The City of Champions

The first thing a lot of people ask about when you say you're from Pittsburgh is the sports. I'm the first one to say "So how many rings does your team have?" or "Yeah Sidney Crosby? I have a signed jersey," and of course I try to defend the not-so-talented Pirates.

If you're one of those Philly, Denver, Cleveland, or really any other city fan, you might just want to stop reading now, cause your teams, they do not have ANYTHING on Pittsburgh Sports.

View from press box in Heinz Field

There is nothing like a Sunday in Pittsburgh.  Unless it's a Superbowl Sunday.. then that's just something else. A sold out crowd at Heinz Field, the beautiful Pittsburgh skyline, the cheering crowd... or so that's what I'm told it's like. I've never been lucky enough to score tickets to a game, there's a crazy waiting list and I don't have hundreds of dollars to buy any. But I have been to Heinz Field for other events, and I can only imagine what it's like to enter those gates on a Sunday. I do know what it's like to watch (and win) a Superbowl though. And unlike many of you haters, I've witnessed a few of them.

Inside of Heinz Field

In fact, I got to experience a year where not only the Steelers won the Superbowl, but the Penguins took home the Stanley Cup.  Let me tell you, that was crazy. I won't lie, I pretty much worship Sidney Crosby.  I literally almost died when I got my signed jersey.

Mellon on top; Consol on bottom. Picture from pittsburghhockey.net

That's yet another sport I've never had tickets for (seriously hint hint mom and Vince if you're reading this).  Mellon Arena was a landmark, a place I've visited more times than I can count, but Consol, now that's an arena. It's beautiful on the inside (yes, I've only been there for a Pitt game, but whatever).  It's a great team, playing in a great place, and there's just about nothing better than a hockey night in Pittsburgh.

Picture from about.com

Last but not least are the Pittsburgh Pirates. I've had enough lectures from you full of yourself Philly's fans this year about "how awful Pittsburgh is." Yeah, I get it, they suck. But you've obviously never gone to a game. You pay less than 20 bucks, get some Primanti's, and sit next to the river. It's beautiful and so much fun.

So I don't care if my teams aren't the best, in my mind--and a lot of other peoples-- they are. It's not about if they're good, because in Pittsburgh, no one is a bandwagon fan. We're there, through the good and the bad. But we rarely see the bad, we are the City of Champions after all.