mesaSteeler
01-02-2009, 10:29 PM
(Ok the article is not really about the current team so I will understand if the article gets moved. However it is a nicely written story about a Steelers fan. - mesa)
Black and gold sheep living in Colts’ country
By Tom Taylor
January 2, 2009
http://www.tmnews.com/stories/2009/01/02/sports.nw-906169.tms
The NFL playoffs are here again and once more it is time for me to be the black sheep of the family. Maybe I should say black and gold sheep.
You see, I am a Pittsburgh Steelers fan in Bedford, and most of my family and friends are Indianapolis Colts fans. Even on Sunday mornings at church I can’t escape the Colts fans as several in the congregation display their jerseys during Sunday morning worship services.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the Colts. In fact as long as they aren’t playing my Steelers, I cheer for them. But my heart belongs to the Steelers. I remember just a few short years ago sitting in the living room of my best friends, Scot and Rachel Fishback, watching the Colts/Steelers AFC playoff game and being subjected to harassment from not only my friends but from my wife Shelly, and step son, Brett, as well. I was the only Steelers fan there. Fortunately for me the Steelers won and I was vindicated. The Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl that year as well. After the Colts/Steelers game this season Brett called me specifically to rub my nose in the loss. We’ll see what happens in the postseason Brett!
I blame my father, Bill, for this mess. He is a Steelers fan as well, but he divides his time between two teams, the Steelers and the Washington Redskins. He taught me when I was very young to appreciate the toughness of the Steelers and steered me away from my affection for the Miami Dolphins. (I was 3 years old! Give me a break! What 3 year old doesn’t think a helmet with a dolphin on it is awesome!?)
Since that time, I have followed the Steelers. I remember the lean years when we were terrible to the years we were The Terrible Towels. I remember the back to back Super Bowls (twice!) and the indignation of not even making the playoffs following the last Super Bowl win. My favorite player on offense was the center Mike Webster, God rest his soul. I remember that no matter how cold it was he had on short sleeves tucked into his pads and hand pads, but the rest of his arms were bare. My favorite player on offense was LC Greenwood. He was one of the front four in the Steel Curtain defense. He was the quiet member of the defense. He wasn’t as popular as Mean Joe Greene but he put up some impressive numbers. Unofficially he had five sacks in four Super Bowl appearances, three were of Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X. I even had his number on my jersey in high school.
So even when the Colts moved to Indianapolis and we had a hometown team so to speak, I couldn’t find it in my heart to jump ship and give up my allegiance to the Steelers. So year in and year out, I bleed black and gold while my family and friends cheer for the Colts. I will take the harassment from family, friends and even from a certain Assistant Editor and continue to cheer for my Steelers. So as all of you Crossroads Community Church wear your Colts jerseys each Sunday, remember there is a brother there with you in the pew that respects your choice but will always be a Steelers fan.
Guest Columnist Tom Taylor welcomes comments by e-mail at ttaylor@tmnews.com.
Black and gold sheep living in Colts’ country
By Tom Taylor
January 2, 2009
http://www.tmnews.com/stories/2009/01/02/sports.nw-906169.tms
The NFL playoffs are here again and once more it is time for me to be the black sheep of the family. Maybe I should say black and gold sheep.
You see, I am a Pittsburgh Steelers fan in Bedford, and most of my family and friends are Indianapolis Colts fans. Even on Sunday mornings at church I can’t escape the Colts fans as several in the congregation display their jerseys during Sunday morning worship services.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the Colts. In fact as long as they aren’t playing my Steelers, I cheer for them. But my heart belongs to the Steelers. I remember just a few short years ago sitting in the living room of my best friends, Scot and Rachel Fishback, watching the Colts/Steelers AFC playoff game and being subjected to harassment from not only my friends but from my wife Shelly, and step son, Brett, as well. I was the only Steelers fan there. Fortunately for me the Steelers won and I was vindicated. The Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl that year as well. After the Colts/Steelers game this season Brett called me specifically to rub my nose in the loss. We’ll see what happens in the postseason Brett!
I blame my father, Bill, for this mess. He is a Steelers fan as well, but he divides his time between two teams, the Steelers and the Washington Redskins. He taught me when I was very young to appreciate the toughness of the Steelers and steered me away from my affection for the Miami Dolphins. (I was 3 years old! Give me a break! What 3 year old doesn’t think a helmet with a dolphin on it is awesome!?)
Since that time, I have followed the Steelers. I remember the lean years when we were terrible to the years we were The Terrible Towels. I remember the back to back Super Bowls (twice!) and the indignation of not even making the playoffs following the last Super Bowl win. My favorite player on offense was the center Mike Webster, God rest his soul. I remember that no matter how cold it was he had on short sleeves tucked into his pads and hand pads, but the rest of his arms were bare. My favorite player on offense was LC Greenwood. He was one of the front four in the Steel Curtain defense. He was the quiet member of the defense. He wasn’t as popular as Mean Joe Greene but he put up some impressive numbers. Unofficially he had five sacks in four Super Bowl appearances, three were of Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X. I even had his number on my jersey in high school.
So even when the Colts moved to Indianapolis and we had a hometown team so to speak, I couldn’t find it in my heart to jump ship and give up my allegiance to the Steelers. So year in and year out, I bleed black and gold while my family and friends cheer for the Colts. I will take the harassment from family, friends and even from a certain Assistant Editor and continue to cheer for my Steelers. So as all of you Crossroads Community Church wear your Colts jerseys each Sunday, remember there is a brother there with you in the pew that respects your choice but will always be a Steelers fan.
Guest Columnist Tom Taylor welcomes comments by e-mail at ttaylor@tmnews.com.