Episodes
Cheap Shots
Physical play is part of sports but when lines are crossed, our opinion of what constitutes a “cheap shot” is often defined by the players and teams involved. In this episode we will cover the plays that were labeled by teams, media, and fans as dirty – some of which were against Pittsburgh athletes and some of which were inflicted by Pittsburgh athletes. |
The Pens' First Cup
The Pittsburgh Penguins were a wayward franchise even after drafting Mario Lemieux, but after years of disappointment, the 1991 Pens put together a season for the ages. This week we look back at that magical Stanley Cup run. |
The Steelers vs Oilers/Titans Rivalry
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Oilers (and later the Tennessee Titans) had a fierce rivalry. The years of them being the two best teams in the NFL, the briefcase gift, the Commander Cody game, the fights and ejections - these two teams really did not like each other! While this is one of those teams we miss having on our schedule every year, we can still look back on the memorable moments that made this rivalry so much fun. |
The Championship Winning Score
In this episode we will look at the game winning score of all 16 Pittsburgh pro sports championships. Some were dramatic while some were ho-hum. Some were made by all-time greats while some were made by guys you never heard of. All have one thing in common however: each brought yet another title to the City of Champions! |
Feats of Strength: Amazing Plays
Much like Frank Costanza’s celebration of Festivus, we will be recounting some feats of strength. We have compiled a list of some of the most amazing plays in Pittsburgh sports history. They might not have all happened in a winning effort but nonetheless they were still incredible feats of athleticism. These jaw dropping plays still continue to impress us to this day. |
Unlikely Events That Shaped Pittsburgh Sports History
How did a game between the Vikings and Cardinals result in two Super Bowls for the Steelers? How did a collision between Ken Caminiti and an Atlanta catcher destroy the Pirates? How did a Joe Montana injury lead to Bill Cowher coming to Pittsburgh? This week we will talk about several instances of the “butterfly effect”, where events that seemingly had nothing to do with Pittsburgh teams ended up drastically altering the course of Pittsburgh sports history. |
History of Pittsburgh Sports Owners
In this episode we dive into some of the more memorable owners of the various Pittsburgh sports teams. Some were cheap, some were just trying to survive, but they all contributed to the sports landscape in Pittsburgh either negatively or positively. |
Barry Bonds: The Scourge of Pittsburgh
Barry Bonds is the single most polarizing sports figure of this generation, and his time in Pittsburgh was marked by superb performances along with numerous spats with teammates and the media. Perhaps no athlete in the history of Pittsburgh sports was both as loved and as hated as Bonds was by the Pittsburgh fans. |
Pittsburgh Sports in Movies
Pittsburgh has been the setting for many movies over the years. In this episode, we will be channeling our inner Siskel and Ebert to rate the films in which a Pittsburgh sports team or venue plays a prominent role. So go to the lobby, grab a popcorn, and enjoy the following Pittsburgh cinematic excellence! |
Super Bowl XIV
The Steelers have won six Super Bowls, and arguably the least remembered of all of them was Super Bowl XIV. That year’s team was nowhere near as dominant as some of the other championship clubs, but sometimes great teams aren’t always great - they’re just great when they have to be. |
Random Pittsburgh Sports Stories
Bill Cowher's near career-ending mistake, the Pirates' misguided decision to honor a dead mascot, a Pittsburgh announcer's regrettable on-air statement, New Orleans' failed scheme to steal the Pirates, and an NFL owner's ridiculous attempt to silence Myron Cope - we will tell all of these stories and more. It's a collection of random Pittsburgh sports stories that we hope you will find very entertaining! |
100 Greatest Players (Part Three)
For the 100th episode of the podcast, we decided to count down the 100 greatest players in the history of Pittsburgh sports! This week we will wrap things up and we reveal who is #1. |
