Being a Football Fan in Pittsburgh
I think I am the only true Yinzer currently in the program – so I’ll take a stab at this. Growing up, it was amazing- 2 super bowl wins, 3 appearances. 2 decades of amazing quarterback play, and 19 consecutive winning seasons. But, for many of us yinzers, it’s not good enough. Over the last several years, we have been irritatingly above average. Despite having hall of fame caliber coaches and players, we haven’t won a playoff game in nearly 10 years.
I’m not sure when you will receive this, but as I write this in August, we are entering a new season with half of the starting lineup being new players. This includes a 41-year-old 4x NFL MVP quarterback (who may have questionable takes on the COVID-vaccine) who is playing his last year of professional football. Somehow, he has convinced myself and the rest of Western PA that the Steelers might once again win the Superbowl this year. Let’s see how this ages. Bring on the heartbreak.
Overall, Pittsburgh is an elite fanbase. The athletes, especially the Steelers, are the biggest celebrities in town. Football owns a day of the week in this city. We have had patients say they “waited until the game was over” before coming to the emergency room. Games can be pricey but they are fun. If you are unable to get a ticket, would recommend finding a tailgate or bar along the North Shore– a good party can sometimes be better than being in the stadium.
-Ben Peticca, PGY-1
Being a Baseball Fan in Pittsburgh
This organization has brought me so much pain over the years it is unironically sad. We have been the laughingstock of MLB since the 1990s except for short period in the 2010s. This video was from one special night- a glimpse of what all yinzers hope to see just one more time in their lifetime – October playoff baseball at PNC park. Sadly, we never made it past the first round of the playoffs. On top of this, our owner (who is one of the 50 richest men on the planet, and owns both Western PA ski resorts), refuses to pay our best players. Every single one of my childhood heroes growing up was either traded for scraps or let go because our owner is too cheap to pay for their new contract. Morale is at an all-time low and it will only get worse until there is a salary cap initiated within baseball.
Despite our frustration with ownership, the city is desperate for a winning team again. And for those visiting, there is still reason to support the team: we have the prettiest ballpark in America. We have the best pitcher in the world (who happens to be dating ex-college All-American Gymnast and Instagram celebrity Livvy Dunne). And tickets are relatively cheap. I would recommend sitting on the 3rd base side for the best skyline views. We should all try to enjoy both the stadium and Paul Skenes (Livvy’s boyfriend) while we still can, before he too gets traded.
-Ben Peticca, PGY-1, yinzer (see above)
Being a Soccer Fan in Pittsburgh
While somewhat of a niche topic, I hope my experiences with soccer reflect Pittsburgh’s dedication to sports as a whole. As a lifetime player and fan, it was extremely easy to get set up with several pickup groups throughout the city to play during the week. The benefits of having a night float mean that we’re leaving the hospital between 5-6pm, generally speaking, and that means I have time to head straight to a field to play for a couple hours after work. For more formalized/competitive leagues, the Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League has a 4 tiered promotion/relegation summer league that I’ve been a part of going on 3 years. From a spectator perspective, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds have a great stadium to take in a match right on the water and their prices are reasonable and a decent night out. For Premier League fans, the Bulldog Pub in Morningside is a great place to watch alongside other fans and they have a solid breakfast.
-Noah Krampe, PGY-3
Being a Hockey Fan in Pittsburgh
I grew up in Wisconsin and went to college at the University of Minnesota. Hockey is kind of a big thing up there. I missed hockey games a lot while I was in medical school (at UVA in Charlottesville), and being a 2-3 hour drive away from Caps games didn’t really scratch the itch. Pumped to be in a hockey city. Have tickets to a Penguins game in November and am excited to have the chance to watch the big three (Crosby, Malkin, Letang).
-Parker Holum PGY-1