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.

Wave that terrible towel...literally

...Because, well, we were terrible today.

This weekend had me on wits end with Pittsburgh sports. My stomach hurts, my legs ache and I've got a headache from drowning my nerves....And my remote control is smashed... okay, that's a lie. But still. Within a full 24 hours, Pittsburgh has been a mosh pit, a roller coaster ride of screaming sports fans.

Speaking of drowning nerves, I am fairly certain Big Ben played either hungover or drunk today.

Maybe Bennie boy just wanted to have a tickle-fest with Robert Geathers instead of play football today?

I am also fairly certain, after Pansy Toes, aka Jeff Reed, twinkle toed his way to another missed tackle/touchdown saving hit, that there is no way he is even brave enough to go Mano-e-Mano vs. a paper towel dispenser, let alone hop into the fighting Irish stance ready to do the tango with a police officer. No way is it possible, sorry your honor, but clearly today's performance on the field this week and last Monday, is enough evidence to dismiss the case and rule my client not guilty.

Jeff: "Coach, what do I do now?"

Tomlin: "Quit being a pansy and go tackle him you idiot!"

Okay, one more assumption on why the Steelers were so awful...they just got confused. Yah, see they thought this was another WWE stint and this was just a wrestling match. Yah that's it. See:

1...2....3...PINNED

Ben: "Ow, man! Uncle, Uncle!!! I SAID UNCLE, THAT MEANS LET GOOOO!"

...Yah, I bet Daddy Rooney was proud.

It didn't help matters much when the King of Troy aggravated his knee again in the opening drive and did not return for the rest of the game.

Okay, so injuries and suckiness aside, well, no suckiness is still on the table because my next point I'd like to make is that Max Starks must've thought he was playing in the stadium next door at PNC with the suckiest of suck - Pittsburgh Pirates, because I am pretty sure I could have put my 85 year old, 5'2" (and shrinking) 100 lbs grandfather, who at one point in his life spent time in a full body cast during WWII after getting run over by a jeep...into the game today and he would have been more useful and had better blocks than Mr. Starks.

Hines, Mike, 'Ton? I don't know if I still should be pointing the dreaded finger at Ben for under throwing the deep balls and over throwing the short ones, or if I should be barking up another tree at the receivers for not being open and making plays? I think it was a little bit of both.

So, Santonio, keep that bicep in your sleeve and make some plays with it instead of daunting and flexing it for everyone after a 2 yard catch. Act like a Super Bowl MVP and start making noteworthy catches in important games.

Okay, now that I got that out of my system, onto the good stuff... HOW BOUT THEM PENS? Okay, it wasn't the most graceful win and they scraped by and chalked up a W by a minuscule four tenths of a second, but hey, a win is a win is a win....Good work boys, free smooches from Crosby.

And what about those Pitt Panthers? Can this city be any more awesome when it comes to sports? Congrats to Jonathan Baldwin for being named Big East player of the week.

And last but not least for the sake of entertainment, let's take a peak at Sammy Sosa's new look, shall we?

I am pretty sure it looks like he smacked himself in the face with a bag of flower and then stole his wife's lipstick for kicks. I can't decide if this is some weird tribute to Michael Jackson, or if he was just tired of looking black. Regardless, kids, don't do steroids.

Whole lotta Umness.

1. Okay I need to address this one at the top of the list. Has anybody seen Sammy Sosa lately? No? Don't worry, I am here to help....

Ummm...What the hell?

Is this supposed to be some sick tribute to Michael Jackson? Apparently he is going through a rejuvenating process for his skin? Who knows, what I do know is it looks weird as hell. Is he wearing lipstick?

Not to mention, his wifey looks nothing short of peeved at Snow White Sosa's new look.

2. My mum called a "snuggie" a "snugglie" today. I thought it was funny.

Speaking of snuggies, check out the baby snug.

Ummm...I'm pretty sure any mother that stuffs their infant into that thing is surely mixing up a large batch of future claustrophobia for their child. Plus a handful of stares while walking down the street with that adorable little face protruding from mommies breasts. Creepy. I think if Babyface ever makes a comeback this should be his album cover, though.

3. What is with all of these people falling on train tracks these days? And walking away unscathed to boot?

4. Mr. Ochocinco made it a point to cause a little stir on Sunday when he "pretended" to slip one of the referees a dollar bill while they were reviewing a call. He was laughing about the stunt, and the ref waved him off before Ocho-stinko could attempt to pass the bill over.

5. When it comes to things to talk about there is a lot up in the air. Literally. From Balloon Boy, to the dotto pilots who cruised on past their landing destination. And just yesterday a pilot was removed from his flight because he went to take the hot seat intoxicated. A flight attendant noticed he may not be capable to fly and reported it before the plane could take off. As a result the flight was canceled, he was given a toxicology test and failed. On top of being suspended, the incident took place in London, where the alcohol rate is .02, as opposed to .048, this dude may be facing jail time.

