Early Christmas present from the Steelers & Big Ben to The Nation

The month of November brought all of us in the Steeler Nation a bitter taste in our mouths. We witnessed the talented offense stumble whenever they had an opportunity to score inside the redzone. We where awestruck on how our mighty D gave up lead after lead after lead in the closing moments of games. Worst of all, we collectively puked at our beloved team's performance in the frigid Brown stadium. But on Sunday dec. 20th the Steelers, led by its two-time SuperBowl winning QB, gave all of us a big thrill and gave me an early Christmas present.

Last year I had the oportunity to travel from down here in Mexico City to the Mecca of football of the first time. A group of fourteen friends (including me and my brother) where lucky enough to witness the Steelers vs. Dallas game. It was incredible. Words come up short of describing the feeling in the stadium after Heath's touchdown. All of the people in that stadium could feel that the Steelers where going to win that game, and Deshea's subsequent pick-six (how weird does that sound this year?) sealed the deal.

The experience marked me forever. All of my life I had been longing for the opportunity to go to a game in Pittsburgh and it finally happened in a matchup that was as thrilling as any; in addition here in Mexico the two teams that have the largest followings are Dallas and Pittsburgh, so being able to boast about the win was an added bonus. But it was not just the game. It was the people, the surroundings, the three rivers, the food and all that which I had read in books, newspapers and the internet and had seen on TV about this small city called Pittsburgh with which I identified myself with because of its football and hockey teams that was such an unbelievable journey. My brother and I made a commitment to repeat the trip once a year from there on out if the circumstances allowed.

Our father, who has been a Steelers fan since the fist time that a game was broadcast over the radio in Mexico (the early 60's I think) has not been to Pittsbrugh since the late 80's. So this year we tried to convince him since early march to make the trip. He did not want to. However, he surprised us early August with tickets to the Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh game as long as we payed for out trip up to the city. Awesome.

So, you see, the early christmas present that Big Ben and Co. have given me is the knowledge that they will go out and play to the best of their abilities and with a lot of heart against our most hated rival. I could not ask for more than that. I know that they will come out and play inspired football. A game that is won like last week's does that to the previously shattered confidence of a team.

For this early Christmas present I thank you, Pittsburgh Steelers.

Now, if you would like to give us all another present, please beat the damn rat-birds, and, with a little luck (that has not been on our side this year) make the playoffs.

Who else is going to the game?

Cheers.