But you can’t take the Steelers out of the boy.

I read an article this weekend that a Pittsburgh area hospital near where I grew up is wrapping newborns in Terrible Towels. While it could be considered a right of passage for us fans, others I’m sure are scratching their heads thinking we all belong in another ward or wing in the hospital.

While I’ve been living in Atlanta since 1992, our daughter was adorned here at Piedmont Hospital with Steelers garb at birth. (Pictured) We watched a Monday Night Football game together as Pittsburgh crushed Tennessee 34 – 7 before she was released from the hospital.

For the record – that’s how I know about the “other wing” in the hospital. ;-P

If you follow the NFL at all, you’ve heard about Steeler Nation. Anyone can certainly understand and appreciate rooting for the home town team. As part of Steeler Nation, it doesn’t matter what town you travel to. I can pretty much promise you that there will be a Steelers Fan Club or Bar that supports the Black and Gold in that town.

When I first moved to Atlanta, I was shocked at the number of bars and clubs that carried Steelers games. The first couple of years, I frequented several different establishments to watch the game. When someone asked where you were from – they weren’t talking about the local landscape, but instead where you first became part of Steeler Nation.

I remember the first club I hooked up with. The Mellow Mushroom in Buckhead. The owner hailed from Pleasant Hills. It was like going home again. One entrance. One Exit. No windows. WDVE stickers. And while I don’t drink, Iron City Beer both in cans and on tap.

And we can NOT forget the dialect. “Yunz guys dah-know whatcher missin’ n’at.”

Heaven…

After our daughter was born, I was finally able to convince my wife that NFL Sunday Ticket was the way to go. This way, I could be home for the games and take care of the kids. (During commercial breaks of course.) With the money I spent at the club for food, drinks, and tip each week – Sunday Ticket would be a wash in terms of expense.

I absolutely love it.

If you’re wondering how or why we as fans are so fanatical – I can only speak for myself. For me, it’s a can do, blue collar work ethic, and attitude that can’t be intimidated. I relate to them in that regard.

The team as a whole isn’t flashy. In fact, when you look at some of their games over the years, it’s not even pretty.

But they get the job done.

When it comes time to line up on the gridiron it’s “ground and pound” and we’re usually the ones who show attitude. Others who try to intimidate us as a physical, smash mouth football teams can talk a good game. Pittsburgher’s don’t talk – we do. And when it’s all said and done, we’re the ones who come out victorious because we’re tougher, smarter, and more determined that they could even dream of.

You can break our foot, bust our nose if you want. Not only are we going to play the game – we’re going to find a way to beat you.

The team understands there is a “standard” in being a Pittsburgh Steeler. It’s competing at a high level week in and week out. We focus on hard work on football basics and position assignments. Everyone has a job to do, and this single minded attitude works for the betterment of TEAM. The issue is winning. Every morning when players come to work they walk past six Lombardi Trophies. Others may be more preoccupied with passing titles or rushing yards.

The issue as a Pittsburgh Steeler is winning.

They don’t get distracted and never buy into the hype that others try to create. It’s almost as if they relish the underdog role. No sixth seed has gone on to win the Super Bowl, until Pittsburgh did it in 2005. In 2007 the team had the toughest schedule in over 40 years and they won it all again. And we all know about “the suspension” that took away our franchise Quarterback for four games.

Experts didn’t give the team a chance in any of these instances. This however is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who face every challenge head on, and more times than not, find a way to win.

That’s not to say that there are those who don’t waiver from that standard – some do. Those that do, either conform, or they’re gone.

The team also exemplifies family. The Rooney’s have owned the team since 1933, and they’re always around the practice facility and in the locker room after games to shake hands and talk to the players.

And money can’t buy Championships year in and year out. All those multi-million dollar contracts are sitting at home this week. It’s not that we don’t like “bling” – we do. (We have more Lombardi Trophies than anyone else.)

NFL Film’s did a half hour special on Steeler Nation that I have on the DVR. It may pop up this week on TV, but if not, I found an online version here. I also found this short clip from NFL Network that provides added insight into the phenomenon known as Steeler Nation.

As we explained at the beginning of this article, indoctrination into Steeler Nation starts at birth. You can’t change it, you can’t control it, you can’t intimidate it.

Best you just accept it.

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I want to apologize up front to the regular readers of this blog. Long time followers certainly know the drill at this point. This is the third time in this blogs history that I go off on a Super Bowl tangent.

Faithful readers shouldn’t despair however, there’s still plenty going on within our fine company (like Carnival’s Sail-A-Thon this Thursday) that will keep me on topic leading up to this year’s Super Bowl.

