Is Steelers/Ravens the Biggest Rivalry in the NFL?

Baltimore Raven Linebacker Terrell Suggs says it is. To quote him, "There is nothing to hype about this game. This is definitely the biggest rivalry in football. It's a championship week. It's Baltimore against Pittsburgh." Now a few other teams may take exception with that proclamation. The Redskins fans would definitely argue their rivalry with the Cowboys is the biggest. However, it's not even close. And those two teams are both so bad this year that no one even cares. The teams of the NFC North would definitely have strong arguments in their favor. All four of those teams hate each other. Cleveland would try to argue that their rivalry with Pittsburgh is bigger. But the Steelers rivalry with Baltimore is the old Cleveland rivalry. The real one. The bigger one.

When the Browns left Cleveland for Baltimore, it was a sad day for both Cleveland and Pittsburgh. We thought it was the end of an era. One of the oldest rivalries in the NFL was dead. It would never be the same. Looking back, we were wrong. Very wrong.

At this point in time, I have to agree with Suggs. This has grown to be the biggest rivalry in the NFL. Both teams have been on top of their games for years. Both teams hate each other. Both teams play smash mouth football. When they collide, it's always a hard hitting, fun to watch game. Something that the current NFL management hates. I have heard football fans all week talk about the upcoming Sunday night game. Everyone wants to see this one. You know a rivalry is great when other team's fans want to watch it. This rivalry is a true rivalry. It is not one sided or fake. Both fan bases live for this game.

Living in the Washington D.C. area, I have got to watch this Ravens fan base develop. And I can definitely tell you this, they hate the Steelers. They hate Steeler Nation. They hate Black and Gold. They hate Pittsburgh. They hate James Harrison. And they really hate Hines Ward. He is the most hated man in Baltimore. A fact which makes me laugh. I mean it! Come on! How can you hate that smile?

OK, so he put a few hard hits on your guys. He's just playing football. Get over it. It's smash mouth football, remember?

Actually the Ravens fan base hase gotten more obnoxious about this rivalry every year. They think the Steelers are the dirtiest organization in football, which is ridiculous. They are starting to remind me of Eagles fans. They will spit venomous hatred at the very sight of a Steelers jersey. The animosity seems to grow and grow. Probably because of the beat downs the Steelers have put on the Ravens at just the right times each season. I had a good friend move to Baltimore about 4 or 5 years ago. He had always been a die hard Redskins fan and had never expressed a bad opinion about the Steelers, until the move. Now he hates the Steelers with a passion. I guess hate really is contagious. I think the teams have a mutual respect for each other, but they also hate each other.

This game Sunday night is looking like a great match up. Both teams are 8-3. The winner

should take the division. The Steelers are ranked 5th defensively, the Ravens 8th. The Ravens are ranked 14th offensively, the Steelers 19th. The Steelers pass defense is ranked an abhorrent 22nd, the Ravens is 7th. The Steelers rush defense is 1st, the Ravens 11th. The ground game is where the Steelers may really prevail. Rashard Mendenhall is 7th in the league in rushing yards, Ray Rice is 11th. But Mr. Rice is going up against the best rush defense in the league.

Having won in Pittsburgh earlier this year, the Ravens have a chance to sweep the Steelers this year. Something they haven't done since 2006. The Ravens also have an 8 game home win streak going into this game. But that is about to come to an end. Because the Steelers have something this time that they didn't the last time, Big Ben. He may have a sprained foot. But the two time Super Bowl winning quarterback is back. And that makes a huge difference.

So this game looks great on paper, but that means nothing. It would be a great game anyway. It's the greatest rivalry in the NFL. Right?

When Did Physical Become Dirty?

The answer to the above question: Sunday October 17th, 2010. The day the NFL decided to make a statement. The day James Harrison was penalized for a hit on Cleveland Browns' receiver Mohamed Massaquoi. A penalty that would later cost him $75,000 in fines. (Which by the way makes a lot of sense. Since you can obviously hit a player in the face after a play and only get fined $25,000.) It's the day Harrison became a poster boy for NFL"discipline". It's the day Roger Goodell started destroying the game of football.

Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders was no fun to watch. It was great that the Steelers won 35 -3. But the referees were ruining the game with terrible officiating. The game had no flow. It was mundane and hard to watch. The crowd chanted " Refs Suck!" throughout the game. The penalty called on James Harrison for a clean hit on Jason Campbell was for landing, and I quote, "with full body weight on top of him". I personally have never heard of that penalty. It's like they are making up rules as they go. Earlier calls on Ryan Clark and LeMarr Woodley, both for 15 yards each, were equally egregious. I have stated in this blog before that I do not like to comment on officiating. I have always felt that it is just an argument that cannot be won, that you cannot come to a definitive conclusion. But after Sunday's game, I had to comment.

Actually, you can not fully blame the refs. This problem comes from the front office. Fuhrer Roger Goodell's Field Marshall, Herr Ray Anderson, is putting tons of pressure on the refs. They are throwing flags because they are afraid of missing a call and getting disciplined themselves. Ron Cook wrote a great article in the Post Gazette about the whole subject. There are claims that the NFL is targeting the Steelers. I don't think that is true. The Steelers have been the darlings of the NFL for years. However, they are targeting James Harrison. I believe the refs have been told to watch his every move, and they are. One can also argue that he brought it upon himself with his comments after the aforementioned Browns game.

