Mark Madden's Hot Take: Pittsburgh sports had no 'best of 2023'

This is the time for cliched, year-in-review “best of 2023” lists.

But Pittsburgh sports had no “best of 2023.” All the major sports teams were rotten. All seem pointed in the wrong direction.

The Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and Pitt football were a combined 20 games under .500 in 2023. The Steelers did best, at three games over .500. All that gets you is stuck in the mushy middle.

None of those teams played a postseason game. No player on those teams won MVP or did anything truly special. Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick made first-team All-Pro. That was the highest honor earned.

Pitt men’s basketball did well, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament and getting off to a 9-3 start in the current season. But does college basketball really count in Pittsburgh?

The Riverhounds finished first in their conference but lost in the first round of the playoffs. I love the Riverhounds.

It’s Triple-A soccer, but the ’Hounds eliminated eventual MLS champ Columbus in the U.S. Open Cup.

Pitt women’s volleyball was the city’s crème de la crème, confirming that there wasn’t much crème. Pitt reached the NCAA final four. Great season, but can you name one Pitt women’s volleyball player?

It’s tough to even think of a single outstanding moment or stretch for any of the city’s big-time teams or athletes.

The Pirates had a hot April. Andrew McCutchen returned.

Kris Letang had six assists in a game, five in a period.

George Pickens had that great performance against Cincinnati in the Steelers’ most recent game, but that was after he quit on a play the week before. There were a few times this year when Kenny Pickett didn’t stink.

The much-maligned Matt Canada got fired from his job as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator. Was that Pittsburgh sports’ biggest moment in 2023? For all the hype, the Great Satan’s dismissal didn’t really change much.

Maybe 2024 will be better if the Steelers get Russell Wilson. Or trade Mike Tomlin.

At least we still have Sidney Crosby to watch. That’s still epic.