it was a cold winters day back on january 10 in pittsburgh, pa. The pittsburgh steelers were preparing for their championship battle against the football team from dallas with the stars on their hats.during the era of the first ten world championships of american football–teams only practiced outdoors during winter. indoor stadiums and practice facilities were unheard of–an outdoor sport was exactly that, an outdoor sport played on grass, mud, dirt, frozen tundra, snow, whatever the good lord bring upon the field.
After not having a home of their own for the pittsburgh steelers were excited to be play on concrete covered by carpet in the giant round stadium called three rivers. that year the monongahela and allegheny were beginning to freeze over as Winter was upon the steel city. in those days the players all tackled and hit with their helmets and were excited they didn’t crack their skulls. they were taught to block using their foreheads not realizing the long term effects of the repeated minor blows. our heroes from those steeler teams of four super bowls are now much older or dead. We lost Franco and Webster and continue to watch bradshaw on fox. we’ve learned that the price of all the super bowl glory has come with life changing effects.
in the year 2025, the game of football is changing. mike webster, Justin Strzelczyk, Carlton Haselrig, ALL HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES TO THIS CITY, THEIR TEAM AND THE FANS THAT WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE BEING PART OF THE CITY OF CHAMPIONS. THE GRIT AND GLORY OF THE OLD DAYS OF THE LEAGUE OF FOOTBALL NATIONAL HAS LED TO THIS AMAZING MARKETING AND COMMUNITY BUILDING TOOL IN 2025. BECAUSE OF ALL THE BLOOD, SWEAT, HITS, BROKEN LIMBS AND SHOT UP JOINTS OF THE 1970-2000 VERSION OF THE GAME THIS IS THE SPORT THAT CONTINUES TO SWAY HEARTS AND HEADS NO MATTER WHAT RELIGION OR POLITICAL PARTY WE ALIGN WITH. . . WE ALL HAVE OUR HOME TEAM. WE ALL CHEER FOR OUR TEAM.
American football is evolving into a more refined battle with a higher percentage of tactical air strikes compared to ground attacks. just less than a half century ago this little lad arrived in the early morning hours at the womens hospital in oakland.
another trip around the sun, a little more wisdom, a little more living, a little more mess. Still here dancing with the GrooGrux King.
On Pittsburgh’s January 9, this little hockey fan learned that it was today in London, when it was still yesterday in Pittsburgh. Given most of us don’t learn about time zones in grade school, it was a good excuse to start the birthday CELE a little early with a cookie shake, a Penguin win, a hot date, and some family at the Paint Can. It’s always good when my hot date graces the seat next to me at the arena.
I know she get’s tired of me retelling the story, but since the company that has naming rights to the arena no longer sales paint to consumers any more. I always tell the story that set the naming rights in motion when Michael wanted to upgrade the suite location from the goal line to center ice. I wonder what Michael would say to Mr. Mysterio’s brother if he was invited into the company box, now that the naming rights were for a company that was no longer direct to customer. It was definitely a brilliant marketing move at a time when his company needed to improve their marketing, especially after struggling to master the Canadian marketplace with recent acquisitions.
Ok–back to reflection on those trips around the sun. Today is going to be a good day and this year will be a good year. One day at a time. One challenge as it hits us. Keeping the feet turning and always trying to find the balance. Instead of staying home and having a chill birthday, I’m taking to the Christmas calendar from a few years ago- When you give, you begin to live.- You might die trying. . . . This weekend was spent near Lancaster working the Northeast USYF Futsal Regional Championship Tournament in Spooky Nook Sports. Over the course of 3 days I had the delight of officiating 16 games with 5 different partners and players from all over the northeast with a few first generation refugees from places like Sierra Leone. I was lucky enough to have mostly Under 10 age group games with referee partners who were still in high school, so my teacher and coach hat was able to be on first and my referee hat second. In refelecting back on my weekend I believe I did my best to make sure the kids were safe and had fun, my partners learned a little bit about how to move more efficiently while officiating and we made sure he coaches focused on the long term development of their players instead of drilling down tournament results.
In football American world we learned that the Steelers could not win the trenches or the running/clock game against Baltimore. It will be another year without a chance for our 7th Lombardi. We are blessed to be stuck at 6, however in a game of attrition and decimation it’s frustrating to do so well for the first 10 weeks of the season and then basically run out of that special sauce at the end, year after year.
Thank you for any and all well wishes, time to teach the beautiful game this weekend.
I’m not always right, so when I am, I’ll take a moment to share.
FYI my verdict is still out on the Nook. I’m not sure how it fits into the world of keeping it local and making it for as many people as possible.
https://www.spookynooksports.com/blog/manheim/getting-to-know-the-owner-episode-1