Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
by John Cole| 63 Comments
This post is in: Sports
I know those of you who are not fans do not understand this, and I know there will be some of you to mnake fun of this, but I don’t think I have been happier.
The Steelers are going to the Super Bowl. It is finally happening.
BTW- I can never make fun of Dick Vermeil for crying again.
*** Update ***
I am glad to see Broncs diehard Jeff Goldstein is ok. I was on the other end last year and miserable for a good while.
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[…] John Cole is a happy camper today. Although a Steelers fan saying “It is finally happening.” is a bit much. […]
[…] The Steelers are going to the Super Bowl. It is finally happening. […]
Post Vacation Link Dump
Good stuff I missed. Maybe you did too? A few via Hoffmania: Molly Ivins won’t back Hillary. Time has photos of George Bush with Jack Abramoff. The EPA is drawing up rules for human testing where unintentional exposure of children…
Ned Raggett
Cheers, sir. Have a blast as it builds up to the game itself.
Slide
yawn
Pooh
John, I understand where you are and feel slightly jealous for the euphoria – I’m not sure I’ll ever have more satisfaction than from the last 4 games of the 2004 ALCS…
DougJ
Are you guys watching the Panters-Seahawks game? Very good piece of officiating — it looked like a block in the back but what really happened was the defender dove at the runner just as the blocker touched him, so they picked up the flag. The refs take a lot of guff — and frankly they were quite poor in the AFC games last week, but that was good officiating.
Pooh
How good is Steve Smith?
Louise
I completely understand, John. I’m so happy to have an impenetrable wall of denial that lets me moan about ridiculous salaries and hypocrisy and criminal behavior one day, and then be totally, ecstatically happy when My Team Wins!
norbizness
It’s finally happening? As opposed to the six or seven other times it’s happened? Yours truly, an Oilers fan.
Oliver
Congrats! And yeah, “finally happening” sort of pretends that Terry Bradshaw never happened.
Sojourner
Congrats! I almost felt the same when the Buckeyes went to (and won) the national championship.
I say almost because, frankly, I’m not that big a sports fan. But it was a thrill, nonetheless.
Kevin K.
Congrats, John.
And I think you’ll be happier if they win the Super Bowl.
One of the happiest days in my life was when UConn beat Duke in the NCAA’s in ’99. Unfortunately, I don’t think the Arizona Cardinals (don’t ask) will ever produce similar results for me. It would have killed me watching Plummer on Super Sunday.
Fortunately, UConn looks like they could do it again this year. Thank god for college hoops.
Ekim
GO SEAHAWKS!
Kevin K.
Terry was never more happening than when he released this album (which I actually own). It’s as dreadful as you’d imagine.
See, John, crying ain’t such a bad thing. Even Bradshaw does it. With his shirt open to his navel.
Bob In Pacifica
Yeah, but when Vermeil cried at the end of the game he hadn’t had seven glasses of wine.
Mr Furious
Congratulations, John. If you end up in Michigan for the game somehow let me know…
John Cole
Oliver- your skins won the big one in 1983, 1988, and 1992.
I was 9 in 1980 the last time the Steelers won. Sure, we went in 1996- but the outcome was not very pretty.
ppGaz
Bradshaw to Swan, and the Steel Curtain. We used to think that we’d never see Super Bowls without the Steelers in them. Of course that was before the Greatest Team of All Time, my Niners of the 1980’s, took the field.
But for sheer photogenic plays, you couldn’t beat Bradshaw to Swan.
Geek, Esq.
Congrats, JC.
Here’s a stat for Colts fans, btw:
Peyton Manning: 3-6 career record in the postseason.
Ben Roethlisberger: 4-1 career record in the postseason.
Just think–your Steelers could have Eli Manning or Phillip Rivers.
demimondian
Cole — and this is the third postseason game the seahawks have participated in during the 11+ years I’ve lived up here.
No sympathy, dude. None.
