Entries from March 1, 2006 - April 1, 2006
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not show-offs
From The Boston Herald
The NFL Kickoff weekend, which this year stars the world champion Pittsburgh Steelers, is turning into a real kick in the pants for the New England Patriots!
The Steelers plan to make no big to-do over finally getting that One For The Thumb when they host the Kickoff bash this fall.
You may recall that the last two Kickoffs - held at Gillette Stadium, the home of the then-world champs - featured the unveiling of the Super Bowl banner. And the crowd went wild...
We don't need this.
But Steelers owner Dan Rooney says that’s not the Steelers’ way of doing things.
“It’s a big game, and it’s a great way to open up, back on NBC, but no, we don’t do the banner thing,” Rooney told Sports Illustrated.
In fact, there will be no self-congrats whatsoever during the pregame festivities.
“No, we don’t do things like that,” Rooney said. “We gave them all rings, and we have a trophy for winning that game.”
The Pats had, um, no comment...
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I think it's really awesome that the Steelers are NOT going to be all showy about their Super Bowl victory at the season kickoff. It's just not the Rooney way of doing things. Or the Pittsburgh way of doing things, for that matter. I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying that Pittsburgh is one of the least-showiest cities in this entire country. As somebody currently living in one of the most-showiest cities in America (San Diego - LA's kid sister), I think I have some perspective. Fancy cars? Bling? Big knockers, Botox and bee-stung lips? These things do not go over in Pittsburgh very well. Have you seen Ben's hair lately? Exactly.
Also, if we hung up some banner from last season's victory, wouldn't we have to create and hang 4 more banners from all the other Super Bowl wins? All those banners hanging in Heinz Field will start to look like the ratty extensions hanging off Jessica Simpson's head - TACKY!!
So of course the Patriots have nothing to say about us not having a banner. And, we're totally making them look like New Money. Plus their rings are butt-ugly.
Bettina
4 Comments
EmailBen Roethlisberger taps in to Swiss Roots
NEW YORK, NY -- Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, will travel to Switzerland in May 2006, tracing the roots of his ancestors who lived in the Bernese Emmental. Additionally, the Swiss Federal Charter, known as the "Schweizer Bundesbrief," will be shown in the U.S. for the first time ever at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia. These and other events such as a Swiss immigration exhibition at New York's Ellis Island Museum are part of Swiss Roots, which aims to bring America and Switzerland closer together.
Various events will be organized to promote Swiss Roots, including Roethlisberger's visit to his ancestors' home town in Bernese Emmental and the exhibit of the Swiss Federal Charter, the "Schweizer Bundesbrief" of 1291, in Philadelphia's Constitution Center. The presentation of the "Bundesbrief," the first time it has ever been displayed outside of Switzerland, takes place within the framework of the "Sister Republics" exhibition, showing the close historic links between the U.S. and Swiss constitutions.
Swiss Roots brings the United States and Switzerland closer together through activities that foster dialogue, understanding, and both online and offline exchanges. The program's centerpiece, www.swissroots.org, is a state-of-the-art Web site that serves as a gateway for the one million Americans of Swiss descent to discover their ancestral roots and those with Swiss affinity to discover and communicate with people in Switzerland.
Ben has an interview on Swiss Roots. Here are some excerpts:
Swiss Roots: What kind of images do you think of when you think about Switzerland?
Ben Roethlisberger: Going on things I just know in general and have heard from other people, it's an absolutely beautiful country. I'm an outdoors kind of guy and love to go fishing and all that stuff, and I think that it's got to be just gorgeous. I'm sure you can just stand outside and spin around in circles and look at the beautiful landscape and just let it take your breath away. So I'm looking forward to that and seeing all the things I know Switzerland has to offer.
Swiss Roots: We're trying to arrange a trip for you to go to Switzerland and show you the sights, including a visit to your great-grandfather's town in the Bernese Emmental.
Ben Roethlisberger: That'd be awesome! If that town is known for their cheese, then I should take my dad: he loves cheeses, and he actually used to work in a cheese factory, so I know he'd love that.
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It sounds like Ben’s trip to Switzerland will consist of standing outside spinning in circles and eating cheese. Awesome.
One other extremely interesting snippet:
Swiss Roots: Finally, you've already accomplished in 2 years what few NFL players ever do in their whole careers - win a Super Bowl. Where do you go from here?
Ben Roethlisberger: I have a couple things planned this summer, other than hopefully getting to Switzerland. [Retired Steelers runningback] Jerome Bettis is getting married during the off-season, so I'm going to try to make that trip, and I wouldn't mind getting away to an island somewhere and relaxing for awhile, sipping margaritas on a beach.
