Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

[papillon]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

interesting responses. do you react/look at STEELERS fans differently if you know they don't have any "roots" to the city, themselves or family members?

No, absolutely not, Steeler family is Steeler family, I'm a life long Steeler fan for different reasons than those that have no attachment to the city or region, that's all.

Pappy

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

Likewise... born nowhere near Pittsburgh. Just fortunate enough to come off the boat and in first grade, was made to sit next to the other new kid in school. A little Italian kid from Harrisburg, PA. Learned the "Engrish" language while learning to appreciate the game of football.... and of course that little Italian kid was a Steeler fan. Watched all those great SBs at his house and have been a fan since '74. Damn, I'm old.

I wasn't born until '75. You are old.

[Jigawatts]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

To this day I can't understand how fans that have no attachment to the city of Pittsburgh can be a fan of the Steelers.

Pappy

Maybe a relative was drafted in '89.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

I grew up in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Bethel Park to be exact. My Dad took me to my first Steeler game in 1968 when I was 10 years old. The Steelers were playing the St. Louis Cardinals at Pitt Stadium. As I remember the Cardinals beat us pretty good and as we were leaving the stadium I said that to my dad. I'll never forget what he told me. He said as a Steeler fan we don't keep score on the scoreboard because we don't win that battle often. We keep score based on the players carried off the field. By his reckoning we won that game 6-2. I think that was the day my blood turned black and gold. I also fondly remember our Sunday pilgrimages to some motel in Ohio to watch home games on TV since they were blacked out in the local markets.

I live outside of D.C. now and truly believe that the Sunday Ticket is the greatest invention of mankind. My kids laugh at me because I have this dancing steeler doll and everytime they score my wife starts it dancing and dance along with it. I can't imagine being a fan of any other team.

HERE WE GO STEELERS!!

Driving to a motel just to be able to watch a game is a cool story.

[MeetJoeGreene]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

interesting responses. do you react/look at STEELERS fans differently if you know they don't have any "roots" to the city, themselves or family members?

No, absolutely not, Steeler family is Steeler family, I'm a life long Steeler fan for different reasons than those that have no attachment to the city or region, that's all.

Pappy

I make no distinction. I hold folks in equally high esteem if they are Steeler fans.

I am just fascinated in the reason that they became Steeler fans.

[MeetJoeGreene]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

To this day I can't understand how fans that have no attachment to the city of Pittsburgh can be a fan of the Steelers.

Pappy

Maybe a relative was drafted in '89.

You're related to Tim Worley???

[Jigawatts]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

To this day I can't understand how fans that have no attachment to the city of Pittsburgh can be a fan of the Steelers.

Pappy

Maybe a relative was drafted in '89.

You're related to Tim Worley???

No.

But if you think about it, you'll figure it out without me saying.

[frankthetank1]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

To this day I can't understand how fans that have no attachment to the city of Pittsburgh can be a fan of the Steelers.

Pappy

Maybe a relative was drafted in '89.

You're related to Tim Worley???

No.

But if you think about it, you'll figure it out without me saying.

jerry o?

[Jigawatts]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

To this day I can't understand how fans that have no attachment to the city of Pittsburgh can be a fan of the Steelers.

Pappy

Maybe a relative was drafted in '89.

You're related to Tim Worley???

No.

But if you think about it, you'll figure it out without me saying.

jerry o?

You got it. If he didn't get drafted by the Steelers there was a possibility that I could
have ended up a browns fan.

[MeetJoeGreene]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

You got it. If he didn't get drafted by the Steelers there was a possibility that I could
have ended up a browns fan.

Just think how much your life would have sucked then. You would be hanging out with c0ckface boy and your photoshop entries wouldn't contain smiles.

[papillon]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

To this day I can't understand how fans that have no attachment to the city of Pittsburgh can be a fan of the Steelers.

Pappy

Maybe a relative was drafted in '89.

You're related to Tim Worley???

No.

But if you think about it, you'll figure it out without me saying.

So, how much do you pay him weekly for saving you from a lifetime of suffering? :P

Because you get to wave instead of having people always sayoing

Pappy

[buckeyehoppy]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

I, too, have a hard time understanding how people who have never lived in the Burgh (or had attachements such as parents) turn out to be die-hard fans. It makes me happy that there are so many of them.

Are most of you old(er) and became fans during the 70s? That would be understandable.

How many actually BECAME fans during the 80s or the early Cowher years?

I, myself, have lived in various cities in my time. I have never "adopted' another competing team in Baseball, Hockey, or Football. I have, however, adopted a few NBA teams over the years, but none has "stuck". (e.g. I went from the Lakers to Wizards and now I like the Spurs).

I became a Steelers fan while I was still in HS, long about 1982 when many (not all) of my friends were Clowns fans.

There wasn't much to root for with the Clowns in the 70s and while I played HS football, I became enamored with the way the Steelers played the game. One of my first favorite Steelers was Bryan Hinkle. He wasn't really fancy and he was a pretty pedestrian LB. But he always seemed to be in on the play. I admired that.

My being a fan of the Steelers was more a progression than an overnight sensation. I remember watching the 0-51 debacle in 1989 at a family reunion in a room full of Clowns fans. Needless to say, winning the rematch in Cleveland that year might not have been a blow out, but the Steelers got their revenge on the last truly good Clowns team.

I was in a bar in Rocky River watching the Steelers win their 1994 playoff against the Clowns, then was speechless when the Steelers went in the tank the next week in the AFC Championship.

