Steelerchick

Troy Polamalu Does PSA With Obama, Spends Night At White House -...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:27:08 -0500

Troy Polamalu Does PSA With Obama, Spends Night At White House - Sports News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

Generally when I see Polamalu running behind a guy I expect to see that guy hitting the ground. Hard. Since the someone in this video is President Obama, I’m glad he made an exception.

Video

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:25:05 -0400

Repentant Mendenhall hopes for second chance - NFL News - FOX Sports on MSN

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:00:41 -0400

Repentant Mendenhall hopes for second chance - NFL News - FOX Sports on MSN:

I wondered what the deal was with Mendenhall. I have never been impressed with him, and now I know why. Doesn’t sound like he’s got the Steeler heart in him.

Steelers Save the Planet

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:12:31 -0400

Come see the G20 Leaders act like the Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh Steelers in a come-from-behind victory over global poverty, Thursday September 24 @ 10am in the Lawn Area between the 6th (Roberto Clemente) and 7th Street Bridges, in Pittsburgh’s North Shore.

Great photo opp for Steeler fans to see internationally renowned nonprofit Oxfam showing the Steelers saving the planet. Perhaps we should be calling ourselves “Steeler Planet” instead of “Steeler Nation.”

CONTACT: Helen DaSilva, hdasilva@oxfamamerica.org, 617-331-2984

City of Champions (commercial) (via CommonForte) Awesome!

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:44:53 -0400

City of Champions (commercial) (via CommonForte) Awesome!

Steel City of Champions (commercial) (via j22skillz) Very...

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:44:19 -0400

Steel City of Champions (commercial) (via j22skillz) Very similar to the last one I posted, but different enough to watch in addition—i.e. awesome 2.

Pittsburgh: Model for Recovery

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:11:00 -0400

It’s shaping up to be a good year for Pittsburgh, with its Steelers winning the Super Bowl, its Penguins making it into the Stanley Cup finals, and the G20 economic summit being held there in September. It doesn’t get much better than that for a city many considered to be long past its glory days.

It just goes to show, as sports fans know, you can never count Pittsburgh out.

You’ve heard the story: Pittsburgh, smoky city behind the steel that built a nation, lost its industry to “progress.” Between 1950 and 1990, 61% of its steel jobs and half of its population left. Then over the course of the next two decades Pittsburgh reinvented itself as a 21st-century city of higher education, medicine, and technology.

Today Pittsburgh enjoys an unemployment rate far below the national average and in recent years has been named by various national publications “America’s Most Livable City,” the 10th cleanest city, and the 13th best city for young professionals to live—truly a model for what’s possible when people actively embrace change. Which of course is why the city was chosen for the summit.

But who knows anything about Pittsburgh?

Like most early American cities, Pittsburgh grew up along navigable trade routes, in its case the point where the Allegheny and the Monongahela rivers meet to form the Ohio. (You can actually see the differently colored rivers meeting in the waters just off the city’s point.) Although there are lots of other ways to ship things today, Pittsburgh is still the second busiest inland port in the United States, moving more tonnage than Philadelphia or St. Louis. Because it spans three rivers, Pittsburgh has more bridges than anywhere else in the world—three more than Venice, Italy, the so-called “City of Bridges.”

Pittsburgh was settled and built by immigrants and, like many American cities, ethnic heritage is a source of great pride. The University of Pittsburgh’s vaunted Cathedral of Learning has 27 nationality rooms to celebrate the immigrant groups that contributed to the city’s growth, and many nationalities have their own local radio programs and their own nationality day at the local amusement park. You can hear Pittsburgh’s unique assortment of immigrants — Scots-Irish, German, Italians, Croats, Poles, Slovaks, and other Eastern Europeans — in the local dialect. In Pittsburghese, “yinz” is the plural of “you,” you take the bus “dahntahn” instead of “downtown,” you “redd up the haas” instead of “tidying up the house,” and you definitely wave your “Terrible Tahl for the Stillers.”

Steeler Nation

The Terrible Towel is a sort of household pompom fans wave to cheer the Steelers on. Pittsburghers love their sports teams. They’ll tell you everything you want to know about the 1909 Pirates, who went to the first World Series, or Bill Mazeroski’s Series-ending homer to beat the Yankees in 1960. When a Penguins game is sold out, they’ll set up their lawn chairs outside the arena to watch the game on the giant screens.

