The things Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher both share:

• Both were hired as Steelers head coach at age 34
• They were both previously defensive coordinators 
• Both have the same number of letters in their names
• They both have goatees
• They both share a fondness for sporting mock turtlenecks *
  

 *This has not yet been proven but I really really hope so.

 

From nba.com

Steve Nash invited another great passer to Suns shootaround, this one in the form of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. One year removed from a Super Bowl championship, Roethlisberger made his way to US Airways Center as a guest of the NBA's MVP, to watch the league’s fastest team up close and personal.

"Steve met Ben last year at the Celebrity Fight Night and found out he was a big basketball fan," Head athletic trainer and lifelong Steelers fan Aaron Nelson said. "They got to talking and when Ben was in town for the BCS Championship Game, he gave him a call and Steve invited him to the shootaround. He came down and it was pretty awesome, a nice surprise."

Nash laughed, “Aaron is the biggest Steelers fan in the world and gets on all our nerves about it. It was fun for us to watch him fold like a little school girl when he saw his hero walk in.”

Donning the Suns’ orange practice gear, Roethlisberger not only shared some gridiron stories with the guys, but participated in a full workout, from game film to drills to jump shots.

“For a football player, he wears the uniform really well,” Suns assistant coach Alvin Gentry laughed. “We wanted to sign him to a 10-day contract but figured the Steelers wouldn’t go for it.

“He’s a real standup guy and a good guy to be around. He really seems to enjoy the game and it was good having him out here talking about being a champion at such an early age and what it took to get there.”

“They’re my favorite team to watch because of the way they play,” Roethlisberger said. “Flying up and down the court, making unbelievable passes, they’re almost like a Harlem Globetrotter team in the way they play, which is just so much fun to watch.”

"It was great having him come out," Nelson said. "It was funny to see all the players and coaches that aren't Steelers fans run up to try and get autographs and pictures. Everybody goes from giving me a hard time for being a Steelers fan to being their biggest fan, so it was pretty funny."

Following the Super Bowl victory, the 2006 NFL season did not go as planned for the Steelers. The team suffered a number of injuries, finishing with an 8-8 record and failing to make the playoffs.

"Ben had a tremendous season a couple years ago but had a few injuries this year which set him back," Kurt Thomas said. "He's a tremendous leader and I expect a lot from the Steelers in the next five to 10 years. I'm still always going to be a Cowboys fan though, Cowboys all the way."

As far as who’s the better overall passer between two-time NBA MVP and the NFL quarterback, the Suns point guard doesn’t hesitate to answer.

“Oh, it’s Ben,” Nash admitted. “I don’t have guys trying to kill me when I pass the ball.”

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I'm sure he's practicing for the Pittsburgh Steelers basketball team? Does anybody know when they start?

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