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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Enough is enough already.

Just saw the update on the Internet and saw the report on NFL Network that James Harrison has been fined another $20,000 for another hit Sunday night on Quarterback Drew Brees. Harrison tackled Brees from behind after the quarterback threw a pass and was penalized for roughing the passer. In the last month, Harrison has been fined $100,000 three separate times. Oddly enough, he was only flagged once during the games which produced the fines.

I’ve been a lifelong fan of Steelers football. I grew up watching Joe Green, Jack Lambert and Mel Blount play defense. Blount was known for his rugged but clean style of play, but his “bump-and-run” defensive style was cut short midway through his career when the League changed the rules making his harassment of a receiver illegal. Jack Lambert was one of the toughest defensive players I’ve ever seen on a football field.

They say “Defense Wins Championships”. Since that 70′s team won four Championships during their reign, I would have to agree. That type of intimidating defensive blueprint has carried into today’s Steelers team with arguably the best core of linebackers the League has seen in the last 40 years. Lambert, Ham, Lloyd, Greene, Porter, and Harrison are just a few of the names that have worn the Black and Gold.

A couple weeks ago the League made news with what they deemed were “illegal hits” – after the fact. Only one of the three player were flagged and penalized during the game, but the League ended up fining three players “after further revue” for $175,000 combined, of which $75,000 came out of James Harrison’s paycheck.

To date, Harrison has been fined $100,000 in the last doing what he’s done since he was nine years old – playing football. He’s been a Pro Bowler, a Defensive Player of the Year, and possess not only a Super Bowl record, but one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history.

Harrison is one of my favorite Pittsburgh Steelers because of who he is and where he came from. He’s a football player – and football can be violent. If you don’t like the hits, then you shouldn’t watch and you shouldn’t play. The NFL is America’s favorite sport, with better ratings than any other professional sport around – so it’s obvious to me at least that the general public accepts the game “as is”.

Yes, I understand that there are those who don’t like Harrison. Frankly, I don’t like Ray Lewis or Tom Brady – but only because both of them have been a thorn in the side of the Pittsburgh Steelers for years. I can dislike them, but still respect their talent and value as a football player. It’s the whining about being dirty and unfair that I see and hear from fans that I believe is childish and unproductive. My years of listening to bizarre and ridiculous Anti-MLM critics have something to do with that I guess. My tolerance for whining in that arena has basically come down to ignoring that type of pin head mentality and behavior.

While reading about all this on the Internet, I came across an interesting Facebook Fan page that I decided to join – which can help send a message to the League that football needs to remain “as is” without the bogus fines in an attempt to put skirts on these players. It’s called “Pay James Harrison’s Bogus Fine” – but I don’t want you to pay for this fine because James needs the money – clearly he doesn’t need the help. The idea here is that we as football fans who have been watching violent hits for decades like the sport “as is” – and don’t want skirts put on our players.

Just one dollar and a note to Roger Goodel will do the trick. If you’re not on Facebook – here’s the information.

“For James Harrison’s fine.”
Roger Goodell, c/o National Football League,
280 Park Avenue,
New York, NY 10017

And just so you know, all money (including the fines paid by players) go to charities designated by the NFL. The League doesn’t profit from these fines – it will be going to a good cause.

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As we head into Super Bowl Weekend, probably the single most watched broadcast all year long, and home parties start gearing up for the event, the NFL hands out several awards. The Hall of Fame Inductees, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year are awards and announcements I’ve always had an interest in.

I’ve always believed in looking at successful people and finding traits that I can use in my own life. I’ve also learned that it doesn’t matter where it comes from, success leaves clues. No matter what you choose to do in life, (and yes this includes Network Marketing) if you study what successful people do, and model your own thoughts and actions after them, you’ll find yourself ending up with similar results.

Football is a team sport and everyone needs to do their particular assignment in order to be successful. As it turns out, looks like it was no accident that Pittsburgh will be playing in the biggest game of the year this Sunday. Two valuable pieces of the Pittsburgh Steelers team were recognize for their individual efforts this past year. Mike Tomlin and James Harrison.

Congratulations to these two valuable members of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

From the Pittsburgh Steelers Official web site:

Mike Tomlin Named Coach of The Year

Head coach MIKE TOMLIN of the Pittsburgh Steelers is the 2008 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year, Motorola and the NFL announced today.

In 2008, Mike Tomlin continued to rewrite the record books in Pittsburgh, becoming the only head coach in Steelers’ history to win division titles in his first two seasons as he established a franchise record with 22 wins in that time.  The Steelers secured the second seed in the AFC, captured the AFC North Division title for the second year in a row, and posted a 6-0 record within their division as part of their 12-4 record.  After notching two victories in the postseason, Coach Tomlin will be the youngest head coach to appear in a Super Bowl at the age of 36.

