Looking over Pittsburgh from Marquette, MI.

by Romain El 82 on Feb 5, 2009 7:19 AM EST Comment 42 comments

Bumped from the FanPosts. I'll just let the excellent story telling on full display explain why. Kudos to RomainEl82 for this. An impressive addition to an already diverse collection of offerings from him. If only he spent as much thought and passion writing his papers in college as he did finding unique ways to share his stories and love for the game here on BTSC. Hehe. Just playing! Or rather, talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

Loved every word. Thanks for sharing.. -Blitz-

*******************************

The Pittsburgh Steelers are my team. Unlike most Steeler fans, my family, for my father is Steeler fan also, is not from Western Pennsylvania. We are not “transplants” like some Steeler fans my age or older.

My mothers' side of the family is concentrated in Oklahoma, and my fathers' side of the family was concentrated in Michigan, specifically Metro-Detroit.

I get asked all the time, up here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, "why are you a Steeler fan?". This comes from a few Lions fans, but mostly Packer and Bear fans. I usually give an answer like "because my dad was one" or "because I value everything their organization represents" or "because of their history".

Weeks before the Super Bowl, a bunch of my friends suggested we have a party for the Super Bowl. Naturally, as the Steelers got closer and closer, more and more people who knew me paid attention to their pursuit of the Lombardi.

Super Bowl night came after what seemed like a million-year wait. I showed up early to my friends apartment to help him cook up some grub for the game. I was wearing my white Polamalu jersey for the first time since I had gotten in (2005) and had my Terrible Towel tucked into my back pocket.

People began showing up, and one of the acquaintances finally asked the question I knew would be asked: "So you're a Steelers fan, eh? How long you been a fan? And why?"

Now, my good friends up here have seen my jerseys, the Terrible Towel hanging above my doorway, the flags and posters all over my room, the fathead, the mini-helmet and Iron City Beer can from the '70s, as well as pictures of my "Steel Curtain" jersey signed by the DL of the 70s team and my helmet signed by those on the 2005 Super Bowl XL team (both of which are kept safe back home), not to mention played Beer Pong on my table.

I turned to this person, the boyfriend of one of my other friends, and said "I've been a fan since I was a kid. The entire organization oozes class, from the Rooneys all the way down to the players. They make smart business decisions and reward those who work hard. They have the best players in the league. They have the best fans in the league.

"They instantly make people friends. When I was driving back up to Marquette I spun out after being cut off and was stuck in a ditch. An older gentleman pulled over and towed me out after it seemed the entire state of Michigan passed me by. As he was getting back into his car, I asked him if I could buy him a coffee or put gas in his car, and he chuckled and declined. "I'm just helping out a fellow Pittsburgh fan," he said, pointing at my jacket. And with that, he was off.

"I love them because the players give their all. They genuinely love the game. I'm not tall enough or fast enough or big enough to continue playing the game, but they are. Americans live out their fantasies through the players, and I can't think of a better team to idolize than our Steelers. You're telling me these faces aren't honest, hard-working people who love what they do and are grateful for the opportunity to play a game for a living?"

I offered to answer any questions they might have using my head and only my head. They asked me the records from year-to-year, team records, years in the Super Bowl, scores, current players heights/weights/colleges, and aced it all. Amazed, they asked how I knew it all.

It's a hobby, I said. It's impossible to not know all of this if you were a Steeler fan. I threw out the comment that the average female Steeler fan knew more about football than most people in the room, which (of course) riled up the room. Steeler fans are everywhere, I said. Watch any Steeler game, and one of the most cliché sayings about the Steelers is "they travel well". B.S., I said. They were puzzled. We're already there, I said.

After the Steelers won, I was left with my friend helping him clean up. He asked me about other Steeler fans; had I met any? Had I been to Pittsburgh? Etc. I told him Steeler Nation was the largest on the planet, and 3000 miles away you could recognize a friend for life because of a simple Towel. Pittsburgh, I said, was a fantastic city, and Steeler games were amazing, even though I've only been to the Steel City (and games in the Steel City) once.

I told him we're a big family. I told him that as a fan, no matter the opponent, you knew when the Black 'n Gold lined up, they would play 60 minutes, give it their all, and more often then not they would get the 'W'. I told him no matter where you were, if you were a Steeler fan, your turf was a little piece of Pittsburgh, PA. I told him that everything I said tonight, everything I feel as a Steeler fan, was authentic; the team, the fans, the city doesn't need to fake anything. We don't have to resort to gimmicks or any of that crap to get excited.

