Josh Shapiro, the Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania, is making a splash in the sports world. After taking a stand against the Trump administration, he recently made headlines when he called into Philadelphia’s 94WIP as “Josh in Abington” following the Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LIX. Now, he’s stepping into the realm of sports commentary.
As reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Shapiro will join the live radio broadcast of the Pitt-Syracuse men’s basketball game on 93.7 The Fan, teaming up with long-time play-by-play voice Bill Hillgrove and analyst Curtis Aiken. Aiken, who is now in his 15th season as a radio analyst for Pitt, has a personal connection to Shapiro; the governor appointed him to his administration’s transition leadership board in 2022 and later nominated him to the University of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees in January 2024.
Shapiro’s influence extends beyond politics; he has struck a chord with Pittsburgh voters, and his daughter is a graduate of the city’s leading university. His basketball journey, unrelated to Aiken, adds to his connection to the sport. Shapiro was the captain of the Akiba Hebrew Academy High School team in suburban Philadelphia and aspired to join the University of Rochester’s Division III team, but was cut from the roster, which ultimately led him to a career in politics. Now, decades later, Josh Shapiro is getting his chance in sports — just with a headset instead.
