to St. Louis.
• Everyone loving being ad-free? If you're not there yet, it's only for paying subscribers. If you aren't subscribed yet or if your subscription's expired: This is our subscribe page. From there, make sure you're logged in, tap on the link, and thumb down to the bottom for the SUBSCRIBE button to buy/renew at the monthly or annual level. We also offer mega-discounts, as ever, for student subscriptions and senior subscriptions.
• Grateful that so many are leaving us good reviews on other platforms. Feel free to add your own on our Google business listing, our Apple and Spotify podcast channels and, arguably most important, our own official app pages, whether it's the Apple or Android version.
BACK TO BUSINESS
• Our page-view numbers were 1,018,221, with 30,389 unique users over the most recent full seven-day span, April 4-10. Our most-read original piece was Greg's coverage of the brutal scene at the Pirates' home opener from PNC Park, at 15,883.
• On the multimedia front, our video views for the past week were 218,553, and our podcast downloads were 104,601.
• Our company social media: 59,748 followers on Facebook, 57,821 on X, 47,663 on YouTube, 16,729 on Instagram, 5,953 on Threads, 5,006 on TikTok, 2,630 on Bluesky
• We make mistakes. If you see one, email: Typos@DKPittsburghSports.com
• The Downtown HQ/shop's open Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6 p.m., and our company merch can all be had in our online store.
• Anything you need, email: Help@DKPittsburghSports.com
• Thanks for reading and, as ever, for your support of this proud independent venture.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
We’d love to have you!