Posts Tagged Under ‘Pittsburgh Steelers’

Steelers: At Least the Other Guy Is Pittsburgh Too

I’m reserving judgment on how I feel about this potential Steelers sale until I know more. But whoa, big changes potentially ahead.

Myron Cope, 1929-2008

It’s probably to easy to slip into sappiness in the wake of Mahrn’s passing, but I won’t forget listening to the never-ending parade of fall-evening “first-time callers” as my dad had the radio tuned to Cope’s show in the evenings. Myron might be more famous as a clown and one of the first wacky sports guys — the man who invented the Terrible Towel and had funny, screechy sayings — but he was first of all a bright football commentator and a tremendous writer. The sports media would do well to follow more his example of intelligence, humility and fun.

Interesting note: apparently Cope once came close to beating up Norman Mailer (6:14).

Cowher

The big story around DC, in the wake of Joe Gibbs’ retirement, has been the search for a new Redskins coach. People are mentioning Russ Grimm and Jason Garrett, but the name that’s getting the biggest play is Bill Cowher. There were three subway workers sitting behind me on a bench today, and they were discussing just how much they want Cowher as the new Skins coach.

Though Bill’s denying that he’ll come back in 2008, I don’t doubt that Dan Snyder is crazy enough to throw around the type of money that will make Cowher say, “You know, I’ll look like I’m completely going back on my word, but for $15 million per season, I’ll be happy to flash my new choppers around Jack Kent Cooke Stadium. Not to mention I get to coach Antwaan Randle El again, and enjoy the hilarity that is Clinton Portis.”

Should the Redskins ever play in Pittsburgh with Cowher as the Skins coach, there’s no question that Cowher will be booed unmercifully and at maximum volume. “But the guy gave them a Super Bowl victory and 21 playoff games in 15 years,” you say. Yes, but remember you’re talking about the “What have you done for me lately?” sports capital of the greater Rust Belt region. Once-popular-Steeler (and airplane homie of mine) Joey Porter was roundly booed this year, and he didn’t even leave the team of his own accord.

My question is for the non-Pittsburgh fans out there: is this unique to Pittsburgh, or would your fans boo a returning coach in a new uniform as well, even if the coach had won you a Super Bowl? Let’s say Brian Billick becomes the Bengals’ new coach: do the Baltimore fans boo and/or stab him?

On second thought, they’d clearly stab him, since they were glad to see him go and stabbing is what Ravens do. But you get the point.

Nine Steelerless Months

Time to become a full-time hockey fan again.

• I went in expecting an uphill battle for the Steelers, and by halftime was ready to turn the game off. Then they managed to get my hopes up just enough in the fourth quarter to make it that much more of a crushing blow. The 2007 Steelers: Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.
• There were many plays today where Willie Parker could have broken extra yards that Najeh Davenport — while a good third-down back — couldn’t get. The Steelers definitely came out determined to avoid the up-the-gut runs that were pwned by Jacksonville in the last game, but when Fast W. is out with a broken leg, it isn’t as effective as it could have been.
• That said, I thought Roethlisberger did an adequate job leading the offense with the running game in such poor shape. While after the first drive — which was great — his first-half performance was hideous, dude tends to play so well in the second half that it’s almost offset. The difference today was the three interceptions: while he often plays just meh in the first half, it’s rarely with so many turnovers that lead to easy points. His second-half self was just what we all expected: rocking the Elway comeback ability — even if he often does dig his own hole — but with ultimately too many cracks in the supporting cast around him to make it work.
• I still think Hines Ward is the best clutch receiver in the NFL. The referees should have awarded him two points on that conversion play just for the catch alone. I guess non-existent holding penalties are always a good excuse.
• Injuries sure are a bitch.
• Trai Essex, my fellow NU alum: I thought you played pretty well. You played like a starter, which is more than can be said for the rest of the offensive line in the second half of this season. If you were playing for your upcoming free agency, at least it benefited the Steelers today.
• The Steelers don’t have too many big-name players up for free agency this year save Alan Faneca, but I can’t say I’m sold on this lineup for another Super Bowl run. I can’t think of a glaring weakness, but something has just been off anyway in the past two seasons. Even in the Super Bowl year, they really overachieved to get that victory.
• I don’t want to be Bob Ligashesky this off-season.
• All things said and done, NBC did get the obligatory molten-steel B-roll shot that goes with any televised Pittsburgh event. That’s a victory in itself.

Penguins, bring it.

Return of the Steeler Funerary Rites

The Post-Gazette wrote that another fan tied his memorial rites in with the Steelers, this time by having the Steelers logo carved into his gravestone and having his wife bring his ashes to the game on Sunday. This story was kind of bittersweet, in that he died having never fulfilled his wish to go to Heinz Field, but he did make it there in the end and it gave comfort to his family. He gets extra props by being from New Hampshire and becoming a Steeler fan by choice instead of by region.

This follows the infamous Pittsburgh funeral of two years ago, where the dude was laid out wearing Steeler gear, sitting in a recliner in front of a TV that played Steeler highlights. He even had a pack of cigarettes and a beer next to the chair. That one was more awesome than sad, and made me think that the deceased must have been a great guy to hang with.

In poor taste, I’d like to note that the Steeler / burial connection is starting to prove a lot more relevant after the past two games.

Steelers v. Bengals

The game:

• The Steelers clearly won that game on merit, but I hate seeing so many controversial calls make it a murky win. This one wasn’t as bad as the Super Bowl, which even I will admit was a lucky break. Still, Seattle beat themselves that time. Enough revisiting.
• Willie Parker has fumbled twice in the entire season before today. Therefore, the fumbles this game get a “so what”.
• Congrats to Hines on the TD record.
• I hate the Patriots, but I hate the Ravens more. That’s why I really hope this screenshot from my Time Magazine NFL pick ‘em league comes to pass. (Also note how close I was on the Sunday tiebreaker score. Hell yeah. Good thing I was wrong, because my prediction would have wound up as a push. But, it didn’t. Hell yeah again.)

3-0

That was the most relieving end to a football game in a long time.

And they even name-checked Woodland Hills. (Though from what I’ve read lately, it’s probably not a place to be proud of anymore. Be sure to read the part where a student tries to excuse his punching a cop because he thought he was only punching a security guard.)