The 10 Most Underrated Pittsburgh Sports Figures of the Past 30 Years

Pittsburgh fans and media can be tough on their teams. Let's take a look at some of the "tahn's" sports figures that were underappreciated from the end of the city's last glory era (1979) to the one we're currently enjoying during the following slides.

Your comments await, and the most OVERRATED will soon follow! Enjoy!

10. Pittsburgh Penguins Goalie Tom Barrasso

The greatest goalie in Penguins history. One of the greats in the history of the game.

But because of a tenuous relationship with some sportswriters with attitude issues of their own following the Pens’ Cup runs of the early ‘90s, his reputation was ruined.

For the record, the first locker room interview with a professional athlete I ever did was with Barrasso, and he was exceedingly kind to this nervous 19-year-old asking stupid questions.

9. Bill Landrum- Pirates Closer 1989-91

Posted ERAs of 1.67, 2.13, and 3.18 during his tenure as the Bucs’ closer. Set team record with nine consecutive saves in 1989. Yet, he was consistently in manager Jim Leyland’s doghouse.

8. Former Duquesne Men's Basketball Coach John Carroll

Led Duquesne to their first tournament post-season tournament appearance in 13 years in 1994, then was fired after an off-season in 1995.

Duquesne then lost as they never had before under his successors...quite a statement considering the lackluster performances the Dukes put up in the 1980s.

7. Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Dan Marino

“The Steelers shouldn’t draft him; he’s on cocaine (!).” Was actually booed during player introductions at Pitt Stadium prior to the last game Panthers football was ranked No. 1 on Nov. 6, 1982.

I’m convinced the unfounded local rumors created the scuttlebutt that caused him to fall to the Dolphins in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft.

6. Boxer Michael Moorer

A Monessen native who was the Heavyweight Champion of the World in 1994 and 1996-97.

And none of you remember him...which is more of a testament to the status of boxing today than the fault of Moorer.

5. Former Pitt head football coach Walt Harris

When he was bad (7-15 from 1998-99), fans wanted him to replace Bill Cowher as the Steelers’ coach.

When he was good (five straight bowls), Pitt fans wanted him gone. It made no sense, and Pitt football regressed briefly after he left.

4. Former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart

Went from being the most marketed player in the NFL in 1997 to vilification overnight in large part to unproven and irrelevant personal rumors. Disgraceful.

3. NASCAR Driver Dave Blaney

Technically from Sharon, but unknown. One wonders if the former World of Outlaws Champion would have been something more than a journeyman NASCAR driver if he had received sponsorship from one of the major Pittsburgh corporations.

2. Former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Barry Bonds

Won two Most Valuable Player Awards in Pittsburgh. The best player of his generation. He wasn’t juicing here.

Yet, he was so reviled that Mike Fisher, running for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, tried to appease Pittsburgh voters by telling them on ads “I’ll take Clemente over Bonds . . . anyday!”

Anyone think if the Pirates pooled their money to sign him instead of spreading it out for the likes of Andy Van Slyke and Steve Buechele they’d be better off today?

1. Former Steelers Quarterback Neil O'Donnell

I’ve been through this before in the following article:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/185819-why-i-love-neil-odonnell-the-story-of-the-1995-pittsburgh-steelers.

I do not wish to be labeled as a player's press agent, so I will just let my previous comments suffice.