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Did anybody else know that Jerome was getting married this summer? I also discovered he has a 1-year old daughter with this mystery woman. But when is the wedding?
Cool Ben stuff:
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Bill Cowher: Video Game Legend
From IGN.com
You know the look. The one where Coach Cowher looks so mad that spit is dripping down his chin as he runs down the sidelines to find a ref to yell at. Now that mug is being immortalized on the cover of EA Sports' new videogame, NFL Head Coach.
Cowher, the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL, is fresh off his first Super Bowl title with a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL in Detroit. In 14 seasons under the leadership of Cowher, the Steelers have earned 10 postseason berths, captured nine division titles, advanced to six AFC Championship games and have made two Super Bowl appearances. The Pittsburgh-area native is one of only six coaches in NFL history to claim at least eight division titles and ranks ninth in NFL history for longest head coaching service with one team.
"With NFL Head Coach there is finally a game that gives true football fans the chance to strategize and become the head coach of their favorite team," said Cowher. "Coaching is about leadership and everyone will now see how difficult, but also how rewarding coaching can be."
I wouldn't have the first clue on how to play this.
I don't even know how to play Madden 95. And I own it.
NFL Head Coach is the first-ever 3D coaching sim, challenging gamers to build and manage every aspect of an NFL franchise. As head coach, you develop a team strategy, execute it on and off the field, and try to build a winning organization year after year. Your status as a coaching legend will rise and fall based on all of your actions as you strive to become the greatest head coach of all time.
Look for the game to hit stores June 20 for the PS2, Xbox, and PC.
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Wanted: Video game tutor for June 20, 2006. Teach me how to play this. Very limited video game experience: NES and Sega Genesis. Must have lots of patience.
Is it wrong to buy the game just for the cover?
1 Reference
Art Rooney II named NFL Executive of the Year
From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The name Art Rooney has graced the Steelers franchise since it was founded and, 18 years after the team's founder's death, it's making a comeback. Art Rooney II, the eldest grandson of the Chief, has quickly made a name for himself as the third president of the Steelers and today will be named the NFL executive of the year.
Rooney, who succeeded his father Dan and grandfather Art Sr. before him as team president, will receive the honor from The Sporting News at a ceremony this morning at the NFL meetings.
Since he became club president after the 2002 season, the Steelers became the first team in the AFC to win 15 regular-season games, in 2004, and won their first Super Bowl in 26 years. Rooney also continued his father's philosophy in the free agency era by working first to re-sign his own players, by searching for value rather than pizzazz in the free-agent market and by using the draft as the primary source of building and maintaining his team.
His opinions weighed heavily when the Steelers decided to not only keep coach Bill Cowher in 2000 after three non-playoff seasons but also to offer him a contract extension.
Two weeks ago, when the NFL collective bargaining agreement seemed headed toward the trash can, Art Rooney was among those who helped save it by offering a proposal that became one of the conduits for the owners to agree to revenue sharing among themselves.
His name was even floated as a possible candidate to succeed the retiring Paul Tagliabue as commissioner, although he said Sunday that, basically, he's not interested.
Rooney, 53, served as a Steelers ballboy in the 1960s and pursued a law career He graduated from Pitt and then Duquesne University School of Law in 1982. He was chairman of the board of the Downtown law firm of Klett Rooney Lieber and Schorling and also served as the Steelers' counsel before succeeding his father as president of the ballclub in 2003.
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I think it's just so awesome that he won this award. The Rooney family has been such a major component of the Steelers, and it's obvious that their incredibly professional conduct and dedication has fueled the success of the team. But they don't like to get any attention or public praise, so I won't say anymore. Sorry Mr. Rooney.
Learn more about the Rooney legacy:
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Season kickoff game announced
From The Miami Herald
The Dolphins, absent from prime-time games last season, will kick off the 2006 regular season with a Thursday night game against the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, according to an NFL source.
The league is scheduled to announce today that Miami will travel to Pittsburgh for the inaugural game of the NFL season -- one which is televised nationally on prime time and features national recording artists playing before the game and during halftime.
The game will be played Sept. 7, and the remainder of the NFL regular season will begin Sept. 10.
The Dolphins were picked for the game, in part, because they finished the 2005 season with six victories in a row, and coach Nick Saban has improved the team, at least on paper, with the addition of several players, most notably quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
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This sounds like it will be a really good game. I really really hope Snoop does the halftime show. Also, will Jerome Bettis be announcing for the game AND getting his ring also? Sounds awesome. I am incredibly jealous of whoever gets to go to this game.
This stuff is sweet:
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