Boxing outdoors is nothing new to Pittsburgh. Nothing new to the Rooneys, either. It just doesn't happen often.

Only a couple of times every half-century.

	AT A GLANCE What: Pennsylvania Golden Gloves championships When: 7:30 p.m. today (doors open at 6 p.m.) Where: Heinz Field's Coca-Cola Great Hall Tickets: $30 VIP, $25 ringside, $20 general admission -- a limited number available at door, Mitchell's Bar & Restaurant or 412-716-3650 Lineup: (Western Pa. vs. Philadelphia) Mario Acosta-Derrick Bivins, 119 pounds; Steve Pagliari-Antoine Farlow, 125; Rod Salka-Michael Colston, 132; Mike Strauss-Henry Lundy, 141; Mark Daley-William Boggs, 152; Rocky Rhodes-Latief Mundy, 165; Rocco Tettis-Chuck Cavello, 178; Rocky Mulloly-Chazz Witherspoon, 201; Kyle Kriamakbar-William Miller, super-heavyweight. Defending champions: Witherspoon.

"I'm the only one around here old enough to remember," said Dan Rooney, referring to the Forbes Field and Heidelberg outdoor shows that helped his father's troubled NFL team back in the 1940s and '50s. "The boxing carried the football in those days."

The Rooneys helped to promote the Jersey Joe Walcott-Ezzard Charles heavyweight championship bout at Forbes Field in 1951, the last outdoor professional fight until Paul Spadafora defended his lightweight title against Joel Perez three years ago at the then-IC Light Ampitheater.

Tonight, with Rooney's assistance once more, boxing returns to the elements with the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves championships in Heinz Field's Coca-Cola Great Hall. And the Steelers' chairman told tournament organizers to get out from underneath the stands, put up a ring in the scoreboard plaza and truly step outside for the first of what could become several Heinz Field boxing promotions.

"As far as boxing-Steelers-Pitt football ... it's the ambience of toughness, of defense," said Jimmy Cvetic, the promoter who also oversees the Iron City Pro Boxing series and the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League. "Mr. Rooney liked the idea. Next thing you know, we're not only talking about this year, but next year [and beyond]. We're looking at no less than four or six shows a year there. We're laying the foundation for good things. It's going to work."

Several hundred seats in the Great Hall, under cover, will surround the ring for the 10 bouts that advance winners to the U.S. Golden Gloves in two weeks in Kansas City, Mo.

The fights are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., and the National Weather Service predicts temperatures will drop to between 59 and 55 degrees during the night. A 30 percent chance of evening showers and thunderstorms could make it slightly damp for the fighters from the Western Pennsylvania and Philadelphia-Central regions.

Last spring the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves was in the area for the first time since 1978, being contested at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Philadelphia-Central swept the Western Pennsylvania team, 8-0. This year, Philadelphia has an all new lineup save for 201-pound heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon, a cousin of former heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon. Gone are 2003 state champions Rock Allen, who made the U.S. Olympic team, and brothers Karl and Michael Dargan, who turned pro along with four-time winner Carney Bowman of York.

"We're developing a new team. So this should be a good year for Pittsburgh," said Frank Cariello, the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves president who administers the Philadelphia team.

Added 141-pounder Mike Strauss of Mt. Lebanon, who lost to Allen in last May's final: "I think the Pittsburgh team is going to do a good job against the Philly kids. I don't like those Philly kids. They just have that persona, 'Oh, gee, Philly fighters.' Nobody scares me."

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NOTES -- Mt. Lebanon's Bridget Fenton and Upper Darby's Kymberrli Stowe will stage the inaugural women's Golden Gloves state championship, at 138 pounds. ... Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll and Allegheny County Coronor Cyril Wecht are expected to be among the presenters to winners. ... Of boxing outdoors, Cariello joked: "I won't tell anybody [on Philly's team] anything; they'll think I'm nuts. I'm going to act just as surprised as everybody. It's always an adventure when you go to Pittsburgh." ... The next Downtown boxing show is May 15 at the convention center.