In a way, myself and my family are in our own 1970s version of Pittsburgh. The auto industries are struggling mightily, and my father accepted a buy-out offer and left Chrysler after almost 25 years of service [I'm putting a note in here: buy American cars. Those of you from the 'Burgh know what I'm talking about when I'm saying the region (Michigan) is going to be decimated if things keep going the way they are. Buy Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep-ok, there's my plug].

He's currently employed by the same company he worked for after graduating from U of M, Sikorsky Aircraft, in Connecticut. The only town I've ever known as "home", Rochester Hills, MI, won't be "home" anymore as of June; once my brother graduates high school, my mother and brother are moving out to Connecticut as well.

The only thing keeping myself (and I'm sure my father, who is currently living in a strange state, alone, with no friends and little lay of the land) going are the Steelers. And the way they scratched and clawed this year, refusing to lose, defines them-and my family-perfectly. Winning makes everything go away; losing is borderline apocalypse when things are going bad.

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't a team. They're a beacon of hope, they're a way of life. We are a lucky, lucky fanbase. Thanks for reading Steeler Nation.

[EDIT: I forgot to include this little fact: shortly before kickoff, my friend's sister, with whom he shares the apartment, asked me if I had any more Steeler jerseys, she was wondering if she could borrow one and wear it...I brought the rest of my jerseys over and we had eight people besides myself in Steeler jerseys, rooting for them. Made my night that much more special.]

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rec'd

great post, Romain – the Steelers are definitely unique in may ways, and a special team to follow. I probably wouldn’t be a football fan at all if my family hadn’t moved to the ’Burgh when I was in high school. My Mom was an avowed non sports fan for her entire life, but Tuesday morning saw her downtown in Pittsburgh cheering on the Steelers at their victory parade…

by acrollet on Feb 5, 2009 7:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

yup special stuff

To the front page this goes.

by Blitzburgh on Feb 5, 2009 7:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

quick note

For FanPost writing – of course its wonderful to write in MS Word or whatever else you might use, but dont copy and paste directly into there. It creates all sorts of snafus formatting wise. There is an icon that you can click on that eliminates said formatting problems. Should be obvious but ask me if you dont know what I’m talking about. Thanks!

by Blitzburgh on Feb 5, 2009 8:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

dont copy and paste into there

by there i mean into the story editors here on BTSC.

Also should be built in spell check even on fanposts but anyway, some people like to write outside of story editors like that and instead on whats more natural and familiar. If so, click that one icon and then paste. Sorry for detracting from the post real quick but its quite tedious.

by Blitzburgh on Feb 5, 2009 8:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Whoops sorry

That’s exactly what I did. Will try to remember this next time.

by Romain El 82 on Feb 5, 2009 8:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

all good man

not ‘mad’ just giving heads up. no way for you to have known.

by Blitzburgh on Feb 5, 2009 8:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I do that too.

hmmm

"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)

by PixburghArn on Feb 5, 2009 9:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If you want to do type outside of the blog though, just use notepad.

It can be risky to use the built in stuff on blogs for typing out stuff, you are just one accidental keyboard combo away from accidentally losing everything.

by SteelersVT on Feb 5, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I did it too…

also great post, we truley are everywhere…

I drive down interstate 95 in Virginia everyday to go to work and almost every day I see a steeler fan who has a sticker on the back of their car or truck or a liscense plate holder…

I have been trying to figure out how to give them the proper respect, I have tried giving them the thumbs up but I don’t think they ever really understand what I am doing at 75 miles an hour.

I think I have decided to keep a terrible towel on the passengers seat and waive it as I go by…that should be safe at any speed….

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by drinkyourmilkshake on Feb 5, 2009 9:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Damn Romain EL...

great write up and exactly why I love the Steelers and it’s fans. We are indeed very lucky to be apart of a special group and root for such a great organization. No matter how much other fans can hate us, they no doubt have to respect the class and dignity that the Rooneys bring to the game and the quality product the Steelers bring to the field every year. The Authenticity; the consistency. We dont go out and try to buy Championships ala the Yankees and Coywboys, rather, we grow our guys via the draft. No over paid, often over the hill free agents. No Prima dona’s, just hard nosed, gritty, and for the most part, men of character that play the game the way it’s suppose to be played.

