Random Thoughts From a Black-and-Gold Mind: ‘You’ve Got A Friend’ edition

It was was a tough week to be a member of Steelers Nation, and the Steelers provided a brief escape from the sorrow with a winning performance for a grieving city. As always, my black-and-gold brain is swirling, but I’m going to forego the crazy apologies this week. Most of you know that this column is meant to be half fact/mostly satire, but I’m suspending that for a moment with my thoughts and prayers going out to the victims and families of the Tree of Life shooting last weekend. I also want to commend the Steelers’ organization for their community-mindedness in this time of tragedy, and the people of the city as well.

Pittsburgh is indeed stronger than hate.

And now this week’s edition of Random Thoughts from a Black-and-Gold Mind...

• The Steelers helped a sixth consecutive Browns coach get fired. That stat is wild. I’m kind of bummed though, I wanted Wacky Todd Haley to be the big guy for a while.
• I love the fact that Landry Jones has finally landed with another club...the Jacksonville Jaguars. A lot of fans crushed No. 3 over the years and I may be guilty of that as well, but Landry comes off as a great human being. I saw some comments regarding how it would be injustice should Jones possibly rejuvenate his career in Jacksonville. Landry was simply the wrong guy in Pittsburgh. You can’t blame Erika Alexander, the actress who portrayed boring Cousin Pam on The Cosby Show, for revitalizing her career as a Maxine on Living Single...you point the finger at the roofie distributor who made the decision to bring her in. So, Good Luck LJ.
• At this point Le’Veon Bell has less of a chance of playing this season than Hollywood producers have of green-lighting my screenplay “Burns Notice: The Unauthorized Story of Artie Burns”.

Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

• Speaking of Hollywood, the Queen biopic titled “Bohemian Rhapsody” hits theaters this weekend. Wouldn’t it be cool to see Styx get their due on the silver screen with “Renegade”?
• Ben Roethlisberger and the other Steelers are rallying around James Conner so much I would be shocked if he isn’t voted team-MVP at season’s end.
• Ryan Switzer impressed me with owning that he should know the free-kick rules better. He wasn’t the only one at fault though.

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

• No deal for a CB or a third WR at the deadline was disappointing to many, but I guess we should trust in the fact the Steelers’ front office doesn’t seem to mind gambling on the firm of Burns, Sutton and Sensabaugh at the corner opposite Joe Haden. The Godfather’s Fredo put his trust in his brother Michael and travelers in 1912 put a lot of faith in the crew of the Titanic and those scenarios worked out rather swimmingly. Just don’t get on a boat arranged by Kevin Colbert.
• Speaking of Sensabaugh, his foot injury seems a whole lot more crucial after Tuesday at 4:01 pm.
• Ramon Foster and his family did a “Harry Potter” theme for Halloween with No. 73 dressing as Hagrid. That’s awesome. It’s great to see Steelers players having fun for this holiday. How many houses opened their front door only to see JuJu and Boujee on their stoop awaiting a Twix?

And finally,

• I wonder what Harvey Clayton is doing these days.

Growing up in Pennsylvania, I remember the motto “You’ve got a friend in Pennsylvania”. Never have those six words been so necessary. So breathe in the beautiful lyrics written in 1971 by Carole King and take solace in the fact that, through thick and thin, Pittsburgh and Steelers Nation are a family.

When you’re down and troubled

And you need some love and care

And nothing, nothing is going right

Close your eyes and think of me

And soon I will be there

To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name

And you know wherever I am

I’ll come running, to see you again

Winter, spring, summer or fall

All you have to do is call

And I’ll be there

You’ve got a friend

If the sky above you

Grows dark and full of clouds

And that old north wind begins to blow

Keep your head together

And call my name out loud

Soon you’ll hear me knocking at your door

...

Take that for what it’s worth, Don’t Stop Shalievin’ and Go Steelers.