But with the Steelers, it’s like a religion. During Pittsburgh’s heyday, when its steel built the skyscrapers and battleships that made America great, its Steelers were absurdly awful. But during the city’s long decline the team became ascendant, becoming a unifying point of pride that lasts to this present day. In this ethnically, religiously, and politically diverse city, you’ll see Catholics, Presbyterians, and Greek Orthodox rushing out of church to watch the games; CFOs and cashiers wearing Polamalu jerseys to work; men and women debating whether Swann’s or Holmes’ was the better catch; Obama buttons and McCain buttons squeezed together in a touchdown hug.

Today, because of the long post-war exodus of its citizens, there are Pittsburghers in every state of the union. And they all hold a special place in their hearts for the city of their youth — or of their parents’ youth — ecstatically waving their Terrible Towels when the Steelers come to their far-away towns to play. America has become “Steeler Nation.”

If you visit

Isaly’s Klondike bars are local favorites, now available nationwide, but Primanti Brothers sandwiches and Mineo’s Pizza are still strictly local delights you’ll have to get while you’re there. Sandwiches and salads frequently have French fries inside them, and if you get no response ordering soda, try asking for pop instead. Or see if you can score a home-cooked delicacy: “barbeque” made with an ultra-thin-sliced (“chipped”) ham in a slow-cooker.

Shopping and eating

The Strip District - a neighborhood near downtown that is home to farmers’ markets, wholesale vendors, bars, and clubs
Shadyside - nice shops and restaurants
Squirrel Hill - where you’ll find that Mineo’s Pizza
South Side - home to many bars, cultural events, historic churches, eateries, and entertainment

Culture

Heinz Field - Where the Pittsburgh Steelers football team plays
PNC Park - Where the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team plays
Mellon Arena - Where the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team plays
Andy Warhol Museum - Warhol was born in Pittsburgh
Kennywood/Idlewild Park - Amusement park, and setting for this year’s comedy Adventureland
Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium
The University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning - the tallest educational building in the Western hemisphere
Frick Museum and Cafe

Views

Driving out of the Ft. Pitt Tunnels, the skyline is breathtaking
Atop Mt. Washington, looking down on the Golden Triangle and all of downtown — that’s the view at the top of this page, with the incline you should ride to the top

Finally, if you’re going to Pittsburgh for the G20 in September, and you somehow missed Super Bowl XLIII, do some homework. Here’s a five-minute summary of the game:

What Being a Pittsburgh Steeler Truly Means | Bleacher Report

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:51:42 -0400

What Being a Pittsburgh Steeler Truly Means | Bleacher Report

Top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers of All Time | Bleacher Report

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:35:57 -0400

Top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers of All Time | Bleacher Report:

Do you agree that Mean Joe Green was the #1 Steeler of all time?

NFL Uses Social Media for This Year's Draft

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:33:50 -0400

NFL Uses Social Media for This Year's Draft:

The NFL’s Draft 2009 “War Rooms” let fans of each team chat with each other about their team’s draft prospects etc. Interesting detail about it from CNET’s review:

“the teams with the biggest draft-day needs, in other words, the league’s weaker franchises, have the most active forums.”

Jerome Bettis’ Absense Has Hidden Repercussions on...

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:27:22 -0400

Jerome Bettis’ Absense Has Hidden Repercussions on “Fast” Willie Parker | Bleacher Report

Article about how Parker misses Bettis starts out with an interesting observation: “Tape review shows that his first step has slowed by a tangible amount, while more importantly, he’s been giving away play direction.”

Top 9 NFL rules that need tweaking NOW : FoxSports.com Photo Gallery

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:16:00 -0400

Top 9 NFL rules that need tweaking NOW : FoxSports.com Photo Gallery:

Some of these are long overdue. Like #2: “Chuck the tuck rule.” You know the tuck rule. It’s the one that has us looking at Kurt Warner fumbling the ball over and over and over again in slow-mo to see if his arm was moving forward? Here’s the exact wording of the rule:

“NFL Rule 3, Section 21, Article 2, Note 2: When (an offensive) player is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his arm starts a forward pass, even if the player loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body. Also, if the player has tucked the ball into his body and then loses possession, it is a fumble.”

