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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Anthony Smith�dude hits.
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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