Joey
How about this. The last time my Hoosier won a title, I was a week old. The last time my Reds won a title, I was three. And as for the Colts and Pacers….. Well we just won’t talk about that.
demimondian
The last time your Hoosiers won a title, FDDD and I were hosting a party for our IU intrmural basketball team while I worked on my dissertation.
jg
I really liked the next four too.
John how you fell now is how I feel every playoff game for the Red Sox or Bruins. I almost died when the Sox were down 3-0 to the MFY.
Houstonboy
I hate the steelers. I won’t even capitalize the name. I hate everything about the steelers and I hope they lose to whomever comes out of the NFC.
I like Lynn Swann though. He’s cool.
But the steelers suck.
Go Oilers/Texans!!
Congrats John.
DougJ
Lynn Swann is a jack ass. And check out his career stats: he wasn’t that great. Stallworth was better. Yes, Lynn Swann made some nice catches in the Super Bowl, but he was no Steve Smith, let alone Jerry Rice. I would rank him slightly below Heinz Ward as Steelers receivers go.
ppGaz
For photogenic, Oh My God plays that you remember forever, Bradshaw to Swan couldn’t be beat.
I never swooned much over stats, so I don’t know what that’s like. But for playing the game … they were poetry in their day.
John Cole
Hines Ward is, in my book, clearly the best all-around player that has played receiver for the Steelers. Swann, Louis Lipps, and Stallworth are all great, but I will take Hines, who is tough and finds a way to get open.
my cat
When I first read John’s post I thought, “What does he mean the Steelers are going to the Super Bowl? IT’S THE SEAHAWKS THAT ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL.”
Then I realized…… duh! So once again we’ll be on opposite sides! Actually I’m a fairweather fan, just watched the five minutes. My boyfriend and I were alerted to the impending victory by the fireworks going off all over the neighborhood.
Dodd
If any team ever earned it, your Steelers did. So congrats.
But I’ll still be rooting for Seattle. :-)
KC
I was happy to see the Steelers win, but as a West Coast man, I guess I’ll finally be on opposite sides with you John. Watching the Seahawks tonight, they looked smooth and in-groove. I’m not sure how the Steelers are going to pull it off.
CaseyL
Seattle-Carolina was a great game: Seattle took the lead, by a lot, right from the start.
I don’t like suspenseful, close, nail-biters when my team’s one of the players. I like blowouts.
And, man, this one was a blowout. Where did those ‘Hawks come from, anyway? The last time I watched football regularly, the word “hapless” might have been invented for the Seahawks. Holmgren’s been doing some hard work the last few years.
The Seahawks are in the Superbowl. I can’t believe I’m actually typing those words.
Hot damn!
demimondian
Well, well, well. The Seattle Seahawks, a team which has been the definitive operationalization of professional mediocrity, actually showed up to play this season. Paul Allen’s money was finally spent well, and…the Seahawks are in the superbowl. I don’t know what this town will do if one of the professional teams actually wins a world championship. (This in the city which was the home of Boeing for years, and is still the home of Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks, and wants a sports team in order to be “a world class city”. I don’t understand the Pacific Northwest.)
Hey, Tim, a six pack of Redhook’s Blackhook porter says the Steelers are Seahawk bait in Superbowl XL.
ATS
Cowboys fans find your reaction as quaint as that of Alberto Guanzalez to the Genevaa Conventions.
JJ
While I’m still trying to figure out what happened to McNabb and my beloved Iggles in last year’s Superbowl, I offer you my whole-hearted congrats from Philly. And I will be rooting for the Steelers and especially #86 who is awesome. (We’re in need of a good receiver…)
Ross
GO SEAHAWKS!!
Way to dominate the game. Things are heating up here in Seattle. As a former resident of Cleveland, I’ve always been accustomed to bad football teams :) This is an exciting change
CaseyL
Huh. Obviously a newcomer. The Seattle Sonics won the NBA Championship in 1978. The city went nuts – but “nuts” in the happy, sweet, nonviolent way Seattle used to be, back then. Lots of happy people in lots of cars cruising the streets, honking and yelling. People shimmying up lightpoles to yell and wave from the top. Maybe some naked or half-naked people running around.
