Better sports city: Pittsburgh or Philly? (Hint: It's not even close)
July 3, 2010
by Cory Giger
With the Pirates and Phillies playing this weekend, let's have a turf war: Which is the better sports city: Pittsburgh or Philadelphia?
I've brought up this topic before on my radio show, and it always generates passionate responses. Folks from western Pa and the Burgh say it's not even close, as do those from eastern Pa and the Philly area.
Frankly, it really isn't close.
It's Pittsburgh in a landslide.
Steelers 6 Super Bowls, Eagles 0
Considering that the NFL is the country's biggest sport and that the Steelers are the best franchise in the league's history, this alone may be enough to declare Pittsburgh the overall winner.
Pirates 5 World Series (last one in 1979), Phillies 2 (last one in 2008)
The Phillies are the much better organization right now, and the Pirates have been a joke for nearly two decades. Still, Pirates fans are incredibly passionate, and PNC Park is the best venue in the majors. Plus, Pirates fans don't throw up intentionally on little girls.
Nevertheless, Philly wins this round because Phils have a chance at a mini-dynasty with that lineup, while Bucs' losing streak could reach 20-plus seasons.
Penguins 3 Stanley Cups (last one in 2009), Flyers 2 (last one in 1975)
The Pens have a potential dynasty brewing with Sidney Crosby and have been one of the league's elite teams the past few years. The Flyers had a remarkable playoff run this year, but it's been 35 years since they won a title.
Pittsburgh by a wide margin.
76ers 3 NBA titles (last one in 1983).
Pittsburgh doesn't have an NBA team, but judging by the standings most years, neither does Philly.
Colleges: Pitt is a college basketball powerhouse, and its football program has had dominant years. Villanova leads the Philly college hoops scene, but when the best football team in the city is Temple, well, that's just sad.
Slight edge to Pittsburgh.
And the winner, again by a wide margin, is Pittsburgh. And even if it was closer, Philly fans will always have a black eye for booing Santa Claus.
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