After last night’s victory over the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game, in the mist of all the excitement and celebration after the game I witnessed Ben Roethlisberger down on one knee. A towel covering his face, he took a very private moment to himself in what I believe was a moment of gratitude and prayer.

You would have had to under a rock this past off season not to hear about Ben’s off field exploits and how it shamed not only himself and his family – but Steeler Nation as a whole. The Steeler franchise is a very proud organization, and growing up in this blue collar town, there’s a very distinct and visible line between right and wrong.

While charges were never filed surrounding Ben off the field activities, the Court of Public Opinion certainly had a very potent odder, that for some lingers to this day.

Some will tell you that you can’t change the past, and to a certain extent that’s true. In contrast, I’ve always been taught that you can change the past – by changing today. Those that can actually learn from our experiences instead of dwelling on them in a “Woe is me” mentality – can and do come out of horror stories like Ben’s.

And they’re better people for it.

At the end of the regular season, Ben won The Chief Award, an honor given by local members of the Pro Football Writers to the Steelers player “who best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media.” For as much as the media maligned him for his extracurricular activities and poor personal decisions last spring, (especially the Pittsburgh Media) that’s a huge accomplishment.

You may not think such an award is a big deal. (Most have never heard of the award to begin with.) Considering how this circle of writers interacts with Ben on a regular basis however, they’ve obviously seen a dramatic change in Ben’s attitude and behavior – and that speaks volumes.

That was the regular season with very localized media exposure. Now Ben has an opportunity to show both National and International Media how much he’s changed given his third trip to the Super Bowl in six years.

Don’t think for a second that what happened last spring won’t come up during the next two weeks. It was a huge story – and cost Ben the first four games of the regular season with a suspension. As one writer wrote:

“The Super Bowl’s story machinery can be overwhelming. Small issues become large, major stories become gargantuan. It’s part of what makes the game and the weeks leading up to it great, and not so great.”

In other words, this story is going to be rehashed over the next two weeks at a level that will make it look like it all happened yesterday. Fortunately for Ben, he’s much stronger and wiser than he was last March. It’s a good thing – because unlike last March, he’s not going to be able to go into hiding.

It’s not that winning another Super Bowl or simply being nice to the media equates to full redemption for Ben. He still has this off season to contend with – where all of his troubles seem to stir from. The motorcycle accident in 2006, the Las Vegas fiasco the following off season, and most recently his poor choices in Georgia this past year.

Personally, I know what it’s like to hit rock bottom. I was just a little younger than Ben is now when I changed my life and direction. In order to make it complete, it needs to be a TOTAL transformation – both on and off the field. He’s made it through the regular season, now almost through the post season. We’ll have to wait and see what the upcoming off season has in store for Ben.

Can this current season carry him into the off season and complete Ben’s transformation? I think it can if he follows the same path that got him to the biggest stage in the world. Like his play – it may not be all that pretty – but the man is born leader on the gridiron. I’ve never seen anyone extend and make plays the way Ben does. He never quits.

And he won’t quit on himself.

Ben started the regular season watching his team from home. He’s now on the cusp of leading his team to its seventh Super Bowl Championship and Lombardi Trophy for this storied franchise. Some scorned the Commissioner Rodger Goodell for suspending Ben to begin with – since there were never any charges filed. In my personal opinion, I think it was the best thing that ever happened. It was just the bitter tonic he needed to swallow that made Ben hit bottom. He didn’t have to lose it all – but losing four games may have been enough to get Ben on the right track.

We have to see how the game goes in two weeks – and then the dreaded off season begins for Ben, the rest of the Steelers, and the fans.

Let’s not forget the attitude and actions that got you here Ben. How grateful you are for this opportunity coming up. There can be more – if you are truly changed.

For the record, I think you are. Been there, got the t-shirt and last night I saw it after the game. I along with others have seen it all season long.

While your transformation isn’t quite complete – your current path on and off the field will lead you there.

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Our Father, who Art in Pittsburgh

Football be thy game.

Let Mendenhall run, 6 Superbowl’s won

On earth, as it is in Heinz Field.

Give us this day our playoff victory

…And forgive us our penalties

As we defeat those Jets who play against us.

But lead us into victory, and deliver us to Texas,

For Thine is the D-Line, the Polamalu, and the Harrison

A-Ben

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Since the merger in 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been the most successful franchise in the NFL. They’ve won more Super Bowls than any other team in the NFL, and they’ve played in more Divisional Championship games (15) than any other team since the merger.

