Watching the game with my Steeler fan friend, Dan

[WilliamPitt]

Dan is from Pittsburg. Tells a cute story about he and his brother. When they were young, they shared a room. On the wall above their beds was a poster of a little boy praying before bedtime. On the little boy's table is a lamp shaped like a Steeler helmet. They little boy's prayer read, "Please God, just let them win this game." According to Dan, he and his brother have been fighting over posession of this poster for 20 years. It is still on the wall in their parent's house. Basically, the first one of them to die doesn't get the poster.

Mad mad mad mad Steeler fan. Wears his Palomalu shirt to the bar for every game, and gets mercilessly ragged on by everyone - the bartenders, the waitresses, the other barflies...hell, he got taunted on the street on the way to the bar one day by firefighters racing to a fire on their truck. He bears it all, and always wears the shirt.

Now, I have recast myself as a Steeler fan ever since the Patriots pooped all over the field last week. I did this to stand in solidarity with Dan, but also because the only thing in the universe worse than the Pats getting bounced would have been the Colts winning the Super Bowl. Intolerable.

So that game was...nuts. The Steelers dominated for three quarters. Dan was sitting there grinning, and I was trying to tell him, "Dude, the Colts are gonna make a game of this, you watch." Then the bad ref call, a sudden eight points, and Dan's smile got brittle.

Well, you saw how it ended. By the time it was over, everyone in the bar was a Steelers fan because we all wanted the Colts to lose. They had it...and then the Bettis fumble...and then the missed kick, and then bedlam. Dan's hands were shaking for an hour.

We'll be at the bar again on Sunday for the Denver game. It's fun being a Steelers fan...mostly because of Spencer, a mostly-incoherent drunk from Indianapolis who has been yapping about Peyton since August. It felt good to quiet him down. Oh, and the Steelers removed the Colts. Bless them forever for that one.

The Pats will be back next year. Four titles in six years is nothing to frown at. Hell, I've gone to four championship parades since 2001 - Pats, Pats, Sox, Pats - so I can't get too bummed out about this last one.

Jump on board with me and Dan. Let's cheer Bettis on to a title in his last game ever.

[Ravenseye]

1. Go to Roggies in Cleveland Circle

That's where the local Black and Gold Brigade meets for every game. At least tell your friend about it. 100+ Pittsburghers and Steelers fans flock to the basement of Roggies in Cleveland Circle for every Steelers game. It's a gold room, multiple Tv's terrible towels a'wavin.

If you don't go for this game, let him know to check it out next season. Good place to go and not get ragged on for wearing your Steelers gear in the Boston area.

[WilliamPitt]

3. Ugh

I grew up near there. I'd rather light my balls on fire than go to Roggies. :)

Seriously, I'll mention it to him. We like our bar, tho. It's cheaper; we have personalized 25oz mugs that get filled for the regular pint price.

[Ravenseye]

4. I hear ya

It's really a different place when you go downstairs and it's filled with Steelers fans though. That group of fans was my salvation for my years up in Boston. It's as close as you can come to being in Pittsburgh for 3 hours without leaving Boston.

[Penndems]

2. What a wonderful story, Will

I was hoping against hope that my Skins would maybe - just MAYBE - make it through the playoffs. Alas, it was not to be. But if the Skins didn't make it, I'm glad the Stillers did.

After living in Pennsylvania for almost three years, and in need of a serious football fix (Skins games aren't shown there, unless they're playing the Iggles), I began to educate myself on the Steelers and Eagles. Learned the players and the stats. Developed an entirely new respect for Donovan McNabb after his press conference, in response to Limbaugh's idiotic remark. Enjoyed the smashmouth defense of Pittsburgh. Now, they're my two favorite teams (after the Redskins, of course)!.

BTW, here's another Steelers prayer Dan might enjoy:
*************************************************************************
A STEELERS PRAYER

Our father, who art in Pittsburgh,
Football be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Four Super Bowls won,
On earth as it is in Heinz Field.
Give us this day a playoff win,
And forgive us our penalties,
As we defeat those who play against us.
And lead us into a victory,
And deliver us to Detroit.

AMEN.

[timber84]

5. Welcome aboard Will!!

I have a few hundred extra terrible towels do ya need one this weekend? Could fed-ex it to ya for the big game.

[Nimrod2005]

6. WTF? Go Broncos!!!

:headbang: :popcorn: :party:

[JVS]

7. Broncos R teh 5uXXor!

[blue neen]

8. It is fun being a Steelers fan.

I've been one all of my life. Welcome to the club! :toast:

One small thing, though. Pittsburgh is spelled with the "h" on the end.

Thanks for the blessings!