100 Greatest Players (Part Two)
For the 100th episode of the podcast, we decided to count down the 100 greatest players in the history of Pittsburgh sports! This week we will continue going through the list of players who left an indelible mark on us Pittsburgh sports fans. |
100 Greatest Players (Part One)
For the 100th episode of the podcast, we decided to count down the 100 greatest players in the history of Pittsburgh sports! This week we will kick things off with part one of the list. |
Pittsburgh Sports Tragedies
Pittsburgh sports history has its sad share of overdoses, suicides, and accidental deaths. In this episode, we will look back on these stories and remember the lives of the Pittsburgh sports figures who were taken from us way too soon. |
Captains of the Pirates Ship
The Pittsburgh Pirates have had four managers in the modern era of baseball who have had success. Two of them won championships and the other two came close, but all four left an indelible mark on their team and its fans. In this episode, we will discuss the managerial record and styles of these four leaders. |
The 10 Hall of Famers
Pitt has an unusual amount of NFL Hall of Fame players from its football program – more than other more storied programs that may be located in the same state. On this episode, we will rank Pitt’s ten Hall of Famers and also talk about who from the active set of Pitt alumni could be joining them in Canton when their careers are over. |
The Surprising History of Steelers vs 49ers
As the Steelers get set to kickoff the 2023 season against the San Francisco 49ers, we will take a look back at the surprising history between these two highly successful NFL teams. While never a true rivalry for either franchise, this series has seen its fair share of great games and crazy moments. |
Greatest Moment That No One Remembers
Pittsburgh sports history is full of great moments. Some are celebrated regularly and ingrained deeply with the fanbase. But then there are other great moments which, for a variety of reasons, have been long forgotten by the Pittsburgh sports faithful. In this episode we will relive those moments and give them the much needed credit they deserve! |
Pittsburgh's Best Wingmen
Everyone needs a good wingman, like Batman and Robin or Simon and Garfunkel. A good wingman is key to winning. They may not be the superstar or the focal point of the team, but without them the team wouldn't have been successful. So on this episode we look at some of these forgotten supporting cast guys - really good players who aren’t often remembered as Pittsburgh sports legends. |
The Three Lost Rings
In this episode we will take a look back at the greatest seasons of each of Pittsburgh's pro sports franchises where the team fell short of a championship – the 1976 Steelers, the 1993 Penguins, and the 1927 Pirates. |
Pittsburgh Sports Conspiracy Theories
In this episode we will review some of the conspiracy theories surrounding Pittsburgh sports. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines conspiracy theories as "a theory that explains an event or set of circumstances as the result of a secret plot by usually powerful conspirators." Some may be true, some are definitely false, but all will be fun to discuss. So put on your tin foil hat and join us as we discuss some of the biggest Pittsburgh sports conspiracy theories. |
The Freak Show Pirates
In 1997, the Pirates jettisoned all of their remaining players from the division winning teams of the early 1990’s to start a complete rebuild. They were left with a collection of nobodies with a payroll which topped out at a mere $9 million! Yet improbably, this team took the National League by storm and delivered a near miraculous result for its fans. |
Hines Ward: The Man Nobody Believed In
On this episode we will look back on the career of Hines Ward. He was a third round draft pick who the Steelers tried to replace multiple times and who was sometimes described as a dirty player, but he developed into one of the best wide receivers of his era. Known for his toughness, zealous blocking, and clutch plays that brought championships back to the city, Hines Ward is one of the most beloved Steelers ever. |
Better Lucky Than Good!
