What the Steelers Mean to Me
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
It excites me to know that people all over the country are thinking of me when the Steelers head to the Super Bowl next month. Because, although I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, since graduating high school, I have spent more than 10 years living in several states spanning from Tennessee, Colorado, Texas and most recently Indiana. In that time, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to meet a great deal of new and interesting people. I’ve learned from a variety of regional cultures and have melded my Pittsburgh tendencies to suit my new surroundings. I’ve dropped the word Yinz from my vocabulary, no longer rush to turn left as soon as the light changes, and have given up on the idea that a lawn chair is a perfectly legal method of saving a parking space. One thing that has never wavered, though, has been my excitement for the Steelers.
In each new city, people ask me who I’d root for if it “came down to it.” I feel as though that question isn’t even worthy of an answer. Steelers fans are fans for life. No matter where I’ve been, I’ve never had a hard time finding a fellow Steelers fan. In fact, I’ve made some tremendous friendships while cheering the black and gold. But, I also often come across a great many who just don’t understand. They think, “Wow, that Rebeca is really crazy about football.” One went as far as to call me “red neck” for tacking my Terrible Towel to my dorm room door.
It’s simply a lack of understanding. So, allow me to share with you just a bit about the passion so many of us share for the Steelers. Because, it’s not just about football….it’s the history of a great nation—The Steeler Nation.
This history of Steeler Nation dates back to 1933 when “The Chief” Art Rooney founded the team, making it one of the oldest teams in the NFL. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that Steelers Football infiltrated Yinzers’ homes as a lifeblood. Faced with a steep recession, Pittsburgh’s economy suffered great losses as steel mills closed and employees were laid off in droves. Times were tough for the average yinzer and the Steelers provided a release from the woes of everyday life. The Steelers were red hot in this era (winning four Super Bowl titles), which provided a great sense of pride and excitement for the city. This was a time when the Steelers were there for us.
The thing about sports, though, is that you can’t stay on top forever. But the people of Pittsburgh are tremendously loyal…something you’ve likely already learned about me. So, even throughout the 80s when the team faltered, the fans remained faithful because there’s no such thing as a fair-weather Steelers Fan. The Steelers were there for us when we needed them…and we were loyal to them when they needed us. Parents taught their children to love the team, and a passion was lit from an early age. As people moved away from Pittsburgh in search of jobs, they took with them their loyalty for the team–one of the major reasons you can find Steelers fans just about anywhere in the world.
Team leadership plays a big part as well. The Steelers franchise has been owned by the Rooney family since its founding more than 75 years ago. And, in the last 40 years, the team has been under the leadership of just THREE head coaches. All have achieved at least one championship title, without the scandal that’s surrounded many other “Dynasty” teams.
From Yahoo Sports: “The 49ers have five Super Bowl titles, but a large part of that era is stained with the misdeeds of former owner Eddie DeBartolo – from the probe into salary cap circumvention to the gambling scandal that forced him to relinquish control of his franchise. The Cowboys’ five Super Bowl victories were a treadmill of turmoil – the sale of the team to Jerry Jones; an ugly firing of former coach Tom Landry; a fallout with Jimmy Johnson; multiple embarrassing arrests, and more recently, Jones’ gambling on talent that has soured the locker room.”
You see, the people of Pittsburgh won’t tolerate bullshit. More than one player has been let go for his off-field antics and overall attitude. And, although he was never officially charged or convicted of a crime, elite quarterback Ben Rothlisberger’s standings with the franchise were in serious question before he turned his behavior and reputation around. If Ben continued his recklessness and ego-flaunting behavior, I feel confident the Rooney’s would have let him go, because the Steelers’ owners, coaches and fans hold the players to a high level of accountability. This makes the team a highly-respected champion. Ben is not a superstar to do as he wishes…There are no superstars on the Steelers roster…and showboating thugs are quickly weeded out. This isn’t an arrogant team that always wins. They are a class-act team that has given back to its town, never threatened to leave, and which can be proud to serve as role models for past, present and future generations.
When it’s all said and done, though, we Steelers fans know that no matter what happens on gameday, we still have to go to work on Monday. We look forward to football season all year and we’re sad when they lose. But, we do understand that it’s just a game. We’ll still wear our jerseys no matter the outcome. We love our team. Go Steelers!
*Definition: A Yinzer is a common way of referring to people who live in Pittsburgh. It is derived from the word yinz, which is the plural form of “you,” or a more direct translation of “you guys” or “you all”.
Well Said and an “AMEN, Sista”!! I must agree, no matter where I go, the Steelers follow me! The only year that I played Fantasy Football, I lost terribly because I refused to add (or play) any players that were not Steelers. After that, my husband stopped inviting me to be part of his league. I keep telling him – this is loyalty!! Pgh fans know it best!!