Can you blame the Steeler Nation for being so proud?

Two years ago, during the hours and hours of Super Bowl pre-game hoopla, I spent part of the afternoon doodling on the computer. What I came up with was this picture of 6 Lombardi Trophies with the Steelers emblem in the hope that I would be able to post it on this blog after the victory.

Larry Fitzgerald’s 64 yard catch from Kurt Warner for a touchdown with 2:30 left in the game to take the lead 23-20 not only gave me a sinking feeling – but my day long project on this artwork wouldn’t be seen for Lord knows how long. Thankfully, Big Ben and Santonio Holmes hooked up with one of the most memorable touchdown catches in Super Bowl history to ultimately win the game. As a result, this work of art was posted at the exact moment of the final gun. (Still logged as 10:10 pm on Sunday, February 1, 2009.)

A post that didn’t have a single word – gets more hits and traffic than anything I’ve ever written in all the years I’ve been blogging. I’ve also seen this picture posted on a number of other websites, forum and message board profiles, and Facebook pages over the last two years.

As a fan, I don’t mind sharing the love. Besides, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I also understand how fanatical Steelers fans are about their team. Truth be told, some would change the word “fanatical” to “obnoxious” – and that’s fine. When you have the hardware and the Championships to back it up – none of the naysayers really matter.

And here we are again – one game away from our 8th appearance in the biggest spectacle of the modern day.

It’s a far cry from what Steelers Nation was dealing with just 6 months ago. Our Franchise Quarterback had tarnished the glimmering logo we adore and the MVP of Super Bowl 43 had been traded away for other off the field shenanigans that the Rooney family just does not tolerate.

Before the season opened – many predicted that Baltimore would win the AFC North crown. In all honesty, it was probably the best shot any of the ACF North team had to take the crown. With Big Ben out for four games due to a suspension – it was a long shot at best to open up the season at 2 and 2.

There’s an old saying that “Defense wins Championships”. What the “experts” didn’t count on was a League leading Defense that shut down opponents and ranked first in total defense. (A far cry from the 2009 season I might add that lost more games in the last minutes of games than I can ever remember any team doing.) As a result, Ben returned to the team with a record of 3-1 and when the matchup between Baltimore and Pittsburgh came up on the schedule, the team did what they always do when Big Ben plays – they won. (7-0 against Baltimore when Ben starts.)

It amazes me that amount of swagger Baltimore always brings into these games. Doesn’t matter if it’s regular season or playoffs – they always come in with some sort of smack – and as a fan, you just want to shut them up. Of course it helps when you’re so busy trash talking that you forget to play fundamentally sound football. For as well as Baltimore capitalized on Pittsburgh’s mistakes in the first half of Saturdays game, the Raven’s 3rd quarter of play was abysmal. They had more turnovers (3) than they did yards (minus 4) during the quarter.

That’s not how you win Playoff games or Championships.

Maybe they should take a page out of Big Ben’s playbook. Say what you want about him off the field of play – but when it comes to playing winning football there’s none better. Only Bart Starr has a better winning percentage (.900) than Big Ben in the Playoffs. (.818) Yes, even better the Lord Brady at .778 or even Terry Bradshaw at .737. There’s no trash talking, there’s no bravado, there’s just winning football.

It’s yet to be determined if Pittsburgh will at another Lombardi Trophy, making my creation obsolete. There’s plenty of football to be played to determine that outcome. It is however a place and a position no other team in League history has experienced – and there’s something to be said about that. When you’ve been there as many times as Pittsburgh has, you don’t get overwhelmed by the stage or the setting.

I don’t just like our chances, I absolutely love it.

They are after all the Men of Steel.

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I spent part of my day yesterday reading up on the NFL’s Sunday Night Football match up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Raven’s.

Since late October, early November the League has been cracking down on “illegal hits”, threatening to suspend, but thus far only flagging and fining players in an effort to make the game safer. The cry from Pittsburgh (both fans and players) in recent weeks has been that the League has been playing “favorites” – or more succinctly targeting the Steelers unfairly.

When reporters asked Head Coach Mike Tomlin during last weeks Press Conference concerning any kind of fairness issue over penalties and fines his response was classic.

“Man, life isn’t fair. I’m not concerned about fairness. I’m really not. I’m concerned with preparing for the Baltimore Ravens.”

