Bettis

Kudos to Ed Bouchette for his article on the �Bettis Bashers.�� The sniping at Jerome Bettis has reached the height of absurdity.� As were many of you, I was worried when Duce was first listed as questionable for the Iggles game, then downright concerned when he was inactive.� Unlike many of you, though, I had some confidence that the 6^th leading rusher in NFL history would give us a good effort, even though he�s clearly in the twilight of his career.� I frankly couldn�t understand though, why so many of you were so vile in your commentary, acting as though the Bus was Tonya Harding to Duce�s Nancy Kerrigan.

I�m much more baffled now though.� The Bus runs for a buck-and-a-half, is named AFC Offensive player of the week, and still the dissing persists.� The only conclusion I can reach is that many of you value being �right� in your own football analysis, over the success of the Pittsburgh Steelers.� When we should be hailing the Bus for such a fine performance on Sunday, you continue to insist that:

1. Your grandmother could have run through those holes
2. He�s too fat to do it again
3. He ego�s as large as his belly

All that any of us should have been concerned with was that Jerome Bettis produced when called upon, much like he�s produced with his 8 TD runs this season.� We should also note that he�s produced in an era where many athletes in his circumstance would have bitched and complained to no end, and claimed disrespect.

I know that some of you have claimed an ally in Mark Madden (�.interesting, you mock Bettis and run caricatures of him being too fat�.Madden!!!!).� Madden is a known contrarian, crass to the point of obscene, and let�s remember, has advocated for the Pirates to retire Barry Bonds� number ( �.why Madden, �cause he hit about .125 for us through 3 playoff series?).� I�m sure it�s no accident that the PG canned his mega-ass.

Jerome may not repeat last week�s performance.� It promises to be much tougher sledding in Cleveland versus the Browns.� I hope that Duce plays, and that he starts.� But if he can�t, all we can ask is that Jerome makes every effort to carry the load once again.� He�ll surely do that.�

In the meantime, all you naysayers should examine the source of your discontent. �Some of you have stood up, simply admitted being wrong, and were glad of it.� For those of you that continue in this vein, bashing this guy after such a great team victory and solid individual performance, you�re not Steeler fans�.you�re only fans of #1.