The Steelers got Baron Batch …. and 10s of thousands of “Pirate” and Red Raider fans!!!!!!

…and not since Rocky have I become so emotionally invested in a Pittsburgh Steeler football player.

Baron Batch has character issues. It’s probably impossible for anyone who knows him to judge his football skills fairly. If coaches have to choose between Batch and someone who is a tad better on the field, they’ll be prejudiced in Baron’s favor. I know I would be! His character issues are that he is such a terrific young man, our collective man crush may get in the way of critiquing him fairly.

One of the highlights of my journalistic career was helping the late W.W. “Red” Smith one afternoon in Three Rivers Stadium as the Steelers battled the Jets. Mr Smith was in declining health, and unable to get from the Press Box to the Locker Room after the game to hear the players interviewed so that he would have the quoted needed for his article.

This was the game where Rocky Bleier scored his first NFL touchdown.

I remember playing some of the interviews from my SONY tape recorder for Mr Smith when I returned to the press box, and he took a few notes. As I scrolled through, I asked him if he wanted something from Bleier.

“Oh, yeah,” said the greatest sportswriter who ever lived.

I looked up from my tape recorder and broke into a smile as I looked him in the eyes. He broke into a huge smile.

We both knew Bleier was the story, and it was a story that had touched our hearts.

I cannot wait to see Baron Batch’s first NFL touchdown.

And Baron Batch has HEART — desire, dedication, and determination …. and a G-d give ability to play the game. ARGUuuuuuuuug!