And I remember nearly having a heart attack in '95 when the ball hit the ground and I finally had a Steelers SB as a full-fledged fan. Never mind SBXXX was as obscene as the number of the game indicated. I was still proud of my Steelers, though, and was sure that many return visits would be forthcoming.

The greatest time to be a Steelers fan here was during the Clowns exodus. The Steelers were always on TV and WTAM radio here carried the Steelers broadcast feed. The opportunity to listen to Myron Cope every week without static was priceless.

Once the Clowns returned, my resolve was much stronger for the Steelers. I loved going out and being among the "Steeler Nation" and even though I could have bought the Sunday Ticket, being with the Steelers fraternity in Cleveland was even better than the convenience of watching at home.

Then, the 2005 season came. It was the year where there would be "no acceptable outcome" short of a SB win. I kept chanting the mantra, willing the Steelers to the SB after falling short in '04. Even at 7-5, I knew they had to do it. There was no choice. There was NO Acceptable Outcome short of the SB Championship.

And I remember as the last seconds of the SB ticked away I yelled at the top of my lungs "I ACCEPT THIS OUTCOME!!!" Even those friends with me that day who were partial to the Clowns somehow summoned the class to offer thanks.

As the years have passed, my allegiance to the Steelers has progressed. No, I have never lived in Pittsburgh. But I am a great lover of cities anyway and have been to many of them in this country. But the greatness and class of the Steelers transcends the city and embodies everything that is excellent about sports.

I would equate the greatness of the Steelers with the greatness of other teams in sport: the Steelers belong in the fraternity with the Yankees, Canadiens, Celtics, Lakers, etc.

And I am satisfied with my being a fan of the Steelers. After 26 years of following the Steelers and becoming a much more active fan as the years go by, I can't imagine following another NFL team the way I do the Steelers.

I believe I chose well. The Steelers are my team in the NFL...even in Cleveland.

[AkronSteel]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

Born and raised in the east suburbs of Pittsburgh and have been fan for all of my life (50 years worth next Wednesday). My family had the good fortune to know the right people in the Steeler organization and my brother and I were able to get tickets to any Steeler game played at TRS.

I cheer for all sports teams Pittsburgh, regardless, of how pathetic that team is (read, the Pirates), because, they're my home town team and I love the city of Pittsburgh. To this day I can't understand how fans that have no attachment to the city of Pittsburgh can be a fan of the Steelers. I'm glad to have you, but, I don't understand it.

I will say this, knowing how I feel about where I was born, I sure am glad that I wasn't born in Cleveland, Cincinnati or Baltimore.

Pappy

I don't have a personal attachment to the City, either, but I have been a Steelers Fan since before I could walk. I had a Franco Jersey in my crib when I came home. My family is from Arcadia and my grandpa was a huge Steelers Fan back in the day. I never knew anything else. I was born and raised here in Akron and was surrounded by Browns Fans my whole life, but i never wavered. I actually love the City. I go to the Burgh a few times a year for Pirates games and whenever I can get tickets for the Steelers. I was just there on Aug 14th for the Buccos and the Reds. I love the Cranberry area and Wexford. I have actually contemplated moving there later on in life.

[Oviedo]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

I grew up in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Bethel Park to be exact. My Dad took me to my first Steeler game in 1968 when I was 10 years old. The Steelers were playing the St. Louis Cardinals at Pitt Stadium. As I remember the Cardinals beat us pretty good and as we were leaving the stadium I said that to my dad. I'll never forget what he told me. He said as a Steeler fan we don't keep score on the scoreboard because we don't win that battle often. We keep score based on the players carried off the field. By his reckoning we won that game 6-2. I think that was the day my blood turned black and gold. Needless to say it wasn't too many years later that we started winning on the scoreboard but by then I was already hooked. I also fondly remember our Sunday pilgrimages to some motel in Ohio to watch home games on TV since they were blacked out in the local markets.

I live outside of D.C. now and truly believe that the Sunday Ticket is the greatest invention of mankind. My kids laugh at me because I have this dancing steeler doll and everytime they score my wife starts it dancing and I dance along with it. I can't imagine being a fan of any other team.

HERE WE GO STEELERS!!

Same here--West Mifflin. I remember going to a Steelers game at Forbes Field--exhibition I think. I was hooked form that point. Went to my grandparents for Sunday dinner very Sunday and the whole family would be in front of the TV watching football or listening on the radio. Great memories.

I agree about Direct TV. Lots of years in a great sports bar here in Orlando which has been taken over by Steeler fans but nothing beats watching the game at home.

[Iron Shiek]

Re: Nice article on cnnsi.com about Steeler fans

I, like Buckeye Hoppy, come from Stainsville. Born in 1979 ( just missed the glory days) and raised outside of Cleveland. Grew up in a Browns household. Lucky for me I had 3 driving factors that led me to the Black and Gold.

1. My first football card when I was like 3 or 4 years old that I cherished was a John Stallworth card. Don't ask me why. The uniform and just the picture of him catching the ball, I don't know, I liked it.

2. My cousin. He was older and lived through most of the Steel Curtain days. I think he had a big hand in converting me before I even knew how to make my own decisions...ha.

3. Going to 3rd grade...you know in the midst of the Stains AFC championship runs, I would go to school and there would be Browns celebrations. The thing that got to me was all these kids making (and wearing mind you) necklaces made of dog bone treats. I found that utterly disgusting and frankly just dumb. That turned the tides officially for me...and a few years later I rocked my Bubby Brister tshirt around school alot. ha.