Chapter 1: What is the significance of New Year's Eve in Pittsburgh sports?
50-minute mark on the fan brought to you by South Hills Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Route 19 Peters Township. What's cooking brought to you by your local Geico rep, Tim Hester. Thank you, Mr. Hester. Very kindly, fan hotline presented by Sullivan Super Service, Pittsburgh's trusted plumbing and HVAC provider for 50 years, over 50 years, I might add.
And finally, Fan Weather brought to you by Meyers Lager, Pittsburgh's choice for affordable legal solutions. High of 31, Justin Lane. Was he 31? I have no idea who that man is. Oh, he was a Steeler draft bust. Low of 19, Calvin Austin. And some flurries today. Happy New Year to everybody out there. Be safe today on those roads. What's this? Something Jeff had. We're talking best, worst moments.
Let's go to the phone lines of the year in Pittsburgh sports. Let's hear from some people, Nelly, shall we? Sure. Let's go to our guy, Anthony, in Oakland. Hello, Anthony. What's up? Happy New Year to you, Joe. You too, buddy. Joe, I'm always melancholy this time of the year on New Year's Eve. That's 53 years ago.
the Pittsburgh Pirates in the city of Pittsburgh and baseball overall lost the great Roberto. Yes. On a humanitarian venture, you know, and what a wonderful man, you know, I was a, a, a paper boy in 1968. And I lived in, I was fortunate enough to live in the same apartment building as, as the book is the Pittsburgh Pirates when they were at Ford's field and Roberto Clemente,
lived up, uh, I lived on the eighth floor. They lived on the ninth floor. Wow. I used to go to breakfast with him. Wow. While Vera and the kids were in school, I used to, I dropped this paper off one morning and he invited me in and we sat and we talked and we, he, uh, his favorite show was the Munsters. He and I would sit here for, for, and talk and watch the Munsters. Yeah. I love the Munsters.
Then we would go to a, a restaurant called Brody's and have breakfast and, It was a wonderful time. And then Sangy would join us. I had no idea about that, Anthony. I never heard that. You tell me that story. Yeah, I would go to the games with Vera and the kids with him. He would play golf. The kids and I would retrieve his golf balls. He was a wonderful human being.
He's sitting in his living room now in his underwear watching the Munsters with me, a 13-year-old boy. That is unbelievable. Herman, I wonder if you guys watched the episode where Herman Munster became a baseball player and hit the ball across the whole city.
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Chapter 2: What were the best and worst moments in Pittsburgh sports this year?
Remember that one? Yeah, we watched the episode where the Dodgers, let's see, what was his name? I can't think of the manager. Walter Alston? No, before, DeRocher, Leo DeRocher. Ah, yeah. There was an episode with Leo DeRocher meeting Fred Munster, and it was hilarious. Well, thank you, Anthony. Well, let me give you my Steeler stuff. Oh, yeah.
I think the slant in Ireland at DK Metcalf, where he looked like a freight train out of control, that was a beautiful moment for me. That was a great play, yeah. And unfortunately... What happened in Cleveland leaves a stain. I mean, it had visions of Ryan Mallett in Baltimore in 2015. You remember that disastrous game? Yeah. The Steelers would have won.
They would have made the playoffs and stayed. They lost. And it took Rex Ryan and your Buffalo Bills to be suggested for the Steelers, who happened to really go to Cleveland and murderize them compared to what we just saw Sunday. Yeah, good comparison to that Ryan Mallett game because there was a lot on the line then and there was a ton on the line the other day.
I mean, when I say a ton on the line, to me the difference between the Steelers winning and losing a playoff game if they get there was their ability to rest this week. But anyway. You know what, Rogers? It's good that we like to see that you're a little feisty after your players, but you were horrible the other day. So I hope you save some of that.
for yourself because your play was i did not expect a four-time mvp to go to cleveland and and and play like that that was a disgrace yeah and it feels like there's a lot of excuses out there uh for him for that game for some reason yeah i know metcalf wasn't there okay So why are you throwing? Why did Friar? This is just one example.
You would open people if you watch the tape with people like Baldinger breaking it down. Open people on the fade to Scotty Miller on fourth and one. You had open people when you're throwing to MVS repeatedly in the end zone. Friar Moose didn't get involved in the game really until the final drive. All of that. Anyhow, back to the lines, O Limitless Wonder.
I know it's muscle memory, but I am not the limitless wonder.
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Chapter 3: How did the Steelers' performance affect fan sentiments this season?
