This Is Steeler Country

Yup, there is no doubt about it, this is Steeler Country and after the Lions embarrassment yesterday this may be a better place to be. This week anyway.

Our company has season tickets for the Steelers but they almost always go to customers. But suprisingly noone asked for the tickets this past weekend so we got to go to the game. It was a perfect day. Temps in the seventies, a slight breeze, and the anticipation of a Super Bowl run in the air.

But first we have to get to the stadium. Parking is thirty dollars near the stadium but five dollars across the river with a 20 plus minute walk. Guess what we chose? To get to Heinz Field you first must pass PNC Park.





And for you baseball fans out there here is an interesting fact.





And of course we passed many of these on our walk to the field.





Here is our destination. Our seats are the second row from the top on the left side. If you look close you may be able to see them. I actually like to be that high, well, except for the climb to get there. You don't make many trips up and down. Plus, we are under cover which is really nice when the weather is nasty.





We were feeling a little underdressed.





And now this is when the camera died. Not the whole camera just the screen. Sometimes it comes on and sometimes it doesn't. And for the rest of the day I couldn't get it to come back on. Oh well. But we had lunch at Primanti Brothers (yum) and listened to a live band for awhile. They were really good but I have no idea who they were because for the 20 minutes we sat there they never said their name. It was a local band and they played a more country sound with a lot of guitar. From there it was the climb to our seats and a great game with the Steelers winning 38 - 17. It wasn't as close as the score indicates because the Texans scored twice late when the Steelers had the second string in.

Now while I was enjoying my game I could see by the scoreboard that the Lions fans were having a much harder time of it. This is Mitch Albom's take on the game.

Before a half-empty stadium, in a city that has no expectations, against a rookie quarterback, against a rookie coach, against a team whose former star passer sits in a jail cell, the Lions had their butts handed to them.

"Don't be trying to write us off," defensive captain Cory Redding warned, after the 34-21 loss. "We're good. We just didn't show up today."

Actually, Cory, if you didn't show up, it'd be a forfeit, and the score would have been closer.

All I can say it is going to be a long season for the Lions fans.

But, don't give up hope Michiganders. The state does produce some winners.

Charlie Says,

"I will take an ugly win over an ugly loss."

Wake Up The Echos

Here Come the Irish

Yes, it is that time of year again. Football season. I thought for fun I would post my predictions for the weekend. Trust me I know nothing of stats, who is playing, who is injured, or anything for that matter. I am thinking of trying Tiff's (Sarah's friend from Monroe who at one time detested sports) way of picking winners. She was in a football pool last year and based her picks on two criteria. First, she made her choice based on the team with the cutest players. If that was equal then she went to the tiebreaker. She would chose the team who came from the city she would most like to visit. Don't laugh. She picked the most winners last year and won. I'm thinking that could work for me.

First up, the Irish vs San Diego State.





D says if they lose this game, it's over. It can't be over so soon in the season, otherwise we would be called the Wolverines. The Irish by double digits.

I believe the Wolverines are playing Miami of Ohio. I know they can't beat Ohio but they sure better beat Miami or they are as good as done this season.

The Lions, who knows? I am hoping for a loss but preseason didn't go so well. Don't let me down Lions. There are some things in life that one should always be able to count on.

Go Irish!!

D is Officially Out

Yup, we are best friends again. Sorry, D.

To That Lone Lions Fan, And You Know Who You Are

This article appeared in the Free Press today and I thought some of your would find it interesting.



ESPN recently ranked the fan bases for each NFL team. Don't ask me why. It is not for us to question the wisdom of the almighty ESPN. What ESPN giveth, ESPN taketh away, and let's face it: you don't want your screen going black during "Monday Night Football."

Anyway, I wanted to see where Lions fans ranked in that list. First? This is a team that has won only one playoff game in the last half century, yet the fans have never abandoned ship. It's almost like the organization is trying to lose fans. How else do you explain Matt Millen?

So Lions fans must be ... hmm, not first. That honor went to Steelers fans. OK, fine: We all know Pittsburgh has great fans. We don't need numbers to tell us. It is impossible to imagine Pittsburgh without the Steelers. If the team left, the fans would just lift all the downtown buildings and carry them to the Steelers' new city.

So Lions fans must be second ... hmm. Nope. Not second. Second was Packers fans. I understand that. Tiny market + rabid fan base = high ranking.

Third was Cleveland. Good. I love Cleveland. So the Lions must be fourth ... um, Philadelphia? I love Philadelphia. What a great city. But fans there boo volunteers at homeless shelters.

Of course, Detroit can still be proud that it has the fifth-best NFL fans in America ... Kansas City? NFL tailgate capital of America. Sure.

Washington ... Denver ... New England? Come on. You could put that team in Roswell, New Mexico, and it would sell out every game.

Finally, I just scrolled down to find Lions fans.

31st.

THIRTY-FIRST. Out of 32 teams.

Thir.

Ty.

Fir.

St.

Wow. I am convinced that people around the country have no idea how hard it is to be a Lions fan. They don't know what it's like to have the most exciting running back in NFL history win just one playoff game, then retire. Mostly, they don't realize that the team grossly underachieved in the Barry Sanders era and that was still the best stretch of football most Lions fans have ever known.

Do you realize that if you remove the Sanders years from Lions history, the Lions have had exactly three winning records in their last 25 seasons? Treat that little fact like a wine tasting for a moment: swirl it around your mouth, then spit it out.
Since 1971, the Lions have reached double digits in victories three times. They have lost at least 10 games 15 times.

Since Millen arrived before the 2001 season, the Lions have been the worst franchise in the NFL by a significant margin. It is quite possible that they have been the worst franchise in the modern history of the NFL. Yet interest has actually increased.

That's not always audible at Ford Field, because it's hard to be loud when your team is losing, and a lot of fans stay away on principle. But the interest is definitely there.

The funny part of this is that most people around the nation would agree that the Red Wings have great fans and the Pistons have great fans. Yet people from those organizations know that the Lions are an obsession on their own level around here.
If the Lions ever make the Super Bowl, it would be the biggest thing ever to happen in Detroit sports. It would be the NFL equivalent of the Cubs making the World Series.

Of course, whenever you start a sentence with "If the Lions ever make the Super Bowl ..." Detroiters laugh. They doubt it will ever happen. Yet they pull for the Lions anyway.

I'll say this: Those first 30 teams must have some really great fans.


Contact MICHAEL ROSENBERG at 313-222-6052 or mrosenberg@freepress.com.

Sometimes I Get the Packages

When I got back from my little business trip with D I found an Amazon package in the pile of mail. I have to admit, I cursed Amazon for messing up an order I had placed with them the week before. I knew I had put Sarah's address down for the recipient and what did they do but send it to me. Now I was going to have to send it over to Sarah. I even let it set there a couple of days before I opened it. Well, guess what? This wasn't my order for Sarah. No, this was a book from my not that younger brother. Look what I have.





I have just skimmed through the book and I see many recipes that I am going to try in the coming weeks. Thanks, brother! And my apoligies to Amazon, I should have never doubted you.