(10-23-2016 05:21 PM)Blue Dynasty Wrote: Re: PIT-CIN rivalry:
Steelers-Bengals is probably the most heated rivalry in the NFL right now, and almost all the Steelers' players I've heard on the topic have said the Bengals games have replaced Ravens as the most hard-hitting and toughest on the schedule. Their games are always highly rated, and almost always on a national TV slot now, whether on primetime, or an unopposed network slot in the afternoon (such as the Pats-Steelers game that is currently on as I type this). Historically, the rivalry hasn't been much for sure, but it's really picked up in recent years.
Reds-Pirates was one of the biggest rivalries in the National League at one time (just saw someone else alluded to this above). There actually has been something of a renaissance of the rivalry in recent years in the term of bad blood, as I believe the Reds-Pirates have had more beanball wars/bench clearing incidents than any other combo of teams in MLB the last 5 years or so. But again, between the 70s and now, wasn't much other than an epic 1990 NLCS between the teams.
The cities themselves are pretty compatible, both are river cities with similar demographics and histories. I think I saw this topic broached in another thread recently, but I think Pittsburgh seems more like a midwest city than it does a northeast city and would think it has more in common with, say Cincinnati and Indianapolis, than it does a city in its own state, Philadelphia. Am I way off? I don't live in Pittsburgh nor have I ever, so I certainly would understand someone who has correcting me.
I don't think you are too far off. It's complex but let me explain.
One of the things that makes Pittsburgh such a unique place to live - and why if you ever meet someone from there they are so fiercely proud of/loyal to it - is because both geographically and culturally speaking, it's not really East Coast or Midwestern. It's sort of a hybrid between the two. It has some Midwestern qualities but it also has some Northeastern qualities.
I have never lived in Buffalo but they strike as living on the same island - or at least a neighboring island.
I always refer to it as a Mid-Atlantic city but even that is a stretch because it really isn't like Washington, DC or Richmond. It's kind of a mix between all of those places.
I have lived in many different places over the years, including Cincinnati for seven years (Indian Hill). Cincinnatians are more formal and rigid, IMHO. Perhaps its due to their largely German roots? Whatever it is, they are more serious, IMHO.
Pittsburghers are much more informal and, IMHO warmer. Now, Pittsburghers are also louder and less unassuming. When they walk into anywhere really, be it a bar, an opposing stadium, Disney World, you name it, they are sure to let everyone know who they are and where they are from. Personally, I love that quality but I have many friends who are less enamored by that mentality. You just have to understand that it's usually coming from a place of warmth and you'll get along just fine. They're usually not taunting you, they're just teasing you. There are some jerks but for the most part it's all in good fun.
So, when you say they identify with Cincinnati or Indianapolis more than Philadelphia or New York, the truth is we don't really identify with any of you and that's precisely what makes us who we are.
If you ask a Pittsburgher who they like more Midwesterners or Northeasterners they would probably ***** more about the Northeasterners before grudgingly admitting that they too are part of that crowd - but only loosely so.
As for rivals, that is reflected in that soup of factors.
It is my view that the Philadelphia Flyers are THE most hated franchise in any sport in Pittsburgh. Now, part of that is rooted in Philadelphia's traditional style of play but a bigger part if rooted in the mindset of their fans - whom Pittsburghers generally consider boorish.
In hockey, after Philadelphia it is definitely Washington next followed by the New York teams. Columbus has a chance to wiggle its way in there too but that will take years and years - and several playoff series.
In baseball, the Pirates fans definitely have always seen the Phillies and the Mets as their primary rivals. I'm sure Washington would also be a fierce rival if they were in the same division. That said, the NL Central has been good to us and there have been some spirited games between the Bucs and their divisional foes. Still, in a perfect world we'd probably prefer to be in the NL East. However, that is never going to happen so we may as well make the best of our situation.
In football, I do still consider the Browns to be the Steelers' top rivals. We are just two hours apart and that makes those games nasty. It's just that the Browns have been so bad for so long, it's hard to keep that up. However, if all three divisional teams were equally as good, Cleveland would be the game we most wanted to win, IMHO.
For the past decade or so, Baltimore has filled that spot because of how good they have been and because of their attitude. The Ravens have relished wearing the villain's black hat and Pittsburghers hated those teams with a passion.
Lately the Bengals have usurped the Ravens in quality and consequently as rivals too. However, it's more of a Vontaze Burfict thing than anything else. People here think that dude is straight up nuts...and dangerous!
However, Pittsburghers actually LIKE Marvin Lewis as he is from here. In fact, he is from a town called McDonald, PA which is about 10 minutes from where I live now. You have heard of a one stoplight town. Well, McDonald is literally a ZERO stoplight town and yet it has produced two longtime NFL coaches - Lewis and Marty Schottenheimer.
That's amazing!
Finally, as for college, Paco is right. The rivals card is more full for Pitt than most. We have two arch rivals in Penn State and West Virginia. We have played both nearly 100 times. Penn State leads our all-time series 50-43-4 and we lead the Backyard Brawl all-time, 61-40-3.
In basketball, we have historic rivalries with Penn State and West Virginia as well as Duquesne - our Xavier equivalent but again it's hard because the Dukes haven't been as good as the Musketeers have been for UC.
I just think most Pitt fans took the River City Rivalry thing as a bit of a jarring slap in the face with people elsewhere with no appreciation for Pitt or it's history or tradition saying, "Here's your new rivals - deal with it."
It would be a bit like the AAC making a big deal out of the Cincinnati/Temple game. It just wouldn't make any sense whatsoever.