Growing up in East Orange, New Jersey in the 70's in a blue collar middle class neighborhood most everyone was a Giants or Jets fan. But both teams didn't have much going for them until the 80s and 90s. The first Super Bowl I remember was the '79 game where the "Steel Curtain" Steelers went up against "America's Team" the Cowboys. I was only 7 yrs old. It must be one of my first vivid childhood memories. The Steelers won (of course) and I've been smitten ever since.
Yeah, I rooted hard for the Giants in the 80s, and no I'm not one of those folks who wish their team went to the big game every single year - I'm a variety guy - but I do root for my Steelers. I want them to win. To be competitive and give a good performance every game. I especially love this new group of Steelers - Big Ben, Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, James Harrison, Troy & their coach Mike Tomlin. I hated when the fumble happened in the Super Bowl last year. I mean my heart shrank 10 Grinches plus 2. And I know the Ravens are TOUGH this year and Big Ben is hobbled, but I still want them to crush the Rams, Cleveland in these next two games and win over the Ravens in the Playoffs. THAT would be a feat in and of itself. Whether we get back to the Super Bowl or not this year remains to be seen, but I'll be rooting for them to do it.
And if they do, me and my son will be right there watching. And I hope he'll find himself being a Steelers fan as well, despite his Mom being a Redskin fan and his Grandma (my Mom) being an Eagles fan and his Uncle being a Giants fan. He'll stand tall and hold the terrible towel, wave it like he just don't care; wear the jersey with pride and be the man I learned him to be - he'll be a Steelers fan.
0 comments:
Post a Comment