I know. Anyway, Paul in Washington. Hi, Paul. How are you, Giuseppe? It's a pleasure to talk to you on the last day of the year. You were asking folks what their favorite Pittsburgh sports moment was. Well, mine occurred this summer at a place called the Iron City or Iron Rock Taphouse in Greensburg. Yeah. For the fan to host... Yeah.
And my favorite part was meeting you and your critique of my performance, which you said that I brought my A game. And you were especially impressed with how I planted a collar in the audience to simulate an actual game. on-air call if I was a host. That was impressive. You were like a ventriloquist, for God's sakes. I'm surprised you didn't bring a puppet caller.
That was my favorite Pittsburgh sports moment, brought to me by the number one sports host in the city of Pittsburgh, none other than the great one, Joe Stark. My worst Pittsburgh sports moment was the fact that when they fired Ben, or excuse me, Derek Shelton, that they didn't do a twofer and fire Ben Sherrington.
And to make it even worse, we didn't fire Mike Tomlin after the debacle in Baltimore. And Joe, I wish you and your lovely wife and your daughter well.
a blessed new year and your host especially your sidekick city limits and you are the number one program in the city there's no doubt about it nobody even comes close to you god bless you my friend thank you paulie pavilion that'll boost the guy's ego won't it limits i mean nelly it i mean yeah he's calling so much
Calling somebody by the wrong name for the entire show might not, but that call will. My dad calls me by my brother's name all the time. Does he? Yeah. Actually, he'll call me his brother, and then he'll call me my brother. He'll go, thanks, Les.
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Chapter 4: What memorable stories are shared about Roberto Clemente?
I mean, Tyler. So this happens a lot to you. I'm sorry to hear that. No, it's okay. What else did Paul say? Now I can't remember. The debacle. In Baltimore and not letting go of Ben Sherrington. Oh, that's what I was going to say. Um, is Ben Sherrington might yet be redeemed, right? Skeens, Connor Griffin, Ryan O'Hearn, Brandon Lau. Things are looking up for GMBC. Jake Mangum, I think.
Mangum P.I. Yeah, you like him? Yeah, he was in the Mets system for a while, and I always thought that the Mets should give him a chance, but then the Mets became the Mets, so... Some other things that happened. The Penguins were sold. I don't know. I guess it's obviously a big story, right? It just didn't move me at all. I guess because FSG, I never got attached to at all. Who were they?
Who are they? I don't know. Who are the new people coming? I don't care about ownership stories, at least not this one. Is that just me? I don't care about that. I think the bigger one is what happens to... Mario. Exactly. And also the TV deal. I mean, Aaron Rodgers coming here was a giant story, right? Paul Skeens winning the Cy Young. Sid passing Mario.
Steelers offseason where they had Metcalf. Jonu Smith, Jalen Ramsey signed T.J. Watt. You know what was a big story that we didn't even talk about was the Cam Hayward. What would you call that? The Cam Hayward episode is a better word. Well, yeah, and everything that happened and fans turning in a big way and him sort of messing things up from a PR perspective. That was a giant story this year.
The season has been so long, especially with the DK Metcalf stuff recently. I wouldn't put it past anybody or I wouldn't hold it against anybody for forgetting that even happened. I know. With everything else that's happened, it's probably number 10 on the list. Now the DK Metcalf and a dry needler. Who would have thought that the...
Steelers season would be derailed by a man wearing a blue wig and an as yet unidentified dry needler. What are we doing? What has happened here? A needle in a blue wig destroyed the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers. Yes. What has happened here? Are we ever going to find out who wielded that needle? Probably not because of HIPAA stuff.
Unless they're publicly named in a lawsuit, which is a whole murky thing. I think the NFLPA is probably still looking into that. Well, do we have updates on TJ Watt and Lamar yet? Lamar is practicing today. How about TJ? Nothing that I see yet. But one quick search right now will... Satisfy our needs? Yeah. Thank you, Limits, and you have a great new year.
I'll tell Limits, you say, to have a good new year. I'm only kidding, Nellie. I hope you, Nellie, have a good year. Why, thank you, Starkey. I hope it brings you everything you ever wanted. What do you want, by the way, other than internal peace and perhaps world peace? A full-time job. That'd be sick. There you go. Like you, I was a late bloomer. Ask Pony to get you one.
