Sunday, January 23, 2011

GO STEELERS!!!!!

You would have to be a hermit living in a cabin not to know that the Steelers play the NY Jets tonight in the AFC championship game. If you live within a 30 mile radius of Pittsburgh there is no escaping this fact because the whole town turns black and gold. The thing is, this is not just a play-off state of mind. Sure, the excitement amps up during the play-offs, but you will encounter this phenomenon on any game day throughout the season. 

Although the grocery store and parking lot will be inundated with people buying party food for the game, I must venture out for the coffee that I am addicted to. Nearly every person there will be wearing Steeler gear and displaying their paraphernalia. There will be little flags flying from car windows or decals on the bumpers. All of the store employees will be wearing jerseys and 9 out of 10 customers will be similarly attired. There will be couples of all ages holding hands, babies in strollers, and teenagers each wearing something to show their devotion. I once saw a young couple shopping for a Steeler shirt for the 1½-year-old that they had in tow. They obviously knew that children need to be taught the important things as early as possible. Someone from a less rabid football town might walk around bewildered at the sight. The allegiance to our team bridges every barrier; politics, race, age, gender, religion, EVERYTHING.

There will be an ocean of tailgates in the stadium parking lot today no matter how cold it is. Bars will be packed and there will be parties at people's houses where more flags will fly. Plug "Steeler songs" into your computer's search bar and you will find 13,900 listings for Steeler fight songs, 5430 listings on YouTube. 

I've always known that the "Steeler Nation" extends across the country. There are Steeler bars in many cities for those displaced from their homeland either by choice or necessity. However, I was amazed to find out from my son, who had the great fortune to travel with a friend to the Bahamas this year, that the small island they stayed on was full of Steeler fans!

This got me thinking about the idea of "belonging". We start out as part of a family and then, as we go through life, we become part of larger spheres through church, teams, clubs, colleges, and companies. I'm proud to be part of the Steeler family.


Copyright 2011 K.K.R.

I have to go with two songs today-how could I possibly choose just one?

"Here We Go Steelers 2010" -

1978 Steelers Fight Song by Jimmy Pol


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