*Wipes tear from my eye*   Tell it like it is, Terry.

The greatest quarterback to ever wear the Black and Gold ripped his current counterpart a new one on Sunday’s NFL pregame show.  Saying Terry Bradshaw does not like Ben Roethlisberger is like saying there’s been a mild disagreement in the Middle East the past, oh, thousand years or so.  One thing you can’t accuse Terry of is being a johnny come lately.  He’s made his feelings clear on a number of occasions, first during an off-season charity golf event where he plainly stated, “Ben doesn’t like me and I’m learning not to like him.”  Last week, TB stated he “prayed” the Ginger Dictator would keep Ben’s suspension at six full games. Ouch.

The Blonde Bomber saved the best for last.  During his “Fired Up” commentary, Bradshaw just absolutely waylaid the disgraced quarterback.  It was an amazing piece of television if only because the NFL is always treated carefully by the media who are loathe to bring up player misdeeds.  The Steelers in particular get more reacharounds than any team, particularly by their local PR Staff reporters.  To see a national broadcaster single out a player and then bend him over like a drunk ho in a bathroom stall is not your everyday occurrence.

Clearly, the hostility Bradshaw has for Ben has not diminished during the recent campaign to paint him as a great guy who kisses babies and helps old ladies across the street.  The source of Terry’s hatred is pretty easy to understand. Ben was a jerk to him. Terry holds a grudge.  That tends to happen when you treat people like garbage.

Listening to sports talk radio last night was equally amusing.  Bradshaw gave his heart and soul to the Steelers.   Yet, when Turkey Jones of the Browns broke his collar bone, the Three Rivers faithful CHEERED their quarterback being injured.   Stay classy, Steeler Nation.  On the flip side, you have a guy like Big Ben, who hasn’t accomplished 1/10 of what Bradshaw did and yet a morally bankrupt segment of Steeler fans will stand by this punk no matter what vile acts he’s accused of.   Embarrassing.

TB isn’t bitter or jealous.  Expecting the quarterback of your old team to represent it well and to be at least something resembling a decent human being isn’t exactly a high standard.  He just has the guts to say it.  And for that I applaud him.

Terry Bradshaw was and always will be the greatest QB to ever play for the Steelers.  Always.  And while I’ll be extremely happy to see Ben behind center four weeks from now, he will never receive the level of respect myself and all true Steeler fans have for Mr. Bradshaw.  Thank you, Terry.