Two weeks ago Ben Roethisberger broke a small bone in his foot after being gang sacked by the Buffalo Bills. Sunday night during Pittsburgh’s first series of plays Haloti Ngata landed left to Big Ben breaking his nose, leaving it bloody and out of shape. (Giving new meaning to Nose Tackle.) Note – Ngata’s left was during an actual play – unlike the sucker punch right dealt by Richard Seymour after the play three weeks ago against Oakland that got Seymour ejected from the game.

While watching Ben exit the field with blood dripping and his noise badly disjointed I could hear the cry’s from Pittsburgh all the way down here in Atlanta. Having had my nose broken twice, I knew it wasn’t anything that would take Ben out of the game. (The guy was playing with a broken bone in his foot after all.)

The big question that comes up for Steelers fans time and time again is why the League doesn’t protect Big Ben like they do with Quarterbacks like Brady or Manning(s).

Personally, I wouldn’t want to be classed in the same category as a Brady or Manning. Not because I don’t think these Quarterbacks are worthy of the position – they’re Hall of Fame Quarterbacks in their own right. Reothlisberger plays on a completely different level however – and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Take the play late in the fourth quarter for instance. Roethlisberger made one of the most athletic plays I’ve ever seen – escaping Terrell Suggs who was also swiping at Ben’s head grabbing his helmet – enabling Ben to throw the ball away and avoid the sack. If it were Brady or Manning, my bet is that both would have been whistled dead for being “in the grasp”. Saving that valuable real estate gave Pittsburgh the opportunity to score the go ahead touchdown just a few plays later that ultimately won the game and placed the Steelers in sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

When change your perspective about the game – suddenly what appears to be a liability turns into an asset – and winners find a way to do just that.

I’ve seen the same thing in business. Over the years, the Travel Industry has pulled every sucker punch they can come up with to cripple Travel MLM’s. The industry convinced one large cruise line to terminate it’s partnership with the most threatening Travel MLM at the time. When other vendors failed to follow suit, the industry rejoiced when California slapped a $25 million law suit on the company with claims that it was nothing more than a gigantic pyramid scheme.

Some call that unfair as well, but from my perspective it’s merely a nuisance that validates how dominant our model really is. In much the same way people get bent out of shape about Ben’s off the field shenanigans – when it comes to producing on the field, nobody can question his desire and heart on the field. The man finds a way to win – and so does the company I’ve been privileged to represent for almost 6 years now – YTB Travel Network.

Mike Tomlin is right – life is unfair – but you can’t get sidetracked with differing views or perspectives that don’t have any bearing on what’s played during the game. You find a way to win – despite how unfair it appears to be. While it’s frustrating, it really doesn’t matter come game time.

You too – need to be resilient from head to toe to win the game.

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I haven’t been to St. Vincent College since Chuck Noll was head coach of the Steelers. Since Noll retired there have only been two other Head Coach’s from 1992 on. (The same year I moved here to Atlanta.) Some NFL teams change Coach’s every three to four years – but for the Pittsburgh Steelers it’s been three Coach’s in four decades.

In a long standing tradition (like forty five years) the Pittsburgh Steelers open training camp in Latrobe, PA tomorrow. After the events of this past off season about all I can say is – it’s about time.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have never been a much talked about team during the off season in years past – but this off season has been much different story.

The team won’t have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for at least the first four to six games because of his NFL suspension. The offense will also be without wide receiver and Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes who was traded to the Jets after another off field stunt. Fast Willie Parker is now a Washington Redskin as we find out what running back Rashard Mendenhall is really made of. And to add insult to injury, our offensive line also lost tackle Willie Colon due to a season ending Achilles during spring training.

There really hasn’t been much said about the Defensive side of the ball – probably due to age and maturity. The Defensive squad however, needs to get back to smash mouth football that’s capable of shutting offenses down. (How many games did we lose in the last minute a year ago?) You can’t blame the absence of Troy Polamalu for all those last minute losses.

Nor can you blame me for the fresh start this year’s training camp offers die hard Steelers fans. (Certainly more than in years past.) It’s one thing to get use to all the free agent activities that are now common in the League – but this year’s off field activities from certain Pittsburgh Steelers was something no Steelers fan thought was even possible.

As a lifelong Steelers fan and the proud tradition this team has held for decades, it’s shocking that I feel this way.

But…

Thank goodness we get some of these guys off the street and back on the football field.

In one of the few interviews I saw on the internet from Ben Roethlisberger and the fiasco that happened in Milledgeville, Georgia this off season he said something that really stuck with me.

“I’m always committed to being the best I can on the football field, I don’t think that’s ever changed, and I don’t think anyone’s ever questioned that of me.”

