Steelers have the only legit claim. It is perhaps fair to say they are the currently most successful team,
but the dominance does not resemble the Patriot Reign.
(I mention Holly's book, after listening to the bitter radio D-List
backbenchers filling in for the good man grouse about
BB's unwillingness to stick needles in his (or anyone else's) eyes in an interview.
I was reminded that it is a good day to turn off the radio and re-read
the fine book.
Or the one on Tedy. Or To sit staring at the clouds. Anything but listen.)
(Well, it gave me time to write this. lucky you!)
Relevant to the coming Big Game™ From the Steeler perspective,
hearing everyone agree about the Pats has to hurt, and motivate.
It has been a very successful franchise, a lot of pride,
they show up to play.
It will be interesting to see how Ben does, if the Steel can be victorious with another
single digit passer rating.
Maybe he will shoot for a negative number this time? (/Snark)
The boy does make plays though, but the success reaffirms the old adage about
D winning championships, most often.
***************************
Something else to do?
I have been digging up copies of old games online, one I really enjoyed was the
1974 AFC Championship between the Steelers and Raiders, with ads.
(Search Key is TYT)
A review:
NBC, Curt Gowdy, Dandy Don, and Al DeRogatis who didn't get a chance
to say much, but when he did it was often what would happen next.
Al called an INT by Raiders Ken Stabler, explaining why it would happen.
Then after the INT, Gowdy and Dandy Don fought for the airspace,
neither noting that Al had nailed it.
Make that Conspicuous Avoidance.
Promos for Columbo (on after the game), AMOCO doing a series on their
efforts to get us off foreign oil, one about the new discovery of "Shale oil"
out west where they dramatically set a "rock" on fire.
The ads are utterly humorless, serious, deep voiced, cheese.
Two I actually remembered.
Line of cars in a snowy icy place, which one will start? (Sears Die hard)
Curt Flood dressed in 70's gaudy, at his Florist shop, promoting yellow pages.
Fingers, walking.
The Player ads are comical in that cringingly uncomfortable way,
I had forgotten how stiff, unnatural they were.
Promos for Super Bowl IX.
Extended coverage started at 1:30 for the 3:00 game.
I was surprised to note that Hall of Famer, Icon, Curt Gowdy
talks too much.
There is never a moment of silence.
Dandy Don? I never realized how much he mumbled
as he trailed off at the end of his sentences.
At times it reminded me of the Utterly incomprehensible
King of the Hill cartoon character.
I went back over one thing a few times, never
did figure out what he was saying.
At one point the shot pans to the Box with Pittsburgh's owner Art Rooney.
Gowdy: "there everyone's lovable loser, 43 years of
futility, pathetic laughingstock of the league,
Art Rooney, in the cap and glasses".
There were five guys in the box with cap and glasses.
(I may have slightly embellished the quote)
Dandy Don would pipe in as soon as Gowdy stopped talking,
until Gowdy cut him off again.
Later in the game, Don criticized Al for not saying enough.
Started singing, criticized Al for not backing him up.
One good line? "In person people, he is really funny".
Most obvious missed line, Don set up Al for a killer with:
"He is covering him like a rug".
The time to utter the phrase "Now leave Cosell out of this, Don"
remained the only silence of the day.
One intensely Non Modern PC moment occurred when the camera focused
in on an obviously gay male Raider fan, dressed in silver lame' formfitting jumpsuit,
metallic silver wig, opera gloves merrily waving giant silver Pom Poms.
He was dancing in front of the seats on the aisle, in that somehow
distinctive, clearly declarative manner.
Meredith said, "What is that?" What is That? WHAT...
louder each time, Gowdy said nothing, then Don said..
I'll tell you what that is...
I'll tell you what that is...(more King of the Hill undecipherable mumbling...)
Gowdy cut him off.
Perhaps Gowdy was wiser than I gave credit?
More terrified, too.
John Stallworth, Lynn Swann and Jack Ham were all rookies.
49 year old George Blanda kicked field goals for Oakland.
Another Dandy Don Precious Moment comes to mind.
Steelers are going to win.
Bradshaw is on a knee at the sideline, camera in his face.
Don says, "There he is, Posing For the Camera".
Al counters, this time, not waiting for an opening:
No, I think it is something more profound.
As if on cue, Bradshaw closed his eyes, dipped his head down,
appearing to be in a moment of meditation.
Later, during the celebratory sideline shtick, the camera was
more severely in Bradshaw's face, 2 feet away, with no audio feed.
Bradshaw leaned forward, looked directly into the camera
to clearly and slowly mouth the words:
Hi Mom.
Won me over again.
Genuine good old boy, in contrast to Don's
caricature.
Pitt basically punched them out in a classic fistfight, literally.
They physically imposed their will, winning it with their D and O lines.
Bradshaw comically fumbled, intercepted and
snapped off enough stunningly beautiful passes to win.
Bailed out at a critical moments by heads up hustle by his team-mates, who
repeatedly demonstrated an affection for him, and came to play.
Interesting point, not one guy carried off,
or injured on the field, (that I recall).
(Edited out by the Network?)
later.
