Pittsburgh Sports - Not Just the Steelers and Penguins Anymore

This Beautiful City Isn't Just The Steelers & Pens Anymore

The Steelers are the pride of Pittsburgh.  There is no denying that.  SteelerNation goes well beyond the shores of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers.  It even expands well beyond the borders of the United States.  If you are on twitter, you see fans from Mexico, Canada, Europe, Asia...everywhere.  No matter where you go there is someone that supports the Steelers.  In the NFL, there is NO OTHER team that comes close to the Steelers in terms of worldwide popularity.  If the Cowboys are "America's Team", then the Steelers are the "World's Team".  Its easy for fans to jump on the Steelers bandwagon...after all, who doesn't want to root for a perennial winner (this season excluded, obviously)?  The Steelers are the pride and joy of the NFL and the team that has not only had the most success on the biggest stage in the NFL, but has the fan base to back that up.  Its impressive to say the least...

In the NHL, the team that has the largest following amongst young fans is the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Sure, you can thank Mr. Sidney Crosby for that popularity, but the Penguins have a very solid fan base that is growing by the year.  The Penguins are a very polarizing team.  You either love them, or you hate them, and because they have been so successful the past 5 years they've become an easy target for opponent's fans venom to be spewed their way.  The thing about the Penguins is that although their fan base isn't nearly as expansive as the Steelers, it is growing rapidly.  The Penguins as a brand is becoming a staple for the NHL and one of the more popular teams in terms of advertising across the NHL landscape (again, thank you Mr. Crosby and Mr. Malkin).  International popularity is common in hockey.  After all, look at the origins of most players: Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic, Canada...you get the picture.  The Penguins have Stanley Cup contenders stamped onto their chests every year, and its something the fans in Pittsburgh have become accustomed to.  Some look at the Penguins as the hottest ticket in town, even over the Steelers.  They certainly have an argument if you ask me, but to be honest, the Steelers are still the main team in this great sports town.

Then you have the little brother, the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The Pirates were the cellar dwellers of the National League and MLB for well over a decade.  Before 2010, if you were talking about Pittsburgh Superstars, you'd talk about Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and then you'd get to the Pirates and you'd think...Brian Giles?  Jason Kendall?  Tony Womack?  Kip Wells?  Zach Duke?  Kevin Young?  Derek Bell (okay thats a joke)?  Then came the man that single handedly changed the Pittsburgh Pirates and the way the city views the team...Andrew McCutchen.  "Cutch" gave the fans hope...or at least a superstar to root for.  McCutchen has followed the lead of Sidney Crosby, and has used his work ethic and desire to never be "good enough" to endear himself with the hard working people in Pittsburgh and fans everywhere.  Not only did McCutchen's play help the organization, but he helped make the Pirates a brand again.  No longer did you see New Era commercials with every team represented but the Pirates.  No, now you see "Cutch" on "We Play for October" commercials.  You see him on E:60 (the popular ESPN news show).  You see him on Olbermann being interviewed.  This isn't just about Andrew McCutchen though.  This is about how this team, this organization, has completely turned itself around under General Manager, Neil Huntington (thats a seperate article coming this week hopefully).  Additions of Russell Martin, AJ Burnett, Francisco Liriano, Charlie Morton, Jeff Locke, and Marlon Byrd have only helped bolster a lineup that is poised for a postseason run, and a future that looks like there are more to follow.  A far cry from 2 collapses and 20 years of losing.

The support these teams show one another is exceptional.  The support the fans of Pittsburgh sports everywhere give these teams is second to none.  The Steelers aren't the only show in town anymore.  No, one thing is for sure, when the Steelers are struggling (which hasn't happened like THIS in decades) the fans of Pittsburgh sports have every right to be excited.  The Pirates are in the playoffs, and the Penguins are getting ready to drop the puck on their season.  Pittsburgh sports aren't just the Steelers and the Penguins anymore...no that little brother has grown up, and its about time!