Are we taking the ‘fun’ out of ‘dysfunctional?’

I have noted with interest the many discussions this week about whether one is on or off the bus.  People who a few weeks ago were writing the Steelers off are commenting with great intensity on the possible scenarios by which the team could reach the playoffs, posting stats on Ben’s studliness, and generally forgetting that they ever doubted – at least until, God forbid, the next loss.  Since I am quite new to this football fandom thing, I have found it all a bit bewildering.

Since the losing streak began in November, each week has revealed more clearly the attitudes toward the team under these circumstances.  I classify them as The Eternal Optimists, The Realists, The Perpetual Cynics, and The Seriously Angry Ones. Many, perhaps even most of us began at some point on the left end of the spectrum and progressed towards the right as the losses became more disheartening (or maddening, according to taste.)

I guess I would characterize my own attitude as being in the Realist category.  I understand that only one team can win any given game.  While there are a great many factors that create differences between teams, each team is staffed with pros, all of whom are presumably hoping to excel and thereby make their reputation in the league, as well as a whole bunch of money.  Therefore I find it hard to believe that a player in a good franchise would not, as a rule, play to the best of their ability in any given game.  Of course, the rub lies in the phrase "to the best of their ability."  Thanks to excellent posts by Blitzburgh and others on the salary cap issue, I now understand that if you are spending big money on one of the elite QBs in the league, to take a random example, then you will have a lot less to spend on, say, your secondary, or special teams.   And if, because of, say, an injury or two to key players, the situation becomes more than a given player can handle, given their experience, ability, and what you might call intangibles, then they may well head down the death spiral of discouragement.  None of this means that I completely exonerate the players and assume that each and every one of them is giving their utmost in every game.  But I do find it difficult to believe that they are deliberately playing poorly, even if the results are, shall we say, unsatisfactory.  I also find it hard to believe that the coaches are, for perverse reasons of their own, holding out players that could perform better in that spot.  (And yes, I’m sure that some coaches are smarter, better judges of personnel, etc. etc., than others.)

I will say that I have been quite astonished to find that I can care so much about a game I’m not even playing.  Not having been a sports fan, ever, I had no idea that it is possible to be so engaged.  As a result, I can totally understand The Angry Ones.  (I have a little more trouble figuring out The Perpetual Cynics.  But that’s just me.) I want to assure you all that I’m not proposing to tell you how to feel.  My question is more about what sort of reaction from the members of Steeler Nation is most productive.  Therefore I’m not talking about how we feel, but in what manner we air our feelings in public.  My question is not rhetorical – I really do want to know if there is a way that we as fans can positively impact the attitude of the team.  I know that many people were offended when Ryan Clark ‘called out’ the press and fans for their negativity, but it is worth asking whether negativity from the press and the fans makes things even harder for a struggling team. 

At any rate, here’s hoping for a win on Sunday.  Which I fear may come down to which team is the least dinged up.  I’m also hoping that we can pull together as a Nation and support this team that we love so much, even when we don’t love every play that is called, or feel full confidence in every player on the field.  You never know - some of them might just surprise us. I’ll be there Sunday, whirling a towel for all of you that can’t be at Heinz Field. (My second game ever – woohoo!)

Finally, Mike Tomlin may have cancelled Christmas, but the rest of us don’t have to.  Blessings to you all – I hope that your holidays are filled with family, love, and laughter. 

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An addendum, for those of you that were shocked that the original post was so short : )

TheSpatulaMessiah posted a thoughtful and interesting comment several days ago that you can see in its entirety below.  After being at today's game, I want to remark on the first part of his comment:

I think it's an interesting question - "is there anything we can do?" On the one hand, not so much. Part of being a professional athlete is being able to deal with fans - knowing when to acknowledge them and when to let criticism roll off.

Something happened during the fourth quarter that makes me think that this isn't entirely correct.  Baltimore had the ball yet again, and as the players were lining up, whomever in the booth that is in charge of such things decided that it was time to play "Renegade."  This somehow galvanized the fans, and we all stood, cheering and waving our towels.  We had been making lots of (encouraging) noise throughout the game for the defense, but this was different, and you could actually feel a change in the d-line.  It was as if their spines collectively stiffened.  They never looked back, and although there were still some anxious moments, which appear to be the price of being a Steelers fan, then suddenly the game seemed very winnable in regulation, which of course it was. I am also convinced that the fans affect the players more than perhaps any of us would think was reasonable.

To make sense of this, I have to bring it back to my own performing experience.  And I can tell you that when you walk out to perform a concert to a full hall, there is a very different feeling there.  The audience is already excited - I suppose they feel that the choice they made in how to spend their entertainment dollars is validated by all the other people that chose the same thing.  And there is no doubt whatsoever that the performers feed off of that excitement, and it helps us to give our "best game."  Unlike the Steelers, sell-outs are not common for us, and therefore a sell-out creates its own sense of occasion.  But I'm quite sure that the atmosphere that one imbibes from a pumped, supportive stadium and from an indifferent or even hostile one has to affect the way you play.  We may expect that as professionals the players ignore hostility and/or criticism, but, viewed as human beings, one can see why they might not be able to do that easily.

So to those wonderful Steeler support troupes that attend the away games, HERE WE GO, STEELER FANS! Let's get it done in Miami!  And to the rest of the Nation, let's send all the positive encouragement we can.  We may well not make it into the playoffs, since we can't control an awful lot of things, like, say, seriously annoying coaches that sit their starters, but let's at least end the season with our heads held high!