Hall of Fame pitcher Lefty Gomez famously said that he would rather be lucky than good. Pittsburgh sports history is packed with great teams and talented players, but our teams were also the beneficiary of some good fortune along the way. In this episode, we’ll remember the luckiest breaks ever in Pittsburgh sports. |
Things to Do in Denver When You've Been Shot: The Joey Porter Story
In this episode, we are going to cover one of the more unique players to ever be employed by the Steelers. We will look at all the twists and turns both on the field and off the field with the one and only Joey Porter (aka J-Peezy). |
Forgotten Sports Years: 2007
In this episode we will take a look back at 2007 – a year that didn’t see any Pittsburgh sports championships but did see an arena drama for the Penguins, a new coach for the Steelers, a massive controversy for the Pirates, and an epic upset for Pitt football. Also throw in a creepy new mascot, an MVP award, and the muddiest football game of the century, and you’ve got a memorable year in Pittsburgh sports. |
Hero, Bum, or Meh
What is the difference between a sports figure being revered or reviled? In this episode we will look at the mixed legacies of a handful of coaches, athletes and owners of the major sports in Pittsburgh. In doing so, we will try to determine their true lasting impact on us fans. |
The Most Thankless Job in Pittsburgh
In our latest episode, we will delve into the history of the most hated role in Pittsburgh sports: Steelers offensive coordinator. Only 12 men have ever had the distinction of holding this job. Some found success while others struggled, but they all had one thing in common: at least some portion of the fan base wanted them fired! Join us for an entertaining look back at the OC’s you loved to hate. |
A Tale of Two Seasons
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of being favored to win the Big East championship, it was the age probably finishing fifth in the ACC Coastal. In this episode, we compare two different seasons of Pitt football: the 2010 and the 2018 seasons. We will look at the expectations and subsequent outcomes of these seasons. The consequences of these pivotal seasons changed the course and trajectory of the program in two opposite directions. |
Rants and Meltdowns
Look, we’ve all had our moments when we are upset and say or do things that we regret later. Sports figures are no different, and throughout the history of Pittsburgh sports, many players and coaches have lost their cool - sometimes via breakdowns of epic proportions. In this episode, we will revisit some of the more memorable instances of this phenomenon. |
The Obscure Championship
The 1925 World Series title is often forgotten in Pirates history. Heck, it's not even covered in Kens Burns Baseball documentary. We will look at the key players and events surrounding yet another 7th game win in the Series by the Pirates. |
47 More Fun Facts About Pittsburgh Sports
It’s a sequel to one of our most popular episodes! We will once again delve into a list of interesting and little known facts about Pittsburgh sports history. Impress your friends with the vast wealth of trivia that you will glean from this second enlightening fun facts episode! |
The 2008 Steelers (Part 2)
After a dream season brought the Steelers to the Super Bowl, they were poised to get their 6th Lombardi after taking a big lead late into the game thanks to some James Harrison heroics. But Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald had different ideas. When it was all said and done, Super Bowl XLIII went down as arguably the greatest football game ever played. We'll do a deep dive into that game and relive the amazing memories from that magical night. |
The 2008 Steelers (Part 1)
In 2008, the Steelers put together a run for the ages. Led by a superstar QB, a ferocious defense, and a receiver who played hero week after week, the Steelers made their way to Tampa for Super Bowl XLIII. In this two-part episode, we will remember all of the great moments from that championship season. |
Steelers Stories
During the course of doing this podcast, we have delved into some memorable stories about our beloved football team - the time the team nearly moved to Boston, the secret feud between two of the greatest Steelers ever, the cornerback who ignited furor by asking the Heinz Field faithful to behave themselves, the drama around Big Ben's first career start, and more. We'll wrap up 2022 by recounting some of our favorite Steelers stories. |
The Immaculate Reception
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the most famous play in sports history. Since everyone in the media will be covering this moment ad nauseam, we will attempt to put a little different spin on it. We’ll cover more of the forgotten aspects of the play and because this is a podcast where we tell stories from a fan’s perspective, we will have a special guest – a fan who was actually at the game that day! |
Roller Coaster Steelers
In this episode we’ll look back on a Steelers season in which they often vacillated between greatness and disaster. One week they would dominate an elite NFL team, suffocating them with a ferocious defense and an innovative offense. The next week they would lose to a terrible team, committing turnovers and making unbelievable special teams blunders. This unpredictable path would lead them to a point where the greatness/disaster theme would play itself out in a wild and memorable playoff game. |
