The Hill District’s very own Sam Clancy’s jersey is retired

SAM CLANCY, from the Hill District, was cheered by thousands at the Petersen Events Center as his No. 15 jersey was retired, Jan. 18. (Photo courtesy University of Pittsburgh athletics) by Bill Neal and Rob Taylor Jr. For New Pittsburgh Courier By now you’ve awakened from your sub-zero hibernation to join the rest of the basketball world to know that the University of Pittsburgh retired #15, Sam Clancy’s now-immortalized jersey, to be hung in the rafters of the Petersen Events Center forever more. The long-overdue event was held on Jan. 18, at halftime of the Panthers’ men’s basketball contest against Clemson. Clancy joins Don Hennon, Billy Knight, Charles Smith, Brandon Knight, Jennifer Bruce and Lorri Johnson to have their shirts retired. Pretty much the entire arena stood and clapped as Clancy, the Hill District native, walked onto the court in a blue Pitt sweatshirt. They remained standing as longtime “Voice of the Panthers” Bill Hillgrove announced his career achievements when he played at Pitt from from 1977-81. Hillgrove surprised some in the crowd when he said that Clancy had been drafted by two different professional sports—the NBA’s Phoenix Suns in 1981, and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks in 1982. Clancy went...