I’m a Steelers fan. So watching the AFC play-off game last weekend was really, really weird. It was a competition of whom do I hate less.
The New England Patriots defeated the Steelers at home in AFC Championship game in 2001 & 2004. Both times the Pats went on to win the Superbowl. In my mind those should have been the Steeler’s Lombardi Trophies. My hatred for Tom Brady and teammates was compounded exponentially by an obnoxious Pats fan at work, who gleefully rubbed my nose in the Steeler’s losses at every opportunity. Due to this wonderful Pats fan, the mild dislike I had for the Patriots in 2001, blossomed into full blown loathing by 2004.
The only team I hate more than the Patriots is the Ravens. The Ravens are to the Steelers what Magneto is to Professor X, they are two sides of the same coin, the ying and the yang, the good twin and the evil twin. Both are known for strong defences and a conservative ground game. Both play competitive, smashmouth, old school football. Since they are in the same division they meet twice a year and ever since the NFL redrew the divisions in 2002 either the Ravens or Steelers have won it, with only two exceptions (Go Bengals in 2005 and 2009!).
The biggest difference between the two teams is “class”. The Rooney family loves Pittsburgh and would never dream of leaving. Art Model pulled the beloved Browns out of Cleveland and took them to Baltimore. The city of Cleveland was so upset, they demanded the team name and records stay with the city, making the Ravens an “expansion team” with the Browns old roster. The Steelers will cut players who demand too much money or have consistent legal issues (i.e. Kendrell Bell, Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress.) where the Ravens occasionally pick up overpaid big names that are a year away from retirement (Shannon Sharpe, Dion Sanders). Baltimore has always been “dirty” in my eyes. From Modell’s actions in 1995 to suspect playing style of Ray Lewis and Tony Siragusa. They were even accused of stealing the shield logo they originally used in their first few years as the Ravens.The epitome of underhanded Raven behavior being Lewis’ murder indictment in 2000.* I hate the Ravens with a passion that I can feel physically. It’s not pretty.
So now I have to watch this Championship game between two teams that I can’t stand, who do I root for? A friend of mine told me that he doesn’t vote for a candidate, but against the lesser of two evils. Guess that settles it, go Patriots!
The NFC Championship game was different, 49ers all the way. They went from 6-10 to 13-3 and the #2 playoff seed and were the feel good, comeback story of the year! After years of finishing below .500, the 49ers were back to their former glory! The phoenix from the flames! The comeback kid! Proof that hard work and pluck can triumph! Cue the theme from Rocky and let’s kick some ass!!!
A lot of people don’t understand the allure of football. It’s the simple fact that on “any given Sunday” anyone can win, even the Cleveland Browns. The little guy has a chance! We all love to see the underdog triumph in the face of overwhelming odds and no one is more aware of this than the NFL’s marketing strategists. Think of some of the story lines touted over the past few years: The grocery bagger and Arena League Football player who went on to win the Super Bowl (Kurt Warner). The fourth round draft pick who stepped in for the injured veteran and takes his team to the Big Game (Tom Brady). The boy who followed in his fathers footsteps as an NFL quarterback and after years of falling short, finally gets a Super Bowl ring (Peyton Manning). The lovable bear of a running back near retirement, finally wins the Super Bowl (hosted in his home town of all places!) The cameras swirling around him, the music swelling as he tearfully announces his retirement, cradling the glistening Lombardi in his shaky hands (Jerome Bettis). We love to see the underdog prevail (even though these guys are some of the most highly paid professionals in the nation) We identify with their struggle to win in the face of overwhelming odds, reminding us of our own daily trials. If they can win against the odds, so can we!
And it’s real! That’s the best (and worst) part! David sometimes gets crushed by Goliath! We watch our team face the giant and rub our lucky jersey in prayer, hoping that this time that little pebble finds the behemoths temple and slays the giant. If David is crushed, he returns battered and bruised for another shot. His tenacity is our fuel and we cheer louder than ever “DAY-vid! DAY-vid! DAY-vid!”
80% of the time, people pick the underdog if they have no other association with the two competitors. It’s human nature to want the little guy to win. If they can succeed in the face of overwhelming odds, so can we. Our belief in them is hope for ourselves. If the Cleveland Browns can sweep the Baltimore Ravens (2007), then you can get that raise from your boss. Miracles CAN happen!
So here is my locker room speech: Go out there and get ‘em! You put on your lucky jersey once a week for your team, you deserve the same! Pick out a lucky scarf or tie for yourself! Hang a picture up of your greatest moment in the spot where you would normally hang a picture of your favorite football player (or next to him). Put some of that white hot energy into rooting for yourself. Deep down you know if wave your terrible towel hard enough, the Steelers will convert that 3rd and long. Positive thinking can work wonders through a television screen. What can it do when its directed at you?
*With Ben Roethlisberger’s two separate rape cases, the play style of James Harrison and to some extent Hines Ward, the Steelers are far from angelic. I do feel however that this behavior is discouraged by the front office in Pittsburgh more so than in Baltimore. I still wish they would either cut Roethlisberger or make him do some very visible community service. Personally, I think if he were to talk to college athletes about date rape and how THEY can prevent it, that would be a start.