The X Force
In 2005, the Penguins assembled a team of veteran superstars, young talent, and a can’t miss rookie phenom named Sidney Crosby. They called this elite group the "X Force", and their mission was to lay waste to the rest of the NHL and capture the franchise’s third Stanley Cup. However, things did not exactly go according to plan, and the X Force quickly became one of the biggest disasters in Pittsburgh sports history. Yet out of the ashes of this failed experiment, the franchise was able to build something special. |
Pitt QB's in the NFL
Fun fact: the University of Pittsburgh has sent a dozen QB's to the NFL since 1978, many of whom became starters. Some of them had legendary pro careers, some were total disasters, and some still don't have their full pro stories written yet. In this episode we will recap all of the Pitt quarterbacks who made it to the NFL. |
The Pittsburgh-Detroit Connection
Pittsburgh and Detroit are both blue collar, rust belt towns who had to reinvent themselves in recent years, but the sports histories of these two cities are more entwined than you may realize. Over the years there have been rivalries, allegiance switching, scandals, and multiple championships won on the other city’s soil. We’ll take a close look at the rich Pittsburgh-Detroit sports history which involves everyone from Ty Cobb to Marian Hossa to Groucho Marx! |
Messy Exits
There is an art to making a graceful exit. Some Pittsburgh sports figures have mastered that art - people like Jerome Bettis, Mario Lemieux, and Ben Roethlisberger. But others have had problematic exits. On this episode we will focus on the sports personalities who have had very messy exits from Pittsburgh and from the public in general. |
Forgotten Controversies
Remember the time that the NFL refused to play the National Anthem at a Steelers game? Or the time Mario Lemieux said he would rather play for someone else other than the team he owned? Or the time the Browns endangered the life of their QB in an attempt to beat the Steelers? Or the time Roberto Clemente was accused of disrespecting the city decades after his death? These were all controversies which generated a lot of outrage at the time but have since been largely lost to history. In this episode, we will re-examine the forgotten controversies of Pittsburgh sports. How many will you remember? |
Most Respected Opponents
A good adversary will bring out the best in yourself, and rivals tend to do this when our favorites teams play them. So who do Pittsburgh fans respect as opponents? In this episode, we will present a list of teams and persons that Pittsburgh sports fans respect. Let’s take some time out to show some love for the rivals who made us better. |
Kevin Colbert's Drafts
As longtime Steelers GM Kevin Colbert heads into retirement, we will review each of the NFL drafts that he oversaw. Which picks did he hit on, which ones did he miss on, and how did they contribute to his overall legacy as Steelers general manager? |
Top 10 Ben Roethlisberger Games
After 18 seasons and many legendry moments, Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement from the Steelers. We will celebrate the career of Big Ben with a countdown of his ten greatest games. Which games made the list, and will you agree with our surprise pick for #1? Tune in to find out! |
The Penguins Tank for Mario
In 1984, the Penguins were a floundering and largely unpopular franchise with an uncertain future. That’s when they were presented with a golden opportunity to turn things around. If they could somehow procure the top overall pick in the draft, they could select a teen phenom by the name of Mario Lemieux. However, getting there would require something totally unorthodox: doing everything possible to NOT WIN games. |
What Grinds My Gears
There are things that are annoying in sports which fans like to complain about, and Pittsburgh sports history has plenty of them. For better or worse, here some things that are annoying about Pittsburgh sports. |
His Mind is Thought to be Deranged
As the Pirates were enjoying arguably their greatest ever season, one of their best pitchers was struggling. Those around him were concerned, but no one expected the horrifying psychotic break that came next. It would not only threaten Pittsburgh’s opportunity to win a championship, but would also tear apart the life of a rising baseball superstar forever. In this episode we will tell the sad and often forgotten story of a Pirates pitcher whose descent into darkness had huge ramifications both on and off the field. |
The 2004 Draft
Selecting a top draft pick is always tricky but in 2004 the Steelers had a decision to make - draft a QB or go with another player. What would play out in the draft that year would affect the fortunes of three different players and franchises for years to follow. |
The Lost Audio - Volume 1
This episode features a collection of fascinating forgotten audio that we dug up related to Pittsburgh sports - rare interviews, crazy soundbites, unique music, and more. Take a journey down memory lane with this compilation of sound from your favorite Pittsburgh sports stars and teams. |