Irregardless of the stats in the W-L column, the Steelers fans always feel a large sense of pride because of the first class organization and all they represent. I almost feel sorry for some of my friends who have no idea what its like to root for a real winner!

by Steeler Ric on Feb 5, 2009 9:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Great Post

I grew up in Hawaii in the 70’s and early 80’s and latched on to the Steelers because….well because we didn’t have a pro team in any sport! Through the Superbowl years everyone called me a bandwagon kind of guy and didn’t give my love of the Steelers much credit. Of course they didn’t see me waiting at the hotels and practice fields during Pro Bowl week waiting to get a glimpse of Terry Bradshaw, Mean Joe and the rest.

During the 80’s I enlisted in the Marine Corps, got stationed in California and never left. Those lean years are when people finally gave me credit for being a true Steeler fan but I always got the same questions as Romain. Why are you a Steeler fan, you’ve never lived in Pittsburgh? I find myself saying the same things. They’re an organizaiton oozing with class, hard work, pride and a sense of community. They truly walk the walk.

Whenever the Steelers play the San Diego Chargers I always make the drive down to the game where all the other native California Steeler fans gather to cheer the black and gold. I think Romain has it right. Steeler Nation doesn’t travel well, they are Steeler Nation because they are all over this nation (and the world).

When you look at an organization like the Pittsuburgh Steelers you can just tell, It’s a great team and greatness transcends geography.

by Steev1705 on Feb 5, 2009 10:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I have family in the Burgh...

and Steeler football is life or death out there. When they lose, my grandma calls me almost in tears. And when they win, my cousin texts me…talking about rioting in the streets, almost get tasered by cops….it’s a beautiful city with a glorious addiction.

Great post

by NoCal-SteelCity on Feb 5, 2009 11:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dude im in rochester hills

Awesome post man.

I live in rochester hills at the moment and I gotta say it sucks being in an area so football depleted. Nobody cares anymore.

I also depend on Chrysler for money. Buy Jeeps!!!!

by Mechem on Feb 5, 2009 11:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Know exactly what you mean

normally Michigan’s good, but this year was a transition year and they were horrific, almost as bad as the Lions in some regards.

At least my former high school (Rochester Adams) is still good, always glad to see they’ve chalked up another ‘W’.

In regards to Chrysler, keep pluggin’ away man…I know a bunch of people who still work there via my dad and on the rare instance I get to talk to them I say that. I’m still supporting ’em!

by Romain El 82 on Feb 5, 2009 9:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

omg I went to Adams

If only for a year. My parents pulled me out actually. But I went there!

Yeah this area man.. I wish I was in the motherland for the big game. I wanted to joy ride and party and nobody here cares.

by Mechem on Feb 6, 2009 10:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Holy crap, haha

Can I ask what year you went to Adams?

by Romain El 82 on Feb 6, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Um 2004?

I believe it was 04. Ben’s rookie year. I remember meeting a fellow fan in Spanish class. We kept being astounded at his immense success.

I was a freshman then. My parents didnt like some of my “choices” and I left that year. Good place though.

by Mechem on Feb 6, 2009 6:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

WOW

Loved the post. I moved away from PGH when I was 18 and have lived in Colorado since 84. I am still a die hard Steeler fan who has his two children who are learning the same values and pride it takes to be part of Steeler Nation. I am in the middle of Bronco country, but everytime the Steelers come to Denver I get together with thousands of fellow Steeler fans in the M lot and we enter the game as one. I still have chills when the Steelers played in the 2005 AFC Championship Game in Denver. We entered the game, cheered on our Steelers and waited for them to leave when the game was over. Many of the players came out to celebrate with us before they boarded the buses. The Team and the fans are Pittsburgh and that day Denver was Pittsburgh for me.

by gosteelers09 on Feb 5, 2009 12:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Awesome!

That was an excellent post! You have said many of the things that I have felt for a very long time. Love the team and love the city, even though I have only visited a handful of times. Many folks have told me that I should just move there…but I say this..Pittsburgh is the capitol of Steelers Nation the same way Washington D.C. is the capitol of The U.S. I don’t have to live in Washington to be an American and love my country…and I don’t have to live in da’Burgh to love me some Steelers football!

