My Super Bowl Memories

Ah, Super Bowl Weekend.

For anyone from the Steeler Nation there is nothing more enjoyable than getting to this time of year and knowing there will be Black and Gold colors all over the television.  All seems right with the world when we know the Terrible Towels will be waving over Dallas Stadium.

What have I gotten myself into?

I would argue that for anyone growing up in Western PA during the 70’s there were not too many greater cultural influences than football, specifically Steeler Football.  Families huddled around televisions every Sunday to catch the games.  Playing in the backyard we fought over who would get to be Terry Bradshaw, Franco, Mean Joe, or Jack Lambert.  The kid in the Coke commercial was the luckiest kid in the world and the most famous child celebrity in our neighborhoods right ahead of Mikey (“He likes it! He likes it!”) and the kid whose stomach blew up from having too many Pop Rocks and drinking Pepsi.  One of the greatest days in elementary school was when Rocky Bleier came to speak to us.  We really didn’t understand what his Fighting Back message was all about back then, but we knew we were seeing a real live Steeler in our auditorium.

In the 70’s I can’t really remember much about specific games; it was more about the experience and the influence that time period had on me when I was a kid.  Recently I attended a Diversity Workshop and one of the questions we were asked was to describe cultural traditions you have in your family.  I still to this day am not 100% sure of my family's national origins (mostly German and Scottish, I think?) and what traditions I have as a result but I certainly remember the influence those Sundays had on me.

My family would go to church Sunday mornings and during football season it was great because we were allowed to wear Steeler stuff in place of the turtlenecks, sweaters, or clip-on ties required during other times of the year.  Another added benefit of football Sundays:  the minister made sure on those days we were out by noon versus the rest of the year when he might go a little longer.  He knew what he was up against and was also not opposed to saying a nice little blessing for the Black and Gold to help work the crowd.

After church it was off to someone in the family’s house.  My brother and I were the oldest grandchildren so generally Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, uncles, and friends would stop by our house.  Usually there was a pot of chili and munchies all day.  Occasionally we would stop at Dan’s Poultry to bring home a Sunday brunch special, and on the really special Sundays we’d watch the games enjoying a square (not a slice) of the best pizza ever from Pizza Joe’s.  When the game started, we kids would proceed to watch the grown ups say things and act in ways that would get us great retribution any other days of the week.  Choice words might fly when Bradshaw through an interception, and running around the room yelling seemed to be allowed when Lynn Swann made an acrobatic touchdown catch.  We were confused at times by this bending of the rules but hey, it was football!

So what are my fondest memories of the Super Bowls?  Honestly, I can’t remember too much about the games of the 70’s.  I was very young for the first two; the third and fourth titles I remember a little bit more of the games.  My most vivid memory about watching the Steelers play Dallas for their third title, though, was we were allowed to use trays in the living room and eat while we were watching TV (another bending of the rules but hey, score!).

The 80’s Super Bowls were lean for Steeler Nation.  We didn't celebrate any Black and Gold participation, but that is when I remember discovering Super Bowl Parties.  As I got older a few of my friends would occasionally be ok’d to have friends over and we’d place our quarter wagers.  Since most games in the 80’s were blowouts the games themselves weren’t much to speak of  but we got real excited about the build up (The Super Bowl Shuffle, anyone?).  Also, since they were more generally more interesting to watch than the games themselves, we stayed in place during breaks to watch some of the best commercials of all time.  I still to this day believe the Apple 1984 commercial is still the best minute of television ever produced.

Was hazed for wearing a Pens Jersey in JAX

The 90’s brought Steeler Fans great years but a lot of heartbreak.  Not Cleveland heartbreak, mind you, but certainly a number of let downs.  For me the 90’s were a lot of fun; I was enjoying my first “real job” and felt I had disposable income enough to consider getting scalped tickets (never did though).  Laura and I were newly married and we had just moved to Youngstown, Ohio (always a fun place to wear our Black and Gold).  Together we discovered several Steeler bars to visit regularly (Billy's Black and Gold was still the best) and we enjoyed several road trips to watch the Steelers in action.  We went to The Clark Bar for the 1995 AFC Championship Game and watched Neil O’Donnell’s pass fall short when we were upset by San Diego.