The New England Patriots defeated the Steelers at home in AFC Championship game in 2001 & 2004. Both times the Pats went on to win the Superbowl. In my mind those should have been the Steeler’s Lombardi Trophies. My hatred for Tom Brady and teammates was compounded exponentially by an obnoxious Pats fan at work, who gleefully rubbed my nose in the Steeler’s losses at every opportunity. Due to this wonderful Pats fan, the mild dislike I had for the Patriots in 2001, blossomed into full blown loathing by 2004.
The only team I hate more than the Patriots is the Ravens. The Ravens are to the Steelers what Magneto is to Professor X, they are two sides of the same coin, the ying and the yang, the good twin and the evil twin. Both are known for strong defences and a conservative ground game. Both play competitive, smashmouth, old school football. Since they are in the same division they meet twice a year and ever since the NFL redrew the divisions in 2002 either the Ravens or Steelers have won it, with only two exceptions (Go Bengals in 2005 and 2009!).
The biggest difference between the two teams is “class”. The Rooney family loves Pittsburgh and would never dream of leaving. Art Model pulled the beloved Browns out of Cleveland and took them to Baltimore. The city of Cleveland was so upset, they demanded the team name and records stay with the city, making the Ravens an “expansion team” with the Browns old roster. The Steelers will cut players who demand too much money or have consistent legal issues (i.e. Kendrell Bell, Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress.) where the Ravens occasionally pick up overpaid big names that are a year away from retirement (Shannon Sharpe, Dion Sanders). Baltimore has always been “dirty” in my eyes. From Modell’s actions in 1995 to suspect playing style of Ray Lewis and Tony Siragusa. They were even accused of stealing the shield logo they originally used in their first few years as the Ravens.The epitome of underhanded Raven behavior being Lewis’ murder indictment in 2000.* I hate the Ravens with a passion that I can feel physically. It’s not pretty.
So now I have to watch this Championship game between two teams that I can’t stand, who do I root for? A friend of mine told me that he doesn’t vote for a candidate, but against the lesser of two evils. Guess that settles it, go Patriots!
The NFC Championship game was different, 49ers all the way. They went from 6-10 to 13-3 and the #2 playoff seed and were the feel good, comeback story of the year! After years of finishing below .500, the 49ers were back to their former glory! The phoenix from the flames! The comeback kid! Proof that hard work and pluck can triumph! Cue the theme from Rocky and let’s kick some ass!!!
A lot of people don’t understand the allure of football. It’s the simple fact that on “any given Sunday” anyone can win, even the Cleveland Browns. The little guy has a chance! We all love to see the underdog triumph in the face of overwhelming odds and no one is more aware of this than the NFL’s marketing strategists. Think of some of the story lines touted over the past few years: The grocery bagger and Arena League Football player who went on to win the Super Bowl (Kurt Warner). The fourth round draft pick who stepped in for the injured veteran and takes his team to the Big Game (Tom Brady). The boy who followed in his fathers footsteps as an NFL quarterback and after years of falling short, finally gets a Super Bowl ring (Peyton Manning). The lovable bear of a running back near retirement, finally wins the Super Bowl (hosted in his home town of all places!) The cameras swirling around him, the music swelling as he tearfully announces his retirement, cradling the glistening Lombardi in his shaky hands (Jerome Bettis). We love to see the underdog prevail (even though these guys are some of the most highly paid professionals in the nation) We identify with their struggle to win in the face of overwhelming odds, reminding us of our own daily trials. If they can win against the odds, so can we!
And it’s real! That’s the best (and worst) part! David sometimes gets crushed by Goliath! We watch our team face the giant and rub our lucky jersey in prayer, hoping that this time that little pebble finds the behemoths temple and slays the giant. If David is crushed, he returns battered and bruised for another shot. His tenacity is our fuel and we cheer louder than ever “DAY-vid! DAY-vid! DAY-vid!”
80% of the time, people pick the underdog if they have no other association with the two competitors. It’s human nature to want the little guy to win. If they can succeed in the face of overwhelming odds, so can we. Our belief in them is hope for ourselves. If the Cleveland Browns can sweep the Baltimore Ravens (2007), then you can get that raise from your boss. Miracles CAN happen!
So here is my locker room speech: Go out there and get ‘em! You put on your lucky jersey once a week for your team, you deserve the same! Pick out a lucky scarf or tie for yourself! Hang a picture up of your greatest moment in the spot where you would normally hang a picture of your favorite football player (or next to him). Put some of that white hot energy into rooting for yourself. Deep down you know if wave your terrible towel hard enough, the Steelers will convert that 3rd and long. Positive thinking can work wonders through a television screen. What can it do when its directed at you?
*With Ben Roethlisberger’s two separate rape cases, the play style of James Harrison and to some extent Hines Ward, the Steelers are far from angelic. I do feel however that this behavior is discouraged by the front office in Pittsburgh more so than in Baltimore. I still wish they would either cut Roethlisberger or make him do some very visible community service. Personally, I think if he were to talk to college athletes about date rape and how THEY can prevent it, that would be a start.
>A lot of people don’t understand the allure of football. It’s the simple fact that on “any given Sunday” anyone can win
ReplyDelete*Quizzical look* Yeah, so?
This is tough material to sell to a non-sport fan :) but I like the structure and thought it was a good effort.
I sometimes ponder the fact that humans are such suckers for narrative--even the patently fake and/or ultimately pointless narratives that come out of professional sports. It's an interesting facet of human nature, but one I'm not sure what to do with.