A Steelers Fan's Transformation

Let me tell you my journey to becoming a Pittsburgh Steelers’ fan.

I rarely watched sports as a kid. I didn’t grow up in a sports-watching house. I didn’t play football in high school. Ditto for basketball or baseball. Instead, I wrestled and ran track and cross-country. Not exactly TV sports.

I went to Temple University in the late ‘80s. Not a good football team. Good tailgating though, especially when games coincided with a Grateful Dead tour.

I stayed on in Philadelphia for years. Philly fans are certainly into their teams, but somehow, I didn’t catch the fever, or again even watch much.

I went to one Phillies game as an adult and left after a couple innings. (I will confess to getting on the bandwagon during their 1993 unsuccessful pennant run.)

I willingly watched maybe two or three Super Bowls, and only for the beer.

Eventually, my journalism career took me to the Associated Press in Pittsburgh. I didn’t know it when I applied, but I would have to cover sports. The office had a sportswriter and I assumed I may go to games and maybe he’d tell me to interview the other team’s coach for some comments.

That didn’t happen. Instead, I’d write small college football and basketball game stories based on stats provided by athletic directors.

I did cover a few news conferences: Roethlisberger signing his franchise contract. The Steelers hiring a kicker (can’t remember who.)

One of my first sports stories involved getting fan reaction to Jaromir Jagr being traded. I ran over to Market Square and asked someone what he thought of the Penguins trading Andre Jagr – I had blanked on his name.

The guy responded: “Well, I don’t know about Andre Jagr, but I can tell you what I think about Jaromir Jagr.”

Though we had a sports writer, we’d also have to rewrite little items for broadcast members based on developments – a trade, who was playing who, an injury. Things like that.

Eventually, I found myself watching the Steelers so I could get an understanding of who was who and what was going on. Homework.

But I started to get into it. It happens here. You just couldn’t converse with anyone, it seemed, without talking Steelers.

Once, on a trip to South Africa, I ran into another Pittsburgher at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. I asked him if the Steelers had won their most recent game. My wife was chagrined.

I had a neighbor who had season tickets and he took me to a couple games. My interest was growing.

By now, the Steelers were doing well. How could you not like the Tommy Maddox story?

My wife and I started watching games on TV. One year, we even took our TV downstairs so we could watch the game while handing out treats at Halloween. The Steelers beat the undefeated Patriots. I hate the Patriots.

My development as a fan really started to grow during the Super Bowl XL season.

I mean, how could you not like the Bus? The storylines were so great that year.

We watched half of that game at a friend’s house, then hurried home at halftime to watch the rest. My wife even made a Steelers’ skirt for the party, sandwiching large pictures that the Post-Gazette ran of players between clear vinyl sheets.

They won and I helped cover the victory parade.

By now, I was hooked. My mom got me a Steelers’ jacket on eBay, an old Starter jacket that drew laughs for being old-school when I wore it to work. I picked up an “If you ain’t a Steeler fan, you ain’t ****” shirt at the Strip. I kept a Steelers’ hard hat that was mailed to the office, putting it on when they needed my help.

I’d trash-talk with my brother-in-law, a Browns’ fan.

We bought a hi-def TV – and we don’t even have cable. I dubbed it the Steeler Watching Machine.

I got a copy of “Football for Dummies” so I could better understand the game.

Fall Sundays were for football. I’d do a long run in the morning, then settle in for some football.

More Steelers paraphernalia was acquired: Stickers for our cars. More shirts. Hats. An “I sweat black and gold” running shirt.

By their next Super Bowl, my fan transformation was complete: I bleed black and gold.

Here’s a link to a story I wrote about Steelers fans in the run-up to Super Bowl XLIII.

I still think there may be something in the water here.

So how about you? Anyone want to share their fan stories?