VIDEO – No, that’s not spelled wrong, the local Pittsburgh natives say “Stillers”, ok, so I’m not a native but I’m a Steelers fan through and through. Like most fans, I can’t quite get enough of my team or my team’s paraphernalia.
As I turned 40 last year, I found myself less likely to wear the old zubaz pants and got some black and gold sweat pants with a small Steelers emblem. I have a magnetic Steelers logo that sometimes goes on the right side only of my black car. I wear a “Gotham City Rogues” T-shirt, from the up and coming Batman movie starring the Steelers as the Gotham team. A little obsessive? Maybe… But it’s not like my kids all wear #43 and #7 jerseys every Sunday to church. Oops, they do that too. They even make wristbands with autographs of your favorite players, see link above!
It’s the kind of thing that sports does to a man (or woman). It takes them to a place where you’re almost on vacation, like Margaritaville, speaking of that check out this clip called “Steelerville” by Brotherville, a fine parody of “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett.
I thought I was the biggest Stiller fan, but I just got a text from a close friend who says he’s a bigger fan… OK, you win, Dave.
I turn on the TV, and as part of ESPN’s latest campaign, you will find a compilation of the Terrible Towels being waved in the Taj Mahal, Big Ben (the one in London, not #7), Times Square, the leaning tower of Pisa, and the great wall of China. This is bigger than the USA. It’s global! Notice that ESPN didn’t choose “Swiss cheese” or “Buffalo wings” or even Tom Brady’s gorgeous wife! They chose the Black and Gold, STEELERNATION!!
I will admit, Pittsburgh has not been the power house of previous years, but much like the 2005 and 2009 seasons, they did what they had to do to win ballgames. Much like Big Ben does what is needed to get a third down conversion, or making a block on a Jovan Belcher, 250 pound linebacker from the Chiefs like he did last week. It’s not always pretty, but a win is a win!
Those of you gritting your teeth right now, just remember it’s just a game. If you’re not gritting your teeth right now, then give a big shout out, “Here we go, Steelers. Here we go.”
So as you’re sending out your holiday cards, be sure to use this one.
Because, no matter what it was like before December, the Steelers always seem to heat up and peak late in the season. Injuries have plagued them – Lamar Woodley is still questionable, and Troy Polamalu has “concussion-like” symptoms AGAIN. All the Bengals, Browns and Ravens fans, beware, the Stillers are getting healthier by the day, and Brett Keisel’s beard is flowing. Their focus is on RING #7.