He wields some power around this place. This is true. I wear many hats around here, so I feel like I do work here full time. I'm here almost every day of the week. Yeah. So I will. We're darn proud of you. You're a nice man. And I hope you have a great new year. And I hope that wish does come true for you. What's my wish, you might ask? What is your wish? That the Bills finally win a Super Bowl.
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Chapter 5: How did fans react to the Steelers' playoff chances?
If the bills win the super bowl, will there be more tears shed or more beers drank in Buffalo or in Buffalo? Um, well, that's a good question. Probably beers drank. Yeah. That would be like when the Cubs won it, you know, it would be like the, just the landmark, um, moment in the history of the city. What else do I want? Uh, I want good things to happen to ball.
See this year for him to win another golf tournament. And congratulations to the Mulzey family. What happened? He announced yesterday on the show, baby number three for the Muller family on the way. There you go. Yeah. Let's give a hand there. I want limits to get a girlfriend this year. Do you think that can happen? So the Bills may win the Super Bowl this year. I think it will happen.
Good night. Good night to all. To all a good night. See you, Harry. All right, back to where we began. Happy New Year. It's the last day of the year, and it was a year of dissatisfaction in Pittsburgh sports. It truly was. Things came to a head.
You basically yelled like the famous line from whatever movie it is, and I forget what it was, when the guy opens the window and yells, I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. You couldn't take it anymore. Not with the Pirates. where there were a plane flying overhead before the home opener saying sell the team and booing the manager and chanting sell the team.
You had it with the Pirates. You had it with the Steelers and that manifested in the Bills game when Steeler fans booed Renegade and chanted fire Tomlin. You had it with the Penguins. More in an apathetic way with that franchise than the others. There was no fan insurrection at those places, at their games. More just people not showing up anymore.
With two of our teams, the dissatisfaction, whether it's directly related or not, also then came with change. The Penguins fired Mike Sullivan. They've changed. For better or worse, I guess we'll find out. The Pirates have done things differently. They fired their manager. Now they've acquired two All-Stars in a week. What will the Steelers do, I wonder?
And what will that stadium look like on Sunday if they lose, especially if they lose by a wide margin? This was a fan year in Pittsburgh sports, meaning the fans finally let it be known that they couldn't take this anymore. It's been nearly a decade since there was a title in this town, but that's not really the story.
The story is just, I would imagine for people out there who love sports, wanting to yell out your window, can somebody do something? Yes, that guy. Because this became like a horrible version of Groundhog Day, Groundhog Year, Groundhog Decade. Well, the Penguins do the same thing every year. It's the exact same season over again. The Pirates do the same thing every year. Nothing different.
It's the exact same season over again. This is the point you reached out there. And the Steelers, even though a little bit more high end, it's the same thing every year with the same result. Nothing in the postseason. Literally nothing. Don't even come close to ever winning a playoff game. And you lost your minds. And I don't blame you. You went crazy. And I don't blame you.
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Chapter 6: What were the standout plays and moments in Pittsburgh sports?
Best moment. At least Doran got creative. You ready for this, Nellie? Of course. Nellie. Yes. Hosting the open at Oakmont and spawns winning putt. I like that. That's a good one. And for Doran, you can understand this one. Pitt losing to SMU is the worst moment. You like that one? Oh, I would have thought Pitt losing to West Virginia would have been the worst one for him.
Wait, that's what I said. Pitt losing to WVU. No, you said SMU. I did? You did. Oh, that was last year's worst moment for Pitt. Did I say SMU? You did. Holy horse follicles. Wait a second. See, I don't know who's nicknamed horse in my phone because I call six different people horse. Would it be horse himself? No. Ironically, horse is not called horse in my phone. He's one of the guys who isn't.
That was Joe Copp. What am I? Am I even saved in your phone? He was horse. Well, Jim Colony's also horse, but the real horse is Jeff Hathorne. You're saved in my phone under producer Nellie. I'll take that. Yeah. At least I'm saved. Jeff has the best moment. JJ spawns 65-foot putt. And Paul Skeens wins the Cy Young. And the worst moment, fans boo Renegade and yell fire Tomlin.
Wasn't that even uglier than the Metcalf thing? I mean, in terms of like a low point for the franchise, the Metcalf thing was the biggest snap of the year. And yes, a horrible moment. But the Renegade and Fire Tomlin thing just felt sad. It felt like a low point in Steelers history. And believe me, as I mentioned from the top of the show and will repeat now, I get it.