"I don't want to see anyone injured. But I am not opposed to hurting anyone. There's a difference. When you're injured, you can't play. But when you're hurt, you can shake it off and come back. I try to hurt people."

As recently as last year, those comments would have been heroic. He would have been admired for such an attitude. This year, he is admonished and branded a thug. It's just not right. Big hits made this game the most popular sport in America. Harrison is a physical player, not a dirty one. The Steelers are a physical team, not a dirty one.

What do you think this guy would say about all this?

I'd love to hear his opinion.

I did reads Jack Hamm's opinion. "It should come down to common sense." He said, "The officials should know what's a dirty hit and what is not."

Amen Jack.

It appears Goodell is blind to what his policies are doing to this great sport. But he is not. He is looking at the bigger picture. He is looking ahead to the upcoming collective bargaining agreement in March with the NFLPA. He and the owners want an 18 game season. The players are against it. The players are concerned with more injuries. They also want better medical benefits for NFL veterans. Goodell is playing the safety card now to weaken the union's position in March. Deep down, safety isn't Goodell's highest priority. He has no morality, he's a lawyer. He knows it's hard for the players to take a safety stance on the schedule, and argue for more benefits, and be against the new crack down on physical play. He is positioning himself to look like the good guy. And positioning the union to look like hypocrites. Although, I will predict that one major point of contention will be Goodell's power. Another point will be the process for establishing fines. We may not have football in 2011 my friends. A lockout or strike is quite possible.

So let me answer the question again. When did physical become dirty? I'll change my answer. Physical became dirty when money got further involved. Let's face facts. At the end of the day, money is what this is really all about. And we all know who is really behind this: Evil Spock!!

Does The Emperor Have No Clothes?

We all knows the Hans Christian Anderson tale. We all heard it as kids. Two weavers promise the Emperor, who cares for nothing but his clothes, a new set of clothes from a cloth that can not be seen by anyone who is unfit for his position. Or who is just hopelessly stupid. The emperor himself can not see the cloth, but pretends that he can for fear of appearing unfit for his position; his ministers do the same. After the con artists dress him in the pretend cloth. The Emperor marches in procession before his subjects. During the procession, a young boy yells out that the Emperor is wearing nothing at all. The other subjects then take up the cry. The Emperor cringes, suspecting that the assertion is true, but holds himself up proudly and continues the procession.

This is the way the situation appears right now. That Coach Mike Tomlin is the Emperor. Bruce Arians and Dick LeBeau are the ministers. Tom Brady is the young boy who showed that the Steelers were naked. And Steeler Nation has become the subjects that take up the cry.

After Sunday nights thumping of the Steelers by the Patriots, everyone took up the cry. I read it on blogs. I read it in newspapers. I watched it on ESPN. Everyone is wondering if this is going to be a repeat of last year, and for good reason. The Steelers were 6-2 at the half way mark last year. They then lost 5 in a row and ended up 9-7 and out of the playoffs. The Steelers have now lost 2 of their last 3 games. The team appears to be slipping. And the fan base is naturally worried. The players are concerned also. Here is a quote from Mike Wallace:

"We got to stop it early. Last year we let it come up on us too fast. Things got in over our heads too fast and it was hard to bounce back, especially in the division we are in. "

I'll actually cut Arians a little slack, which I rarely do. With Starks and Kemoeatu out, the Steelers were missing most of the left side of their offensive line. And when Ben's security blanket, Hines Ward, was knocked out of the game at the end of the first quarter, I knew the Steelers' chances were slim. Although I have to question Rashard Mendenhall only getting 11 carries. Not a good game plan.

LeBeau will get no slack. Tom Brady sliced and diced the Steelers' 4th ranked defense. LeBeau was out coached. This is where the Emperor was missing his clothes. There was no pressure on Brady the entire night. His uniform was spotless at the end of the game. Brady threw for 350 yards. He threw three touchdown passes to a rookie tight end. There were no sacks and no turnovers. The Emperor was exposed, naked, and humiliated. The Steelers' defense looked lost. The Patriots went with a two tight end offensive scheme that froze the Steelers' defense. Even Polomalu looked lost. He described the loss as "incredibly humbling". This defense has lost it's edge. It has not been dominating since Ben came back.

In the fairy tale, the Emperor refused to see the reality of the situation. He couldn't swallow his pride and admit he was wrong. There are many tales and stories with similar lessons. In Jim Collins' book, "Good to Great", he tells the story of Admiral Stockdale, a famous Vietnam War veteran and former prisoner of war. Collins tells of how "Good to Great" companies use the "Stockdale Paradox". It basically states that you must maintain unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties. And at the same time, you must have the discipline to face the brutal facts of your situation. The Emperor couldn't face the brutal facts. I believe the Steelers can prevail. But right now, the they have some brutal facts to face.

Does the Emperor have no clothes? It's a good question. I hope the Steelers' coaching staff is taking it up. And if the Emperor is naked, I hope he is putting some of his old clothes back on for the Oakland game on Sunday.

