Mark Groves' Weblog: Sports

One for the Thumb

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 04:22:58 GMT

Wow, I can't believe I can finally say this. The Steelers win Superbowl XL!!!

I have been waiting way too long for this championship win, but finally they did it. It was way too close for my tastes, but I will take the win.

Steelers FAQ - PittsburghLIVE.com

Fri, 03 Feb 2006 21:37:07 GMT

I thought this was some interesting history of the Steelers. I figured I would educate some of my local Seahawks fans on some interesting facts about the team they are going to lose to on Sunday.

Quote Steelers FAQ - PittsburghLIVE.com

Frequently asked questions about the Steelers (complete with answers ... in case you're into that kind of thing):

Q: Why do the Steelers stick an emblem on only one side of their helmet?

A: Because they can ... No, seriously: In 1961, the Steelers wanted to see how the new emblem would look on their helmet and placed it on one side as a test run. The test was so successful that the team opted to leave the other side blank.

Q: Speaking of emblems, what are those diamond-like things?

A: Things that look like diamonds, duh! ... They're called hypocycloids, and they represent the three materials used to make steel: yellow for coal, red for ore and blue for steel scrap.

Q: Why don't the Steelers have cheerleaders?

A: Well, for starters, influence of the female persuasion tends to make weak men out of otherwise strong and strapping gridiron warriors. ... Actually, the Rooneys simply believe that cheerleaders at football games are unnecessary. By the way, they are completely correct.

Q: When was the last time Ben Roethlisberger shaved?

A: Truth be told, Big Ben's bear was just a late sprouter. ... OK, time to settle some "serious" bets. First, Roethlisberger trimmed his now famous beard -- or infamous, depending on your point of view -- during the Super Bowl off-week. Still, near as anybody can tell, he started growing the beard prior to the Steelers' "Monday Night Football" game Nov. 28 in Indianapolis.

Q: Why did Roethlisberger start growing the beard?

A: Obviously, he's showing support for the underground movement that wishes the Steelers to employ cheerleaders. ... More likely, though, according to his father, Big Ben is just going through a phase.

Q: Jerome Bettis is the NFL's fifth all-time leading rusher, but how many of those yards have come during his Steelers tenure?

A: Most of them. ... But if you're into exact figures, 10,571 would work.

Q: Who ride?

A: We ride!

Q: What exactly does that mean?

A: "Who ride? We ride!" is the rallying cry of Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, who makes habit of asking the question inside the Steelers locker room and then leaves the answer for his teammates to roar collectively. Amazing how that works, huh?

Q: What was "The Chief's" secret longing that he never fulfilled?

A: The late, great Art Rooney Sr. secretly dreamed of owning a baseball team. Of course, this was before free agency.

Q: Are the Steelers named because they stole players from other teams?

A: Thieves! ... Believe it or not, the Steelers were named in honor of the men who helped make steel. The Pittsburgh Pirates, however, were in fact named because they had a reputation for "pirating" opposing players by offering them more money. Their original name: the Alleghenies.

Q: How much money did Mr. Rooney win at a race track to originally purchase the team in 1932?

A: One million dollars! (Give or take one million.) ... The oft-told tale of Mr. Rooney winning money at Aqueduct that he in turn used to buy the Steelers is a fable that was made up by a sportswriter from that era. Rooney did not start going to Aqueduct until 1937.

Q: Was Joe Greene really "mean"?

A: Not, apparently, if you offered him a bottle of Coca-Cola.

Q: Where did The Terrible Towel come from?

A: String. A lot of string. ... Sports most famous yellow piece of cloth actually started as a promotional tool prior to a Steelers playoff game in 1975. Myron Cope, the legendary former color man for the Steelers Radio Network, thought it could be used as a way to inspire Steelers Nation.

Q: Why doesn't Troy Polamalu cut his hair?

A: He does -- daily in fact. Unlike Big Ben, however, Polamalu's hair just grows really fast. ... Polamalu started letting his hair grow while in college at Southern California and has simply decided the longer look works for him.

Q: Besides their position, what do Heath Miller and former Steelers tight end Mark Bruener have in common?

A: Great eyes and charming personalities. ... Both were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft and, after Sunday, both will have played in the Super Bowl during their rookie seasons.

Q: How many numbers have the Steelers retired?

A: See, the Steelers actually didn't rely on uniform numbers for many years and instead opted for Roman numerals. But then the Super Bowl went and stole their idea, so the Steelers had to change on the fly and ... One. The number is 70, and it belonged to Hall-of-Fame defensive tackle Ernie Stautner. It was retired Oct. 25, 1964.

Threat Level Raised in Detroit

Fri, 03 Feb 2006 18:51:06 GMT

I think this says it all

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 04:54:11 GMT

Sleeping in Seattle

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 01:26:32 GMT

With the goal to start some trash talking...