It was fun.
demimondian
You’re right, Casey — I’ve only lived here for a decade and a bit, which makes me a total parvenu. (That fact may also explain why I live east of Lake Washington, where the locals don’t feel a need to pretend to a historical attachment to place, no matter how synthetic. [/snark])
zzyzx
I still can’t believe that the Seahawks are in the Sup…
Let me try that again. The Seahawks are in the Su…
WE’RE IN THE SUPERBOWL!!!
Gold Star for Robot Boy
Well, give the man some credit – check out his age during his career.
rjw
Best/most photogenic hookup?
Marino to Clayton/Duper
Tears were shed upon the Dbacks winning in ’01 for me…
Angry Engineer
Congrats, John – I remember the way I felt about the Pistons in ’04, and if you’re feeling anything like that, then I’m really envious.
Hey, to anyone pulling out the “my team has sucked longer than yours”, let’s remember that some of us here are from Michigan. We’re talking tail-fin era since there’s been any light for Lions’ fans, baby (put another way, my whole life + 20 years).
No offense to the Seattle fans here, but I’ll be rooting for the Steelers. It’s that blue-collar kinship, ya know.
Mac Buckets
Congrats, John. But Mike Renfro’s feet were in, and my grudge-holdery knows no statute of limitations, so I hope the Steelers lose by four TDs (even as I’m betting on them).
jg
I think the Steelers will shut down the run, contain the top receiver and blitz the hell out of (insert QB here). Why mess with a proven strategy?
2leftyfeet
Here we go…da da dada da da… I’m not much of a fan, but hometown pride is kicking in. Go Steelers!
Kimmitt
That was an impressive Steelers team out there.
Off Colfax
Sheeesh, did I get that one way wrong or what? Not only was I off on the point spreads, but neither of my picks won. Well, that’s just about par for the course for me these days.
I have to hand it to the Steelers, though. They went in as the number 6 seed, went into three different cities, and came out ahead. Much respect for doing what few teams are capable of doing.
And what Holmgren’s done to the ‘Hawks is well worth a book or two, albeit one written specifically for the coaching community. From zero to Super Bowl bound in such a short time is one of the better turn-arounds since the Chargers did it 10 years ago. Of course, Seattle fans are hoping for a MUCH better showing in XL than the Bolts’ performance in XXIX.
It’ll be a great game in two weeks. Unfortunately, I happen to KNOW I’ll be at work for it.
Dammit.
Pooh
Way OOT…but 81 points? sweet jeebus…
Pudentilla
I’m going to give you the advice my old man gave me when the Bears won awhile (ok, a really long while, ago). On the day of the game, give your car keys to a very good friend. Whatever happens you don’t want to be near heavy machinery when the game ends. He also told me that this much happiness could kill you, but at least you got to die happy.
Jeff Fecke
All I know is that Pittsburgh has one of the great uniforms in pro football (love the one-side-logo), while Seattle sports possibly the worst uniform in the history of professional sports, and yes, I have seen the Astros “rainbow” uniform and the White Sox’ shorts. If style matters, the Steelers will prevail.
Oh, and I live in Minnesota, which means outside of ’87 and ’91, we have no idea what it’s like to win diddly squat. Have I mentioned I’m also primarily a Cubs fan?
ET
I’m happy – as long as it isn’t the Redskins. I have had a fondness for the Steelers since the 1970’s.
Houstonboy
Mac Buckets
I second that!! Renfro was in.
Look out football, here we come,
Houston Oilers, number one.
Houston has the Oilers, the greatest football team.
We take the ball from goal to goal like no one’s ever seen.
We’re in the air, we’re on the ground … always in control
And when you say the Oilers, you’re talking Super Bowl.
‘Cause we’re the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Number One.
Yes, we’re the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Number One.