Two Bad Calls

As it is with most of Steeler Nation, I tend to be very emotional when it comes to my team. As you a can deduce from reading my last blog. Even though I am so emotional, and even though the name of this blog is "Brash and Bold", I try not to let my fervor blind me when writing about the team. It's probably a stupid endeavor. The title of the blog gives me permission to be a raving idiot. So when I see the Steelers commit three penalties in a row in the 4th quarter of the game, costing them 50 yards, my reaction is to blame them, not the penalty calling. And most of the time I am right. By the way, I do the same with the Mountaineers in my other blog. So what happens this time? Three days after I chastise the Steelers for committing stupid penalties in the 4th quarter of Monday night's game, the NFL sends the Steelers a letter apologizing for two of the three penalties that I wrote about. I am glad that Coach Tomlin filed a complaint to the NFL, and that the NFL responded the way they did. But no one likes eating crow. However,

I stand corrected. Only one of the penalties was stupid. But, I also stand by my opinion of the Steelers 4th quarter play. The team gave up many games last year in the 4th. And they are not playing well in the 4th quarter this year. Does anyone remember the end of the Baltimore game? I was going to compare the Steelers 4th quarter play to Marc-Andre Fleury's 3rd period play this year. But Fleury had a great game last night against the Tampa Bay Lightening. The Pens beat the Lightening 5-1. Fleury had 15 saves and .938 save percent. So you see, improvements can come later in the season. As I do for the Pens, I hope the Steelers late game woes have ended. Fleury looked good tonight, and the Steelers weren't as bad in the 4th against the "Bungles" as I thought they were.

I'll be more careful of such criticisms in the future. And I decided to fire one of my advisers. Evil Spock, you are out of here!!

How to Turn a 20 Point Lead in to a Nail Biter: A Lesson from Dick LeBeau.

How do you turn a 20 point lead into a nail biter? I'll give you three ways:

1. Stupid Penalty
2. Stupid Penalty
3. Stupid Penalty

I swear, it's during games like the Steelers 27-21 defeat of the "Bungles" on Monday Night Football that I find out just how much I love this team. The Steelers kill me when they blow big leads. I am sure it affects many of you the same way. Your blood pressure rises. You can't take your eyes off the television. You snap at anyone who tries to talk during the plays. You throw or kick something across the room and scare the dog. Thank God there is not a gun or brick in the room, or you would need a new television. I was at a sports bar in Alexandria Va Monday night called 815 Southdside, a common watering hole of mine and a big hangout for Steelers fans. And I had to refrain from throwing my pint of beer.

Here is the scenario: It's about half way through the 4th quarter, around the 13 minute mark, Roethlisberger throws a deep right pass to Miller, pass intercepted by Williams at the Cincinnati 49. So if that's not bad enough, Flozell Adams gets hit with an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty to give the Bungles another 15 yards. After that Palmer throws an incomplete pass to Ochocino, but wait, another 15 yards penalty. This time it's Casey Hampton for Roughing the Passer. Next play, Palmer incomplete to Owens, but wait again, a third penalty for 20 yards. Here it is boys and girls, Ike Taylor for Defensive Pass Interference on Owens. Do the math folks, the Steelers just gave up 50 yards, and the Bungles didn't even have to complete a pass. Two runs by Cedric Benson later, the score is now 27-21. The next drive by the Steelers ends with a missed Jeff Reed field goal, wide left from 46 yards. And my mother wonders why I drink.

To give credit where it is due, the Steelers defense did keep the Bungles from scoring on their final possession. The game ending with Harrison and Taylor breaking up a pass to Shipley on 4th and 5.

What worries and bothers me about all this is consistently bad play in the fourth quarter? It is to reminiscent of last year. And remember, the Steelers were 6-2 at this point last year, and supposedly a Super Bowl contender. None of us want to go through that again. And it's not just penalties. We are currently ranked 4th in total defense and 1st in rushing defense. But here is the kicker, we are ranked 24th in passing defense. So the strategy to score on the Steelers is simple, throw the ball. And when do our opponents throw the ball? In the 4th quarter when they are down and need to score. The problem is, it works.

Dick Lebeau is a great defensive coordinator, probably one of the greatest ever. He is in the Hall of Fame and the guys love playing for him. But our 4th quarter defense can not consist of giving up yards and committing stupid penalties. I thought Bryant McFadden coming back would help remedy that problem, but it really hasn't. William Gay is playing better this year. I am not going to condemn him for getting burned a few times by T.O. I personally can't stand T.O., but he is a great receiver.

Steelers Nation just needs to hang in there and pray. Pray that LeBeau can fix this problem. And if he does. Maybe, just maybe, we will be climbing the Stairway to Seven.

Thoughts on Week 7

Steelers

• We all love a controversial call when it goes our way. And we hate it when it doesn't. The Steelers got a gift toward the end of the game on Sunday afternoon in the form of a fumble that was originally called a touchdown. Since it was called a touchdown, the refs didn't try to determine who had possession at the end of the play. After the replay confirmed that the play was a fumble, the replay then could not determine possession. The Steelers got the ball back on the Miami 1 yard line. They then kicked a field goal to win the game, pissing off everyone in Miami. For a more detailed explanation of the call: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/25/referee-gene-steratore-explains-ruling-in-dolphins-steelers-game/ As Coach Tomlin said, "We'll take it and exit stage left.""

• The Steelers are now tied with the Jets and Patriots for the NFL's best record. All three are at 5-1.

• Lossing Aaron Smith(torn tricep), LaMarr Woodley(hamstring), and Flozell Adams(left ankle) was scary. Smith is out for the season, which sucks. No status yet on Woodley or Adams.

