Pilgrimage To Mecca

by 5020 on Oct 22, 2009 2:02 PM EDT Comment 36 comments

The annual pilgrimage to Mecca is always a wonderful experience. As I boarded my flight to Pittsburgh I could almost smell the grass at Heinz Field. The flight is always too long but coming in over the Steel City’s highways and byways running through the rolling green hills and mountains of western Pennsylvania is always a sight to see. At dusk over the 3 rivers with the city’s skyline in the distance the anticipation of touch down and touchdowns is dancing through my head.

Although rain and snow flurries are predicted, it turns into a beautiful sun splashed Sunday at Heinz. Parking offsite and walking through the masses of black and gold tailgate parties one gets the feeling that something special is going to happen. As opposed to being in enemy territory spotting a pack of Steelers fans here or there the scene at Heinz is all Steelers. Only a handful of Browns fans in the building. On Heinz hallowed ground, a sea of black and gold awaits the crush of the crowd heading into Heinz Field…the Mecca of professional football. Once inside Steelers alumni are honored as the fans cheer. Former Steelers like Mike Wagner, Mike Logan and Walter Abercrombie mingle with HOF Steelers’ RB Jerome Bettis. Gosh I hope they don’t let Bettis call the coin flip!

The Steelers started off slowly against the lowly Cleveland Browns. After a sloppy scoreless first quarter Ben Roethlisberger found his groove. Pittsburgh surges to a 14-0 lead behind Ben TD passes to Heath Miller and Hines Ward. Ward’s TD actually looked like it was headed to Santonio Holmes but Hines picked it out of the sky and ran 52 yards to glory. The terrible towel twirling revelers were rocking to all the classic rock. Just when it seemed Homecoming would be an easy W, the Browns lone offensive threat Joe Cribbs returned a kick 98 yards for a TD to cut the lead to 14-7. Why the Steelers kicked it to him is beyond me but Cribbs is a superstar KR guy and he gave the Browns life.

The Browns opened the second half with a big long TD drive cutting the lead to 17-14 and suddenly with the clouds rolling in it looked like it could be a typical tight Steelers game. As the 3rd quarter turned to the 4th there was a deluge. Not rain or snow but turnovers. Four of them in a short span by both teams slowed the scoring. Ugly and sloppy play gave way to more sunshine and a 21 yard reverse by soon to be Steelers rookie of the year Mike Wallace. It led to a Mendenhall score. After another Skippy Reed FG the sun reappeared, Styx “Renegade” blasted from the PA and the crowd got very loud calling for the defense to shut the door on Cleveland. They did. Final score Pittsburgh 27 Cleveland 14.

All in all it was a super and beautiful fall weekend back in Pittsburgh. Major Props to the Black & Gold Brigade which staged their annual Pittsburgh Weekend and hooked up some tickets for me and AG. Major Props to the people of Pittsburgh who always make me feel at home in my hometown. Heinz is a special place. The Steelers are a special organization. It’s always nice to return to the city of my birth, see the famila and enjoy a Steelers game. It’s not just football. It’s Steelers football.

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Nice post

You know what’s sad though? I’ve never been to a Steelers home game. I’ve been to 5 Steelers games in my life and they were all in Baltimore. I really need to get to one…hopefully next year.

" I’m glad we play Pitt twice, and not Tenn this year." - Salty Browns Fan.

by Johnny_S on Oct 22, 2009 2:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not too shabby experience seeing the Steelers win on the road either!
Gotta love walking out of Texas Stadium twirling your TT and singing “Here We Go Steelers!” with the other’s of Steelers Nation in attendance amongst the beaten and downtrodden opponent.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Oct 22, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i was there as well

got booted out of the stadium late in the 4th quarter

by WARDANE33 on Oct 22, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was a great day. Must have seen them fifty times on the road. That may have been one of the best that wasn’t a Super Bowl. May have been Ben’s first 4th quarter come back. The Vinny fumble opening the door for Ben & Bettis was clutch.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Oct 22, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we were hammered

we were surrounded by Boyz fans and needless to say when i stood on the railing in the 4th quarter and started an “IT’S ALL OVER” chant that was picked up by the surrounding Steeler fans, the “security” guard gave me the boot and i just said to him “who cares, it’s all over”

agreed, GREAT DAY! made the 4 hour drive back to Houston the next day really fun.

by WARDANE33 on Oct 23, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've never been to a game.

I always go to cheap sports events, Pitt Football, Pirates games, the Pens before they got Sid. I’m going to try to get to a Steeler game next year.

Of course the only team that wins when I go to games is the Pirates, I’m 15-7 at Pirates games in the last 3 years.

