For fans like steel made hard from furnace flames
by Ashley Mondale, English Teacher
January 28, 2011
It’s happening again for the third time in six years. The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to the Super Bowl. I really can’t believe it. On Sunday night I sat in my living room while the final plays were made, unable to truly give a name to what I was feeling. Pride, excitement, and a little twinge of sadness. For most of my life, I sang along with “Here We Go, Steelers,” hoping that this would be the year we got the “one for the thumb.” And now, we have it, plus another. And by the end of the day on Sunday, Feb. 6, we might just have seven rings – more than any other team in the NFL.
And when I say “we,” I really mean all of us, the Steelers Nation. I believe that in this little corner of the world, football, specifically Steelers football, is part of our DNA. Now I know that there are some of you reading this who say you don’t give a crap about football or the Steelers. There are some of you who don’t like meat, but as a human, you are genetically wired to want meat as well as vegetables. So yes, football is part of your DNA, and like it or not, a small part of you probably bleeds a little black and gold.
Early in the season the NFL aired a commercial showing various fans unpacking their football decorations or apparel. One shot was a Steelers’ fan hanging a Steelers’ flag on his front porch. It irritated me. Well, to be quite honest, I hated that scene. When asked why I hated it so, my answer was simple: a real Steelers’ fan doesn’t put that flag away in an attic. Steelers’ gear isn’t something you put out or wear only during football season.
The Steelers represent who we are as people. We are hard workers, born of coal mines and steel mills. We are rough around the edges. We don’t like people trying to push us around. We are insanely loyal; you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us. We don’t always talk crap, but when we do, we do it because we can back it up. We came from nothing and have been able to make ourselves better. Others can count us out, but we always fight our way back to the top. If we’re knocked down, we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and then kick some butt.
The Steelers Nation is a force to be reckoned with. Others like to say that the Cowboys are America’s team, but I beg to differ. When the mills and economy shut down in the early ‘80s, Pittsburghers spread out across the country taking their work ethic and football fever with them. In cities all over this country, this planet, Steelers’ bars were opened. There is even one in Rome, Italy. I doubt you can find a Cowboys’ bar in Pittsburgh, but I’m willing to bet my next paycheck there’s a Steelers’ bar in Dallas. (There are actually two: Malarkey’s Tavern and Stadium Cafe. Don’t believe me? Check out SteelerBars.com! My paycheck is safe.)
Sure, other teams’ fans like to criticize us by calling us hillbillies or white trash. And maybe those of us who sit through games with a negative wind chill are, but we’ve got six pretty flashy Super Bowl rings – jewelry always makes things better. Be jealous! A few years ago, when the Steelers played the Chargers in San Diego, the Chargers tried to limit the number of Steelers fans at the game by forcing them to buy tickets to that game plus at least two other Chargers games. That maneuver didn’t stop us from turning out in full force.
This season has been full of ups and downs. As usual, Big Ben had an off-season full of drama. And when his suspension was handed down, many counted us out. Even I had my doubts. But like the steel born out of the flames, we became stronger and faced our challengers head on. And when the clock ran out on Sunday, we were once again AFC Champions.
So, Steelers Nation, starting planning your Super Bowl menu and loosen up your arm for some serious Terrible Towel waving because PITTSBURGH’S GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!
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