• Big Ben needs to show more leadership and control during the games. You would have thought it was already Halloween the way he scared us. His trying to force plays is going to kill the Steelers down the road. Twice yesterday he tried to pass the ball while be wrapped up by defense men and surrounded by Dolphin defense. The first time he ended up giving the ball back to Miami on the Steelers 13, which resulted in a Miami field goal. The second time the ball was saved by Pouncey who caught it in mid air. Thank God. Ben, you play for the Steelers, not the Browns. Take a sack now and then. You are a big guy, and your team is good enough to come back from it.

• Our defense is ranked #4 in the league, #1 against the rush. The former shocks me after watching Miami torch our secondary. I am tired of watching Ryan Clark get beat every week. The defensive line was really missing Keisel and then Smith yesterday, which was apparent from the lack of pressure on Miami QB Chad Henne. The defense gave up 313 yards, 249 to passing. You would think it was the secondary with the injuries, not the line.

NFL

• The Cincinnati Bungels lost again and are 2-4. Thank God they have Ocho Cinco and T.O. on that team.

• The Redskins held on the beat the Bears 17-14. Which made me happy since I had the Redskins getting 3.5. DeAngelo Hall picked Culter off 4 times. Wow. And I thought Tony Romo was overrated.

• The Browns humiliated the Saints. Which sucks for the Steelers who have to play the Saints in New Orleans next week. Think the Saints will be fired up? I do. Just a note, the Browns have beaten the defending Super Bowl Champion three years in a row now. A pretty good stat for a team that doesn't have much.

• We all became Bills fans after the Steelers game. The Bills took the Ravens to OT, and looked like they might pull off a win. But the Dirty Birds got the ball back after a Ray Lewis strip and kicked a field goal to win. The Bills are now 0-6.

Quote of the Week: "The Refs called a wonderful game - for the Steelers." - Channing Crowder, Miami Linebacker.

Pay James Harrisons' Bogus Fine

For those of you on Facebook, there is a new page to pay James Harrsion's fine.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pay-James-Harrisons-Bogus-Fine/134796989903782

If you are not on Facebook. The following message is on the page from founder Leah Griffin:

Send $1 with a note that says,

"For James Harrison's fine. Steeler Nation"
to Roger Goodell, c/o National Football League, 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

I suggest everyone do so. I already sent Goodell my dollar.

Thoughts on Week 5

Steelers

• Big Ben made his much anticipated come back yesterday. He went 16/37 for 257 yards and finished with a 112.7 QB rating as the Steelers clobbered the Browns 28-10. It was great to hear the crowd cheer Ben when he came out onto the field. He looked a little rusty in the first half, but really opened up the offense in the second half. All in all, he had a great day.

• Steelers Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians actually called more running plays than passing plays on Sunday. Let's see how often that happens this season.

• James Harrison single handily knocked Browns wide receivers Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi out of the game. Harrison was a raging beast on Sunday afternoon with 10 solo tackles and 1.5 sacks. It will be interesting to see if he receives a fine for the hit on Cribbs. Both hits were legal, but there was helmet to helmet contact with Cribbs.

• Lawrence Timmons had 9 solo tackles, 2 sacks, and an interception. Just to give credit where it is due.

• I was going to comment on all the pink I saw on the field yesterday. But then I read the post game analysis on Stillers.com this morning by Still Mill. I don't usually quote other bloggers, but I think he makes the point quite well: "OK, I tolerated the pink shoes, gloves, wrist bands, and jock straps a couple of weeks ago. We had to endure it again yesterday. I think the country is well aware of breast cancer, and this is a classic case of going to the well once too often. Enough, already. Once per season is more than enough to send the message. Beyond that, it becomes an absurd charade". - Still Mill. One of my best friends is a breast cancer survivor. I am a big supporter of the cause. And I think it is great that the NFL has become involved. But I agree with Still Mill, pink on a football field once a season is enough.

NFL

• The Seahawks beat the Bears. The Rams beat the Chargers. Did anyone outside of a blinded by love Seahawks or Rams fan see either of these wins coming? This season is weird. I'll stick with the Bears, but Phil Rivers and the Chargers suck.

• The Ravens lost to the Patriots, which is great for Steeler Nation. I just hate being put into a situation where I have to root for Tom Brady.

• The 1-4 Cowboys are sitting at the bottom of the NFC Least. (snicker, snicker).

• The Lions have covered the spread 3 out of the last 4 weeks. This team isn't as bad as Las Vegas thinks it is.

• The Eagles are 4-2 with Vick coming back next week. Things in Philadelphia could get interesting over the next few weeks.

Quote of the Week: "I don't want to see anyone injured. But I am not opposed to hurting anyone. There's a difference. When you're injured, you can't play. But when you're hurt, you can shake it off and come back. I try to hurt people." - Steelers Linebacker James Harrison.

Puck Bunnies

Hockey is upon us my friends. And as always, I am looking forward to this season. Even though our beloved Penguins are off to an inauspicious start. They are 1-3-0 so far this season. And 0-3-0 in their new arena. However, I have every bit of confidence that they will pull it together sometime during the next 78 games. Trust me, living here in the Washington D.C. area, I heard it from my friendly neighborhood Capitals fans when the Penguins lost their opening game at their new arena. The Facebook razing was instantaneous, as were the text messages. You would have thought we had lost to the Capitals, not the Fliers.

