Pittsburgh once rightfully boasted it was the City of Champions. Now the City of Chumps seems more appropriate.
The Pirates haven’t won a championship in 46 years. Bob Nutting’s sole purpose is to make money, not win games. According to Forbes, they are the third most profitable team in baseball, so who can blame Nutting? As long as “There’s a sucker born every minute,” he is willing to take their money. Good for him.
The Steelers haven’t won a championship in 17 years and probably won’t win another one as long as the Rooney family owns the team. They desperately need a new coach but can’t fire Mike Tomlin because of the “Rooney Rule.” Dan Rooney placed political correctness above winning. He made their bed, and now they must sleep in it.
The Penguins haven’t won a championship in eight years, but their problems are the most correctable. They simply have too many older players who are well past their prime but still collect huge salaries. Until those guys are flushed out, there is no money to rebuild.
Even the local sports media has been degraded. From what I see, Bob Pompeani is the last full-time professional sportscaster left in town. The latest trend at all three local stations has been to replace sports professionals with young females who serve as eye candy and satisfy their DEI policies.
The sports future in the ’Burgh is bleak.
E. Joseph Biss
Greensburg