"Whaddya' mean all the beer is gone..?

by OhioYinzer on Feb 5, 2009 3:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Excellent

I am miles away from Pittsburg and 30 years being a Steeler’s fan, the only game I saw was against the Cowboys in 2004 (Ben’s first year) and for me was incredible to be in Dallas Stadium with around a 60% of the seats with Steelers’ fans .
Last Sunday I was watching the game with other 10 friends and 8 of them Arizona’s fans so the frustration when Larry Fitzgerald scored and thinking Steelers were going to lose
But the Heart and courage our team has made posible the dream to win the SB.
They showed what a team together can do (not individuals) and I am proud to be a fan of a great organization no matter I am miles away

by ninke on Feb 5, 2009 5:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Excellent, excellent post Romain

Steeler Nation is a hard enough concept to wrap your mind around as an insider, impossible to understand from the outside; football as a metaphor for so much else. A rallying point for a community torn asunder by economic forces and circumstances that this society barely wants to acknowledge.
I spent the game at sports bar composed entirely of Steeler fans (thanks to a recommendation from someone on this site, btw). Had a great time, but I will always remember the moments immediately after victory. The woman sitting next to me, originally from Mt. Washington, Steeler cap, jacket, Terrible Towel hang from her waist, eyes closed, sobbing in the arms of her boyfriend from stress, release and joy. I get it, we all get it, Dan Rooney and his players get it.

Us against the world. And we’re winning.

by RickVa on Feb 5, 2009 7:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

we are a nation

i agree with everyone that this is a great post. the reason i think it is so great and that we all respond to it is that romain’s passion for the steelers is so evident within it. here he is at a superbowl party sharing the steelers gospel with unbelievers. it truly is amazing to me that steeler fans are so rarely able to be described by the word ‘casual.’ we are not casual or part time fans. we are passionate fanatics. we are blood sweat and tears invested in following and supporting this team and it has become something more than just a sport for us. it is about working hard. it is about staying disciplined. it is about finishing the job you start. it is about winning against all odds. it is about having success with class. it is about a way of life: a blue collar, hard nosed, iron willed life. we are not a club. we are not a contingency. we are not a niche. we are a nation. a steelers nation.

thanks, romain el, for the reminder of what it means to be a part of this nation.

...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com

by agentorange on Feb 5, 2009 8:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Awesome!

“Sharing the Steelers gospel with unbelievers” is one of the best lines I have ever read on this board! I even like it more than Meechem’s “I hatem’ and they stank”! LOL. Well said agentorange, especially coming from someone that knows how to share the gospel in the other, more conventional sense!

"Whaddya' mean all the beer is gone..?

by OhioYinzer on Feb 6, 2009 8:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah that is tight

Very very cool verbage

by Mechem on Feb 6, 2009 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the comments guys 'n gals

It makes it that much more special I can share my awesome experiences with other members of Steeler Nation, and despite not knowing exactly what to say or how to phrase what I’m feeling, you all get it.

Once again, it goes to show without a doubt we are the best fans on the planet.

by Romain El 82 on Feb 5, 2009 8:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Loved reading this one

It’s great being a Steelers fan, and great knowing we’re part of the Nation.

I happened to be in Dallas this year when we played the Cowboys. I went to a bar, proudly wearing my Steelers garb, with some coworkers to watch the game. My boss was utterly amazed that I walked straight up to the few other Steelers fans in the joint and we all hugged each other. I’m pretty reserved normally, and she was like “You don’t just walk up to strangers in a bar and hug them!!” I explained that they were “my people” — the Nation — but I don’t think those who aren’t Steelers fans really got that.

Thoughts and wishes for our family. I hope you will all come out of this okay.

by DistrictSteelerFan on Feb 5, 2009 9:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Inspiring Post!

Reminds me why I love to be a Steelers fan! And thanks for the shout out for female Steelers fans who know a bit about football! :-)

by B&GinSLC on Feb 6, 2009 1:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Heck yeah!

Just makes Steeler Nation all the more impressive.

by Romain El 82 on Feb 6, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Great Post 82!

As a kid from Pittsburgh who lives in Cali I can’t tell you how many friends I have made that are Steeler Nation yet have never even been to Pittsburgh. We are an amazing group.

As for your shout out to buy American, I couldn’t agree more. Watching Pittsburgh decimated in the early 80’s I swore once I got out of Pitt I would always support American made products if I could afford to. I proudly drive my Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi all day and my “Steeler” black Chevy Corvette all night. Anyone that an afford to buy a Mer or a BMW should really rethink and keep the money at home. Steeler Nation is made in America!

