What's All the Fuss About the Steelers Playing "Dress-up" for Halloween?

The Steelers debuted the "new" 1934-style throwback uniforms on Sunday in their modern-day, 27-12, beat-down of rookie sensation Robert Griffin III and the rest of the Washington Redskins at Heinz Field.

Unless you've been living in a cave somewhere--or in a coma since the second the uniforms were unveiled to the public for the first time in April--you're well-aware of the reaction to the throwbacks. Most do not like them, and I can certainly see why. They're, let's just say, unpleasing to the eye. But why is everyone so shocked by the design? Didn't anyone ever see any pictures of the old uniforms?

Yes, the players really do look like bumble bees and/or old-time prisoners depending on what joke you feel like using at the moment. However, it's not like these are permanent. This isn't akin to the 1985 formula change for Coca Cola that everyone loathed with a passion until the company changed it back. These duds are only meant to be worn two times in 2012 to help commemorate the team's 80th anniversary season.

I could see if the Rooneys decided to change the team's full-time uniforms after over four-decades of wearing their now iconic design and unveiled the bumble bee look. Now, that would be a reason to exclaim, "Well, what do you know about that?" or whatever guys like Jimmy Stewart used to say in the 30's and 40's.

It's Halloween, it's supposed to be a time for dress-up. When someone decides to dress up as the butt-crack exposed plumber for Halloween, nobody says, "Please, I hate that costume. There is no way I can stand to see you wear that at this party! I took a poll, and two out of every three people at this party hate that costume!" The Steelers are just playing dress-up, and as they demonstrated against Washington, sometimes costumes enhance a person's personality.

I do feel sorry for some of the players, though.

Everyone thinks the big guys like Casey Hampton are the ones who really have to suffer while wearing these uniforms, and for obvious reasons, but I respectfully disagree. While the horizontal stripes certainly don't do "Big Snack" any favors, he has many Pro Bowl seasons under his gigantic belt, and years from now, he can simply fast-forward past the two games in-which he looked like the queen bumble bee and, instead, concentrate on all the highlights of him looking dominant and awesome while wearing the more traditional and slimming black jerseys.

But what about someone like running back Jonathan Dwyer? He might be the real loser in this whole throwback "controversy." The kid is finally feeling it after two-plus years of trying to crack the line-up. Starting his second consecutive game on Sunday thanks to injuries to Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman, Dwyer became the first Steelers back to rush for over 100 yards in two-straight games since Willie Parker did it in 2008. What if Dwyer's 107 yard performance against Washington was the apex of a short-career?

How's he going to explain any highlights or pictures from October 28th, 2012, to his future children or grandchildren? "Daddy, you were in prison, and you played football while doing your time?"

As for the rest of us in Steeler Nation, I don't see what the big deal is about these throwbacks. It could be worse. Steely McBeam was designed to be permanent.