You see I just don't really understand it, growing up in Pittsburgh, and being a life long Steelers fan. I can't understand how Seattle is still asleep. Maybe it's just that so many of the people here in Seattle are from somewhere else. But as this story shows, the city is not showing their excitement.

I have yet to hear anyone talking about the Seahawks winning the Superbowl. Now we all know that is not going to happen, but show some team spirit. It will make it much more fun to rub it in when the Steelers win.

Seattle has a 12th man, but it must be stuck in the drive thru line a Starbucks.

Student wearing Broncos jersey forced to take test on floor

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 22:44:55 GMT

A lesson: if you live in the Pittsburgh area, do not wear a Broncos jersey before the AFC title game.We take our football seriously.

Quote

9news.com | News | Student wearing Broncos jersey forced to take test on floor

The teacher, John Kelly, forced Joshua Vannoy to sit on the floor and take the test Friday -- two days before the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Broncos 34-17 in the AFC championship game. Kelly also made other students throw crumpled up paper at Vannoy, whom he called a "stinking Denver fan," Vannoy told The Associated Press on Monday.

Superbowl Bound!!!

Sun, 22 Jan 2006 23:32:54 GMT

YES!!! The Steelers did it, next stop Detroit!

And for all my friends in Denver, better luck next year...

Look out Denver, the Steelers are coming to town!

Sun, 15 Jan 2006 23:35:27 GMT

Wow, what a game! A little too close for comfort, but the Steelers prevailed.

OK Denver, you wanted the Steelers at home, you got your wish.

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get IT!!!

Here we go Steelers!

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 01:44:03 GMT

What a great game, that is if your not a Cinci fan!!!

Way to go Steelers, 31 - 17 over the Bungles.

Watch out Indianapolis the Steelers are coming to town!

Big Ben Out, like the Power

Tue, 11 Oct 2005 15:40:13 GMT

I just got done reading the highlights from last night's game between the Steelers and the Chargers. What a game, but since I did not get to see it all since the power went out about 5 minutes into the second half, I had to read what happen this morning.

It does not look good for Ben, went out with a knee injury, and we now need to rely on Charlie Batch, since Maddox got hurt in practice the other day. Well I hope Batch can lead the team, Roethlisberger had really done a great job leading the team even though he is 23 years old.

A True Fan

Wed, 06 Jul 2005 19:11:12 GMT

Ok, this was guy is a true Steelers fan:

Quote

Even in death, man cheers on his Steelers - NFL - MSNBC.com
James Henry Smith, 55, of Pittsburgh, died of prostate cancer Thursday. Because his death wasn’t unexpected, his family was able to plan for an unusual viewing Tuesday night.

The Samuel E. Coston Funeral Home erected a small stage in a viewing room, and arranged furniture on it much as it was in Smith’s home on game day Sundays.

Smith’s body was on the recliner, his feet crossed and a remote in his hand. He wore black and gold silk pajamas, slippers and a robe. A pack of cigarettes and a beer were at his side, while a high-definition TV played a continuous loop of Steelers highlights.

Talking about Report: NHL, NHLPA agree to salary cap system - PittsburghLIVE.com

Thu, 09 Jun 2005 15:24:10 GMT

Looks like we are getting closer to having Hockey this year. Of course if we have Hockey in Pittsburgh is a whole other issue. Yes I know I live in Denver now, and should try to be a Avs fan, but just can't do it. Now if the Pens leave Pittsburgh, then that may be a different story, I might have to convert.

Quote

Report: NHL, NHLPA agree to salary cap system - PittsburghLIVE.com

Breaking News: Steelers to replace Coach Bill Cowher for Snoop Dogg

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 20:22:19 GMT

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=kamenetzky/050125#

Well I guess there is always the commercials

Tue, 25 Jan 2005 15:47:34 GMT

Ok so the Steelers could not make it happen. It would have been great to see them in the Superbowl this year, but it was not meant to happen. Since I really did not think they were going to have much of a season this year, I can't be too upset. Big Ben did great as a rookie, and if nothing else he learned a lot from what it takes to play in the NFL.

So this year, again, the Superbowl will be a blowout, and there will be nothing to look forward to, except the commercials. I don't think we can expect Janet Jackson to do an encore this year.

Steelers do it again!

Mon, 13 Dec 2004 00:28:23 GMT

Gotta love this, 12-1. Can't wait for the playoffs.

The Mountain did not get Me

Sun, 12 Dec 2004 23:31:27 GMT

Got to go out Snowboarding for the first time this season today. And I survived, a little sore, but just like riding a bike, got right back to it. Snow was pretty good, at Breckenridge, and not very crowded, which was surprising, since only peak 8 and 9 are open. I'm looking forward to peak 10, they were making tons of snow over there, so it should be open any day now.