W�.all that counts
�victory in a deluge
By Swissvale72
Dateline:
RIP Sean Taylor
K�Management�s instructed me to clean up my language, so I�ll make every effort herein. Who gives a $#^@# if it was 3-0. A win, is a win, is a win. Yes, our O-line needs work. Did we not know that already? Playing under conditions that served as the Great Equalizer, the Steelers won a hard-fought game that could have very easily gone the other way.
Imagine if this game had gone the other way�.how we�d feel today. Do you feel better now than you did last Monday morning, after the Jets debacle?? I sure as *#& do.
A few items from last night�s game that may not have been mentioned yet:
- Ben�not only was he 18 for 21 in impossible conditions, but this guy continues to do those things that winners do that never show up in a boxscore. I always go back to Super Bowl XL, when despite a passer rating of 22, Ben made 3 big runs ( 1 for a TD, 2 for 4Q first downs), and threw the block that made possible the final TD. Well, last night, Ben�s two worst plays, also brought out his best effort. A. The Pick: Yes, Ben threw a horrendous ball, but Ben doesn�t hustle over and make the tackle himself, Peezy might have gone the distance. He�s still be woofin�, talking trash. B. The Fumble: Thanks to Maxi-Pad Starks, Ben was blind-sided, fumbled, but miraculously managed to keep his feet, and made a helluva recovery, landing on his precious right arm, and soaking himself in the process. Ben doesn�t get to that ball�.was laying on the pasture, awaiting a Fin to pick it up with an unimpeded path to the EZ. Ben was huge on the final drive. He and Hines put this team on their shoulders.
- Play-call....as well as the pass game was working (other than the protection), one would think we would have put it in Ben's hands more in big spots, rather than continuing to beat our proverbial heads against the proverbial wall, trying to make big first downs on the ground.
- 5-Wide�anyone else shocked, with the way this offense has been managed the past few weeks, that we come out after the two-minute warning (..is my memory right), 3rd & 3 on the 12, and showing 5 wides!! And then throw it to the Forgotten Man�Willie Reid. Warmed my heart�.great to see.
- Other decisions.....Dolphins have 4th & 15 on our 31...go for it. We have 4th & 2 on their 27, try a FG that had no chance.
- Steppin� on Ricky�been postulated on this site, and on ESPN that Timmons may have intentionally stepped injured Ricky Williams. Get real!! Ball�s on the ground, a rookie that�s seen precious little of the field this year, is trying to make a recovery, and he�s going to detour his thought process to purposely step on the WeedMeister�s shoulder. Hell�did you see the close-up. We�re lucky Timmons didn�t sprain his ankle on the play.
- Najeh....still miss Bettis, in a biiig way, on yard to go. Najeh doesn't run like one would expect of a back his size
- Anthony Smith�dude hits.
- Time of game...2 hours, 25 minutes....approaching high school TOG
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Two of my brothers, and their daughters were in the house last night. Starting to think that the Steeler Weather God is paying TonyV back for staying the fuck away so long (sorry�.just one slippage). He�s been to two games this year, both downpours. Brother Ralph hadn�t been to a game since�.holy hell�was it the Immaculate Reception? No�was the �75 Divisional Playoff versus the Colts. Same deal, went last night and was there for the Baltimore Monday Nighter. Here are their first-person accounts, filed from the scene:
TonyV15220The kick was at our end. Ralph and Maria would have had an excellent view of it. Rain was really heavy. We lucked out on the tailgating end as we ended up under the underpass again. Field was horrendous, but I'm sure you could tell that on TV. It was one of those games where you knew/thought they would win, but the process was excruciating. Ugly, but I'll take it.
As you know, Stupid James was off hunting with his dad, so we had no cook for the tailgate. I fixed his ass though�.field was so wet, was like a Wet Male Spandex Contest, specially the Fins, dressed in their whites. I could see JPeezy�s ass clear as day. Oh, Jason Taylor�s posse from Turtle Creek were tailgating right next to us. Know who they brought along? Vince�.yeah, as in Vinnie�s Pizza�.he hauled an over along, made us some awesome pies. Fortunately, the Port-O-Pottie was right there.
Ralphie the
�Turkey Bowl� at its finest!� nothing like seeing two teams that battle it out ankle deep in water and covered in mud-- it was awesome right down to Skippy�s boot right in front of us to save the game. Just like kicking beer bottles down
Tia Maria
Thank God for Skippy! If it wasn't for him, I think we'd still be there! When I yelled, �Hey Skippy�.Loretta and the Girls� Room,� he smiled and waved.
After being evacuated and forced to stand with 60,000 people by the concession stands so they could delay the start - we were ready for some magic. Although, the brautwurst Ed and I found around 10 was pretty magical.
We still had a blast. And, Gina and Uncle Tony threw an awesome tailgate as usual. Although, I don't think Gina will allow me to go to anymore games as I obviously bring the rain with me :)
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Lastly, many of us have our own bad-weather experiences. And, as I�m wont to tell stories, here�s mine. We all know that the Original Monday Night Football were high school junior varsity games, under the lights, Monday night. Well, my sophomore year at Swissvale, 1969, I started a few games varsity, but was also assigned to the JV Squad. Had gone to
Oh�.I digress�copying Mean Joe, I had myself been ousted from a JV game against Duquesne earlier in the year. Guy across from me was holding, held some more, held some more�..so I held him�..around his fuckin� neck, and wouldn�t let go. I was excused�.ref that booted me, Pat Bonacci, shows up as our high school principal the following year. I had to visit his office a few times�.didn�t like me making out with my girlfriend in the high school parking lot�..whatever!! Was also that game, where I had the embarrassment, as the middle guy on the front line of the kickoff return team, of having the kickoff hit me square in the fuckin� head (true story, swear to God), and having the Dukes recover.
Anyway, back to the bad weather. Night after Steelers-Skins were Swissvale JVs versus
Anyway�..on to Cinci�.this game�SCARES ME�..will file the report manana�
Docvidanya�.
S72