February 1, 2009
How did you react?
I said two posts ago that I would get to writing my column. But I would be remiss if I didn't share with you how
I celebrated Santonio Holmes' game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII.
I was on my feet pacing the room
during the game's final minutes. When Holmes scored the touchdown, I took my Steelers cap off my head and threw it on
the couch. Then I dove face-down on the hardwood floor and pounded my fist numerous times.
Shoot me an e-mail and let me know what you did when Holmes caught the game-winning touchdown pass.
What the Steelers' championship means to me
I've seen a lot of Steelers games over the last 29 years. I'm not sure I've been interested in anything
in my life for that long.
This season, I've watched more Steelers football, on my own terms, than I have in
any other season. I probably only missed about five minutes of action all year. In order to have it set up that way,
I had to make some very difficult, but correct, decisions in 2008.
Because of those events in my personal life,
the 2008 Steelers season could not get here soon enough. For me, this Steelers season began in the hot summer months, when
I used wireless connections at Starbucks to update this site during training camp.
Then came the actual season.
During those first few weeks I could enjoy the games and update the site in my steamy studio apartment.
Now I can
look out the window and see a foot of snow as a try to put into words what the Steelers' victory in Super Bowl XLIII means
to me.
I know my personal life has no bearing on the Steelers' fortunes. What I'm saying is that sometimes
doing what you have to do, no matter how difficult, can pay off in a big way.
11:29 pm | link
February 1, 2009
What did I say?
Sorry, I was wrong. Holmes had four huge catches on that game-winning drive, including a 6-yard touchdown catch. He
had nine receptions for 131 yards.
But let's take a look at what I got right.
I said Santonio Holmes
would be the MVP. Scroll down and look it up.
I was a little off on the score. I thought it would be Steelers 33-31.
Final score was Steelers 27-23.
Whisenhunt has to go and say "It's unfortunate there were that many penalties
called." Well, you don't want penalties called, don't commit them.
This game will not be remembered
for the officiating. It should be remembered for Ben Roethlisberger's grace under pressure. He's now the 10th quarterback
to win multiple Super Bowls.
I'm going to enjoy "The Office," then get to my column.
10:42 pm | link
Pittsburgh Steelers: Super Bowl XLIII Champions
I just don't know what else to say, except that maybe the grass got more of that Gatorade bath than Tomlin.
I have no word yet, but I think Santonio Holmes should be MVP. Nine catches, including two huge ones on that game-winning
drive. I think he shoudl be getting keys to a car real soon.
I'm wiped.
10:15 pm | link
Touchdown Santonio Holmes
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO OVERTURN IT!
10:02 pm | link
Cardinals take lead
Larry Fitzgerald's touchdown gives Cards 23-20 lead.
Offensive line is going to have to do what it hasn't
done all year on this final drive: Protect Ben Roethlisberger.
Two-minute warning.
9:53 pm | link
Maybe safety's not a bad thing
Cardinals still need a touchdown. And the Steelers get an extra 20 yards to kick the ball away.
That said,
it seems like everything is just falling the fuck apart.
This blows.
9:46 pm | link
I'm going to be sick
Larry Fitzgerald catches a jump ball over Ike Taylor to make it 20-14 Steelers.
And the Steelers went three-and-out.
Hope the Steelers figured out a way to stop the no-huddle.
Oh, and by the way. Cards do, in fact, have
all their timeouts with under six minutes to play.
I don't like this.
9:33 pm | link
Cardinals on the move
The best thing about finally seeing the Polamalu Coke commercial is I'm free to take a leak during commercials.
Cardinals have the Steelers on their heels with the no-huddle. But at least they burned a timeout. Hopefully they'll
wish they had it later.
9:24 pm | link
A Coke and a laugh
LOL on the Troy Polamalu Coke Zero commercial.
Thumbs up.
9:19 pm | link
Nice 'do
Is Steve Breaston serious with that 'fro?
You can't be doing that if you're named for a female
body part.
I know Boobs-ton is from the 'Burgh. And I'm sorry if I offended any Pittsburgh people out there
who like him.
Remember, I'm not a yinzer. I just wish I was.
9:13 pm | link
One step closer
Let's see. A facemask, a roughing-the-passer and a running-over-the-holder penalty on that drive.
That's
a reflection on the coach.
Nice job, Whisenhunt. You're no Mike Tomlin.
Jeff Reed's 21-yard
field goal makes it 20-7, Steelers, late in the third quarter.
It's still within reach for Bible Boy and his
disciples. But with the Steelers up two TDs, I can start to smell a victory.
9:02 pm | link
Cardinals moving the ball
The weakness in the Steelers' defense is clear. They're giving up those screen passes and cutback runs. But
the Steelers blitzed at just the right time, forcing the Cardinals to punt and preventing them from gaining any momentum on
their opening drive in the second half.
The Steelers should go no-huddle now.
The last five Super
Bowls all have been decided by less than two touchdowns. The Steelers still can make this one of those vintage 1980s Super
Bowl bitchslappings.
