My thesis for the arguementative essay is that there are too many sports stores dedicated to only Pittsburgh gear.
I understand wanting to show support for your hometown, but this is ridiculous. Although many have argued that it sets the city apart from the average cities that populate the US, I find it quite annoying. Not only does it present me with a sense of arrogancy, but it makes me not like sports as much. The overflow of gold and black has made me reconsider the amount of time I spend watching sporting events. Please do not mistake my uncomfortability for a genuine dislike of the sportsmanship displayed throughout this jungle of metal. I admire the strong support that citizens within Pittsburgh feel the need to exert. However, living within this mass of Steeler appreciation is enough to drive me insane! But that’s just me..
My issue with Pittsburgh may offend many natives to this city, so I strongly suggest you proceed with caution when reading this. Sports have always been a great way to relieve stress, meet new people, have fun, and unite a community. Pittsburgh is probably the most united community in America. I have never seen so much black and gold in one store, let alone a whole city. Not only do they support their team, but they do it to the extreme. Is it really necessary to have a whole store littered with memorabilia from top to bottom? Even the welcome mats are stamped! The other day I walke into a “sports store” in hopes of finding another NY fitted for my collection. As I scanned the wall I noticed just about every team was present, except for one. You guessed it, New York. I asked the clerk if they had any in stock and she gave me a look followed by, “we don’t carry those”. Really?? What’s wrong with this city!? You decorate buildings, restaurants, even sandwiches, and you can’t show some love for ALL the remaining teams??? That’s just selfish. Anytime I’ve walked into a sports shop in NY I’ve seen the Pittsburgh hats. We don’t discriminate, there’s enough love to go around. The Pittsburgh stores that cause eye sores each time I spot them on every other street, is a bit much. I’m all for supporting your city, but I think this area idolizes their teams! Support is good, just tone it down. That’s my beef with Pittsburgh.
Walking into the building, the familiar smell of sweat immediately hits my nose. I make my way to the bench and throw my pads on the ground in front of me. While I throw on the knee pads, crossing the straps in my nonuniform manor, Charvey enters the building and immediately proceeds to strap up. Checking the straps to make sure they are correctly tightened, you make your way to the mat. I follow, stumbling over another opponents bag. I’m so uncoordinated. You take the time to stretch and plan out your planof attack, while I stand there tapping my foot impatiently. The bell rings and immediately, I spring into action. My left arm shoots straight out and connects with the palm of your hand as you carelessly throw it back to my side. Lucky..I aimlessly throw my left leg at you, but you’re smarter than that. I brace myself for the fall as you simply slide your right leg behind you to rob me of the only stability I had at the moment. I was so fired up, I REFUSE TO LOSE! I throw punch after punch, only to have you stand there as though you were absorbing my hits. The next punch has got to hurt! So I shoot my arm out, but wait..your right arm was already cocked back?? Oh no… Releasing all the energy I have, I strike. Like a frog’s tongue, your left arm shoots out and smacks my flimsy arm away from you. My chest is practically a bulls eye for your fist. Your fist connects with my chest, stealing the only air I had left. I wake up to you standing over me. You reach to help me, I don’t know why because I would have left you there. I guess that’s why we are so different..
Upon hearing the assignment, my initial thought was confusion. How was i expected to pick an establishment to write about in such short time?? Oh well..so I thought long and hard. I came up with Pizza Fiesta, The Salvation Army, and Macys. I took a trip to Pizza Fiesta, when I got hungry, and came to the conclusion (after talking to the manager) that it is a family establishment. I love the cheesesticks there ha! I like the homey environment produced in there. Macys is a pretty interesting building in itself. The amount of floors that are comprised in this mass of steel. To put it simply, it’s very confusing in there. Then there’s the The Salvation Army. I didn’t get a chance to visit this place yet, but i plan to. I finally narrowed it down to Pizza Fiesta. I plan to take another trip there and hopefully spend more time with the manager and his staff. The brick oven and rustic color that adorns the place, brings me back to the familiar feeling of being in the Big Apple, New York City. This place holds such a sense of familiarity yet undiscovered mystery. Hopefully this paper will help ignite a flame that has been waiting to be lit.
I stand outside in the cold. Sometimes you acknowledge my existance, other times you could care less. The longer I sit, the older I get. I capture the drunken walks and the excited party modes you exhibit on your days outside of class. The snow settles around me, but I remain in place. Still wondering what I am? I reside across from the house of cars that swarm into the city. Take a glance some day..
I have heard many stories surrounding the great city of Pittsburgh. From the city’s huge support of the Steelers, to the infamous Primanti Bros. eatery, the stories come and go. However, it was not until I actually visited this bustling city, that I discovered a couple stories of my own.
I have yet to see a city so dedicated to their sports teams like Pittsburgh. On just about every block, you can find a store constructed for the sale of any and every Steelers merchandise. Cups, hats, shirts, posters, even baby clothes, are marketed under the Steelers, and sold to thousands of people throughout the Pittsburgh area. This is definitely an eye opener for an all around New York fan.
Despite my disagreement in choice of sports teams, there is one thing that I can not dispute. Pittsburgh is an extremely artistic city. The people that walk the streets of downtown are not the average Joe’s that you would find in other parts of Pennsylvania. The fashion, art, and cuisine found in Downtown is wonderful. Yes the city is not a huge area such as New York City or Las Vegas, but the creativity compressed into this small steel playground is enough to capture my eyes.
They say you are crazy for falling in love, I say they are insane for not experiencing it. Why does the thought of sharing a part of yourself with someone terrify most people? So many are willing to pick up things that shatter lives in various ways, or lay down and allow themselves to be marked. Yet they flee at the thought of allowing any feeling to enter them. Grow up and allow the feelings you ultimately have no control over, to course through your body and awaken the senses you claim were alive. You can’t fear what you don’t feel.
