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Montana's roots are in western Pennsylvania, the cradle of quarterbacks. Soft coal and quarterbacks. Steel mills and quarterbacks..... Why? Why do so many of them come from western Pennsylvania? ''Toughness, dedication, hard work and competitiveness; a no-nonsense, blue-collar background,'' says John Unitas, from Pittsburgh..... The most logical answer is tradition -- and focus. If you're a kid with athletic ability in western Pennsylvania, you've probably got a picture of Montana or Marino on your wall. Montana had the athletic gift. You could see it right away.

--From "Born To Be A Quarterback", Sports Illustrated, August 6, 1990; by Paul Zimmerman

Photograph by Manny Millan

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