FanPost

How I became a Steeler's fan.


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.

The opinions shared here are not those of the editorial staff of Behind the Steel Curtain or SB Nation. These posts are not approved in any way by the editorial staff of this web site.