The Man Who Made Pitt Basketball Relevant
It’s NHL playoff time and there may be no better spectacle in sports than playoff hockey. We Penguins fans have been blessed to witness many amazing moments over the years including 5 Stanley Cup runs. In this episode, we will countdown the top 15 (because top 10 just wasn't enough) greatest playoff moments in Pens history! |
Top 15 Penguins Playoff Moments
It’s NHL playoff time and there may be no better spectacle in sports than playoff hockey. We Penguins fans have been blessed to witness many amazing moments over the years including 5 Stanley Cup runs. In this episode, we will countdown the top 15 (because top 10 just wasn't enough) greatest playoff moments in Pens history! |
The Biggest Moment in Pittsburgh Sports History
In this episode, we will cover possibly the biggest moment in sports history. It was moment that gave the city its most improbable championship win in its history, and it's still celebrated annually to this day: the 1960 World Series and Bill Mazeroski's home run. |
False Narratives in Pittsburgh Sports
Did the Steelers really get handed Super Bowl XL by the refs? Were the Pirates really handicapped by MLB’s lack of a salary cap? Did AB only go nuts after that Vontaze Burfict hit? In this episode, we’ll attempt to debunk some of the false narratives from throughout Pittsburgh sports history. Will you agree with our assessment of these narratives being false, and will we even agree with each other? Tune it to find out! |
Defunct Pittsburgh Sports Venues
There were places where some of the most cherished and legendary Pittsburgh sports moments happened. Unfortunately they all saw there prime come and go, and they now only exist in the memories of the fans who attended those famous games. On this episode we will cover the many sports venues throughout the history of Pittsburgh and recall some of the iconic moments that happened at them. |
The Great QB Dilemma
The Steelers just lost their Super Bowl quarterback and they have no definitive choice to replace him. Sound familiar? The Steelers of course face this dilemma today, but they actually faced the same dilemma once before back in 1996. The questions were very similar: do they go with an unproven guy on the roster, do they go with a guy who had high pedigree in college, do they go with a veteran, or do they draft someone? In this episode, we will revisit that 1996 season and talk about the decisions that were made and the outcomes of those choices. And we’ll do it with an eye on what it may entail for the decisions that the team must make heading into the 2022 season. |
Rise and Fall Stories with Uncle Steve
"I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself." - Mark Twain Some sports figures found success and fame in Pittsburgh, and then promptly saw their careers come crashing down. Much like good ole Sam Clemens, we feel compelled to tell these stories ourselves. So enjoy our look back at an anthology of short stories about the rise and fall of some well-known and some lesser-known Pittsburgh sports personalities. |
Guys You Forgot Played for Pittsburgh
What do the guy who made the greatest tackle in Super Bowl history, the guy who hit the most famous homerun of the past 40 years, and the guy who Mike Tomlin tried to trip on his way to the endzone all have in common? They all played for a Pittsburgh team at one point in their careers. In this episode we will look back at some famous sports names who you may have forgotten spent part of their career as a member of a Pittsburgh team. How many of these guys will you remember? |
Overtime!
There is nothing more exciting than overtime. It’s all on the line and in sudden death, the end can come out of nowhere. On this episode we will examine the good and the heartbreaking overtime games in Pittsburgh sports history. |
The Steelers Go All In For a Championship
The Steelers are known today for building consistently competitive teams through the draft and measured free agent signings, but it wasn’t always that way. There was a time when the Steelers decided to go for broke in an effort to win a championship. The man they picked to lead this effort was a brilliant tactician who had won two championships elsewhere, but he was also a chain-smoking alcoholic whose impulsivity threatened to bring the whole thing down. The ramifications of this experiment would ultimately shape the “Steeler Way” for years to come. |
Pittsburgh's Second Golden Age
When a great sports moments are happening, one does not always think to pause to see the bigger picture. Every so often a run of iconic players, moments, and championships all happen in a compact space of time simultaneously. In Pittsburgh the 1970’s saw that kind of a run, and then the current Pittsburgh sports era brought a second wave. We will look at how we may have just experienced one of Pittsburgh's greatest sports ages and how, sadly, it appears to be coming to an end. |
Biggest Personalities in Pittsburgh Sports History
In this episode we will look at the Pittsburgh sports characters who were larger than life. Some of these players were hall of famers and some saw their careers here flame out quickly, but all of them captivated fans with their unique disposition. |