A record number of more than 521,000 fans voted on NFL.com for the head coach whose game planning played the greatest role in his team’s success this season.  Voting took place from Wednesday, January 7 through Wednesday, January 21 to determine the 2008 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year.  In winning the award, Coach Tomlin also receives the new AURA™ by Motorola, a luxury handset inspired by high-end watches and hand-crafted design that breaks convention and re-establishes artistry in mobile device design and manufacturing.

“As the official wireless communication provider for the NFL, there is a natural tie between our brand and the sport’s great coaches,” said Jean Pierre Le Cannellier, senior director, North America Marketing, Motorola, Inc.  “We salute Coach Tomlin for being voted the 2008 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year by the fans and admire those leadership qualities that would make him a champion in any endeavor.”

Tomlin was selected as 2008 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year from among six finalists by voters on NFL.com.  The other finalists were head coaches TOM COUGHLIN of the New York Giants, JEFF FISHER of the Tennessee Titans, JOHN HARBAUGH of the Baltimore Ravens, MIKE SMITH of the Atlanta Falcons and TONY SPARANO of the Miami Dolphins.

Motorola’s brand has become synonymous with NFL coaches through the coaches’ headsets worn during every NFL game.  As the wireless communications sponsor of the NFL, Motorola is working with the league to better integrate technology to improve the quality of the game, just as Motorola continuously provides better communications devices to help millions of NFL fans enjoy the game of football in their everyday lives.

And from NFL.com.

Harrison voted GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Year

Linebacker James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers is the 2008 GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Year, GMC and the National Football League announced Thursday.

More than 672,000 fan votes were submitted for the 2008 GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Year on NFL.com from Jan. 3 through Jan. 29.

Harrison was one of five finalists for the honor. The other finalists were defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth of the Tennessee Titans, linebacker Joey Porter of the Miami Dolphins, free safety Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens and linebacker DeMarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys.

The five finalists were selected for their outstanding performances throughout the 2008 NFL season. Each week, five nominees were chosen for GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Week and NFL fans voted for the winner on NFL.com. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.

This is GMC’s fourth year as the official vehicle of the NFL and the second year that GMC will present the Defensive Player of the Year award.

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When the “Cowher Power” era ended in January of 2007 I had hoped that Ken Whisenhunt would take his place.  Ken’s a Georgia Tech Alumni, and from Augusta, Georgia. Ken was also Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator the same year the Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger (2004). That year Roethlisberger went on to set an NFL record with wins in his first 13 career starts en route to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The next season he became the youngest QB in NFL history to win a Super Bowl. (Pittsburgh’s 5th Super Bowl victory and Lombardi Trophy.)

When Mike Tomlin’s name appeared, I had never heard of him before he was hired as Pittsburgh’s 3rd Head Coach since 1969. He came out of nowhere and like anyone you never heard of before, you have doubts as to their abilities and effectiveness to lead an NFL team to the playoffs. About the only thing I felt comfortable with was that Tomlin got his NFL start as a Coach with Tony Dungy down in Tampa.

Tomlin did however make an almost immediate impact in a positive way. Tomlin liked the so-called Tampa 2 cover scheme popularized by Dungy and assistant Monte Kiffin in Tampa Bay, one that had its roots in Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain defense of the 1970s — a defense that played a 4-3. Dungy played on one of those four Steelers Super Bowl-winning teams.

But Tomlin didn’t rush to install the 4-3 and instead retained defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, a proponent of the 3-4 and zone blitzing schemes. Tomlin matched his defenses to the skills of the players he had — and that produced the leagues #1 overall defense this year.

Tomlin was quoted in a 2007 Press Conference, “You’ve got to be flexible and do what your guys do well.”

Smart guy. It was a remarkable move, and one that looks to have certainly paid off. Not many have that type of humility to admit they might not have the best “game plan” in order to achieve success. Tomlin realized however, that the defense he was inheriting was not only built for 3-4, but it was successful under the guidance of Dick LeBeue.

Ken Whisenhunt on the other hand, took a team, and a culture that has not seen a Championship in over half a century and has guided them to the Super Bowl in only his second year. While I don’t know Arizona as well as Pittsburgh, I believe many of the same talent is still there when Whisenhunt landed the job two years ago. In a way, what Whisenhunt has done with the Cardinals is even MORE remarkable than what Tomlin has done. Tomlin’s team and philosophy was already there, for decades, just like Whisenhunt’s. The difference is that Whisenhunt needed to change the team’s thinking and structure in order to make it a winner.

Whisenhunt took what he knew best, that being a philosophy and thinking to turn a struggling team who’s only had one winning season since 1990 and landed them in the World Championship. Not to take anything away from Mike Tomlin, because what he has been able to maintain as a winning attitude says something about his leadership, but Ken Whisenhunt just created one of those “Extreme Makeovers” that Pittsburgh first started to see back in 1969 with the hiring of Chuck Noll. (After some 40 years of losing.)

