Women of Steeler Nation Lead by Example

It came as no surprise to read the results of a survey that concluded: "Pittsburgh has, by far, the largest base of NFL fans who are women."

As someone who grew up in a house in which it was Mom who always made sure the TV was tuned to the right station and the radio was blaring with Myron Cope and Jack Fleming on Sundays by noon, the survey results simply verify what I've always known.

Now, with two daughters of my own, the tradition continues in our household. (Well, the TV part at least... Myron is gone, and Billy Hillgrove took over for Fleming a few years ago.)

However, the notion that a female Steeler fan wants to wear pink instead of black & gold is just not true. Even my five year old scoffed at the thought, which is a shame, considering her aunt bought her a cute pink logo shirt last year that my daughter was supposed to grow into. She won't wear the thing, because it isn't the colors she sees all of us wearing on Sundays!

My little fan knows the team colors are black and gold (even if she did ask "Why do you call yellow 'gold'?") and she knows, too, that the official logo features three hypocycloids containing the primary colors of blue, red and yellow. I remind you, she is five! I couldn't even say 'hypocycloid' when I was five.

I know I bashed some rowdy Steeler fans in an earlier post, but I also know that the proud Steeler Nation is vast, with the most loyal and engaging fans in the sports world, too.