Pittsburgh Steelers: Business as Usual | Bleacher Report

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:18:08 -0400

Pittsburgh Steelers: Business as Usual | Bleacher Report:

The Steelers’ approach to staffing in this era of free agency.

Goodell wants NFL season to be 17 or 18 games - FOX Sports on MSN

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:58:18 -0400

Goodell wants NFL season to be 17 or 18 games - FOX Sports on MSN:

“More games that count, perhaps as early as August 2011? That’s exactly what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wants.

.moreTeamsDiv { position:relative; float:right; padding-right:10px; } .moreTeamsHdr { background-image:url(/fe/img/Story/moreTeamsOn_header.gif); background-repeat:repeat-x; background-position:top; height:35px; color:#000000; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12px; padding-top:4px; padding-left:4px; font-weight:bold; } .moreTeamsLinks a:link, .moreTeamsLinks a:visited { color:#1266a4; text-decoration:none; padding-top:4px; padding-left:4px; padding-right:4px; padding-bottom:4px; } .moreTeamsLinks a:hover { text-decoration:underline; } .moreTeamLinks { font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration:none; } .storyPoll { margin-left:15px; padding-bottom: 5px; float:right; }

There are several hurdles before the league can expand its regular season from 16 to 17 or 18 games. Among them is reaching a new collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union.”

NFL approves 'Hines Ward rule'

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:20:32 -0400

NFL approves 'Hines Ward rule':

New rules passed by the NFL includes the unfairly nicknamed ‘Hines Ward rule,’ against blindside blocks that come from the blocker’s helmet, forearm or shoulder and lands to the head or neck area of the defender — like what Ward did to Bengal Keith Rivers last year. Not exactly what you want to be remembered for, especially when it was legal when you did it.

Other rule changes are about kickoffs.

EA Scores on Superbowl Prediction - WSJ.com: Digits

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:58:00 -0500

EA Scores on Superbowl Prediction - WSJ.com: Digits:

Electronic Arts predicted the outcome of this year’s Super Bowl like it does every year, using the latest Madden football video game. This year, it did amazingly well.

Final score (EA simulation): 28-24
Final score (reality): 27-23

Halftime score (EA): 21-7
Halftime score (reality): 20-7

Roethlisburger completions (EA): 21 for 28, for 238 yards passing
Roethlisburger completions (reality): 21 of 30, for 256 yards passing

Holmes stats (EA): 8 catches for 131 yards
Holmes stats (reality): 9 catches for 131 yards

Reaching NFL fans beyond the stadium | Pat Coyle

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:53:06 -0500

Reaching NFL fans beyond the stadium | Pat Coyle:

The gist of Coyle’s post is that most NFL fans live outside of their team’s local market. The reason I’m linking to it, however, is because of his chart that shows Cowboys.com has much more traffic than Steelers.com. How is that possible?

Saturday Night Live: James Harrison on his Super Bowl...

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:26:00 -0500

Saturday Night Live: James Harrison on his Super Bowl interception and TD

Pretty darn funny

Best catch ever? Oh, give me a Holmes - CBSSports.com Football

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:20:00 -0500

Best catch ever? Oh, give me a Holmes - CBSSports.com Football:

“You can’t dispute that Pittsburgh receiver Santonio Holmes, given the stakes and the degree of difficulty, just gave us the greatest catch in the history of professional football — a 6-yard, leaping, tightrope grab in the back corner of the end zone with 35 seconds left to give the Steelers a 27-23 victory Sunday night against Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII….I’m going to slowly, methodically, prove my point.”

The author says there are only 4 other catches in football history that are even close:

“I’m guessing there are only four catches that can compare to this one — two of them by Steelers: The Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris in the 1972 AFC playoffs, and the Swann Dive by Lynn Swann in Super Bowl X in 1976. The other two candidates for greatest catch are The Catch by Dwight Clark in the 1981 NFC title game, and that bizarre helmet grab by the Giants’ David Tyree in the Super Bowl last year.”

WHO RUN IT?! Superbowl Champs Edition - SIX PACK

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:38:27 -0500

WHO RUN IT?! Superbowl Champs Edition - SIX PACK:

There have to be around a hundred fantastic photos from the Super Bowl on this page. Check it out!