What do you say, guys?
8:43 pm | link
MVP?
I'd say if the game ended now, Roethlisberger would be the MVP.
They replayed the interception return
for the 17th time. I wouldn't mind seeing it about 100 more times.
First possession of the second half is going
to be huge. Warner must be stopped.
8:28 pm | link
Bruce
Matt, if you're out there, you were 3 for 4 on Springsteen songs. Not bad. Did you really think he wouldn't
play "Glory Days"?
Nice pipes on Sil for "Glory Days." Respect the Bing!
When are
they going to show the Troy Polamalu Coke commercial?
8:21 pm | link
Try holding him now!
Longest play in Super Bowl history!
The Cardinals had a first-and-goal at the 1 with 18 seconds left in the
first half, closing in on a game-tying field goal or go-ahead touchdown. Then James Harrison picked off a pass intended
for Anquan Boldin and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown as time ran out.
That's just what a Defensive Player
of the Year does.
John Madden said that James Harrison ran like James Brown. I think he meant Jim Brown.
Nonetheless, I feel good.
Let's not forget, though, that the Cardinals get the ball to start the second half.
Halftime score: Steelers 17, Cardinals 7
8:10 pm | link
No one said it would be easy
Kurt Warner's 1-yard TD pass to Ben Patrick punctuates 83 yards of dinking and dunking and makes it 10-7, Steelers,
in the second quarter.
Another year without a Super Bowl shutout.
7:27 pm | link
Now we're getting somewhere
Gary Russell's 2-yard touchdown run gives Steelers a 10-0 lead.
Good drive, including a great escape
by Roethlisberger and three catches from by MVP pick, Santonio Holmes.
That said, how can Heath Miller get stood
up at the 2-yard line like that? C'mon, Heath. You're supposed to be tough. You're from Swords Creek, VA!
Wildcat? Really?
7:11 pm | link
Show some balls, Tomlin!
What the hell are they doing kicking a field goal from the 6-inch line?
And what the hell is Madden doing
agreeing with that call?
After Hines Ward's Willis Reed-like 38-yard catch, the Steelers needed seven on that
opening drive.
The Steelers' short-yardage woes rear their ugly head again.
It's not too late
to suit up, Bettis.
6:49 pm | link
3rd and goal at 1
Bettis, get a uniform on now!
6:37 pm | link
Walter Payton Man of the Year
Hey Kurt, nice guys finish last!
6:18 pm | link
Did anyone notice?
All the shots of Terrible Towel wavers when the Steelers came onto the field.
Not a single crowd shot when
the Cardinals came out.
Heinz Field South, baby!
6:13 pm | link
Emotional pick?
Holmgren said he's making an emotional pick. He's picking the Cardinals because he likes Kurt Warner.
Riii-iiight.
By "emotional" Holmgren means he's still got a bug up his ass about the officiating
in Super Bowl XL and he wants the Steelers to lose.
Holmgren, if your team could have gotten out of its own way,
maybe it would have beaten the Steelers in Super Bowl XL.
Get over it, fatass!
6:01 pm | link
Enough already!
OK, Ben. You were nervous before Super Bowl XL. We get it!
Guess what. You're in another Super Bowl now.
We need you to not be nervous today.
Watch where you're going, not where you've been.
5:52 pm | link
Holmgren in the booth
I wonder how much Mike Holmgren will enjoy watching Mike Gandy headlock James Harrison, clothlesline him and pull his
jersey over his head.
We better get used to seeing it.
5:38 pm | link
Predictions
Don't Stop Believin'?
I'm never going to start believing that the guy singing that song was Steve
Perry. Does Journey think we're complete idiots? They think that if this new lead singer has long black hair, we'll
think it's Steve Perry. Now if this guy's nose was a little bigger, they might have fooled me.
When
I blog live like this, every post has a time stamp. So when I give my prediction, I can prove that I gave it before the game.
I have given my prediction for the Super Bowl, but it's buried in an earlier column. So here it is again, front
and center:
Score: Steelers 33, Cardinals 31
MVP: Santonio Holmes
Other
stuff that will happen: Troy Polamalu will get an interception. ... Limas Sweed will have a key third-down catch
4:55 pm | link
Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
Greetings, yinzers and non-yinzers alike!
Wireless signal permitting, I'll be blogging LIVE before and
during Super Bowl XLIII.
I'm watching the game at my dad's house in Massachusetts. Hey, the Steelers are
3-0 this season when I'm in New England.
If you notice that I haven't updated the blog for a while, it's
probably because I've been captured by Patriots fans.
Speaking of Patriots fans, a majority of them are throwing
their support behind the Cardinals, because the Steelers have earned the hatred of Patriots fans.
They hate us!
The really, really hate us!
I can't imagine why Patriots fans would hate the Steelers. It wouldn't have
anything to do with that 33-10 whupping that essentially knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs, would it?
I'll
check back soon.
4:15 pm | link