Steeler mascots are not a strong point

The following year saw the Steelers make it to the Super Bowl only to see Mr. O’Donnell throw a few ill advised passes thus ending the Steeler’s perfect streak in Super Bowls.  And, like rubbing salt in the would, we lost to Dallas.  What I remember most about this Super Bowl wasn’t necessarily the game but the party.  You see, I had just received a promotion and we had been invited to our General Manager’s home in Moreland Hills, OH.  Dress code was VERY important to our professional and social life back then, and when the invitation was sent with instructions that attire was “country club casual,” we found ourselves at a significant crossroads:  conform or risk jinxing the support of our team by not wearing the same jersey, jeans, shirt and hat that were so critical in helping the team make it that far.  The outcome?  We showed up proudly in our Black and Gold and carrying our cooler of Iron City.  You see, Stiller fans don’t do Country Club Casual on Super Bowl Sunday.

We weren’t invited back to parties at his home for another 2 years, but I digress…

The rest of the 90’s and early 2000’s saw good seasons but also playoff letdowns.  When the Steelers made it to Detroit in 2006 it was great just knowing we lived on the path from Pittsburgh to Detroit.  I think one of the things I enjoyed most about the buildup to that game was watching how people from Cleveland went out of their way to put signs up along the turnpike pronouncing their continued hatred to the Steelers and their fans.  Yeah, when you are something like 1-22 for the decade against your biggest rival I guess you do whatever you can to enjoy the moment.  We went to my Aunt and Uncle’s home in New Castle for the game and watching it with family and seeing my daughter in her cheerleader’s outfit getting into the fun definitely made me feel I was in the circle of life.

Super Bowl Sunday 2009

2009’s Super Bowl brought another round of excitement and emotions.  This truly was one of the best events I could hope for.  In addition to the Steelers making it back to the big game they were playing the Arizona Cardinals where one of my roommates from college, Mike Miller, was working as the Wide Receiver’s Coach.  This was the year Laura discovered Facebook and it was interesting to see all the reactions from college friends who, win or lose for the Steelers, knew this would be a great game if Mike’s team pulled out a win.  The Cardinals made this the best Super Bowl ever and the outcome came down to two of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history.  It truly was about the best we could hope for as fans of both teams that day.

As I mentioned before, football and Super Bowls to me are more than just the games.  They are events that bring people of different backgrounds and walks of life together, creating something common to connect over.  Just this week I was fortunate enough to talk to one of the top breast cancer physicians in the country and when we learned we had both spent time in Western PA we stopped talking formal business and spent 5 minutes prognosticating over our chances against the Packers.  Not too many subjects open up lines of communication like football.

Laura and I with Reggie Rucker 2002

I’m not sure what 2011’s game will bring but I’m certainly looking forward to another day of memories.  Football always reminds me of family.  It gives my Dad and I something to talk about and gives my brother and I something to debate (like the crazy call that ended the Dolphins-Steelers game in 2010).  I can’t talk football on this post, though, without also saying how football will always remind me a little of loss.  I’ve been fortunate in life to have many “Best Days Ever,” and one of those days was in 2002 when my boss (the GM who finally got over us invading his home with Steeler gear) arranged for Laura and I to attend a Browns-Steelers game escorted by one of the greatest Browns players ever, Reggie Rucker.  We also met the legendary Jim Brown, walked on the field, and best of all had the day capped with a Steelers win.  I had to fly to St. Louis later that day because I’d been selected to be part of a national focus group for Enterprise, so I also felt I was on my game in my career.  Things were flying high, no doubt.  When I came home from the trip a few days later we received a call from my Mom.  She let us know she had been diagnosed with cancer and after a short but valiant fight she passed away a few weeks later.

I miss watching games with her even though on some game days she was the person in the background who helped keep order in the house while everyone else was enjoying the day.  I know today she would love seeing Hines Ward smiling every time he gets up and appreciate the quiet strength that Troy Polamalu brings to the field.  She would not be a fan of Big Ben's past off the field antics, but I think she would also want him to continue to turn his life around and give him that second chance.

Again back in enemy territory 2010

The intent here is certainly not to end the post on a downer but just to share how these games sometimes become a microcosm of our lives.  You stand up and cheer when your team scores the go ahead touchdown and you reel when they blow the big play.  In the end, though, win or lose these games create memories and moments that resonate with you throughout life.  I’ve had fantastic times enjoying big games with friends and families and am looking forward to celebrating another great day.

Ending with a Steeler’s win of course!