2008 Winter Classic: The Penguins Coming Out Party
The NHL takes the party outside and the Penguins and Sabres play a classic game for the ages. We will look back at the inaugural Winter Classic in 2008 - a game that was not only a coming out party for the league and its young stars Crosby, Letang, and Malkin, but also a moment that would set a new tradition for the NHL as well. |
When the Penguins Joined the Red Army
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the famed Russian Red Army hockey team needed financial help to stay afloat. The help came from an unlikely partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins. What followed was an incredibly strange journey as Pittsburgh capitalism tried to entrench itself in the new “wild west” Russia with a cast of characters which included actor Michael J. Fox, vice president Al Gore, the Russian mafia, and the Walt Disney company! |
The Three Coaches
Some organizations have lots of turnover. Since the start of the Super Bowl era the Steelers have had three head coaches. We will compare the success that each head coach has had over their tenure and determine which coach had the greatest impact on the franchise. |
58 Fun Facts About Pittsburgh Sports
We will (attempt to) regale you with many fascinating and little known facts about Pittsburgh sports history. Impress your friends with the vast wealth of trivia that you will glean from this enlightening episode! |
Nobody Rivals Pitt
Even a bad season can be salvaged with a big win over your rival, and without these rivalries sports would be pretty boring. On this episode we look at some of the memorable rivalry games that Pitt has had over the years. As a fan your second favorite team is the one that's playing your biggest rival. |
History of the Steelers-Bengals Rivalry
When people think of fierce Steelers rivalries throughout the years, they often think of the Ravens, Browns, Raiders, or even Cowboys. But the Steelers have played more games against the Bengals in the past 50 years than they have any other team, and the rivalry has seen its share of big moments and extreme hatred. |
Pittsburgh Media Legends
On this episode it’s all about the stinking media as we will cover the many radio, print and TV personalities who brought us closer to our favorite teams. Some shocked us while some informed us with inside information. And some had a voice and personality that was distinctly Pittsburgh. |
Homegrown Stars Who Had Success Elsewhere
Staying home is great but sometimes you have to leave home to have a great adventure. Plenty of people who have been born and raised in Western PA went on to have great success elsewhere. In this episode we will look at the sports stars and personalities who went on to have most of their success elsewhere. |
Top 20 In-Game Mistakes (Part 2)
In life, people’s mistakes can be opportunities for growth and reflection, but in sports, they torment us as fans for years to come! In this two-part episode, we will countdown the biggest on the field blunders in Pittsburgh sports history. There are some which we can laugh about and some which still evoke strong emotion, but all remind us that indeed no one is perfect. |
Top 20 In-Game Mistakes (Part 1)
In life, people’s mistakes can be opportunities for growth and reflection, but in sports, they torment us as fans for years to come! In this two-part episode, we will countdown the biggest on the field blunders in Pittsburgh sports history. There are some which we can laugh about and some which still evoke strong emotion, but all remind us that indeed no one is perfect. |
Favorite Games
Some games bring a championship and some games feature an iconic memorable moment. The games we are covering in this episode do not necessarily fall into that category, but they are games which will always hold a special place in our hearts. |
The Steelers Soap Opera Season
The 2017 Steelers were poised for a Super Bowl run. They put together one of the top three records in the history of the franchise, and as the season wore on it became clear that there was only one thing that could stop them from capturing a seventh world championship - their own dysfunctional drama. |
Pittsburgh Sports Traditions
Many teams and cities have traditions but none are quite as memorable as the ones in Pittsburgh (admittedly we may be a little biased). On this episode of our podcast, we will look at our favorite traditions of the past and present. |
How Two Fans Nearly Destroyed the Pirates
Dale Shiffman and Kevin Koch were die-hard Pirates fans who found themselves entrenched in one of Major League Baseball’s biggest ever scandals - one that threatened to wipe their favorite team off the map forever. |
Pittsburgh vs The Refs
As English poet Alexander Pope once said to “err is human but to forgive is divine” but hey a championship wasn't on the line so what did he know. We will cover the many times the officials have made calls that have gone for or against our favorite local teams, and maybe find some emotional catharsis and closure along the way. |
Top 10 ALMOST Miracle Plays
We will look at 10 plays that, had things gone just a little bit differently, would have been celebrated as iconic moments in Pittsburgh sports history. |