I received a comment here on the blog and also have gotten e-mails and phone calls that Pittsburgh should be able to handle Arizona in the Super Bowl. With the Leagues best defense this year in the NFL, it certainly makes the match up attractive. However, before I go pounding my chest over any match up, I need to look at the last three weekends of playoff football. I recall the same speculation from experts who thought Atlanta, Carolina, AND Philadelphia should advance and all three teams will be at home in a little less than two weeks watching Arizona play against my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.

That’s why they play the game.

I wasn’t sure about this match up or if I even liked the idea of an Arizona vs Pittsburgh Super Bowl. Honestly, like most everyone else, thought Pittsburgh vs Philidelphia would be printed on the tickets. Now that it’s had some time to digest, I like the connection, because I like Whisenhunt and the story he brings to this event.

Not everyone that follows the NFL will appreciate it the way I do. But then again, I’m not the average NFL fan. I love the game, the League, and my team. I have for as long as I can remember. Of course, winning 5 Championships tends to lend a hand in that.

We’ll have to see if we can start adding rings to the other hand on February 1st, 2009.

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Our Father, Who Art in Pittsburgh, Football Be Thy Game,

Thy Kingdom Come, 5 Super Bowls Won, On Earth as it is in Heinz Field,

Give us this Day a playoff Victory, And forgive us our penalties, As we defeat those who play against us.

But lead us into victory – And deliver us to Tampa!

A-Ben

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It’s the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs this weekend and I’m going to be in hog heaven. Like last weekend, we have two days of Professional Football.

At one time, my wife seemed to think it was nothing more than an excuse for me to be a “Couch Potato”. Blasphemy! She now understands, (okay “accepts”) my love of this game, especially when my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers are playing.

Baltimore (11-5) at Tennessee (13-3)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET

Arizona (9-7) at Carolina (12-4)
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET

Philadelphia (9-6-1) at New York Giants (12-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

San Diego (8-8) at Pittsburgh (12-4)
Sunday, 4:45 p.m. ET

In honor of this weekend, I bring you David Letterman’s Top 10, with one small change. (See if you can pick it out.)

Top Ten Signs You Are Watching Too Much Football

			Only fresh air you’ve had this month is opening door for pizza guy
			You refer to orange juice as Fedex orange juice
			When wife finishes making dinner, you dump jug of Gatorade on her
			You schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor about Andy Reid’s cholesterol
			Got a telestrator in the bedroom
			Three words: Big Ben tattoo
			Fantasize about Gisele Bundchen falling in love with you and introducing you to Tom Brady
			When you go to McDonald’s you insist on ordering the McNabb
			Laura has to keep reminding you you’re still President for two more weeks
			To be more like your favorite New York Giant, you shoot yourself in the leg

Go Steelers!

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PITTSBURGH — Bill Cowher announced today that he is stepping down as Steelers head coach after 15 years at his position. Cowher was the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL and only the team’s second head coach since 1969.

Cowher, the 15th head coach in team history, replaced legendary Steelers Head Coach Chuck Noll on Jan. 21, 1992, at the age of 34. In 1995, at age 38, he became the youngest head coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl when the Steelers played the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX. He ultimately led the Steelers to their fifth Super Bowl title in 2005, with a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.

“We would like to thank Bill Cowher for his tremendous contributions to the Steelers organization and for leading us to our fifth Super Bowl title,” said Steelers President Art Rooney II. “Bill will always be a valued part of Steelers history and tradition, and we wish him the very best with all future endeavors.”

Cowher led the Steelers to postseason appearances in each of his first six seasons, tying an NFL record originally set by Cleveland Browns legendary head coach Paul Brown. In 15 seasons under Cowher, the Steelers made 10 postseason appearances, won eight division titles, played in six AFC Championship games and two Super Bowls, winning one NFL title.

“History will look back on Bill Cowher as one of the great head coaches of his time,” said Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney. “He led us through one of the most successful eras in franchise history and has my lasting respect and admiration.”

Cowher ended his Steelers career with an overall record of 161-99-1 (.619) including a 149-90-1 (.623) mark in the regular season. His record with the team ranks second only to Noll’s overall (209-156-1/.572) and regular season (193-148-1/.566) records. Cowher’s .623 regular season and .619 overall winning percentages are the highest in Steelers history.

During Cowher’s tenure as Steelers head coach, 105 head coaches were hired throughout the NFL. In 15 seasons under Cowher, the Steelers tied (New England) for the league’s most division titles and posted the NFL’s best overall record in the regular season. Cowher also posted winning records against 20 of 31 NFL teams.

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