Bob Nutting or Matt Canada?
Who will go down as the most detested man in Pittsburgh sports history?
It really is a two-man race.
There have been a few other notable athletes over the years who have felt the fans’ vitriol. A few Steelers quarterbacks come to mind. Cliff Stoudt had snowballs thrown at him at Three Rivers Stadium when he returned to town with the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions. Kordell Stewart had a beer dumped on his head after a home game and was the target of vicious rumors about his personal life. Tommy Maddox had garbage thrown on his lawn after a bad home game. The only sin any of those three committed was that they weren’t as good as Terry Bradshaw. There also was a racial component to the animosity that Stewart faced.
More recently, Ron Hextall was the target of public anger. “Fire Hextall” chants rang out at PPG Paints Arena late in a Penguins’ 7-2 loss to Edmonton in February. I have been watching sports in this town for a long time. I have seen fans boo and jeer plenty of times. I even saw them throw a battery or two at Dave Parker. I can’t ever remember calls like that for a team official to be fired.
But Hextall wasn’t here long enough to reach all-time status. The Penguins fired him after last season. The damage he did to the team largely has been forgotten because new general manager Kyle Dubas has cleaned up his mess nicely.
Nutting and Canada stand alone.
I never imagined that anyone in Pittsburgh sports could be disliked as much as Nutting. He became the Pirates’ chairman of the board in 2002 and their principal owner in 2007. Under his watch, the team has made just three playoff appearances — none since 2015 — and had four winning seasons.
Fans despise Nutting for not spending more on the team’s payroll. The Pirates improved from 62 wins in 2022 to 76 this season and appear to have a few good young players as building blocks. But most people don’t believe Nutting will spend what it takes to get the team over the hump. I am among those who don’t think he will go out and buy a starting pitcher and a first baseman, positions that Derek Shelton has said are on his wish list. I know Nutting signed off on a $70 million contract for Ke’Bryan Hayes in April 2022 and a $106.75 million deal for Bryan Reynolds this past April, but I’m going to stop well short of giving him a standing ovation. Those relatively low-level deals — by MLB standards — are just a small part of the cost of doing business.
All I know for sure is I would be a billionaire like Nutting if I had a dime for every time someone said, “I will never go to another Pirates game as long as Nutting owns the team.”
The resentment toward that man has been building for a long time.
The hostility toward Canada is much fresher, but it has been so intense that it is blinding. I can’t even imagine what it must be like for him to get up every day knowing that he constantly is being ridiculed. He can’t even turn on a Penguins game without hearing a “Fire Canada” chant at PPG Paints Arena.
It is to the point I almost feel sorry for Canada. Let me detail the abuse he has taken:
• A popular local restaurant/bar chain has tweeted, “We will not be opening a restaurant in Canada. Canada stinks.”
• “Fire Canada” signs have been seen during All Elite Wrestling and ESPN’s Game Day broadcasts.
• At least one billboard in town has been purchased: “We deserve better. #FireCanada.”
• A local beer outlet is promoting a display of “Matt Canada Relief Beers” by saying, “We didn’t think it needed to be done. But it’s worse than ever. And we’re here for you.”
• Canada has been accused of having a burner account on Twitter that defends his play calling. He does not.
• Canada’s seemingly low-key reaction to Kenny Pickett’s winning touchdown pass to George Pickens against the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday has been overly scrutinized and ridiculously criticized.
• And, of course, there were the “Fire Canada” chants at the past two home games at Acrisure Stadium.
The list doesn’t include the many national analysts, former coaches and former players — too many to count — who have called for Canada’s job.
Imagine how bad it would be if the Steelers weren’t tied for first place in the AFC North with a 3-2 record.
“It’s fascinating what’s going on with this guy,” former NFL punter and Plum native Pat McAfee said on ESPN. “I have not seen this. Pittsburgh fans expect a lot. Pittsburgh fans love the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh’s happiness is much higher whenever the Pittsburgh Steelers are good. City is invested in team. But this is the loudest I’ve ever heard it around one particular person.”
McAfee’s conclusion?
“This guy is the most hated man in Pittsburgh, by far.”
I respect McAfee’s opinion, but I’m voting for Nutting even though I know many more people care about the Steelers — live and die with them — than the Pirates.
Canada will be gone, sooner rather than later. The Steelers figure to replace him after this season. They will put him out of his misery.
Nutting has said he hopes his three daughters take control of the Pirates. That means a Nutting will be charge of the franchise for years and years to come.
Who is going to put us out of our misery?
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com and Twitter@RonCookPG. Ron Cook can be heard on the “Cook and Joe” show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan
First Published: October 14, 2023, 9:30 a.m.
Updated: October 14, 2023, 5:07 p.m.
