First I want to apologize if my writing is not up to snuff with some of the great work I see on BTSC, but I wanted to share my experience as someone who wasn't born in Pennsylvania or Ohio with parents who bleed Black and Gold. I was born in Maryland. Near the nations capital. Redskin's country. I would say i took an interest in football around the time most boys do. I was around 6 or 7 when I started watching on TV. I am 46 so this is way before the days of ESPN, cable tv, or the NFL ticket. The Redskins were on TV every week, and though I found myself rooting for them. I just couldn't call them my team. I hated those god awful uniforms. Before you judge. What else does a 6 year old have to choose from. Around that time history shows the Steelers coming into their great 70's period, so they were on TV alot. I loved the Steeler's and Raider's uniforms. Whats a young man to do. I loved the Raider's silver, but without question the Steelers had the best helmuts in the league. I found myself identifying with the Steeler's players more, but i needed a defining moment to make my decision final. So the Raiders played the Steelers in the 1974 playoffs. I was too young to realize the magnitude of the game. My decison was the winner of that game would make my final choice, but I found myself secretly rooting for the Steelers. They say god works in mysterious ways. I often think about what would have happened had the Raiders won that game, and I would be stuck with rooting for them. I am a lifelfong Bullets/Wizards fan, so I know all about suffering. I think I was destined to become a Steeler fan regardless, because their work ethic and team philosophy resonates within me. I feel i have the Steeler logo stamped on my heart, as Art Rooney's vision has turned into one of the greatest franchises in all of sports. I am proud to be a part of Steeler Nation, and a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.