Hockey makes living here in DC a never boring life. I am a die hard Penguins fan in the middle of Capitals country. It's always been fun. And now in the era of Crosby/Ovechkin, it has gotten to be very interesting. The difference when you go from football to hockey down here is amazing. As I stated in my blog post on Sept. 13, 2010 titled "Those annoying Steelers Fans" the Redskins fans don't hate the Steelers fans. They just find us annoying. Naturally, the majority of the Redskins fan base and the Capitals fan base are the same people. But when you start talking hockey, the feelings are very different. Capitals fans hate the Penguins with a passion. I would even use the word loath, especially when you mention Sidney Crosby. It's understandable. It's similar to the hatred the Browns fans have for the Steelers. The Capitals have suffered 7 defeats in 8 playoff appearances against the Penguins. The worst being a 6-3 defeat on May13th, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Game 7 in the second round of the playoffs. They then had to watch the Penguins go on to hoist the Stanley Cup. If you are a Capitals fan, that is a bitter pill to swallow. I imagine Steelers fans living in Cleveland experience the same loathing that I do here.

Since I live here, many of my friends are naturally Capitals fans. We go at it rather often about the Pens and Caps, or about Crosby and Ovechkin. It's nice that the Pens have 3 Stanley Cups and a winning playoff record against the Capitals. The Capitals have only been to one Stanley Cup, and lost. I like having an edge. However, one of the beauties of hockey is that it can make strange bedfellows. Most hockey fans love the game itself. And that is the case with three good friends of mine. Three lovely ladies whom I refer to as my Hockey Chicks. One of the unique aspects of the NHL is that 33% of it's fan base is female. And I have seen estimates as high as 50%. The fact that there are so many female fans makes being a hockey fan that much more fun for a guy. I have found that women who are into hockey tend to be rabid fans, and very knowledgeable of the game.

However, a word of warning. Don't call them Puck Bunnies. I was told this by one of my Hockey Chicks. "Really?" I asked. "You hate being called a Puck Bunny?" She replied that the term was degrading. Then I jokingly said, "How about Hockey Whores?". The response surprised me. "I would prefer Hockey Whore over Puck Bunny". Wow. You would rather be called a whore? Puck Bunny must really be bad. I actually find the name Puck Bunny kind of cute. But obviously, I am wrong. Some battles you just don't fight. So suffice it to say, I will stick with Hockey Chicks when referring to my three lovely ladies.

Because we watch a lot of sports together, I will mention my Hockey Chicks periodically in this blog. And since I do not want to use their real names, they will be forever referred to as: The Irish Girl, The Girl with the Curly Hair, and Darla.

The Irish Girl: I have known the Irish Girl the longest. She and I have been watching hockey together for years. We have spent many an evening in a pub or at her house watching games. Both of us are of Irish descent, so she loves a good pint as much as I do. She is a die hard Capitals fan, so she of course hates the Penguins. But she loves the game and respects good hockey when she sees it. Therefore I can watch a Pens game with her and receive minimal abuse.

The Girl with the Curly Hair: This one is both a Rangers and a Capitals fan. Which means double trouble for me. She naturally hates the Penguins, and don't even mention the name Sidney Crosby in front of her. She really loves hockey, and can spot a player walking down the street 200 yards away. The Girl with the Curly Hair is the one that tries to keep me in check, which is probably a good thing. I piss her off so often that I sometimes wonder why she hangs out with me. The funny part is, I don't even have to try. I am prone to offering brash and bold opinions during any sporting event. And if one of my statements is at the expense of the Capitals, she gets pissed. I don't even have to remember what I said, she has it all memorized. "You called Alex Ovechkin an ugly Russian figure skater on April 14th, 2008 at Indigo Landing. It was 9:30pm." Date, time, place; it's pretty impressive. One night at one of our local watering holes, she turned to me, phone in hand and said "Hey Timmy, I just googled Crosby and Cry Baby and got 350,000 hits!" "Really." I replied, "Try Ovechkin and Dirty Player." She did, 1,000,000 hits. I was then told I was a jerk.

Darla: Darla isn't this girls real name. Darla is the name of her alter ego. The other two girls gave her this nickname. Whenever she says or does anything even slightly ditsy, it is Darla's fault. This one is a real sweet heart. She is a Capitals and Canadians fan. However, she doesn't hate the Penguins. She doesn't hate period. Even if she tries to be mean, she fails miserably. When the Girl with the Curly Hair goes on one of her Sidney Crosby rants. Darla will lean over and whisper in my ear, "I think he's really good." Just like the other two, she really knows her hockey. She loves a good pint and it is very fun to watch a game with her. It was Darla who informed me not to use the term Puck Bunnies.

My suggestion to you, if you are not a hockey chick, is that you find some hockey chicks of your own. Girls who love hockey are nothing but fun. The female fans make hockey the great game it is. But remember, don't call them Puck Bunnies. You will pay the price if you do. You know who coined that term don't you. That's right. Evil Spock!!

Oh, and by the way, Go Pens!!!!

Was Jeff Reed hung Over? Thoughts on Week 4

Steelers

• Two missed field goals? Reed missed two, one from 49 yards and one from 45 yards. Really? Look, I know those are not short kicks, but this is Jeff Reed. One the Steelers' huge advantages at home is Reed's ability to kick field goals in the swirling winds of Heinz Field. The two missed kicks came back to haunt the Steelers at the end of the game. It makes one wonder, was he hung over? We know he likes to party. By the way, that's really him in the picture above. Just picture him without the bib. There you go.

