Chicks Dig The Steelers
By chris
I have nothing against the Post-Gazette. I joke from time to time about them being the unofficial PR Department for the Pittsburgh Steelers but that can be said of every media outlet in this city. Truth is, I read their online site (printed newspapers are so 1992) almost every day because they have access to things, like press conferences and player interviews, us lowly bloggers still aren’t privy to. Plus, I think there’s room for us both to co-exist; I write from the fan’s point of view, while they approach subjects through the eyes of a trained journalist.
Every once in awhile, I come across a story which is so patently ridiculous, my Smart Ass Meter hits the red. Being a model of restraint, I usually resist the urge to make fun of it here. But Holy Llama Dung, Batman, did anybody read this column? It’s a story about the Steelers annual Ladies Night Out and it’s terrible. It’s awful. It deserves my unbridled sarcasm in full. Let’s begin…
"For $95, nearly 500 women of all ages and from all walks of life got the chance to eat dinner, ask questions of Steelers, visit the inner sanctum of the locker room and attempt field goals while their images were shown on the scoreboard."
Ninety-five dollars? 500 women were willing to pony up ninety-five dollars for the privilege of touring the Steelers locker room? I’ve been in locker rooms. Many times I would’ve paid $95 to LEAVE one. I have no idea why women would be that eager to get a whiff of the stank left behind by 53 large sweaty men.
And I can’t imagine what this so-called “tour” might entail. “This locker here with the full-length fold out mirror belongs to Jeff Reed.” “Over here, you’ll see Santonio Holmes‘ jock strap. Feel free to pass it around but be careful. Drop it on your foot and you’ll break a toe.”
"In a figurative sense, it was a Cinderella-like outing. But instead of dancing at a ball with a handsome prince, they got to kick a ball and become immersed in football. And a Steelerella never has to worry about glass slippers."
Fun activity for the ladies or auditioning Skippy’s replacement? YOU DECIDE!
And let us never speak the word “Steelerella” ever again.
"Speakers for the evening were rookie defensive lineman Ziggy Hood and backup quarterback Charlie Batch."
So for your ninety five clams, you get to hear from a rookie who’s never started a game and our lowly backup quarterback. I don’t know for sure but I have a strong hunch Ziggy got handed the job as some sort of rookie hazing ritual.
"But there also were questions never asked by the football writers, like this inquiry from Devona Edmond of the North Side.“Ziggy, do you have a girlfriend?”“Yes, she’s seated right over there.”“Do you want another one?”"
Translation:
“Hi, I’m Devona Edmond and I’m a shameless whore.”
Being a guy and all, I know Man Code backwards and forwards. Perhaps one of my female readers can help me out with Woman Code. Are there any rules or regulations about handling some hootchie hitting on your man right in front of you?
If not, there should be.
"Ms. Edmond has the team logo tattooed on her back along with her date of birth — June 2, 1986."
The Hypocycloid turned into Tramp Stamp? I don’t know if I should be aroused or offended by this sacrilege!
"Women love the Steelers for a variety of reasons. Everybody loves a winner. Families get together to watch and talk football. The uniforms and the color scheme make a bold fashion statement."
Um, what? Are they seriously claiming a portion of the Steelers female fan base exists solely because Black and Gold matches their shoes and purse?
"“The Steelers officially don’t have cheerleaders. They don’t need them,” said Robin Thomas of St. Clairsville. “They have a million of them.”"
We don’t need a mascot, either. Yet Steely McBeam sadly exists. Yes, we do need cheerleaders. You know why? Because Pittsburgh’s Polish-Italian-German flavor produces some of the most attractive women in the United States. And I’m sick of people thinking they all look like this:
Besides, the Steelers did have cheerleaders once upon a time. In fact, they had the first cheerleading squad in NFL history.
"“He said his mother had a problem with us getting married because I wasn’t a Catholic. He didn’t have a problem with that, but he did have a problem with me wearing a Cowboys jersey. Once I took that thing off and converted to being a Steelers fan, things worked out fine. That was over 20 years ago,” Ms. Thomas said."
I have nothing funny to add. Mostly because the same thing happened to me. It’s 1994 and I’m a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University. Sitting across from me in Introductory Statistics was this gorgeous green-eyed blonde, whom I’d later discover was a Colts fan. We dated for close to two years and her dubious taste in football teams never bothered me because this was Indianapolis before Peyton Manning, when they were just a ragtag bunch of lovable losers.
In the 1995 playoffs (played in January of 1996), Indy came out of nowhere to score two major upsets before facing the Steelers in the AFC Championship game. Up until this point, I had let this girl meet my parents but kept her away from major family gatherings. On this occasion, I felt it was time to invite her to watch the game with my entire family, consisting of three uncles, two aunts, my grandma, and my folks. When she walked in wearing an Indianapolis Colts jersey, I knew it was the beginning of the end. We broke up six weeks later.
The moral of the story is this: religious, ethnic, even age differences can be overcome. But root for different teams and the relationship is doomed.
"There were a few of the pink jerseys in the audience, but the overwhelming majority of women prefer to wear black and gold."
STOP BUYING PINK JERSEYS!!!!! Only ditzy airheads who watch to stare at Heath Miller‘s ass wear pink jerseys. Real football fans wear real football jerseys!!!
"“Being a Steeler fan truly does span generations,” Mrs. Reinhard said. “It’s bred into you.”"
There’s a joke there but… Nah. Too easy.
"Lynn Kelley, originally from Upper St. Clair. She married a man from Sandusky, Ohio, and they had two sons. But when the marriage soured, he wanted the boys to follow the Browns. To rescue them from such a bleak future, she sought the intercession of Ziggy Hood."
This man should have all visitation rights revoked immediately. Kids need a strong male role model and this guy is clearly a man of questionable character. I’m not Judge Judy and I’ve never been in Family Court but his subtle brainwashing has to constitute some form of abuse. Who in their right mind would encourage anybody to follow the Browns?
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