Sports Franchises That Aren't Here Anymore
Not all pro sports teams in Pittsburgh have had the staying power like the Pirates, Penguins, or Steelers. Much like Westview Park, Service Merchandise, or Metropol, some teams have come and gone. In this episode we will cover the pro sports franchises that didn’t make it. Some won championships and some didn’t but all left a memory that won’t be forgotten soon. |
Mario's Triumphant Return
Mario Lemieux shocked the sports world when he came out of retirement in 2000-01. What followed was a memorable deep run into the postseason for the Penguins, including the single most improbable moment in Pittsburgh sports history. |
Close But No NBA Star
The 2002-03 Pitt basketball season was a breakthrough year for the Panthers which saw them accomplish many firsts, but it ended in what would become an all to familiar fashion. |
Steelers vs Broncos
No two teams in the AFC have faced off in more playoff matchups over the years than the Steelers and Broncos, yet few fans of either team think of each other as true rivals. We’ll look back on the storied history between these two clubs and question whether or not this should be considered as one the NFL’s best rivalries. |
Top 10 Most Pitt Losses Ever
“Pitt Loss” (noun): the art of blowing a game in the most inexplicably heartbreaking way possible, each time setting a new previously unheard of standard for disaster. The Pitt football team has provided us with many of these losses over the years. In this episode, we will rank the top 10. |
Alternate Timelines
Drawing inspiration from Back to the Future II, we will look back at some significant moments in Pittsburgh sports history and present an alternate timeline for what may have happened had things gone differently. |
The 2005 Steelers (Part 3): Champions At Last
No team had ever won a Super Bowl as a #6 seed in the playoffs, but the 2005 Steelers defied history and finally won one for the thumb. |
The 2005 Steelers (Part 2): Serious as a Heart Attack!
In the 2005 playoffs, the Steelers and Colts played one of the greatest games in NFL history. As a huge road underdog who few believed could win, the Steelers came in with a lot to prove. What resulted was a tense and unbelievable ending which was quite literally heart stopping. |
The 2005 Steelers (Part 1): Road to One for the Thumb
It had been 25 years since the Steelers had won a championship. There had been some close calls. It would take an improbable run through the regular season to even make the playoffs. We recall the highs and lows that would set the stage for the Steelers' success. |
The Day the Baseball Died
In this episode we'll look back at a magical era of baseball that came crashing to a halt with the single worst moment in the history of Pittsburgh sports. Sid Bream's slide was a moment that not only ended a championship dream, but also killed an entire pro sports franchise for decades to come. |
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The 2016 Pitt football season can be summed up into three categories of games and topics: the good, the bad, and the ugly. It was probably the most stereotypical Pitt football season with unexpected wins and head scratching losses. Instead of reviewing chronologically, we will look at this season in the three themes mentioned in the title. |
Top 10 Forgotten Pittsburgh Sports Stories
Pittsburgh sports history is brimming with well-known stories that us fans will recount for generations to come. But it also contains many impactful and fascinating stories that may be lesser known. In this episode we will examine our top 10 favorite forgotten Pittsburgh sports stories. |
Kordell Stewart: Don't Call Me Slash
Kordell Stewart was an exciting player who had his ups and downs and left a complicated legacy. In this episode we will examine his controversial career and also his slash role where he contributed immediately playing wide receiver and running back and even punting. He was promoted to starting QB, and after some inconsistent years and another failed championship game, he fell out of favor and eventually left Pittsburgh without ever winning a championship. |
Bill Cowher's "Best" Season
Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher took the Steelers to 6 AFC Championship Games and 2 Super Bowls. But he says that his best ever season was one where the team accomplished neither of those feats. Which season was it? We’ll discuss in this episode. |
The Man Who Saved Pitt Football
When Johnny Majors came to Pitt, they had not had a winning season in years, much less a national championship or a Heisman trophy winner. By the end of his first tenure as the head football coach, the program would have all three. |
Return of Stanley (2016 Penguins)
When the 2015-16 season began, the Penguins were a franchise in total disarray. By the end of the season, they were champions. We’ll take a look at the long road back to glory for Sidney Crosby and the Pens. |
Ultimate Pittsburgh Sports Bracket
We put together an March Madness-style bracket consisting of the best teams in Pittsburgh sports history. Who made the final four and who came out on top as the best team ever? Listen to our latest episode to find out. |
The Forgotten Steelers Playoff Game
