Factoid That May Interest Only Me

83-Steelers-43 · 08-21-2006, 04:42 PM

Pretty cool short story........

Factoid That May Interest Only Me
by Peter King

Last week I was fortunate enough to have an audience with Douglas Nowicki, the Archabbot of St. Vincent's College in Latrobe, Pa., the Steelers' summer home. St. Vincent's is an hour east of Pittsburgh, and it's the home of about 250 Benedictine monks. Quaint, lovely, picturesque ... in short, everything that's good about NFL training camps.

Anyway, the Archabbot gave me a photocopied photo of him handing the late Pope John Paul II an autographed football in Vatican City a couple of years before his death. The football, a gift from Steelers president Dan Rooney, had been signed by every Steeler, and Nowicki hand-delivered the ball to His Holiness.

When he handed the pope the ball, Nowicki said, the pope said two words:

"Football! Rooney!''

Yes, John Paul knew the Rooneys. Small world. "We met a few times,'' Rooney told me. He must have left quite an impression

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...20/mmqb/2.html

HometownGal · 08-21-2006, 06:25 PM

Oh my gosh, 83, what a fantatstic read that is!

What an honor for Mr. Rooney to have met His Holiness, but in retrospect, it was indeed an honor for Pope John Paul II to have met Dan Rooney - he's a wonderful human being and also a devout Roman Catholic.

God Bless the Rooney family and may John Paul II rest in eternal peace. I dearly loved that incredible man. No doubt one day, he will be rightfully referred to as Saint John Paul II.

Mamaduck43 · 08-21-2006, 07:58 PM

What a neat story - - reminds me of the going to heaven and seeing that the biggest house there is decorated in Black and Gold - - I'd bet that Pope John Paul II is invited to watch the Steelers on the Big Screen!!!!!!

Mahalo for sharing...

nicesteel4life · 08-21-2006, 08:27 PM

Awesome story for a Catholic retired alter boy to read, Thanks!!
AMEN to the Rooney's & AMEN to the Late Pope

Steelers · 08-22-2006, 01:23 AM

Haha, that's awesome!

Haiku_Dirtt · 08-22-2006, 02:34 AM

Truly priceless. I'd start hiring pitbulls to patrol the shrine. Really. That's amazing. Priceless.

83-Steelers-43 · 08-22-2006, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mamaduck43

Mahalo for sharing...

Prego.

stlrtruck · 08-22-2006, 08:47 AM

And they wonder why Steelers Nation is as big as it is!!!

It's a beautiful thing.

Thanks for the post!

08-21-2006, 04:42 PM	#1
83-Steelers-43 Living Legend Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 12,993 Gender: Male Member Number: 1009 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Factoid That May Interest Only Me Pretty cool short story........ Factoid That May Interest Only Me by Peter King Last week I was fortunate enough to have an audience with Douglas Nowicki, the Archabbot of St. Vincent's College in Latrobe, Pa., the Steelers' summer home. St. Vincent's is an hour east of Pittsburgh, and it's the home of about 250 Benedictine monks. Quaint, lovely, picturesque ... in short, everything that's good about NFL training camps. Anyway, the Archabbot gave me a photocopied photo of him handing the late Pope John Paul II an autographed football in Vatican City a couple of years before his death. The football, a gift from Steelers president Dan Rooney, had been signed by every Steeler, and Nowicki hand-delivered the ball to His Holiness. When he handed the pope the ball, Nowicki said, the pope said two words: "Football! Rooney!'' Yes, John Paul knew the Rooneys. Small world. "We met a few times,'' Rooney told me. He must have left quite an impression http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...20/mmqb/2.html __________________ Last edited by 83-Steelers-43; 08-21-2006 at 04:48 PM.

08-21-2006, 06:25 PM	#2
HometownGal Living Legend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Burgh Posts: 21,479 Gender: Female Member Number: 2413 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Factoid That May Interest Only Me Oh my gosh, 83, what a fantatstic read that is! What an honor for Mr. Rooney to have met His Holiness, but in retrospect, it was indeed an honor for Pope John Paul II to have met Dan Rooney - he's a wonderful human being and also a devout Roman Catholic. God Bless the Rooney family and may John Paul II rest in eternal peace. I dearly loved that incredible man. No doubt one day, he will be rightfully referred to as Saint John Paul II. __________________ The Anti-Wahoo

08-21-2006, 07:58 PM	#3
Mamaduck43 Bench Warmer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Denmark, Wisconsin (since July) Posts: 290 Gender: Female Member Number: 592 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Factoid That May Interest Only Me What a neat story - - reminds me of the going to heaven and seeing that the biggest house there is decorated in Black and Gold - - I'd bet that Pope John Paul II is invited to watch the Steelers on the Big Screen!!!!!! Mahalo for sharing...

08-21-2006, 08:27 PM	#4
nicesteel4life Team Captain Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Castle, PA Posts: 857 Gender: Male Member Number: 1775 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Factoid That May Interest Only Me Awesome story for a Catholic retired alter boy to read, Thanks!! AMEN to the Rooney's & AMEN to the Late Pope __________________

08-22-2006, 01:23 AM	#5
Steelers Starter Join Date: May 2006 Location: York, PA Posts: 539 Gender: Male Member Number: 2373 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Factoid That May Interest Only Me Haha, that's awesome! __________________

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08-22-2006, 02:34 AM	#6
Haiku_Dirtt Head Coach Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: 156 degrees 17' 30" W 20 degrees 55' N Posts: 1,749 Member Number: 1645 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Factoid That May Interest Only Me Truly priceless. I'd start hiring pitbulls to patrol the shrine. Really. That's amazing. Priceless.

08-22-2006, 08:47 AM	#8
stlrtruck THE PRINCESS' Daddy Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 8,783 Gender: Male Member Number: 2398 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Factoid That May Interest Only Me And they wonder why Steelers Nation is as big as it is!!! It's a beautiful thing. Thanks for the post! __________________ 60 Minutes, 53 Men, 6 Trophies,1 NATION. . .STEELERS NATION!!! Sig courtesy of STEELAX04

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