Pittsburgh sports fans dealt double-shot of defeat Monday
It has been more than ten years since one of my teams won a title (2006-07, Indianapolis Colts) and that ended a 16-year drought for me (1990, Cincinnati Reds). Therefore, I long ago grew tired of Pittsburgh sports fans and all of their winning: six Super Bowl wins (two since 2005-06), four Stanley Cups (two since 2009) and even the formerly awful Pirates secured three straight wild card playoff berths from 2013-2015. Monday night was a beautiful respite from Steeltown victories and an opportunity to revel in some schadenfreude.
The Washington Capitals narrowly escaped with a 3-2 overtime victory in Pittsburgh over the Penguins after giving up a 2-goal advantage with less than 5 minutes to go in regulation. After dropping the two opening games at Verizon Center, Game 3 was "must-win" for the Caps, who have lost eight of their last nine playoff matchups versus the Penguins. Pittsburgh still retains the home ice advantage, but Washington is very much still in this series as they attempt to exorcise playoff demons.
The Cincinnati Reds secured a 4-3 extra inning win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cincinnati after Drew Storen (Speaking of DC playoff implosions, nice of you to show tonight, Drew.) blew a 3-2 advantage in the eighth inning. After starting the season 9-5, the Reds blundered through a 1-8 run that finally got halted by rain in St. Louis on Saturday. The Reds are still a game below 0.500, but now have a two-game winning streak going and might be able to actually chase mediocrity into the summer.
I am all about one of my teams getting a win over a Pittsburgh team and not having to hear the boasting of a Penguin or Pirate fan. These Pittsburgh sports fans have infiltrated seemingly every metropolis in America. They are like the Mongols of old, except these Yinzers wear black and gold and douse their Pierogies with Heinz ketchup.
Wikipedia tells us the Mongol Empire emerged from the unification of nomadic tribes in the Mongol homeland under the leadership of Genghis Khan and existed during the 13th and 14th centuries. Originating in the steppes of Central Asia, the Mongol Empire eventually stretched from Central Europe to the Sea of Japan, extending northwards into Siberia, eastwards and southwards into the Indian subcontinent, Indochina, and the Iranian plateau, and westwards as far as the Levant and Arabia.
The Yinzer sports empire emerged from the unification of the Western Pennsylvania steel working peoples in the vicinity of Pittsburgh under the leadership of Steeler coach Chuck Noll and existed during the 20th and 21st centuries. With the decline of manufacturing in the1980s, and the loss of steel mill jobs, an estimated 200,000 residents left Pennsylvania's Allegheny County. These now nomadic and united sports tribes eventually stretch across the entire NFL landscape, surged north to victories in the NHL and most recently advanced into the Midwest to pester MLB National League Central fans.
The Washington Capitals narrowly escaped with a 3-2 overtime victory in Pittsburgh over the Penguins after giving up a 2-goal advantage with less than 5 minutes to go in regulation. After dropping the two opening games at Verizon Center, Game 3 was "must-win" for the Caps, who have lost eight of their last nine playoff matchups versus the Penguins. Pittsburgh still retains the home ice advantage, but Washington is very much still in this series as they attempt to exorcise playoff demons.
The Cincinnati Reds secured a 4-3 extra inning win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cincinnati after Drew Storen (Speaking of DC playoff implosions, nice of you to show tonight, Drew.) blew a 3-2 advantage in the eighth inning. After starting the season 9-5, the Reds blundered through a 1-8 run that finally got halted by rain in St. Louis on Saturday. The Reds are still a game below 0.500, but now have a two-game winning streak going and might be able to actually chase mediocrity into the summer.
I am all about one of my teams getting a win over a Pittsburgh team and not having to hear the boasting of a Penguin or Pirate fan. These Pittsburgh sports fans have infiltrated seemingly every metropolis in America. They are like the Mongols of old, except these Yinzers wear black and gold and douse their Pierogies with Heinz ketchup.
Wikipedia tells us the Mongol Empire emerged from the unification of nomadic tribes in the Mongol homeland under the leadership of Genghis Khan and existed during the 13th and 14th centuries. Originating in the steppes of Central Asia, the Mongol Empire eventually stretched from Central Europe to the Sea of Japan, extending northwards into Siberia, eastwards and southwards into the Indian subcontinent, Indochina, and the Iranian plateau, and westwards as far as the Levant and Arabia.
The Yinzer sports empire emerged from the unification of the Western Pennsylvania steel working peoples in the vicinity of Pittsburgh under the leadership of Steeler coach Chuck Noll and existed during the 20th and 21st centuries. With the decline of manufacturing in the1980s, and the loss of steel mill jobs, an estimated 200,000 residents left Pennsylvania's Allegheny County. These now nomadic and united sports tribes eventually stretch across the entire NFL landscape, surged north to victories in the NHL and most recently advanced into the Midwest to pester MLB National League Central fans.
Monday night was a
moment for the sports fans in Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati to fight
back, and at least momentarily, throw off the yoke of oppression affixed upon them by
these Yinzer teams. Those were two good wins for the underdogs last night. Pittsburgh fans are still among us though and large in number.
The Pittsburgh diaspora is real. They have fans everywhere. But Boston fans are way worse...not even close.
The Pittsburgh diaspora is real. They have fans everywhere. But Boston fans are way worse...not even close.
Capitals on the television and Reds on the laptop...Pittsburgh getting beat on both.
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