Here I go Steelers

There are two sorts of people in this world - the haves and the have nots, or to be more specific in our local context, those who have Steelers tickets and those who do not. (A subset of this divide is those who have Penguins tickets and those who do not. Sadly, there are also those who have Pirates tickets and those who don't give a darn.)

But my subject today is the Steelers. I became a football fan the moment I arrived in Pittsburgh 31 years ago. To my mind, it is just heretical rugby - and rugby was my football when I was growing up in Australia.

Of course, I am one of the have nots when it comes to tickets (only sports writers get passes).

Fortunately, I have friends who have tickets and sometimes they call me up and say, "Hey, want to come to the game?" It is usually a last-minute offer. Once, I was sitting in the back of church during a service and an usher came up and handed me a note that said: "Hey, want to come to the game?" - or words to that effect. I took this as proof that prayers are answered.

On Wednesday night, the call came from my pal Paul, named for a saint and I would say for good cause. Yes, I wanted to come to the game. So last night there I was on the 30 yard line, six levels up. As high up as it was -- I think I was sitting next to an angel -- they were good seats that gave a great view of the unfolding plays.

As you probably know, because this is Pittsburgh and knowledge of game details is more or less compulsory, the Steelers were far from Super for much of the evening. I ran further for beers than Willie Parker did on the field. But it all ended well and everybody went home happy, well, not the Titans.

But I was struck how happy everybody in the crowd was just to be there. Oh, the fans booed the refs and cursed when the Steelers messed up, but the PG headline on the front-page today said it exactly right: "A Festive Opening Night..."

It was a superb evening - not too cool, not too hot - and the backdrop of the city sparkled. I, for one, could not wish to be anywhere else in the world (get back to me in the bitter snows of January). On this glorious night, it seemed as if the Almighty Himself was in His heaven and was waving a Terrible Towel.

Yes, as I was saying, there are two sorts of people in the world - those who have Pittsburgh and those who don't.

My usual noon time debate today with Jack Kelly has been postponed -- Jack is on the road (I don't know whether it is the road to perdition),  Have a great weekend.

 

Posted Sep 11 2009, 10:47 AM by Reg Henry
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Comments

callsigntourist wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Fri, Sep 11 2009 3:49 PM

The last poll and extrapolation I saw on the subject would put more than five million people in Three Rivers for the Immaculate Reception.  I have my ticket stub.  And I used to assume all those people were, for whatever reasons, just lying.  

I recently talked with a friend who, with her husband, shares baseball season tickets in another city with another couple – has for a long time.  The two couples alternate games.  That stadium has seen some storied moments as well over the years, and my friend said she simply can’t remember for many of them if she was there in person or saw them on TV.

little_minx wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Fri, Sep 11 2009 4:09 PM

callsigntourist, Don't forget all the folks who claimed to have been in Forbes Field on October 13, 1960.  I wasn't, although on the 40th anniversary I was at the outfield wall where, Saul replayed his tapes of the game call, and Maz (what a great guy!) and his posse arrived to wow the crowd.  He did free autographs, so I had him sign my copy of that day's P-G commemorative section.

myreply wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Fri, Sep 11 2009 4:14 PM

Is this a Twitter space or a blog?  Can't figure it out what with all the personal itinerary.

Will we be reading about bowel movements any time soon?

little_minx wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Fri, Sep 11 2009 4:31 PM

I think you must've meant (Terrible) Towel movements.

callsigntourist wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Sat, Sep 12 2009 6:25 AM

little minx:

I was not at Forbes Field, either, for any of the ’60 Series, but I do remember Game 7.  There’s an argument that nothing that is possible should be called a miracle when it happens.  This was a miracle because it was not possible.

little_minx wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Sat, Sep 12 2009 9:11 AM

callsigntourist, if it happened, then by definition it was possible!  Simple logic.

myreply wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Sat, Sep 12 2009 9:26 AM

This is one of America's "great papers"?  (PG's words, not mine)

myreply wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Sat, Sep 12 2009 10:24 AM

So why isn't the PG covering the Tea Party rally in Wash. DC today?  Why isn't that rally on the front page?  If the PG really believes in bi-partisan support for this health bill, why not cover a rally made up of dems, reps, and ind's?  

myreply wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Sat, Sep 12 2009 10:27 AM

Why isn't the PG covering the Acorn sting in Baltimore and DC?  And the subsequent firings of those Acorn personnel?  And the US gov. dropping Acorn from the census gathering?

This is corruption at it's highest.  Where are you?

myreply wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Sat, Sep 12 2009 10:34 AM

And since this is an open forum, why has no one brought up the fact that in a few years millions of baby boomers will be signing up with Medicare.  How can this gov. handle what will probably be the largest influx of people in this program - and still tell us they can create a new health program, that won't "cost us one penny more"?

Reg, can you answer that question?  Can anyone?

ciejai wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Sat, Sep 12 2009 11:41 AM

Page A8 "Ex-GOP Chief Armey Still Puts Up Fight Over Health Overhaul" covers the tea-baggers and their leader.  

little_minx wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Sat, Sep 12 2009 12:16 PM

Wonderful news for myreply: Word has it that Obamacare will even cover treatment for anger management issues!

myreply wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Sat, Sep 12 2009 12:44 PM

Wonderful new for Little man - Obama care will not cover stupidity.  Looks like you'll always be stupid little man or girl.

myreply wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Sat, Sep 12 2009 6:58 PM

And you call this covering a major news story!

myooz wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Sun, Sep 13 2009 11:05 PM

Pleeeeeeeeeze don't reply to HER!  SHE is a fatuous dolt whose only raison d'etre is to draw attention to HERself with imbecilic statements and childlike insults to anyone who takes HER bait.  

myreply wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Mon, Sep 14 2009 10:22 AM

myooz:

Well, it's easy to see why you picked that name.  You knew that what you had to say was the ooze of garbage.

So each time you post you must think - My ooze.  You're brilliant!  I will always think of you in that way Mr. Ooze.

Thank you for that image.

Ladyburg wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Mon, Sep 14 2009 5:20 PM

The "haves" and the "have nots". Those who have Steeler tickets and those who don't. Those who have Penguin tickets and those who don't.

Not to worry Reg. Obama's redistribtuion of wealth will take care of it all!

But I wonder who will get the lounge and box seats and who will get the regular seats? NOT FAIR!!

myreply wrote re: Here I go Steelers
on Mon, Sep 14 2009 6:43 PM

Ladyburg:

What a good point to make on those words!  I wonder who will get the box seats too.