• Mendenhall is defending the decision to run the ball three times at the end of the game in an attempt to get a much needed first down. Defend all you want Rashard, but Arians is a terrible play caller. I could tell that you were going to run the ball. And I was watching from a bar stool in Virginia. Trust me, if I figured it out, I know the #1 ranked Ravens defense figured it out. The Steelers gave the ball back with 1:08 left to play, and the Ravens pulled off a miracle win. Thanks Bruce.

• Ravens tight end Todd Heap called it a "huge win". From the Ravens perspective, he is right. The Steelers would have been leading the division by two games if they had won. It amazes me how this guy dominates every time he plays the Steelers.

• OK, this loss sucks. Know one wants to lose, and especially not to the old Browns. Yeah, they are still the Browns to me. But all in all, the Steelers are looking fine. They almost won this game without Big Ben, who is back as of today. I would have been happy with a 2-2 start. The Steelers are 3-1 and tied for the division lead.

• Flacco got his first win in Pittsburgh. Not to take away from his accomplishment, but does it really count without Roethlisberger on the field? OK, I am taking away from his accomplishment. It's a paper thin win. The Ravens barely pulled it out against the Steelers 4th string QB. Sorry Joe.

• Some idiot at the bar yesterday was rooting for the Lions at the top of his lungs. They were playing the Packers. I usually would not judge anyone in this situation, since I am known for being quite loud during Steelers games. However, he then proceeded to also root for the Ravens just as loudly. I held my composure. I only called him a bastard and told him to shut up once. After the Steelers game ended, he had the audacity to ask me to root for the Lions. I declined.

NFL

• The Redskins are at the top of the NFC Least. Yeah, that's how bad that division is.

• After the Bills gave the Patriots a game last week. I picked them getting 5 1/2 against the Jets. Bad choice.

• The Bengals lost to the Browns. Thank God they have T.O. and Ocho Cinco on that team. (Hee Hee)

• T.O. had 222 yards yesterday and the Bengals still lost. I love it.

• To the loud guy at Southside yesterday, I am glad your Lions are 0-4. Bastard.

• The Jaguars stepped up and beat the Colts yesterday. Good job guys. Maybe Peyton & Co. aren't that dominate this year. That would be nice.

• The Bears QB Jay Cutler sustained a concussion in their game against the Giants. I lived in Chicago for two years. They are a great fan base and the Bears are off to a great start. I hope he is back soon.

Thoughts on Week 3

Steelers

• It was fun to watch the offense come alive. I had a feeling it would. Charlie Batch was impressive. His 24 yard third down run in the first quarter seemed to give the team a spark that ignited them for the rest of the game. Charlie ended the game with a 106.5 passer rating. I had a lot of people tell me this week that the Steelers weren't going anywhere with Batch. They went to 3-0. I like it.
• Charlie had some great help. Mendenhall ran for 143 yards and Wallace had 2 touchdown catches. Not to mention how great the offensive line is looking. With all the injuries and substitutions, it's amazing.
• Heinz Ward had his 80th touchdown, tying him at second with Jerome Bettis for the Steelers all time list.
• Our defense is the best in the NFL, hands down. Keisel had his first career interception. He looked like an ox lumbering toward the goal line on the 79 yard return. But he made it.

NFL

• The Chiefs are 3-0. Hell must have frozen over.
• The 49ers are 0-3. Refer to above thought.
• Eagles(2-1),Giants(1-2), Cowboys(1-2), Redskins(1-2). I heard this division referred to as the NFC Least the other day. Fitting. Have to give the Eagles credit. I thought they would be wrestling with the Redskins for last place. They are proving me wrong.
• Michael Vick has a QB rating of 110. The highest of his career.
• The Rams ended a 14 game losing streak by beating the Redskins with a back up quarterback. Pretty pathetic for Donovan and Co.
• The Steelers and the Chiefs are the only undefeated teams in the NFL, both at 3-0. I wouldn't have taken that bet before the season started.
• Steelers (3-0), Bengals(2-1), Ravens(2-1), Browns(0-3). I like it!!
• That's right. The Browns are 0-3. Yeah, I saw that coming.
• The Ravens and the Patriots could have at least covered the spreads on their games. Every week they both continue to give me more reasons to hate them.
• Did anyone watch the Raiders/Cardinals game? And if so, why?

Quote of the Week:

"The league does not want us to be 4-0 with a mad Ben (Roethlisberger) coming back, I'll tell you that." — Wide receiver Hines Ward on the Steelers' 3-0 start

A Correction

It was pointed out to me that the Browns lost on Sunday. I had stated in the blog on Monday that they had won. I laughed at myself. Since when do I start assuming the Browns have won? Actually, I had them marked down as winning because they beat the spread, which made me happy. I'll be more careful in the future. And I'll also keep making fun of Cleveland. Maybe they can set the lake on fire next week.

Tim

Those Annoying Steelers Fans

This past Sunday was the first Sunday of NFL Football. It's almost like a holiday. People put on their fan gear, and head to their favorite local sports bar to watch their team play. Some fans stay home, or have people over, but many go out. Being a displaced fan, I am one of the ones that goes out. Living in the DC area, my team is not always on the local broadcast. I would have to suffer through a Redskins or Ravens game if I were home. And it is in this aspect that being a part of Steeler Nation is a great joy. For even when I travel, I can find a Steelers Bar. Steeler Nation is everywhere, I even found a Steelers bar in Madrid. Steelers Bars are easy to find, even if you do not have Internet access. Just ask your hotel concierge, or any of the locals. They will probably roll their eyes and say "Yes, there is a Steelers bar on such and such street".

The Steelers have a huge following here in the DC area. There are several Steelers bars, one is only 3 blocks from my apartment. And, as I am sure is true with many other local fan bases around the country, the Redskin fans find us annoying. They are annoyed by the fact that we take over the bar. They are annoyed by the fact that we clap after every good play. They annoyed when we win, and they don't. They are annoyed when we are 10-6, and they are 6-10. To be fair, it is just an annoyance, they don't hate us. They reserve their hate for the Dallas Cowboys. But they do say things to me like, "Where did all of you come from?!" and "Why don't you back there?!". The answers are simple: Pittsburgh, and there are no jobs there. In fact, economics is why Steeler Nation encompasses the country. Economics is why we annoy people in every NFL city in America.

In 1980 the country was in a bad recession, and Pittsburgh was hit hard. The Steel Industry was crashing, and steel mills, the areas main source of income, were dying. For the first time, there were no jobs to be had in the mills. They were actually laying people off. Jobs were being lost in droves, and people had to leave the area to find work. This was happening all over the country, and other NFL cities lost large portions of their fans bases as well. But the Steelers fans had something those other fan bases did not, a dynasty. The Steelers had just recently won four Super Bowls in six years. Our team had conquered the NFL. The people left the area, but were not willing to give up their team. They remained loyal, and taught their kids to be Steelers fans. Thus, the birth of Steeler Nation. The fans settled all over the country, many of them came here to DC. But they did not adopt the local team. As they did in every city where they settled, they stayed true to the Black and Gold. This is why there are Steelers bars in almost every city in America. This is also why we have been annoying the Redskins fans since 1980.

As I said, they don't hate us. Two years ago I attend the Redskins/Steelers Monday Night Game here at Fedex Field. The two fan bases got along famously. We tailgated together, threw football, partied. We are not rivals. There was no animosity between us. Until the game began, and the ugly truth was evident. There were approximately 25,000 Steelers fans in the seats. I was fortunate enough to have club seats and a great view. When I saw the Terrible towels waving, I was astonished. We were so loud, the Redskins had to go to a silent count in their own stadium. Once again, we annoyed them. One of their own, sports writers Michael Wilbon, had some harsh words for them in the Washington Post the next day for letting the Steelers fans get a hold of that many tickets. I was actually dumbfounded that they were surprised. Didn't they ask the Ravens fans what it would be like?

The Steelers have so many accomplishments. They have six Super Bowl Championships, another thing that the Redskins fans find annoying. The Steelers are in the playoffs more often than not. The Steelers rarely have a losing season. The Steelers have 20 players in the Hall of Fame who spent the majority of their playing time in Pittsburgh. I could go on and on. We, the Steeler Nation, boast on these accomplishments. I am sure other fan bases view us a braggarts, and we probably are. Although, I don't think they envy us. Many of my friends will say 'They're just jealous". But I don't agree. Many of these fan bases have very proud histories. The Redskins definitely do. But we do have one thing that I figure most of them would love to have, especially here in Washington, our teams ownership.

The Rooneys are the best owners in the NFL, arguably the best owners in professional sports. Dan Rooney, the current Ambassador to Ireland, is a man to be admired. He stands for everything that is right. He is the man who made the Steelers what they are and had a large role in making the NFL what it is. He created the "Rooney Rule" in the NFL to ensure minority candidates had a shot at head coaching and general manager jobs. He is also one of the architects of the 1993 NFL Salary Cap. I could write a book about the greatness of this man, but that's already been done. Dan stands for Truth, Honor, Justice, and the American Way. And if he is the "Man of Steel", pun intended, then Dan Snyder, the owner of the Redskins, is the Lex Luthor of the NFL. A power mad, evil genius who tries to scheme and plot his way to a Super Bowl Championship. If this were medieval times, his subjects would have risen up and slain him by now. In reality, the only real difference between the two is that the Rooneys actually know how to run a football franchise. There is hope here in DC that Snyder will actually let new General Manager Bruce Allen and New Head Coach Mike Shanahan run the team. But I figure the Dark Lord will eventually wield his power and ruin what could be a great future for the Redskins.

So continue to be annoying Steeler Nation!! Root for the Steelers with all your heart and soul!! But remember to be thankful. Be thankful for the Rooneys great management philosophy. Be thankful for our great drafting. Be thankful for the great coaching. Be thankful for the 6 Lombardi Trophies. Be thankful, that wherever you go, you can find other fans with whom you can drink and cheer. And be thankful that someone like Lex Luthor isn't running your team. Or even worse, Evil Spock!!

Thoughts on the Week 1

Steelers

• It took Dennis Dixon till the third quarter, but he finally began to show his stuff. He was plagued by mistakes and bad decisions in the first half. And a few in the second half. He could have easily had 4 interceptions. He finished with 18 of 26 for 236 yds and one int. Not bad for his second career start. However, he is going to need to grow up quick in order to triumph over upcoming opponents Tennessee and Baltimore.
• Rookies Pouncey and Redman continue to show that they were great draft picks. Pouncey looks like a young Dermontti Dawson, and Redman is looking like a great 3rd and 1 back.
• It's also nice to see the Steelers Defense healthy and back to true form. Nothing is more exciting than watching Polamalu pick off a QB.
• All in all, not a bad outing for the Steelers. If the team goes 2-2 while Ben is out, I would consider that a victory.