I get where fans are coming from and got where they came from that day. And it could get even worse on Sunday. But those weren't even the two worst moments of the Steeler year. The worst moment of the Steelers year was 10 million people watching them play the Ravens in a playoff game and hearing this about your Steelers franchise. I mean, this is the low point, people.
Let's get it with Kirk Herbstreit. This is the low point of the year. Forget about the Cleveland game. Forget about Metcalf. Forget about booing Renegade and chanting Fire Tomlin. This is it. This is the low point. They were talking about a game like this, a chess match. It's a cliche. But if this is a chess match, two grand masters.
If I were a Steelers fan, the thing that would concern me just watching this first half, you're in the postseason. You're getting dominated. I don't see any fight. I don't see any pushback. It's one thing to lose XOs against a really talented offense, but where the hell is the fight? This is the Pittsburgh Steelers. There's nothing. We're just going through the motion. Wow.
That one we've played a million times this year and it's jarring. It's jarring to hear it again and again and again. It's easy to forget because the news cycle is 10 minutes and that feels like a long time and many Steeler moments ago and it was. How about for you out there, the best moment, the worst moment, whatever you want to talk about, the year in sports, I think it was your moment.
It was your moment to throw open that window and make your voices heard that you don't and won't tolerate this anymore. You can't stand watching the same thing year after year after year. I think it was your year. We got any calls yet? We do. Can we go to the lines? Yeah, of course. You're supposed to tell me that, Nellie, Charlie, Donnie, Limits. Carl. Malden. Greg.
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Chapter 7: How did the Penguins and Pirates fare this year?
sports figures, really in Pittsburgh history, but if you want to call modern history, I don't know, 1960 or 70 until today, two guys that would be fairly high on that list are Mike Lang and the Cobra, Dave Parker, right? Yeah. Also, Craig Wolfley. Yes. Mike Lang just being... Kind of like Myron Cope, more famous than almost all the players for whom he called games, right?
That's the status he reached is Myron Cope-like status. And then, man, Dave Parker. I mean, for a kid, I grew up in Buffalo, so I didn't have a baseball team. So I adopted the Pirates, 1971. Now I'm starting to think about my year. And I mean, I'm talking about losing people. I lost both my parents in September. So this has been just a crazy year.
But it makes me to think about Dave Parker as a little kid in Buffalo, worshiping the pirates, having a Parker poster. He was larger than life, just this intimidating, unbelievable slugger and a great all around player. You know, the epitome when he was healthy of a five tool player, he could do everything. And then having my dad really, it comes full circle for me because, um,
My dad taking me on a pilgrimage to Pittsburgh back in 1979, right after the Madlock trade. And you talk about larger than life, walking into Three River Stadium, taking that in. I think the series, well, I know the series was against the San Francisco Giants in August. And, you know, my dad knew how much I loved the Pirates. So off we went to Pittsburgh. And what happened? Let's see.
Ten years later, in November of 89, he's driving me to Pittsburgh to go to graduate school at Duquesne, and I haven't left since. Oh, I've taken vacations and gone back to Buffalo for visits, Nellie, but I've lived here since November of 89. And it felt like it was meant to be. I'll tell you exactly how I got here.
I think it was in my mind because of loving the Pirates all those years, largely because of Parker, Willie Stargell too. But I also, my dad taught at Damon College in Buffalo. And I remember walking over there, didn't know what to do with my life. I was 24, 25, 24, I think. And back then we didn't have the internet. Charlie, were you even born in 89? I was born in 93. There you go.
And so I went over to the library at his college and there was this giant, giant book of colleges where you could look up what they specialized in this and that. And for some reason I came across Duquesne and it was a cool name for a school. I thought, yeah, maybe Pittsburgh. Why not? I've been there. I love the Pirates. Duquesne had Norm Nixon at one point. Maybe I'll go to Pittsburgh.
Maybe I'll go to Duquesne. So 10 years after that pilgrimage here, my dad dropped me off in Shadyside. where I lived with a guy named Brett Rosen, who I barely knew, but we had gone to the same high school. And we lived in a crummy little, tiny little apartment on Holden Street in Shadyside with orange indoor carpeting, indoor outdoor carpeting, I should say, in the apartment.
And I rolled out a little What do you call the thing you sleep on that's not a bed? Futon. Slept on a futon. Worked at Fifth Avenue place with a purple hat on at a place called Everything Yogurt. Took the 71C bus down Fifth Avenue from Shadyside to... what I guess is now the Highmark Fifth Avenue place, right? And on the second floor, I'd be there at 6 a.m.
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