Sports Heaven?

Pittsburghers of a certain age look back to the 1970s as a heavenly time for local sports teams.

Most folks think about the Super Steelers for that decade.  But it was the Pirates who were really first in the minds of Pittsburghers.  They won two world championships, in 1971 and 1979, with Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell, and a supporting cast of very colorful characters.  The "Lumber and Lightning" and "We are Fam-i-lee!" teams were in the hunt for a trip to the World Series just about every year that decade.

Of course, the Steelers won four Super Bowls in a period of six seasons, a record never to be bested.  After four decades of futility, the path to greatness started in 1969, when Dan Rooney, having just taking over control of the club from his famous father, Art, hired unknown Chuck Noll to be the head coach.  Noll and the scouting staff had a fantastic run in picking players through the draft.  In 1969, Mean Joe Greene (first overall), Terry Hanratty, and L.C. Greenwood.  In 1970, Terry Bradshaw (first overall) and Mel Blount.  In 1971, Jack Ham and Dwight White.  In 1972, Franco Harris and Joe Gilliam.  And the historic 1974 draft class, when in the first five rounds the Steelers drafted four future Hall of Famers, Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster.  The "Immaculate Reception" by Franco Harris from Terry Bradshaw, via Jack Tatum (see the detailed description at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Reception )  on December 23, 1972, is the most famous single play in NFL history, and was the start of playoff winning for the Steelers.

You can't forget that the Pitt Panthers football team was having great success under coach Johnny Majors.  In 1976 Pitt went undefeated with all-world running back Tony Dorsett and won the mythical national championship.  A couple of years later local boy and Central Catholic grad Dan Marino led the Panthers to bowl wins.  Across town Duquesne was king of local college mens basketball (not Pitt).  Under coach Red Manning the Dukes were consistent winners in the 1970s.

But that was then.  I think that Pittsburgh is experiencing another sports heaven.  Maybe it was the glorious return to the lineup last night of Sidney Crosby for the Pittsburgh Penguins which made me think that.  He spent over ten months recovering from concussions suffered in early January.  For a while there were reports that his entire career was in danger of ending.  His return to the ice was nothing less than spectacular, with two goals and two assists, and his usual aggressive and creative presence.  Ever since "Sid the Kid" arrived in Pittsburgh as a callow yet hearalded 18 year old six years ago, the Pens have shown spurts of greatness.  Of course the highlight was the Penguins wining the Stanley Cup in June 2009 (after losing in the finals the previous year).  Sid's return last night was international news, as his media-friendly persona has become the very face of the NHL.  (Scoring the gold medal winning goal for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver didn't hurt either.)  With fellow star players Marc Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, and unflappable coach Danny Bylsma, the Penguins promise us much more excitement at the new Consol Energy Center (and maybe another Cup?).

Our Steelers are again super, and have been to the Super Bowl three times in six years, winning two.  (What a royal bummer the loss to the Packers was last February.)  We witnessed a future Hall of Famer in Jerome "the Bus" Bettis for ten years.  Now we're enjoying the defense of HOF coach Dick LeBeau, and greats Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward, James Harrison, and the corps of young receivers.  Head coach Mike Tomlin is certainly one of the top three in the NFL.  Pitt mens basketball keeps knocking on the Final Four door under excellent teacher and coach Jamie Dixon.  The Dukes are rising.  College womens basketball is exciting.  Scholastic sports for football, basketball and hockey rank among the best in the country.

And then there are our Pirates.  Oh well, maybe there has to be a little purgatory (in gorgeous PNC Park) before we truly reach heaven.