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Feb 6, 2009 2:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

From the state of Michigan

thank you! :)

by Romain El 82 on Feb 6, 2009 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This article is getting coverage

SI.com/nfl has links to some steeler sites up. They actually have a link to this very article right on their NFL page.

Pretty snazzy.

by Mechem on Feb 6, 2009 6:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pretty cool…it looks like they have a lot of links to BTSC articles, I guess it just proves that this is the Best Steelers blog…

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by drinkyourmilkshake on Feb 6, 2009 7:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, that's awesome.

I don’t even know what to say!

by Romain El 82 on Feb 6, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Not to detract from this fine post. But I think they probably like to whatever the BTSC cover item is.

However, its worth noting this. If this was not such a fantasmic post, it wouldnt be on the front page.

And if the blog itself was not awesomatic, it wouldnt be on SI

Therefore by extension you sir are fantasmically awesome!

by Mechem on Feb 7, 2009 12:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome

Great post. It says a lot for those of us who are not from Pittsburgh. I’m from WV and have followed the Black and Gold all my life. I’ve met Steeler fans all over the world and there is no fan base like it. I live in Florida now and the team around here is the Jaguars.

Let me tell you, no Jags fan can even come close to a Steeler’s fan. They whine when their team is 10-6, the games are blacked out, and they wouldn’t have braved teen temps to honor their team. They have so many fair weather fans it’s almost sad.

I wear my Steelers shirts whether we’re Super Bowl victors or 1-15. Always have.

Go Steelers!

by steelerfan1 on Feb 8, 2009 7:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Always

Well it’s good to know you have always worn your Steelers shirt even during all the years they were 1-15. That shows true loyalty. I know for me, I must have been so down during those 1-15 seasons that I have completely erased them from my memory. To me it’s like they never even happened.

by worldtrip on Feb 8, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

Like I said in the blog, I’m pretty lucky because thus far in my young Steeler-fan life the worst record I’ve had to endure was 6-10…there may have been some other, more frustrating seasons (like 2006), but that was the worst record-wise.

by Romain El 82 on Feb 8, 2009 9:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually,

Our worst record since the NFL expanded to 16 games in 1978 was only 5-11 in 1988. As I recall, we were in a lot of close games that year. In fact, the next year we rebounded with a 9-7 record and a first round playoff win in the Astrodome.

Even when we are bad, we are not THAT bad. Since 1978 and excluding the two strike shortened seasons, we have an average record 9.52-6.48 (.595 winning pct.). I think it’s safe to say this ranks at or close to the top. Maybe the Cowboys or Broncos can compare during this time frame.

Also we are now 31-19 all time in the playoffs which works out to a .620 winning pct.. We win 62% of the time against playoff caliber opponents. We are good in the rgular season and even better in the playoffs. This is how we have accumulated six Lombardi Trophies.

by Jonny B. on Feb 8, 2009 11:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I was born in ’88, so I was exactly aware of what was going on at that point. :)

by Romain El 82 on Feb 9, 2009 12:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Romain

This is one of those special pieces that I wish someone would copy and put on Mike Tomlin and Dan Rooney’s desk. I don’t care how busy they are. They should read stuf like this.

Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history

by maryrose on Feb 8, 2009 11:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thank you, very much.

The praise and comments mean a lot to me coming from those on this blog, and it’s especially special coming from someone who has been around the block a lot and has a great sense of history like yourself maryrose.

by Romain El 82 on Feb 9, 2009 12:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Greatness...

Thank you sir for this post. I could not agree more with you and your explanation for supporting the best damn team in sports. Like yourself, I’m a non-Pittsburgher who has answered that question so many times, but the thing I find is that I love answering it every time. Most don’t understand appreciation for a traditional, hard-working team/organization that personifies the spirit of football and not just a collection of celebrities and egos. A team where UDFAs are given the same opportunity as draftees. Can’t say enough really.

One of the best things here on BTSC is that when you’re thinking along a certain line there is already someone else from the Nation putting it down for the masses. I’ve never met a Steeler’s fan in my travels that wasn’t glad to see another fan and strike up a conversation. I’ve opened my house to travelling fans in the services overseas just so they could catch a game. Didn’t know ’em from anybody, but they were Steelers fans and that was good enough for me. (Good karma too – we beat the Colts on the way to the SB in 2005!)

Some folks will just think we follow the team cause they are consistent winners, but you’re going a long way here in explaining the true drive for a lot of us. (The winning is the gravy!)

by SCSteeler on Feb 11, 2009 12:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs