Pittsburgh Fans Are NOT Just Typical Fans

Pens Fans Storming the Steps After
The Pens 6-3 Win on Super Sunday

What has caused the city of Pittsburgh and its fans to become so rabid about their favorites sports teams?  Is it that there is nothing much better to do in and around Pittsburgh?  Maybe.  Is it that there are a tremendous amount of "bandwagon" fans that are living off the successes of the Penguins and Steelers in 2009?  Maybe.  Is it that there were a tremendous amount of fans that have moved away from the city and have begun growing roots elsewhere...making the Pittsburgh "brand" a national product?  Maybe.  Whichever way you look at it, or if you ask me, I say the answer is...D.) All of the above.

Regardless of what caused the fans to become so rabid and fanatical about their sports teams is irrelevant, but I know one thing for sure...Pittsburgh fans are NOT just typical fans.  There is something about being brought up a Pittsburgh fan.  When I say "Pittsburgh fan" I mean someone that roots for ALL professional Pittsburgh sports teams (Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins).  Listen, I don't mind if someone roots for the Steelers and doesn't follow the Pirates and the Penguins.  I have no problem with that at all, but there are those fans that grew up around Pittsburgh that are true die hards...they've been bred that way.  I am proud to say that I am one of those die hard Pittsburgh fans...obviously since I run a website geared towards to "Big 3" (as I call them)...

There have been times in my life when the connection between Pittsburgh fans has been clearly evident, and its something that is hard for alot of fans to realize.  Times when I am in the grocery store in the state of Maryland, and while wearing my Steelers jersey I have random strangers come up and talk to me about the upcoming game and my thoughts.  When I wear my Penguins jersey to the mall and people will stop me and talk about the team, or just say "Go Pens!" as we walk past one another.  Granted, there aren't as many Pirates fans than the Pens or Steelers, but they are out there...you just have to look for them.  Outside of running into fans  in public is the simple fact that Pittsburgh fans are everywhere.

As I said in a previous post, I was fortunate enough to attend the Penguins vs Capitals game in Washington, DC on Superbowl Sunday.  Its always a great site to see your favorite team take over a visiting arena, and that is exactly what happened.  My friend who attended the game with me, had never been to a Penguins game before.  As we walked out of the metro stop I showed him museum steps across the street and told him, "Last time I was here the Pens beat the Caps and after the game Pens fans stormed those steps and screamed and chanted after the game..."  After the game concluded and the Pens had defeated the Capitals 6-3 we were leaving the Verizon Center and my friend asked me "What is that sound?"  "All I had to say was...just wait till you walk around the corner..."  When we walked around the corner there they were.  The Pittsburgh fans had stormed the steps again (see picture above) and were chanting "Lets Go Pens! Lets Go Pens!"  Capitals fans could do nothing, could say nothing, but simply kept moving like if they just ignored the mob it would go away.  It truly felt like a little slice of Pittsburgh in Washington, DC.

Its moments like this one that make you proud to root for your hometown team.  Proud to be a part of something that is more than just a sport.  I guess to truly understand the above statement you have to be a fanatic like I am...and most people who are Pittsburgh fans know exactly what I'm talking about.  After all, Pittsburgh fans are NOT just typical sports fans.