6. Okay, tell me there is not something Um, wrong about this. (and I apologize for addressing this so late that it's tacky) But, Yankees, champs, 27 flippen times? Come on! Seriously? I mean I know our football team is an NFL dynasty and we are the most successful team having six trophies in our display case, and we sound pretty greedy decorating our town with Stairway to Seven tees but TWENTY SEVEN baseball ships? And our Buccos have 17 straight losing seasons? There is something way wrong-oh with that picture.

Twitter Me This

1. I hate when I accidentally say good morning to someone when it is clearly well into the afternoon.

2. Twitter me this: I do not understand Miley Cyrus's reasoning for resigning from Twitting her life away. She explains quite colorfully in a (wannabe Taylor Swift) rap that she will no longer be Twittering because she is tired of everyone knowing everything about her personal life. Hang on, now correct me if I am wrong because I do not Twitter, but is it not your choice what you do and do not Tweet? Are you not the one who chooses what to tell the world you are doing or thinking at that given moment? So if Ms. Miley does not want everybody and their mother to know that she is nodding her head and moving her hips like yeah, well then don't Twitt-it. It's not rocket science. Or maybe for some it is. Nonetheless, she's been deemed a "Twitter quitter" in my book.

3. The Hoveround Power Chair commercial gets me every time.

4. I tend to be a bit shy when it comes to telling people that I blog. In fact as far as I know, there is one person that ever reads this because there is only one person that knows about it. Well I mustered up the courage to post the link on my facebook page today in case I have any stalkers out there interested enough to click the link and either feel sorry for me that I blog or actually care to read what I write. If you fall into either one of these categories, thanks for taking a peak, hopefully for the latter and not the former reason.

Song of the day: Luke Bryan "What country is"

Mendenhall 'Quiets The Critics'

After tromping all over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday Night Football, Rashard Mendenhall has set quite a standard for himself. After extensive and sometimes harsh scrutiny about the second year running back and his ability (or lack thereof) to run the ball and produce positive results, Mendenhall figuratively put a finger to his mouth and politely quieted all of his critics.


He was benched for last weeks loss against the Cincinatti Bengals because of poor performance in practice, a decision made by coach Tomlin that is becoming a theme week to week amongst players. For the Chargers game he benched Limus Sweed after he missed a sure TD catch in the end zone against the Bengals the prior week that could have quite possibly given them the win.


So, come week four of the regular season, the Steelers found themselves about ankle deep in a hole. With a record of 1-2, Sunday nights game was somewhat of a must win for obvious reasons. Not only did the Steelers as a whole have a lot to prove to themselves, as well as their fans that they are not succumbing to the post-Super Bowl curse of a lousy follow-up season, much like in 2006... but a few individual players had a lot to prove to themselves, their coach, their critics and their fans.


Mendenhall rose to the challenge and then some. He reassured his coaches and teammates that he is reliable and more than just one time here and there. With Willie Parker out in week four with a toe injury, Mendenhall was the go-to man for the night. Everyone held their breath and let it out with a half gasp, half laugh, half cheer as he bounced off a few Chargers and dodged a few tackles for a gain of 9. He continued to zig and zag his way 29 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns, as well as two receptions for 26 yards. All numbers which far exceeded his far from stellar showing last season before fracturing his shoulder from a Ray Lewis blow that put him on the sidelines for the rest of the year.


I'd say it was a divine example of actions speaking louder than words. Mendenhall said he'd play better, then he did. So now he has set the bar quite high for himself. Can he continue such a solid performance for the rest of the season? Or was this just beginners luck? I'm afraid next week may not be the best measurement as the Steelers travel to Detroit to take on the Lions, who went winless in 2008 and have not proven to have changed much for the '09 campaign. However, if Mendenhalls wonderful display of athleticism on Sunday was truly what we can expect for the rest of the season, him and Parker could quite possibly be a deadly combination in games to come.

Rashard: "Man you sure this gets rid of constipation and make me play better?"

Willie: "Oooohh, yeahhh."

Before we start popping the bubbly though, let's keep one thing in mind, the Chargers rushing defense is ranked 28th in the league allowing over 150+ yards per game on the ground. I don't mean to negate any of Mendenhall's success from Sunday but facts are facts are facts. In a nutshell: he damn well should have rushed for the stats that he did. Let's hope it continues.



Annnddd speaking of quieting the critics, another player made it a point to prove that he is capable of more than what the first few games have shown. Jeff Reed proved he was back to his old self when he knocked a 46-yarder on Sunday and went five for five in extra points. Much improved from week two when he went 0-2 in field goals against the Bears and missed another against the Bengals in week three. Again, let's hope he keeps up with his old habits and continues to be reliable for a few points when needed. I always say that field goals don't win games, but boy do they help.

What a clown.