To honor my silver post, I wanted to make a list of my favorite 25's, in terms of Western PA sports...
8. Ron Shanklin. Before there was Swann, before there was Stallworth,...there was Shanklin. I put Shank on my list because he was the guy who was in like every third pack of football cards. I couldn't get a single Franco but I had 7 Shanklins and 9 Gerry Mullins cards. Oh, he also made the Pro Bowl in 1973.
the Shanklin card is the story of my life7. Adam LaRoche. I love this guy because of the controversy he adds to everyday life. People are so furious with the top brass because of him, yet they were equally pissed when we were stymied on our first attempt to get him. Mark these words, he's going to put up some numbers...someday.
6. Bruce Kison. Great Bucco. One of the key pitchers on the 70's teams. Pitched for both the '71 and '79 WS teams. A 1.98 post season ERA, although he did get shellacked in his one start in the '79 WS. Questionable durability, however, and a bit whiny. Oh, for those that underscore Kison's importance in 1979: the Buccos were 10-1 in his last 11 starts.
Kison lost points for the "gay porn star" look in this photo
5. Fred McAfee. A poster child for the depth of the 90's Cowher rosters. Top notch special teamer. A little more size and I bet this guy has a Pro bowl or two as a featured back somewhere.
Special teams warrior4. Bobby Bonilla. This is strictly for the Double Dumb Ass guys. I was never a big fan of BoNegro. You can't argue his numbers, though. I will always remember, with great fondness, when the newly rich Bobby Boo (as a Met) had to wear ear plugs to drown out the din of hatred.
Bobby Bo was devastated when he learned that Bonds will beat him to 756 homers.3. Pittsburgh Pirates circa 1925. This team kicked ass. The '25 Bucs led the league in batting, homers, doubles, triples, runs, and even ATTENDANCE! This was a championship team led by Hall of Famers Pie Traynor and Kiki Cuyler. God, what a difference 82 years makes. This team also had some bizarre names. In addition to Pie and Kiki, they had a Babe, Mule, Red, Emil, Clyde, Fresco, and Stuffy. Stuffy???
2. Curt Warner. Ok, not Black and Gold, but I am a PSU grad, and this guy rocked. Arguably the best tailback ever produced in Happy Valley. Huge contributor to the 1982 Nat'l Championship team. Injuries cut this guy short, but he still had some monster years in the NFL. By the way, when you say the name Curt Warner in Central PA, no one thinks of the bearded journeyman quarterback.
this guy could flat out run1. Kevin Stevens. Was there any doubt? This guy was the prototype power forward long before the Philly chicks went wet in the crotch for John LeClair. Stevens was the bullet that came out of Mario's gun, and a colossal part of the cup teams. Unfortunately, he joins a long list of tragic Pittsburgh sports figures. The major "breaking his face" injury, then more injuries, then the crack/hooker/stolen money debacle really closed out a one time brilliant career. I will always remember Stevens in his circa 1992 form, a real top notch forward. Oh, check out this youtube clip of Stevens and Trot calling out Brian Bellows. Whoever said hockey players were gentlemen?
eventually Stevens would trade goal scoring for crack and hookers.
6 comments:
Ronnie Shank and Frank Lewis were a decent receiver tandem. We only threw about 20 times a game back then. When do you run your training camp report?
Somehow I don't remember Stevens as that good. Am I wrong?
Actually Stevens was a great goal scorer (killer slap shot) until the injuries mounted...both to him and Mario. He really was never that great as a single commodity. Truly not the 'playmaker' that a Jagr was. Of course, one can say that Karl Malone would not have been great without Stockton feeding him all night.
40+ goals from 1990/91 - 93/94 with two years of 50+. Plus he hit you like a ton of bricks. People couldnt cheap shot Mario with him out there.
Not bad.
Then he had his face smashed in and that was pretty much it.
Two words for Stevens - Rob Brown. Brown was an above average minor leaguer who scored 49 goals once he became Mario's wing man. Stevens disgraced himself and the game and frankly was a 'good' player for a very short period. The years at the end of his career were laughable. Just another Penguin fan trying to immortalize the 91 and 92 teams like they were the Oilers.
Putting this jerk off over Warner and Bonilla is a joke. Bonilla was a 6 time All Star. of course anyone who leaves Steeltown for money is an asshole. Warner carried Joe PA to his first title. He could have ran for over 10,000 had he not blown the ACL. Hell, the Atlanta version of LaRoche was better than Stevens. Of course that ended when he joined the worst team in sports.
Kevin Stevens was a lot more than a points guy. In fact that was the least of his job on that line. You didnt get a lot of forechecking or back checking out of Lemuiex or Francis.
My opinion is that if his face wasn't shattered he would have had more productive years. I am not arguing that he would have been a hall of famer, nor am I arguing that he should be #1 on the 25 list...but Rob Brown???
come on...
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