Our Top 6 Pittsburgh Area Italian-American Athletes

We started Cucina Calabrese in part to celebrate our Italian roots. We made our Steel City Special Pasta to celebrate all Pittsburgh sports. The Steeler's season didn't end so hot, but 11 straight wins was exciting & the Penguins are off to a good start. We’ve also received a lot more love for our pasta lately. Now seems especially relevant to celebrate Pittsburgh-area athletes who have some Italian heritage - being mindful that only 1 of us is an FBI (full-blooded Italian). In no particular order…

Franco Harris - The Steeler’s Hall of Famer - with an Italian mother - doesn’t need much of an introduction.

Bruno Sammartino - Like our Calabrese forefather Tancredi, this Olympic wrestler & weight lifting champion hailed from the Abruzzo region of Italy & came to the U.S. in the early 1900s.

Tom Clements - Tom is a Calabrese cousin born in McKees Rocks and tossed the ball for Notre Dame Fighting Irish (even leading them to national championship in ‘73). He led a successful coaching career after that.

Dan Marino - Besides his stunning role in Ace Ventura Pet Detective, Dan was a star quarterback at Pittsburgh’s Central Catholic, University of Pittsburgh, & Miami Dolphins. He’s Italian on dad’s side & Polish on mom’s side, like a lot of Pittsburghers we know!

Joe Montana - Born from Italian immigrant parents in Washington Co., Joe followed Marino’s lead to become a star high school, college, & NFL quarterback (where he racked up 4 Super Bowls).

Mark Recchi - This Canuck was instrumental to the 1991 Pens Stanley Cup winning season, with 40 regular season & 10 post-season goals. We don't know much about his roots, but he's in the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame, so we're assuming he's connected to the "boot".

Honorable Mention:

-Paul Spadfora - - McKees Rocks; Championship Lightweight Boxer

-Rocco Mediate - Greensburg; Championship Golfer

-Charles Calabrese, Jr. - Carnegie; All State Lineman & Shot Put record holder

-Charles Calabrese, III - Football & Baseball star

-Dominic Dezort (cousin) - Star junior hockey player