This Thing

Mini-Camps. Training Camp. Four weeks of Preseason. Seventeen weeks of play broken up by a week of rest. Three weeks of play-offs. It all comes down to this thing. In this moment a champion will be defined. And all the work will be justified. The road will end. There are only absolutes at this level. Glory or Obscurity. No one sits around and talks about who lost the big game, unless you are recalling the teams your team has beaten. It's all about this thing. It all comes down to this thing. This thing called Superbowl.

Going Forward

Now that the reality has set in and I have landed after the elation of making it, I am now preparing for Superbowl XLIII.  What does one do you ask?  Well, it starts with the towels.  One under the pillow at night for luck, and one hanging at work for pride. Then we go to wardrobe.  This week and next, every time I go out, I am sure to be wearing one of my many Steelers shirts, or hat.  Or both. I have set up my Steelers playlist on my I-Pod.  What's left?  Well of course I need to press and set my kilt.  I need to figure out some creative ways to work my Steelers clothes into my work wardrobe next week.  I also have the newsletter to write and print.  And get everything ready for my tailgating morning at the A&L for the Superbowl. So much to do, so little time. 

The Quest Continues

One Game. One game separates the Steelers from their 6th Superbowl championship. I can't write the words to describe how I feel. On Saturday night I slept with a Terrible Towel under my pillow. Last night I slept with a TT under my pillow. 18 games. And one more. Still numb from the experience. Just wanted to put something here to acknowledge the fact. We are going to SB XLIII. It's like the show Lost. After Superbowl XL, we realized, we have to go back.

Questions And Answers

QUESTION: Could Big Ben recover from his concussion suffered against Cleveland?
ANSWER: 17/26 181 Yds 1 TD 0 INT Passer Rating 98.4

QUESTION: Could the Steelers contain the explosive Sproles?
ANSWER: 11 Runs for 15 Yds 0 TDs, 11 catches 96 Yds 1 TD

QUESTION: Could Rivers and the Chargers maintain possession and control the clock?
ANSWER: 1 play 17 seconds in the entire 3rd quarter

The Steelers handled the Chargers to be the only home team to win this last weekend, and become the only team left in the play-offs to not have a bird mascot.

Invited Guests

Well, with week 1 of the play-offs in the books, the Steelers know who is coming to dinner. It will be a rematch against San Diego. In our last episode......the Steelers struggled against San Diego in a snowy Heinz Field environment. Pittsburgh escaped with an 11-10 win after being denied a TD on an fumble on the final play of the game. This mistake was clarified by the NFL the following week. A lot will be different this time around. It will be colder in Pittsburgh. LT is not healthy. Big Ben will be coming back after a concussion suffered against Cleveland. And most important of all, the loser starts planning for next year.

A brief moment of silence for Katie and Brent, who's dreams of the Superbowl ended this weekend on the wings of Cardinals and Eagles.

And the countdown continues.....

Requiems and Toasts

As Week 1 of the play-offs is upon us, many teams have started planning for next season, and many of my friends start making the 'who-do-I-want-to-watch-in-the-playoffs-since-my-team-didn't-get-in' decision.  And others are preparing for more games.

Trevor and Dave (49ers):  Well, at least you know who your coach is next year, and that the mustache thing didn't work.

Rob and Jack (Bears): I wish I had words.  Maybe the word 'Quarterback'? 

Sunny, John, and Gary (Raiders): It had to be the cap of the season to knock Gruden's Bucks out of the play-offs.

Wade (Lions): First Round Draft Pick.  There is comfort there.

Heather and Steve (Patriots): 11-5 no play-offs?  Almost a crime.

Tiffany (Cowboys): If the season were only 14 games, Romo would be the man. 

Robin, Tommy, Toni, and Mike (Broncos): The Chargers didn't forget.  Hopefully the Broncos won't forget this next year.

To Katie (Vikings), Brent (Falcons), Rande and all my friends in the Steeler Nation, Here's to the post-season!