We’ve got the offense.
We’ve got the defense.
We give the other team no hope. ‘Cause we’re the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers,
You know we’re gonna hold the rope.
Tim F.
demi –
Without hesitation, a sixer of Yuengling Porter for me. Let’s see how the ‘Hawks handle playing in the big boy league.
PAN pan (Anon...)
Congrats to Steeler fans. As a Patriots fan, I am reluctantly rooting for you on account of my deep loathing for all Seattle sports teams. Do realize that had the Patriots managed to avoid those key mistakes in the Denver game, we’d easily have dismantled you once again at home.
jg
Watching that game made me even more pissed off about the Pats game a week earlier. Pittsburgh used the same gameplan as the Pats but didn’t give up the ball like the Pats did. It sucked having to listen to clowns on the radio talk about how good Denver is after they beat the Pats. Denver NEVER drove the ball downfield, they had a handful of first downs total and only scored when given great field position. They were handled. The two best teams this year were the two best from last year too. AFC Championship should have been Pitt at NE.
Pitt may be a 6 seed this year but its essentially the same team that went 15-1 last year. As good as Seattle is I’m picking Pittsburgh.
Jcricket
How can you muster deep loathing for Seattle sports teams? That’s so much effort.
As someone who’s lived in Seattle for 10 years, but who grew up on the east coast, I have added the Seattle teams as my “home teams” (in addition to the Skins, Patriots and Red Sox). But the Seahawks, Sonics and Mariners have no “great rivalries” and, even when they suck, rarely rise to the level of aggressive suckage that would engender “deep loathing”. We’ve mostly just suffered from “ho-hum” mediocrity for the last 20-30 years.
The sports teams are like most people in Seattle, who suck on a very passive level. I may not like a lot of them, but I can’t be bothered to loathe them.
And John, once again your blog splits itself into two opposing camps. Although this time it’s over an issue that matters :-)
demimondian
Jiminy Cricket! How can anyone think that the Mariners and the Sonics didn’t rise to the level of aggressively overachieving suckage that warrants true loathing when they do things like, oh, lose 102 games in a season? I view that as an achievement for the discour-AGES.
Then again, this
is just so…archtypically…Seattle. “You know, you really disgust me, but I just can’t get excited about it.” Seattle makes Toronto seem rude.
my cat
Yesterday, in the early afternoon, I was standing in line at the grocery store. Ahead of me were five or six very large men, all purchasing potato chips, beer and roses. Potato chips, beer and roses–sounds like a title for a country song, doesn’t it? I was standing there thinking about it…why all these big guys making that particular set of purchases? (eventually the light came on)But I’m not a real fan and Seattle has never been this close before.
capelza
Go Hawks!!!!! Accustomed to losing as we are up here in the wet part of the country…I still can’t believe the Hawks won. I think the last time anything this exciting happened in the PNW was when the Trailblazers won in 1977.
This should be a great superbowl…many avacados will be sacrificed.
Uberweiss
I can’t believe the Steelers are going to the SuperBowl. I am so damn excited. The next two weeks are going to be the longest two weeks of my life. Here we go Steelers, Here we go. Pittsburgh going to the SuperBowl. Here we go.
Dodd
I think the Steelers will shut down the run, contain the top receiver and blitz the hell out of (insert QB here). Why mess with a proven strategy?
That strategy would have been perfectly suited for Carolina, with its RB troubles and massive overdependence on the #1 receiver. But Hasselback completed passes to eight different receivers on Sunday – including his own backup! Given what the ‘Hawks accomplished this season with their #1 receiver out for 10 weeks, and their #2 out for 3 (and neither 100% when they came back), that strategy will not avail the Steelers quite so well against Seattle.
Off Colfax
This should be a great superbowl…many avacados will be sacrificed.
Spoken like a true dweller of the Left Coast.
Sincerely,
A California Ex-patriate
Charles Bird
I am so happy, too. My Seachickens are going to the Superbowl!