The Steelers once hosted a playoff game against the San Diego Chargers that featured the wildest start in NFL history, crazy momentum swings, a last minute comeback, and a longstanding rift between two of the most famous Steeler players ever. It should have been one of the more memorable games in team history. Instead the events of that day have been mostly forgotten. Why? |
Memorable Pittsburgh Sports Moments
Pittsburgh sports history is full of great moments, both on and off the field. Some delivered a championship, some helped launched dynasties, and some had ripple effects for years to come. These are moments that have entered into the Pittsburgh sports psyche and beyond. |
20 Years of Suck
Between 1993 and 2012, the Pittsburgh Pirates set a pro sports record by posting 20 consecutive losing seasons. What happened? We’ll delve into the many lowlights of the biggest embarrassment in sports history. |
The Chief
A look at Art Rooney Sr., the founder and patriarch of the Steelers. We will review his extraordinary personal skills along with his total lack of knowledge or competence of running the football team, and we’ll talk about how he kept the team in business during the lean years to the ultimate triumph of the 1970’s. |
The B Team
Pittsburgh sports history is full of great teams featuring superstar players, but much of the success that those teams have had would not have been possible without a supporting cast. In this episode we’ll list our favorite players who were not big stars but who left an indelible mark during their time in Pittsburgh. |
Ben's Rookie Season (2004 Steelers)
Rookie quarterbacks ending winning streaks, missed field goals, and the greatest regular season record in team history. A season with a disappointing ending that is one of the most memorable in history. The 2004 Steelers season proves the old saying its always darkest before the dawn. |
The Goal That Saved the Pens
We’ll look back at one of the most dramatic moments in Penguins history. It's a goal that - according to some (including Jaromir Jagr, the guy who scored it) - literally saved the franchise from extinction. |
Dark Ages of Steelers Football
We’ll take a look at the pre-1970’s Steelers, a franchise which was (unlike today) consistently one of the worst in football. The phrase often associated with those teams was "same old Steelers". But this era also featured a lot of interesting stories and characters you may have never known about. |
The Walt Harris Debacle
On this episode we will delve into Pitt’s controversial 2004 football season, which ultimately became a pivotal year for them. It will follow Coach Harris and all the twists and turns of this very unusual year, and showcasing some vital background. All of this leading up to the dramatic moment of Harris’ firing, and the aftermath of the team not making it back to relevance for another 4 seasons. |
Top 10 Most Reviled Pittsburgh Sports Figures
In this episode we’ll count down the list of Pittsburgh’s all-time most hated sports personalities. |
Three More Yards
The motto for the 1995 Steelers was “three more yards” based on the disappointing way that the previous season had ended. It was a season full of big moments and memorable games that resulted in a trip to Super Bowl XXX. And while the Steelers literally got those three yards, their championship dreams ultimately vanished into the arms of Larry Brown. |
Series from Hell
In 2012, the Penguins faced the archrival Flyers in a first round playoff series. It quickly dissolved into the ugliest display of defense and sportsmanship in franchise history. |
Cuuueeto!
After suffering through the longest losing season streak in the history of professional sports, the 2013 Pirates finally turned things around, resulting in one of the most unforgettable moments ever against the Reds in the Wild Card Game. |
Steelers of the 1980's
The Steelers have had just 7 losing seasons since 1972, but 4 of those came between 1985-91. In this episode we will look back on the only era during the last half century when the Steelers were truly a bad team. |
The 2008-09 Penguins
Expectations were high for the the 2008-09 Penguins but the season did not go according to plan. Nevertheless a group of young stars led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin found their way back to the Stanley Cup Finals. On this episode we will dive into all of the memorable moments from a wild championship run - from an unexpected coaching change to the "Philadelphia hush" to a save for the ages in the closing seconds of Game 7. |
13 to 9
On the evening of December 1, 2007, West Virginia University and its fans prepared to celebrate the greatest athletics achievement in school history. They were about to play for the college football national championship and with arguably their most talented team ever, they were in good position to win it too. All they had to do first was dispose of a 4-7 Pitt team who they were favored to beat by 28 points at home. What happened next stunned an entire state, brought down a conference, and sent shockwaves throughout the college football world. |
The Tommy Maddox Season
We take a look back at one of the strangest and wildest seasons in Steelers history. In 2002, the Steelers turned to an insurance salesman to lead their offense and it led to some unforgettable moments. |