Best Dressed Steeler

I'm from the Burgh originally but live in Chicago now.  Went to the game and had a blast.

While going to any live NFL game is fun and something to be appreciated, the most memorable highlight of my football weekend was not the 60 minutes (at least 40 of which was water-logged and slippy.)

Walking down to the stadium, I stopped at the Palmer House Hotel downtown to take a leak.  Little did I know, some of the Steelers were staying there.  There was a crowd of about 20-30 Steeler fans waiting behind a velvet rope to see the players come out of the elevator and make their way to the bus.

I don't propose to know anything about fashion (I've watched Project Runway a few times with an ex-girlfriend) but of the players I saw, I picked a best-dressed Steeler.  I'm gonna list the players and then you can guess which one you think was the best-dressed.   I will crowd the winner at the end. And sadly, there are no pictures, so you'll have to take my word for it.  (Winner subject to debate)

Players:
Ryan Clark
James Farrior’s wife
James Harrison
Justin Hartwig
Ziggy Hood
DJ Johnson
Chris Kemoeatu
Brett Kiesel
Mwelde Moore
Ryan Mundy
Jeff Reed
Max Starks
Frank Summers
Hines Ward

Back to the story:

The first elevator of players was Kiesel, DJ Johnson, and Frank Summers (sorry, Frank, I'll call you Tank when you earn it, which I believe (read: hope) you will.  Kiesel in an all black suit.  Summer and DJ headphones and tshirts.

The second elevators was most of the pass catchers: Hines, Heath, Spaeth, along with Ziggy & Mundy. (Note: I don't think all those guys rode in one elevator -probably two came down at the same time.)  Hines gave the crowd a decent angle for a picture of him in his suit (he was the 2nd best-dressed Steeler.  Ziggy looked professional and HUGE, built like a fickin house.  Spaeth, I believe, also had an all- or close-to all-black suit combo.  I didn't notice if we wore wing-tip shoes, but he sure had a nice tip-toe on that TD.

On a side note: Most players were just trying to get to the game, no autographs were signed, but most players didn't even turn our way.  I think most of that has to do with them trying to get inot the zone, get a little camaraderie with each other and psyche themselves up befor the game.  But, another part of me guesses that, while they love Steeler Nation, they are greeted/accosted by fans everywhere they go.  A better problem to have for sure, than having your fans get 0-16 tattoos. 

Anyway, to the elevator fashion show. 

Vator #3 was MeMo and Ryan Clark.  At this time, James Farriors' wife came out of our crowd and headed down the hall to the bus.  His wife was identified by one of the hotel managers, who was kind of a dick that we, as fans, could not recognize James Farrior's wife.  He said to the fans: "Well, she's wearing a James Farrior jersey and I'm hugging her, who do you think she is?"  Aaaaaah i get it buddy, but I know a few people that wear Potsie's jersey that aren't his wife.  Lucky him too, she's hotter than any of my buddies.  *jealous he didn't get to hug Potsie's main squeeze*

Aside Aside: Aside from the whole "Who's better Moore or Parker" debate,I like MeMo a lot. He's got a cool, calm swagger about him.  Seems solid as a rock as a person - just like he is on the field. 

The Best-Dressed Steeler was not on Elevator #4 either.  That staircar had Skippy "Two Wide Left" Reed and Kemo.  Jeff dressed like a preppy douche with a striped polo shirt.  If he popped the collar, we would have looked like any other Lincoln Park Chad.  Nobody cheered for Kemo, we all just grumbled that we hope he doesn't get Ben killed.

Next, the 5th and final elevator, had the best-dressed Steeler!  Hartwig, Starks and your Bears game Best-Dressed Pre-Game Steeler is ...... 2008 DPOY JAMES HARRISON!!!

Silverback got paid and it shows.  He took a page out of Hines' book with a sandy-colored suit.  Again, I'm not a fashion expert, but, to me, he was just the classiest.  Looks like a $51 million man.

I SAID: "YOU WON THE BEST-DRESSED STEELER AWARD, JAMES!"

via www.everyjoe.com

A Quick Tip for a Delicious Dessert

Ate lunch on the new Trump Tower Terrance and the waitress said she went to high school with Rashard "Delicious" Mendenhall, a Chicago native.  I feigned more enthusiasm and than I usually do talking about any other Steeler, because he hasn't shown squat in a real game before Sunday.  But I think he had a nice coupla runs.  I would at least give her a high-five after that "slip-and-fall-flat-on-your-back-bounce-up-and-get-the-first-down" run.  But he does hold the ball nonchalantly, like one would a loaf of bread.  Here's hoping defenders won't come up with Delicious' bread after he coughs it up.

That is all.,

Ken

www.kenbarnard.com