I also had a 6 game winning streak at Cavs games the year before they got LeBron. Crappy teams love me.

by Phantaskippy on Oct 22, 2009 3:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you should get season tickets to the Pirates

maybe they’ll make the playoffs…at least they’ll have a winning record.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Oct 22, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh god, I couldn’t take it. Baseball is a sometimes sport. I’d hate it if I went more than one-two times a month.

I don’t even watch more than two games a week on TV, and that’s all sports. I watch the Steelers, any UofM game on TV and Pens if I haven’t seen a second game that week. I watch all the playoff games I can, and listen to the radio while I do house work for the rest.

I follow stats and highlights, but I can’t sit through too much.

by Phantaskippy on Oct 22, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just go and sit in the bar or something

We want wins!!

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Oct 22, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hey wolverine

here’s to a crappy Saturday for you my friend

"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."

by showtime on Oct 23, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I second that

Although I hate when Penn State plays Michigan or Iowa.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Oct 23, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Although I hate when Penn State plays Michigan or Iowa"

yeah me too since we have 2 or maybe 3 wins this decade against those crews

"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."

by showtime on Oct 23, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully it doesn't come down to the last few seconds

because sometimes there seems to be a little added for convenience.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Oct 23, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

don't get me started I'm already ranting and raving on the PSU board

"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."

by showtime on Oct 23, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I might go over to BSD some time this afternoon

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Oct 23, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you would like that board

It’s VERY joking and funny with lots of running jokes. Not as serious as here. But the football writing is of the same quality as here.

"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."

by showtime on Oct 23, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"the football writing is of the same quality as here"

How can that be?

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Oct 23, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Same here.

I haven’t been to a Pens game since they got good.

Oh, for the days of Rico Fata, Josef Melichar, Konstantin Koltzov, and Sebastien Caron…almost.

by Desroko on Oct 22, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember being convinced Koltzov was going to be awesome. Rico Fata and Ryan Malone I were sure were bums. Melichar. . . maybe some things are better left forgotten.

When they drafted Fleury I loved it, a project who wouldn’t interfere with getting more high draft picks. I would always say we had some great 3rd line talent, we just needed some top 6 guys to make it work. Malkin, Recchi returning, the lockout and then Crosby and Lemieux coming back. . . that was an insane couple of years.

That 2005-2006 disaster with Lemieux and LeClaire and Palffy was something else, Scuderi, Armstrong, Talbot, Fleury, Whitney, Gonchar, all played their first season with the Pens. (Scuderi had a few games on call ups, but it was his first time making the squad for real)

What a great ride it’s been.

by Phantaskippy on Oct 22, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember Scuds being

awful his first few seasons. The Melichar-Scuderi pariring was a turnstile.

by Desroko on Oct 22, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I only remember Talbot standing out, and that was because he dropped all those goals in the preseason and then talked about having to be a gritty energy guy to make the team.

by Phantaskippy on Oct 23, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You had a great day to go

From where I was sitting (bar in Virginia) it was as perfect a fall day as you could hope for.

Question: it appeared at times that the stadium fell short of being full. Optical illusion?

by RickVa on Oct 22, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It was a perfect fall day in Pittsburgh Rick and the stadium was full but a little passive. After the pregame introduction the crowd settled down and the game got sloppy. It was amazing how “Renegade” fired up the locals and it got real loud. But that was already over halfway through the 4th quarter. Attendance was 64,000 plus.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Oct 22, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great take on it 5020...

Can’t wait for my next trip to the ’Burgh, nothing like a gameday in the Steel City. Made me wish I was there now, and not in my office at work.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Oct 22, 2009 4:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I find this post racist and offensive

haha jk.

by surag238 on Oct 22, 2009 5:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

5020, great to hear about the trip

Other than Heinz, any other notable places you patronized while in town?

by pghnorthside on Oct 22, 2009 11:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Silky’s Sports Tavern and Aiello’s Pizza (the best steak hoagie around) in Squirrel Hill are always a highlight. Shout out to all my homey’s at Silky’s!
A jog around the Highland Park Reservoir is a great place to run into an old high school buddy or his dad. Since they closed my Rock N Roll stomping grounds (The Decade in Oakland and Nick’s Fat City on the Southside) Station Square on a Saturday night is a great place to see all the dolled up Pittsburgh women…and who can ever forget The Cricket Lounge? Hey, they put in a trapeze!

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Oct 23, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Love Silky’s. And the Cricket Lounge? Outstanding. You sir, are a connoseiur, a gentleman and a scholar. I salute you.

by pghnorthside on Oct 23, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good stuff Fifty

thanks for sharing. Let’s watch a game when I’m back in so. cal in december.

Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)

by Blitzburgh on Oct 23, 2009 12:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs