Hold On Hope

When I was ten, I hoped I would be the Challenge 24 champion of Gill Hall Elementary. (Booyah.)

When I was 11, I hoped I would get a guitar for Christmas. (Best. Christmas. Ever.)

When I was 16 I hoped I would pass my drivers test the first time. (Second time's a charm.)


When one of my best friends dad was diagnosed with cancer, I hoped...and prayed...he would make it through. (He fought the good fight, he finished the race, and he kept the faith.)


When I was in high school, I hoped to get an A on that test to get my GPA to where I wanted it to be. (An A ensued)

When I was 17 my dog died, and although I knew that a new dog would never replace her, I still hoped we would get another. (We did, and she is wonderful.)


When I was 18, I hoped I would get into Penn State Behrend. (I did.)


I then hoped I would be a starter on the soccer team. (It took a little more work than expected and did not happen right away, but...it happened.)



When I graduated college, I hoped to move back home and find a full-time job at the snap of a finger. (Let's just say I am still snapping, but thankful to at least have a job.)



I also hoped throughout college that, along with making new friends, I would hold onto the friendships I had found in high school. (The love I have for them continues to grow and the memories I still make with them everyday are immeasurable.)





Okay, so I hold onto hope quite often in a lot of different ways for a lot of different reasons. And although it does not always turn out how I hoped it would, it always seems to work out. Period. I guess that's my way of saying that everything happens for a reason.

So, now that I have gone a little soft-hearted on you, not usually my forte here, with the eve of the holiday celebration upon us, I am hoping for a white Christmas. And of course they are calling for rain. We had a gorgeous snow fall this past weekend, about a five inch blanket of white all over the ground. Christmas lights look awesome shining through it on trees and homes, and the chill in the air makes it feel like the winter season is upon us. According to Google, Pittsburgh has a 33% chance each year of having a white Christmas. I was sure this would be the year we find ourselves on the inside of that percentage. Nope, according to all the local weatherman, as well as national, and let's not forget Ollie...

It's going to rain. But guess what peeps, I'm holding true to my hold on hope. I am hoping for a white Christmas. I find it hard to believe that in the next 24 hours, after waking up to single digit temps this morning, that it will be cold enough on Christmas, to actually rain. Nope, I am fully convinced that it will in fact snow. I'm positive it will precipitate to some sort of extent, but it will not be rain. Bring on the snow.

My next hope is a biggie. It's like trying to make 2+2=5. Like trying to fit Casey Hampton into a Smart Car. Like trying to enjoy a full episode of Jersey Shore. Like trying to get the Grinch to enjoy Christmas...wait that actually happens. It may sounds ridiculously improbable, but there is always a chance.... What is it that I am hoping? Well, it's something all us Pittsburgh folk want and are wishing for.

I am hoping the Steelers make the dag-on playoffs. Whew, there, I said it. (C'mon now did you really think I'd have an entire post without any mention of my Black and Gold?) There is the slimmest of slim chances of them making it, but hey, just as I say a win, is a win, is a win...a chance, is a chance, is a CHANCE. So, what exactly needs to happen?

1. Well, let's start with the most obvious and simplest of conditions. They need to win their last two regular season games. Water is wet, that's a no brainer. Their first on-field battle comes against conference rivals the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. With the possibility of Ed Reed being out for the game, coupled with our passing-for-perfection performance last Sunday, I'd say my hope-o-meter just grew a little bit. Kind of like the Grinch's heart.

2. The Jets, Jaguars and Texans each need to lose one of their two remaining games. The Hope-O-Meter is beginning to palpitate.




3. Also either the Broncos need to lose one, or the Ravens lose their final game to the Raiders (given that we beat them on Sunday.)

Case and point. There. Is. Hope. Go Steelers.

And on that note, I Ho-Ho-Hope you all have a Holly, Jolly Christmas!

Christmas Came Early

It was a 5 game winning streak vs. a 5 game losing streak.

It began with a touchdown to Mike Wallace, and finished with a touchdown to Mike Wallace.

Everything else in between was an offensive heaving battle.

Deep in the arctic tundra of Heinz Field, something finally happened, Steelers fans smiled. A mold broke loose, jostled by a mess of media hypocrisy, wrestled with the frustrations of losing, the Pittsburgh Steelers put their rally caps on and pumbled, clawed, crawled and fought their way back to tally a win. FINALLY. The clouds parted and in chimes the choir singing:

*Haaallllelllllujah!*

Hell was not unleashed. In fact, hell froze over, if you ask me, and was left in a trail of pixy dust back at the dawg pound ten days ago.

It wasn't the prettiest, nor the most relaxing game. But, if we wanted to watch something relaxing we would've ordered a special golf program for the day. Yup, I used the word program, but I feel it's only appropriate when coupled with, or preceded by, the word golf.

Deja what? Oh, deja booyah-vu.

So let's recap.

First and foremost, thank you Sweet Jesus, Lord of Heaven Above for shedding some light down onto Bruce Arians and striking him with a lightning bolt of "victory play calling." Because for once this season, I agreed with most of Bruce's decisions. I'm not sure if I want to touch base on Tomlins decision for an onsides kick in the fourth quarter when we are WINNING. A part of me, believe it or not, agrees with Tomlin's call. Settle yourself. The only reason why is because I know nothing as an insider or experienced player about footie-football. I just like the drama, the suspense and of course winning. So, as long as Tomlin kept me strapped on the edge of my seat during, and a big ol' grin once the game concluded, I am almost okay with that onsides kick call. I mean geeesh, it almost worked! One yard off Ikey, one yard!

And Ben? Holy Moly, over 500 yards in one game! Never been done before by a Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback. Hats off, (or maybe mustache off?) to you buddy. Hell of a job today. Much credit is due to the fact that you threw the ball, and you threw it well. More than well. And you proved it multiple times, sealing the deal with a sweet kiss at the end between you, a football and Mike Wallace.

*Hallllllelujah!*

(Look, they are even wearing black and gold.)

Let's not get overzealous here though. It still boggles my mind to have a quarterback throw over 500 yards in one game, have two receivers over 1,000 for the season, and a running back well on his way, and be at .500 (7-7) for the season thus far. Holding on for dear life for a possible playoff spot. Because, YES, there is still a chance. And as for as I am concerned and for as long as I am a Steeler fan, which is nothing short of forever, I will always be clinging to that teeny, tiny, itsy, bitsy bit of hope that we will make it and prevail in the playoffs to climb that Stairway to Seven all the way to the top! By the way, I'm giving partial credit of their victory to the fact that I went to church this morning. You're welcome, Pittsburgh.

Speaking of big numbers and smiling Steeler fans, Heath Miller broke a record on Sunday. After tallying seven catches in Week 15 for 118 yards, Miller broke the Steelers reception record by a tight end with 68 nabs for the season and counting. The old record was set back in 1993 by Eric Green with 63 receptions.

Ataboy.

(Call me.)

"Got To Be A Joker, He Just Do What He Please."

I wrote this last week and forgot to click "Publish." Woops. Here it is anyway.

It started with a fight, and ended with a cry.

He said we would unleash hell and trust me, hell was unleashed. We didn't need hell, we needed heaven on our side. Stairway to "seven," remember?

So, despite the fact that the sun is shining brightly and it's Friday, today is nothing short of dismal.

Playoff hopes have all but vanished, washed away by the shores of Lake Erie. The mistake by the lake is now put on Pittsburgh. Lake Dreary has cast itself and unleashed it's frigid furry into the dog-pound and onto the Steelers for the first time in nine games in Cleveland Brown stadium.

I was stunned. Trying to justify between a gaping jaw and stuttered mumbles of confusion, and understand what in the world happened to my Pittsburgh Steelers? To my reigning champs? To my six-pack, sixburghen, s.o.b.'s. To my one large order of football champions with a side of Lord Stanley? (Maybe the other way around.) None-the-less. C'mon guys, the Brownies? the (now) 2-11 Betty Crocker Fudgie or Cake-like Brownies? How many Super Bowls have they won? Oh, yah, zero, zip, nada.

I mean, it's not like I am going to become a fair-weathered fan and start cheering elsewhere. I can at least still smile at the fact that we are the leading NFL team with six super bowl championships on our hands. And the Browns are still 2-11. Pretty awful, and still the worst in the league as far as numbers go.

Embarassing that we lost, but if I am going to try and stay positive, I just tell myself that you can't win 'em all. Right? I mean, we don't want to turn into the New York Yankees and become that team.

You can't win 'em all.

But you can at least salvage some dignity. Right?

Wrong.

I am not embarassed so much by the fact that we lost to the Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Chiefs and Raiders. Ok, yah I am pretty embarassed...BUT, I am MORE embarrassed by our team chemistry, or lack there of.

Where in the world is the discipline? The leadership? The professionalism on this team?

If I acted or did any of the things that are reported by nearly half of the team, I would be without a job and struggling to find another.

Let's recap:

A distraction, yes, but I don't know if it is even relevant to mention Santonio Holmes and his marijuana mishap last season since he went on to be the Super Bowl MVP and all, but the bicep flex has GOT to STOP.

So,

I'd say it started with Jeff Reed and his antics with a towel dispenser. First off, that story sounds ridiculous to begin with. Really Reed? A towel dispenser? Really??

Okay, so dust under the rug. Minor blip in the Rooneys stark free Steeler team image. Let's move on.

Right when preseason is about to begin. When the hype of the 2009-10 season is about to get underway and all of the fans are super pumped and all "Seven-upped" or "Stairway to Sevened" out, some chick out in Nevada decides to blame Benny Boy for sexually assaulting her.

Nicely timed, round of applause. Immediately all focus of preseason prep shifts from football to fondling.

Next up, Reedy boy is at it again. Although this time he chose a human to raise his fists too, a policeman at that. And it was because the policeman was doing his job, trying to cite Matt Spaeth for using the open air and parking lot as his own personal port-a-potty.

Let's face it, policeman have had it with Pittsburgh right now. They are on edge for obvious and unblameable reasons. So when Jeff Reed turns into Muhammed Ali after a quick celebration for beating the Browns (ha!), police won't handle that lightly.

Round of applause, again, please. Way to go. This was on top of Reeds subpar recent performances anyhow, and his inability to make tackles as well.

Bill Cowher? Is that you? I knew it.

Okay, I am going to keep tredging on.... Ben takes a pretty nasty hit in the Bengals game and sustains a concussion. In the next set of downs, Batch breaks his wrist. I tell you what, if there has been any hell unleashed, it's been against rather than for us.

After finding out that Ben would not be playing against the Ravens in a fairly important game, Hines runs his mouth. Basically talking smack on his quarterback.

What were you thinking Ward? He is your TEAMMATE. You don't talk down about a teammate, ever.

So, the problem with Pittsburgh? Chemistry. Team Chemistry is largely amiss and it is extremely obvious.

James Harrison is a scary man. And when you see him whipping his helmet and screaming at teammates on the sidelines during the Browns game last night, it's a scary, scary situation.

I'd kill to be a fly on the wall of that locker room.

There are a lot of young guys as well as experienced, older guys on this team that for some reason when faced with the adversity of losing, do not mesh well at all.

While the veterans are hanging their heads with shame, the rookies are shaking theirs with disgust.

Bruce: "Shhh, it's okay hunny. It'll get better. Shhhh."

Maybe it is the deadly force of everyones ego bouncing around the room. There is no camaraderie, no leadership. No one individual stepping up and saying "we need to 'come together, right now, over me.'"

Sing it to me Lennon.

