PSR Showdown
Pittsburgh Sports Story Of The Year 2004

Big Ben On The Scene
By Rob Cochran
#1 Cochran

For more than two decades, the fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have searched for that elusive holy grail: a worthy successor to Terry Bradshaw's throne. Cliff Stoudt, Mark Malone, David Woodley, Bubby Brister, Neil O'Donnell, Kordell Stewart, Tommy Maddox - did I forget anybody? Ah yes, Scott Campbell, thanks. While we had periods of promise - Kordell seemed so close - we never have been able to quench our thirst for an all-pro caliber quarterback. This fall, it appears that may have changed.

Ben Roethlisberger was rushed into the lineup due to necessity after Tommy Maddox went down in week two with a nasty elbow injury. Ben emerged on the scene and performed. He has passed. He has run. He has been on magazine covers and chatted with the likes of David Letterman. He has, as Coach Cowher likes to say, made plays. But, to me, what he has done off the field has been every bit as impressive and important as what he has done on the field.He has deflected praise to his teammates and remained grounded. He comes across on our televisions as humble, which is rare in this day and age. Many athletes have their own celebrations and call it fun; others would seem to be embarrassed by making a spectacle of themselves. Ben Roethlisberger, to me, fits the latter definition.

While we are all hopeful, we don't know how good he will be. Another Bradshaw?The next John Elway? Those expectations may be too for a young quarterback, even one as talented as Ben. But, the prospect exists that they could come true. And, isn't that what we've been waiting for? All wrapped together by someone giving credit to everybody else, the essence of leadership.

We will see where the career of Ben Roethlisberger goes. Maybe it will be one of a solid NFL quarterback, nothing more or less. Or maybe it is one of a future legend. In any event, it is clear his emergence has been the top Pittsburgh sports story of 2004.

Rookie Of The Year: Jason Bay
By Mike Clark
Channel 4 Action News

The year was filled with local sports stories involving team excellence. Some obvious, like Pitt's third-straight Sweet 16 appearance. Some less so, such as the Lady Vulcans of California University capturing the Division II National Championship. Individual performances were abundant as well: Olympics hero Lauryn Williams of Rochester, Pirates' lefty Oliver Perez, Pitt's classy Heisman runner-up Larry Fitzgerald, the Steelers' unflappable Ben Roethlisberger and how about the wonderful hometown tale of the Penguins' Ryan Malone?

None top what Jason Bay accomplished for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pirates were the fourth professional organization for Bay, a Canadian who didn't get much more than a sniff from pro scouts while he played college ball at Gonzaga. Despite missing 42 games, Bay hit 26 home runs with 82 RBI. He got on base 36% of the time, had a .550 slugging percentage, and one of the best OPS numbers in the majors, finishing at .908. He became the first Pirate ever to be named Rookie of the Year. He played a near-flawless left-field, making countless diving catches, and gunning down base runners with an injured right arm that still shot cannons.

Can you imagine the pressure on this rookie? Bay replaced Brian Giles, who put up numbers better than just about every Pirate who ever played the game - look it up - and somehow managed to out-slug Giles, who was surrounded by better hitters in San Diego. He went yard three more times than Giles in 250 fewer plate appearances.

Bay made $305,000 last year. Giles took home more than $8.5 million. The fact that Bay is eight years younger than Giles is just icing on the cake - Bay gives fans hope for a Pittsburgh postseason.

The Pirates need to scour the colleges and the minors to find other Jason Bay-types. They're out there. Give Dave Littlefield all the kudos for swinging the deal that gave us so many reasons to cheer in 2004. Who knows? Perhaps he can do it again, and the Pirates' playoff appearance will be the top sports story of 2005.