There no question the kids got drive and talent. You saw that from the very first game he was thrown into down in Miami during a monsoon his rookie year. He reeled off 15 straight victories his rookie year – a record I don’t think will ever be broken. Since then he’s collected two Super Bowl rings and is unquestionably the offensive leader of the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the opening of training camp – it’s back to a focus on football without time for extracurricular activities that he shouldn’t be doing in the first place. Thus, why he’s still labeled a “kid”, and for me, it will stay that way until his on field maturity matches his off field activities.

Regardless of each players commitment on the field, Mike Tomlin has his work cut out for him this year – probably more so than previous years. The Rooney’s believe in him – with a new contract extension – and while I had my doubts early on (mostly due to the lack of head coaching changes with the Steelers since 1969) Tomlin has proven that he’s the right guy for this year’s challenges.

St. Vincent gets Steelers fans back into their comfort zone. It’s rich in tradition and always brings optimism regardless of how good or bad the previous year’s record was.

This year, we can add a bad off season into the mix, and tomorrow (thank goodness) it comes to a close.

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I use to hate the NFL off season. There was never anything going on with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’d just quietly go about their business and fans like me would crave anything that would reconnect with me the team during the off season. If and when this proud and historic franchise ever gets back to “boring” – trust me, I’ll be the last one to complain.

While I’ve kept quiet about all these off season and off field activities I have been kept a very close eye on the embarrassing antics of these very young, and very dumb jocks, mostly via the sport media on Television and via the internet. The news appeared to come to a head yesterday as Santonio Holmes was traded to the New York Jets for his off field antics in Florida and Ben Roethlisberger’s embarrassment has been dropped by the District Attorney here in Georgia.

Neither were surprising.

Santonio was in the last year of his contract in 2010 and while he’s been a dynamic player (a Super Bowl MVP as a matter of fact) he never seemed to fit the Steelers mold as a blue color type of player. It’s one thing to quote that “it’s time to be great” on the field, but it’s another to “be great” in all other areas of your life. He’s always reminded me of Plaxico Burress – who eventually ended up winning a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants. But Burress couldn’t get out of his own way long enough to keep him out of jail. As it stands right now, Santonio is heading in that same direction.

I hope he can straighten his life out – and I know it’s possible – but only Santonio can control that. Currently, I see absolutely no indication from Santonio that he even cares to change. In fact, the way I see it, his arrogance continues to grow without any sign that he’s willing to act like a respectable adult.

Ben’s apology and statement last night however, does tell of remorse and a desire to be the role model the NFL and Pittsburgh fans want him to be. Saying it, and actually doing it however are two different things. The talk IS starting to wear a bit thin – even for me.

Just because criminal charges have not been filed does not mean that Ben’s completely off the hook. We have two other factors that we’re still awaiting a final outcome from the Rooney family and from the NFL Commissioner himself. Here’s Roger Goodell’s conduct policy :

“It is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime. You are held to a higher standard and expected to conduct yourself in a way that is responsible, promotes the values upon which the league is based, and is lawful.

“Persons who fail to live up to this standard of conduct are guilty of conduct detrimental and subject to discipline.”

At this point, the Rooney’s have already made a sufficient statement with Santonio, trading him to the New York Jets for a fifth round draft pick next week. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Rooney family is satisfied with whatever the Commissioner hands down for Ben and allow whatever punishment he sees fit to speak for the family as a unified voice of how a Pittsburgh Steeler should conduct themselves off the field.

For as long as I’ve been a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, that’s been the Rooney way. I can count on one hand the number of players that were busts off the field like Santonio and Ben have been. (Joe Gilliam, Bam Morris, Eric Green and Plaxico Burress.) We as fans and supporters are pretty spoiled in that regard.

Both Ben and Santonio have a chance to redeem themselves in the public eye at this point. They can use this experience to help other players and fans alike if done the proper way. That’s what good role models do. As fans we need to remember that getting bitter and angry about either situation serves no one. From some of the comments I’ve seen on some of the message boards and blogs, both Santonio and Ben are living “rent free” inside the heads of these fans and/or critics who for one reason or another need to feel like a victim – that’s why they side for the victims in both cases.

What these boys need are tools to help them become responsible and respectable members of our society as men. Not some bogus judgment that only serves as a prop to elevate the one who is casting judgment.

Bottom line for me is both are very young, very rich, and neither fully understand the responsibilities they have as an NFL player and role model. That may come with age, and from taking personal responsibility for their actions. I remember hitting bottom at 25 when I quit drinking – so I know it’s possible.

Time will tell if it’s actually doable for both Santonio and Ben.

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