Stay Golden Pony Boy

"We will unleash hell in December."

Yes, Tomlin. Yes, we will.

It was a dismal weekend for Pittsburgh football fans. Many are starting to throw in their terrible towels on the season and start planning for next season.

Hang on here. Let me remind you all of something. Remember Super Bowl XL? Yeah, the ONE FOR THE THUMB? Let's recap that season briefly, maybe it will shed some positive light on all you doubters out there.... Follow along with me now:

2005 - The season began with a win over the Tennessee Titans. A solid win at that.

2009 - The season began with a win over the Tennessee Titans. Not quite as solid as in '05 but, as I like to say, a win is a win is a win.

2005 - The next four games following the home opener victory went as follows - win, loss, win, loss. Followed by a four game winning streak and then a three game losing streak, bringing us to week 14.

2009 - Flash forward with me, are you keeping up? Following the home opener victory over the Titans, the rest of the season progressed as follows - Loss, loss, five game winning streak, three game losing streak. Which brings us up to date.

Do we see a pattern here? Case and point, we have been here before. This is familiar territory for most of the veteran players.

In 2005, the Bengals won the division championship.

Remember in the first round of playoffs when Kimo von Oelhoffen fell on Carson Palmer, tearing his ACL and putting him out of the game that we ended up winning 31-17?

Remember the next game against the Indianapolis Colts when, with less than two minutes remaining in the game, Jerome Bettis fumbled on the goal line? And Big Benny Boy nabbed Nick Harper, who recovered the fumble and was well on his way to a game winning TD, by his shoelaces, dubbing the play the "Immaculate Redemption" ? The 'lers would go on to win by a nail biting 21-18.

They then went on to defeat the Denver Broncos 34-17 to seal the deal on an AFC Championship and a trip to Super Bowl XL.

The rest is history. And I can about bet you remember the story as we went on to win Super Bowl XL in Detroit against the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 21-10. Despite his worst passing game of his career, Big Ben became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

His claim to fame in 2009? Becoming the chubbiest quarterback in the NFL, dare I also say...to win a Super Bowl??

Rarrrrr!

Sorry, not sure how that snuck in there.

C'mon, though. Let's face it. He does look somewhat like Wookie's offspring lately.

Family resemblance? Mayyybbeeee.

In 2005, it seemed improbable that we would be Super Bowl champions that season. We were sixth seeded in the AFC heading into the postseason. After the three game losing streak during the regular season the Steelers surged ahead and "unleashed hell" for the last four games to finish 11-5.

Moral of the story? We like dramatics.

Hines likes to talk a little smack on his teammates, stir a little controversy, light a fire under some of the players beehives and get the team going. We could have beat the Ravens. I know, I know, coulda, shoulda, woulda, but didn't and needed to.

But, we had our third string quarterback starting, who prior to the game had thrown one...ONE NFL pass in his career. Hats off to you Dennis Dixon, I'd say you did quite well going 12-26 for 145 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception. Compared to Big Bens first (full-game) start when both Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch got injured, against the Miami Dolphins in 2004. He went 12-22 for 163 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception. (Technically Ben's first game was, ironically, against the Ravens, the week before the Dolphins, when Maddox was injured late in the third quarter and Ben was the next go-to man.)

This week against the Ravens, Bruce Arians made an awful play call when he decided to pass the ball. It resulted in an interception to set up the game winning field goal. Not your fault Dixon...okay maybe a little bit your fault since you threw the ball to the other dude. Keep your head up though, we still love you. (most of us)

Dennis: "Hey, Brucie? You up there? Cus you definitely pulled that call from out of your ass in order to burn mine."

Am I disappointed in our current situation? Absolutely. Do I think they made the right decision not to play Ben Sunday? You bet. Am I confident this season is not over and there is still plenty of hope for a postseason rally?

YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.

"We will unleash hell in December."

Yes, Tomlin. Yes we will. Why? Because we are the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's what we do.

Yah baby.