Ok, there is no way that the date on the last post is right, it's been over a month??? Alright, Alright, I hear you yelling Jared "YES ITS RIGHT!! Write something!" So I am.
It is no secret to anyone who has read this blog over the last couple years that I am a football fan. A Steeler fan through and through, but overall a true football fan. I've decided to dedicate this blog entry to the players, to the fans, to the supporters, to the pigskins, to the gridiron, to the sport that excites me more than any other. Enjoy.....
Standing with my family in the snow at The Point. There is a stage and the men with their black and gold are up there. I can't hear what they are saying because the crowd is just insane. The jets fly overhead.
Nineteen seventy something: Party at my house. My mom is jumping up and down and we won the superbowl...AGAIN...we grab our signs and head to the corner and wait for the triffic jam of fans leaving Three Rivers. They'll all beep, they'll all yell, and we are part of it.
The Howard Street Hawks vs. the Rostock Raiders. We didn't know much about the rules of football yet, but we cheered in that little field underneath the billboard next to the city steps anyhow at each game.
Argo Street, the girls didn't get to play much, but I remember the smug look on Mark's face when he put his hands out to "easily" tag me and stop the play. I got past him, and ran like mad.
Juniors agaisnt the Seniors. My government teacher knew I was nicknamed "The Secret Weapon" before I did. I didn't know the plays, but I was a nose guard and knew what that meant, that's all I needed. The game ended in a tie, we were muddy and wet and thrilled.
Being Steeler fans outside of Pittsburgh is sometimes tricky. Explaining that you'll back them no matter how they are doing, isn't sensible to some people. "You are in Ohio, you should cheer for an Ohio team." Hmmm....ok. "GO BUCKEYES!!"
GO PENGUINS!!!!! (I've known Geneen since birth!!!)
Mid 1990's, Dillon and Tony begin playing for the Westside Patriots. I wanted to be at every game, at every practice, cheering them on, and encouraging them. I have pictures of trophies, but they'd KILL ME!!! lol
My first Pro game. Steelers - Browns, in Cleveland. Steelers won. (For the love of my Brown's fan friends, I'll stop here.)Except, don't let your car overheat in Cleveland when you are dressed in full Steeler garb, you'll get funny looks.
Heartbreak. 1996-ish? We were on our way, San Diego wasn't even a threat. We knew when we entered Three Rivers that day that we were in the play-offs. We were wrong. Several things happened and we blew it. I saw tens of thousands of people leave one place in total silence and it added to the shock of the day. Next year.
Heartbreak. "So you mean I can't just go to the Steelers when I'm ready to play and apply to be on the team?" Tony will be always be into football, he will work within the NFL in some way, I'm certain of it. He'll always be #55 to me no matter what.
Not quite the group as before, but kids in the front yard throwing the football..."fall is not my favorite season, but it does have football, and that's the only thing I'll let summer go for."
"I want to play football Mom." Katie is serious. She trades football cards with her cousins. She throws the football around. But years of gymnastics sent her in another direction and in the 4th grade, she started cheering. WYIF and Maurer field is our new "home field." She will make the 7th grade squad no problem...this year she will letter as a junior on the Varsity Squad.
Our first visit to the Football Hall of Fame. I cried during the movie. We've been back again, and I can't wait for the next visit.
2004. We give the wiggly fingers and chanted and caused the opponents to miss field goals. We are in the playoffs.
2005. Parties at Mom's the family is together again cheering the Steelers on. I'm teary-eyed and slightly out of breath remembering the excitment. Sitting at Andrea's house, everyone expecting a victory, and getting one!
"I am going to play football Aunt Theresa." Jared joins the ranks of the excited, hardworking sportsmen. Aunt Theresa is thrilled.
I have the Monday Night Football theme as a ringtone.
I am commissioner of Some Football. The funnest fantasy football league out there!
"William has football practice." "WILLIAM IS PLAYING FOOTBALL??? I'M SO EXCITED!!"
High school football is really big. These little towns especially. They are behind their boys (sometimes obsessively) when I pull into the parking lot and see the tall field lights on. My heart is in my throat.
"I want to play football Mom." Brendan is 7, his first week of practice was last week. I don't know which of us was more excited. He shows me the "big boy" drills and exercises. "I'm going to ask my dad to buy me tires so I can run through them." He explains. I wonder if he'll be a nose guard.
He's not. He's a wide receiver with "great hands" and an awesome line backer that stopped TWO RUNNERS ON SATURDAY!!!
Sunday-Saturday: Football. Junior high, Freshman, Junior Varsity, Varsity, college, NFL, Monday night and now, flag football at The Dean.
"Mom, I want to play baseball." Eric is 4, there's time, and hope, for him yet. I'M JUST KIDDING!!! IF HE WANTS TO PLAY BASEBALL THAT'S FINE! I just hope he mows over the first baseman now and then...hee hee...WHAT??? They wear helmets!!!
The entire family has only one thing in common. Only one thing that we all know a great deal about. Only one thing that even if we have a Titan's fan rebel amongst us, and rival team fans as friends, we get excited to share with each other.
Football.
