Yinz Luv 'Da Stillers - Catch the Wave

Here is an entertaining ongoing Vlog from Jim Shearer that is well worth a view:



If the embed doesn't work, try here.

Great Fodder for Argument: All-Time Top 20 Steelers

It's been way too long since I last posted... I hope to have something to say as the 2009-10 season goes on. To start, however, here's one of those "list" topics that is always a little forced, but still makes for some interesting memories and discussion.

Last week, the NFL Network's Jason La Canfora listed his picks of the 20 greatest Steelers of all time in the pregame run-up to the season opener... He had a few incoherent caveats about current players, so his list left off sure bet candidates Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu (although he found a way to list Ben as #11?). IMO, he nailed the top 5, but I have a few bones to pick with some of his latter selections.

XFL MVP takes La Canfora to task for his picks, but I think the Network reporter has done a fairly good job of identifying greatness.

Here is La Canfora's list:
20. Rocky Bleier
19. Larry Brown (very deserving of recognition, but not in my top 20)
18. Dermontti Dawson (not in my top 20)
17. Ernie Stautner
16. Greg Lloyd
15. Dwight White
14. Mel Blount (way too low for this all-timer!!!)
13. Jerome Bettis
12. Rod Woodson
11. Ben Roethlisberger
10. Lynn Swann
9. John Stallworth
8. Donnie Shell (a touch too high for this overachiever - but he's still on the list!)
7. L.C. Greenwood
6. Mike Webster
5. Jack Ham
4. Franco Harris
3. Jack Lambert
2. Terry Bradshaw
1. Joe Greene

Here is my list:
20. Rocky Bleier
19. Greg Lloyd
18. Dwight White
17. Ernie Stautner
16. Jerome Bettis
15. Rod Woodson
14. Donnie Shell
13. Troy Polamalu
12. Ben Roethlisberter
11. Lynn Swann
10. John Stallworth
9. Hines Ward
8. Mel Blount
7. L.C. Greenwood
6. Mike Webster
5. Jack Ham
4. Franco Harris
3. Jack Lambert
2. Terry Bradshaw
1. Joe Greene

Top Honorable Mentions: Larry Brown, Dermontti Dawson, Carnell Lake, Andy Russell, Levon Kirkland, Jon Kolb, Ray Mansfield, Mike Wagner, Willie Parker, Alan Faneca, Elbie Nickel, Casey Hampton, Joey Porter

Well, what do you think... comments are appreciated.

Six-Burgh!

Yeah Baby!

With 2:37 remaining on the clock in perhaps the most exciting Super Bowl game ever played... the Steelers down by 3... and my wife frantically pulling her hair out and close to tears, I turned to her and calmly said, "In Ben we trust."

Pittsburgh Sportwriter Gerry Dulac had said on the radio earlier in the day that he thought it would come down to one of Ben's now trademarked 4th quarter rallies. But I don't think he envisioned the drive that actually transpired in his wildest prognosticating dreams. (Kudos, Gerry on your call -- and mega-Kudos to Ben for his prestidigitation!)

'R Stillers once again lay claim to being the best pro football franchise of the Super Bowl era! As a lifelong Steelers fan, I've always felt that way and believed in the Steelers' way of taking care of business... But now, with six trophies in 7 tries, there is no disputing the fact!

I can't wait for training camp to open... This team is fairly young (YOU try to tell Aaron Smith he is old!), and Ben is only beginning to realize the amazing potential I've been preaching about since he was selected 5 years ago.

RIP Mr. Cope

Bye Now! Myron.

No more yoi's and double yoi's. The man who will always be associated as THE voice of 'r Stillers passed away last week.

Like so many other devoted Steeler fans, I grew up in a household where we turned down the sound on the TV and turned UP the radio play-by-play to hear the fun, funny and someitmes cringe-inducing screeches of the one and only Dr. Cope.

I also grew up listening to his radio call-in show on WTAE. Never got up the nerve to call him, but always enjoyed his opinions on sports 'n 'at.

Perhaps my favorite Cope story is the one he told about meeting Fats Holmes in a hotel hallway as he was returning to his room in the wee hours after a Steeler away game.

Holmes took Myron by the shoulder and said to the diminutive one: "How's about you and me going downstairs for a Corvoursier?" -- you have to imagaine Cope saying the word "Cor - vaz - ee - ae!" to truly appreciate the story... Myron said what any 5'4" sportscaster would say to a 320+ pound behemoth: "Show me the way."

Myron went on to explain that even though he loved his toddies, he was unfamiliar with Fats' favorite cognac. And even though he had already imbibed his share of post-game toddies, he wasn't about to say "no" to the request of someone as large and irascible as Mr. Holmes.

Like all of Cope's stories, this one went on and on. He must have used the word cor-vz-ee-aa at least a dozen times. And the story ultimately ended by doing what Cope was most famous for doing: he gave us a glimpse of a real person we thought we knew, but did so in a way in which we learned more about the person than we could ever imagine -- and did so in a truly amusing and entertaining way.

Hope you are having a toddy or two with the Chief, and a Corvoursier with Mr. Holmes, as you watch down on the Steeler Nation you helped create. Bye now, Mr. Cope.

Steelers @ Rams - Home on the Road?

The Steelers might find the footing (and their reception) a little more to their liking this Thursday in St. Louis.

With the Rams out of playoff contention, and the Steeler Nation's propensity for filling stadiums across the country, the combination of fast turf and friendly fans may be the right elixir for the reeling black and gold.

Watch for a few lineup changes too. Safety Anthony Smith has guaranteed himself a place in Coach Tomlin's doghouse - not with his mouth, but with his deplorable deep coverage. Smith will be benched in favor of Tyrone Carter this week. It's about time.

Hopefully, we'll see more of LaMarr Woodley and/or Lawrence Timmons this week, too... That's because Clark Haggans strained a knee versus the Jags. How Haggans has remained the starter over the past 5 weeks is a mystery. How many times must he be run 20 yards down field past the pocket for Tomlin to try someone new? Hopefully, we'll find out Thursday if one of the high draft picks can make an impact.

I'm back in the game

Sorry for the delay between posts. Sometimes, I have felt like it's been me trying to slog through the muck and mud the Steelers and Dolphins danced in at Heinz Field few weeks ago.

But now I'm back. More important, I'm ready to follow as 'r Stillers regain their footing and actually stride into the playoffs, instead of slipping in backwards!

Broncos expose weaknesses

The Broncos flat out outplayed 'R Stillers and seemed to be a step quicker all night long.

What can I say?

Ben did a good job of rallying the O to tie the game with under two minutes left to play in regulation, but the D gave up critical late game yardage (again) and second-year starter Jay Cutler showed more precision and promise than he has at any other time in his brief NFL career, leading the previously woeful Broncos to a fateful last-second winning field goal.

The Steelers' strategy of throwing early and often puzzled some observers, but you could see they were doing it in a way to spread the field, hoping to establish the run by softening the periphery with quick hits and a couple long throws ... Fast Willie had his moments, but overall, the O-line suffered its worst game thus far.

The real problem, it seemed to me, was an overactive D that was possibly trying too many tricks to throw-off the inexperienced Cutler. Instead of throwing him off his game, the Bronco QB seemed to be prepared for all of the different looks, and the D just couldn't muster the kind of pass rush that had them near the league leaders in sacks and pressures after the first few games this season. Kudos to Shanahan for a strong game plan and Cutler for great execution.

I was truly hoping for a win leading into this three-game stretch versus division rivals, but maybe the loss will be the kind of bitter medicine the team needs to get their game into gear?

Hey, we can hope, can't we?