Super Bowl XL

[Guest Arnold_OldSchool]

Someone in my office pool picked Alexander's rushing yards @ 250

 

Another lady said Pitts gonna win because its snowing in Detriot and Pitts wins in the snow, I tried to explain about the dome, but she was far too dense.

[Hawk 34 0]

I do think Randle EL will be the MVP if Steelers win. Alexander will take MVP honors for Seattle.

 

After Shaun wins the mvp the nation collectively replies "Who?"

[Red Baron 0]

I thought Tiki Barber played for the New York Giants?

[Black Lushus 0]

how many people have won the regular season AND superbowl MVP awards?

[Slayer 0]

NFL and SB MVP in the same season:

 

1999 - Kurt Warner

1994 - Steve Young

1993 - Emmitt Smith

1989 - Joe Montana

1978 - Terry Bradshaw

1966 - Bart Starr

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

So what time's the actual kickoff tonight? I loathe me some pre-game.

[Hawk 34 0]

So what time's the actual kickoff tonight? I loathe me some pre-game.

 

6:18.

[KingPK 0]

Yeah, 6:18. That's what I meant.

 

I'm kinda excited for this one, just because both teams seem to be pretty even. I've been watching ESPN Classic's 40 hour SuperBowl marathon to try and get more excited, but this year there just isn't any story or angle on the game that's gotten my attention.

 

Prediction: Steelers 31 Seahawks 24

[Hawk 34 0]

I want Pittsburgh to win, mainly because I do like Bettis and obviously, I have a connection with Ben but i really think people under-looked the Seattle team.

 

I don't think it'll be close, I hope it is but we have been spoiled by the NE super bowls.

 

People say the SB never lives up to the hype but if a game has zero hype, are there any expectations for it? I think the game will have a difference of 2 touchdowns, but no more then 17 points.

 

My hope? Pittsburgh 27 Seattle 23

My prediction? Pittsburgh 16 Seattle 31

[Guest]

I'll predict one Jerramy Stevens TD. It would be HILARIOUS if that was the game winning play.

[Hawk 34 0]

I'll predict one Jerramy Stevens TD. It would be HILARIOUS if that was the game winning play.

 

Who?

[Red Baron 0]

Jerramy Stevens bulldozes over Jerry Porter (who?).

[Slayer 0]

obviously, I have a connection with Ben

Right, obvious

[Hawk 34 0]

If you are watching any pre-game shows,which one are you watching? The ESPN countdown, ESPN2 SB hightlight marathon or ESPNC's 40 hour special or NFL network's show.

[justcoz 0]

but this year there just isn't any story or angle on the game that's gotten my attention.

 

Prediction: Steelers 31 Seahawks 24

 

I just don't understand everyone saying there is no story or angle with this game. Maybe I'm a bit biased because I'm in Pittsburgh but you have Jerome Bettis coming back for another season, just to get to this game, getting there, in his hometown none the less. And oh yeah, he's #36 and this is the 36th day of 2006. You have a second year starting quarterback, the youngest to get there next to Dan Marino, and he could become one of the greats with a lot riding on tonight's performance. You have the longest running tenured coach in the NFL who may never be considered a 'great coach' or a Hall of Fame coach unless he gets a Super Bowl ring. The #6 seed in the AFC playoffs that overcame all odds to get there. Another coach on the opposite side of the field trying to prove himself a winner without Bret Favre as he takes a team to Detroit for the franchise's first Super Bowl.

 

I just can't believe that people outside of their hometowns are upset that it's not the Colts or Patriots or feel there is no backstory to this game because there isn't a 'marquee player'. Not enough trash talking beyond Joey Porter. I couldn't take the Patriots in this game AGAIN. Had Tony Dungy and the Colts got to the big game - I just have a feeling there would be an uncomfortable emphasis on Dungy's personal tragedy bordering the WWE-Eddie Guerrero situation in turning a real-life tragedy into something for NFL storybooks and ratings.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I think there's plenty of hype for the Steelers, it's just the Seahawks that suck the life out of it. Redskins or Bears would've been more interesting, I bet.

[Hawk 34 0]

 

 

but this year there just isn't any story or angle on the game that's gotten my attention.

 

Prediction: Steelers 31 Seahawks 24

 

I just don't understand everyone saying there is no story or angle with this game. Maybe I'm a bit biased because I'm in Pittsburgh but you have Jerome Bettis coming back for another season, just to get to this game, getting there, in his hometown none the less. And oh yeah, he's #36 and this is the 36th day of 2006. You have a second year starting quarterback, the youngest to get there next to Dan Marino, and he could become one of the greats with a lot riding on tonight's performance. You have the longest running tenured coach in the NFL who may never be considered a 'great coach' or a Hall of Fame coach unless he gets a Super Bowl ring. The #6 seed in the AFC playoffs that overcame all odds to get there. Another coach on the opposite side of the field trying to prove himself a winner without Bret Favre as he takes a team to Detroit for the franchise's first Super Bowl.

 

I just can't believe that people outside of their hometowns are upset that it's not the Colts or Patriots or feel there is no backstory to this game because there isn't a 'marquee player'. Not enough trash talking beyond Joey Porter. I couldn't take the Patriots in this game AGAIN. Had Tony Dungy and the Colts got to the big game - I just have a feeling there would be an uncomfortable emphasis on Dungy's personal tragedy bordering the WWE-Eddie Guerrero situation in turning a real-life tragedy into something for NFL storybooks and ratings.

 

 

Seattle sucked the life out of this super bowl, at least as far as hype goes. When the nation collectively doesn't care about 1/2 the teams involved, expecations and excitment is lowered.

 

The Bettis story was burned out before AFC title game over, Big Ben is a good story but Tom Brady wasn't much older then Ben is when he won the title, so the appeal of a young QB going to the sb isn't there rgith now.

 

Holmgreen isn't exactly a major coach in the eyes of the casual fanbase, so the whole "Can he win without Favre" thing doesn't exist.

[DMann2003 0]

I've got my HD and Home Theater hook-up all set

[nogoodnick 0]

Maybe the nation should pay attention to the NFC champs and NFL's MVP. Anyone who doesn't know who Shaun Alexander is by now is a god damn idiot.

 

I think it will be a great game and Im picking Seattle to win a close one. Of course I wouldn't be too upset if Bettis and Cowher got a ring.

[tominator89 0]

I'll be happy to see one team from PA actually win this damn thing.

[Special K 0]

The whole 'no one cares about the Seahawks' thing is such a self-fulfilling prephecy. No one cares becayse they haven't had to. If you look at the team, it's a great, exciting team.

[Bored 0]

Silly me for tuning into the Super Bowl pregame as they're talking about the Iran Hostage Crisis and it's very loose connection to Super Bowl XV to just give Chris Berman an excuse to do his trademark "this is a very important story" hushed toned voice.

[Boon 0]

Can somebody from Pittsburgh explain to me "the great significance" of the Terrible Towels? I was making fun of a friend of mine, and she jumped down my throat about them calling them a symbol for the city, saying that I "don't know what it's like to have to live for the Steelers." Something about when people in Pittsburgh were on picket lines, all they had was the Steelers- anyone know what the fuck she's talking about?

[Vern Gagne 0]

I'll take Franco Harris's former team.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Interesting sidenote in this game: Without the Steelers, the Seahawks might never have existed. From Pittsburgh's website regarding history (I was trying to help out Boon with his question):

 

Dan Rooney has been a member of several NFL committees over the past 30 years. He has served on the board of directors for the NFL Trust Fund, NFL Films and the Scheduling Committee. He was appointed chairman of the Expansion Committee in 1973, which considered new franchise locations and directed the addition of Seattle and Tampa Bay as expansion teams in 1976.

[2GOLD 0]

Can somebody from Pittsburgh explain to me "the great significance" of the Terrible Towels? I was making fun of a friend of mine, and she jumped down my throat about them calling them a symbol for the city, saying that I "don't know what it's like to have to live for the Steelers." Something about when people in Pittsburgh were on picket lines, all they had was the Steelers- anyone know what the fuck she's talking about?

 

Far as I remember, the towel is nothing more than an advertising gimmick created by the Myron Cope for the playoff game in 75 to get the fans excited. Basically the Steelers rolled over the Colts and then later with beatdown the Cowboys in the Super Bowl X.

 

That's it.

I guess it just became associated with the "Steel Curtain" defense (the full strength one I mean) as well, even though they came a year AFTER the towel. Well, the best version anyway. I guess you can say the curtain was all of the 70's

 

The towel started as a sad gimmick and it just caught on. It's dish towels meant to support the working class of Pittsburgh. Of course, now the fucking towels are now special edition ones instead of just a damn dish towel.

[justcoz 0]

Can somebody from Pittsburgh explain to me "the great significance" of the Terrible Towels? I was making fun of a friend of mine, and she jumped down my throat about them calling them a symbol for the city, saying that I "don't know what it's like to have to live for the Steelers." Something about when people in Pittsburgh were on picket lines, all they had was the Steelers- anyone know what the fuck she's talking about?

 

Everyone in Pittsburgh loves Myron Cope who popularized the terrible towel. He retired from the broadcast booth this year and is in bad health. The tradition here was to always turn down the network announcers on the television and listen to the radio broadcast team, specifically because of Myron's colorful Pittsburghese color commentary. Is this customary in other cities too, listening to the radio announcers instead of tv commentators? So Myron popularized the Terrible Towel during the 70's and proceeds from the official towels sold in stores go to local charities. Here's a brief run down of the towel's story.

 

I'm nausiated about this game. This is going to be one sad city if the Steelers don't pull it off. It's been a non-stop party here since the Denver win. Everyone is walking around pleasant and happy just like Christmas. Hopefully it doesn't turn into a nightmare, I'm more worried about the Seahawks than most people in Pittsburgh.

 

You Had to Ask

2/2/2006

I know Myron Cope invented the Terrible Towel. But why a towel?

Question submitted by: Mary Sullivan, Point Breeze

 

Writer: CHRIS POTTER

 

According to Myron Cope’s memoir, Double Yoi!, he’s been asked this question more than any other. Cope cites this as proof that “I have led a trivial life -- a piece of terrycloth will be the monument to my career.”

 

 

 

As Cope tells the story, prior to the December 1975 AFC Championship, his radio station’s general manager called him into the office and asked Cope to “come up with some sort of gimmick for the playoffs -- something that will involve the people.”

 

 

 

Cope’s initial response: “I’m not a gimmick guy. Never have been a gimmick guy.”

 

 

 

A sales rep at the meeting explained that if there were “some kind of object the fans could wave or wear,” advertisers would see Cope’s influence, and rush to sponsor his show.

 

 

 

“Besides,” the sales rep told him, “your contract with us expires in three months.”

 

 

 

“I’m a gimmick guy,” Cope replied.

 

 

 

Indeed, Cope came up with the towel soon after. A towel had several advantages: It was “lightweight and portable and already owned by just about every fan,” Cope writes. It was also practical: Fans could wipe their seats with it, “use it as a muffler against the cold” or “drape it over their heads if it rains.”

 

 

 

As the book concedes, the towel had some precedent. Three years before, Cope writes, the Miami Dolphins, who were “charging through the 1972 season undefeated, had encouraged their fans to cheer big plays and touchdowns by waving white handkerchiefs. Tens of thousands of fluttering hankies made for a nice show of enthusiasm, but came across too dainty for the game of football.”

 

 

 

Some 30,000 fans brought towels to the Towel’s championship debut -- a Dec. 27, 1975 victory over the Baltimore Colts -- and the Towel became one of the most recognized symbols in football. As Cope wrote with typical restraint in a 1979 newspaper account, “Verily did infidels cast aside their skepticism” when they saw the towels “whirling against the bitter December sky like the swords of 50,000 Cossacks.” In those early days, claims a 1995 Tribune-Review newspaper story, local department stores were vexed when fans bought only the hand-towel size of black, white, and gold towels: The habit threw off inventory managers who’d bought towels in full sets. Later, Cope introduced an official version of the Terrible Towel, with the proceeds benefiting local charities.

 

 

 

The Towel did have doubters early on. Cope writes that famed linebacker Jack Ham told him, “I think your idea sinks.” Another defensive standout, Andy Russell, informed Cope, “We’re not a gimmick team. We’ve never been a gimmick team.”

 

 

 

“His words had a ring of familiarity,” Cope admits in Double Yoi!

 

 

 

Media outlets were wary of the Towel as well. On the day of the Towel’s debut, Post-Gazette sports reporter Vito Stellino opined that between the Colts and the Steelers, “It’s difficult to figure out which side is cornier, what with the Colts coming up with rhymes and nicknames, and Steelers fans threatening to bring enough towels to make the stadium look like a tenement district.”

 

 

 

But what did Stellino know about Steelers hype? Back then, journalists actually believed in restraint when writing about football. Including Stellino’s article, the P-G’s game-day coverage for the 1975 AFC Championship involved less than one-half of one page. By comparison, I count more than three full pages of Steelers material in my copy of today’s P-G -- printed six days before the Super Bowl. (The same issue, incidentally, includes an editorial cartoon mocking TV reporters for being Steelers cheerleaders. Cartoonist, lampoon thyself.)

 

 

 

That’s not to say Steelers fans were less intense back then. They were just goaded less. Rooting sections such as Franco’s Italian Army and Gerela’s Gorillas (anybody? anybody?) were largely homegrown, with accessories purchased from war-surplus stores and costume shops. Fans made do without special pull-out sections and Big Ben barbecue sauce. For today’s sports marketers, by contrast, a gimmick that was “already owned by just about every fan” would be unthinkable.

 

 

 

In fact, perhaps the reason the Terrible Towel endures is precisely because it retains that purity. It’s a symbol everyone can afford: You can still use a plain old hand towel from home, and in a world of $150 jerseys, the licensed version is cheap (under $10 in most places I’ve seen it).

 

 

 

Started as a marketing “gimmick,” the Towel is perhaps the least commercialized accessory in football fandom. That’s yet another reason to be proud of waving it.

[snuffbox 0]

My mom (who has never watched a sporting event in her life) knows who the Seattle Seahwaks are. If people really dont know who they are, or find them boring (a team with a record-setting offense and the most sacks in the NFL), then they should just watch videos of their favorite bandwagon teams in lieu of the SuperBowl.

 

Im also sure that people were saying this same nonsense in 'the early 80s for the 49ers (who?) vs Bengals (huh?) game.

[Red Baron 0]

I'll be happy to see one team from PA actually win this damn thing.

 

 

*cough*Damaramu*cough*

 

jk

[Just John 0]

I think this game will turn out like the Pats/Panthers game from a couple years ago. You have well-established AFC team against a no-name NFC team that's solid all the way through. This game's gonna be a fight, and most likely ends with a close score.