NFL

• The Browns actually won their opener. I wonder if they set the lake on fire in Cleveland to celebrate.
• The Lions didn't beat the Bears, but they covered the spread. Making this blogger very happy.
• I never liked the Patriots, but seeing them trounce T.O., Ocho Cinco, and the Bengals was great. It will also be fun to watch those giant egos cause Cincinnati to implode later this season.
• I think the Texans may be a contender this year. They look like a playoff team.
• Michael Vick had to come in for the Eagles after Kolb went down with a concussion. Vick's numbers looked good; Passing 16-24, 175 yds, 1td, rushing 11 car, 103 yds. He gave the Packers a game. Do we have a QB controversy brewing in Philadelphia?
• Mike Singletary must be in a daze today after being drubbed by the lowly Seahawks.
• Are the Cowboys really that bad? Cause I know the Redskins aren't that good.

A Plea to the Major Television Networks: Please Stop Playing "Find the Hillbilly" at West Virginia Games!!

West Virginia University will open against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, this Sat. Sept. 4th. The first nationally televised home game is on ESPNU on Saturday Sept. 18th against the Maryland Terrapins. When that day comes, the television crews will descend on Morgantown. They will show our wonderful stadium, beautiful campus, and great team to the nation. They will do a pre-game show and talk about the upcoming battle with Maryland. It will be a typical college pre-game right up to the kick off. But while all that is going on, they will be doing something else. Something devious. The Television Director, whomever he may be, will instruct his crew to play "Find the Hillbilly". It happens every year. And it doesn't matter which network is televising the game. It has become a certainty. Sometime during the game, they will zoom the cameras in on a hillbilly. They will settle for a redneck if need be, but they really want a hillbilly. He will have a scruffy beard and semi-toothless grin. He'll be wearing a flannel shirt, hunting jacket and pants. And an Elmer Fudd hat. And with our luck, he'll be beating his kids and screaming at his wife because Noel Devine just fumbled the ball. Actually, he'll probably be standing next to his friend Jethro. Jethro will be wearing old faded jeans, boots, a WVU T-shirt with his gut hanging out of it, and a baseball cap that says " Naked Twister, where everyone is a winner." Once the camera hits them, the color commentator will say something like: "Boy the West Virginia faithful really come out in droves to support their team". That statement is true. The West Virginia faithful do come out in droves to support the Mountaineers. And it is wonderful that the citizens of West Virginia support our team the way that they do.

However, I was born in West Virginia. I am a proud WVU alumnus. And I have attended hundreds of WVU home games. And I can never seem to find these hillbillies that the television cameras find. OK, not true, I have found them. I am not going to pretend that they don't exist. But when I do find them, they stand out from the crowd. And that's the point.

My friends here in DC will read this and say "Oh come on Tim, there are hundreds of hillbillies at your games. It's West Virginia!" The fact is, WVU has fans and alumni from all over the country that attend those games. And the vast majority of the fans that are from West Virginia do not dress or act any differently than the rest of the fan base. Most are wearing WVU apparel, or at least blue and gold clothing. But the television director always finds the guy who drove his family up from the holler* to attend the game. They look for the Elmer Fudd hat.

Actually, you can find hillbillies at a lot of games in the Big East, and most of the games in the ACC. And I know you can find them at games in the SEC; Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina. Especially South Carolina. Do you think a hillbilly is going to pass on the chance to yell "You can't beat our Cocks!!" in public? I am also sure they attend games in Conference USA, and the MAC Conference. But I watch those games, and never see them. They are there, but I never see them. I see cheerleaders, fans, marching bands, kids, player's parents, students, but not hillbillies. Because in the eyes of the television director, hillbillies only attend WVU games. And they don't even know if Jethro and his friend are from West Virginia. OK, they probably are. But they could be from Southern Pennsylvania, or Western Maryland, both of which have plenty of hillbillies, and aren't far from Morgantown. If I had to pick one, it would be Western Maryland. I know, I am doing a little wishful thinking here. Ninety nine percent chance they are both from West Virginia.

Our Mascot was originally a hillbilly. Seventy years ago this year our mascot, the beloved Mountaineer, was created. The Mountaineer was originally a moonshine carrying, bib overall wearing, weed chewing hillbilly. Now the Mountaineer is a buck skin wearing, coonskin capped, musket wielding, Daniel Boone type character. Our Mountaineer was just named number 8 in a list of the 12 Coolest Mascots in College Football by the Associated Press. The Mountaineer changed over the years, because we changed over the years. The Mountaineer

represents how the West Virginians view themselves. The Mountaineer represents the years of progress this university's sports programs have gone through. And because of that progress, and the increased television exposure, the Mountaineer is now one of the coolest mascots in college sports. It took WVU decades to earn the respect it now has in football and basketball. Fans my age remember when that wasn't the case. We remember when we were rarely on national television. Now we are televised nationally almost every Saturday. So please, Mr. Television Director, don't play find the hillbilly at our games this year. Don't tarnish our image by searching for stereotypes, just to get a laugh. The West Virginians are a large part of our loyal fan base. They are good people, and don't deserve to be misrepresented. I am just asking for a little respect, that's all.

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