Respite

1. re·spite
Pronunciation: \ˈres-pət also ri-ˈspīt, British usually ˈres-ˌpīt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English respit, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin respectus, from Latin, act of looking back — more at respect
Date: 13th century

1 : a period of temporary delay
2 : an interval of rest or relief

This is what I've been on (obviously) and I honestly don't know how often I'll be online. It's been very difficult and I know this isn't the first time I've been absent from the site. I'll spare you all the details of how busy things have been but I also can't lie and say that I haven't had the time to get online and post to the site - I just haven't done it. Checking email is sporadic for me anymore - there have simply been other things I've occupied my time with and all I can urge you all to do is subscribe to the site and it will let you know when I post (assuming anyone wants to).

I will still be around - just, perhaps, not as often.

-The Chief

Lisa Yak's Thoughts on the Super Bowl

Recently, I asked some of my friends - non-sports fan friends - to give me a little of their perspective on the Super Bowl. I asked them for their thoughts and experiences on/and/or during the game. I'd like to share their thoughts with everyone else so here is the first entry and this comes from Lisa Yak at Yak Talk.

Here's Lisa's experience:

I'm not a big football fan (hockey is my spectator sport of choice--go Rangers!) but when I do watch, I'm usually rooting for the NY Giants. I do feel an affinity for the Steelers, though, because I once wrote a travel guide to Pennsylvania, and absolutely fell in love with the city of Pittsburgh. To this day, it's the only other metropolitan area besides Manhattan where I could see myself living.

This year's Superbowl was definitely more interesting to me because of The Chief's Forum. Normally, I would not have paid as much attention to the game, but knowing how much a win would mean to my cyber-friend made me cross the ole fingers AND toes for a Steeler victory. This was not greeted with enthusiasm in my household, however, since my husband was rooting for the Cardinals.

I watched the entire game with my husband, and throughly enjoyed the harrowing roller coaster. Too often, the Superbowl ends up being a blowout, but this game was exciting. When things were looking bad for the Steelers, I yelled and hurled expletives at the screen, which I am sure was instrumental to their pulling out a win. (Of course they heard me....I'm from Brooklyn...I'm loud.)

As a die-hard Rangers fan, I know what it's like to sit there and watch your team seemingly fall apart at the last minute. I also know that "It Ain't Over Till It's Over," and you can't ever give up on your guys while there's still some time left on the clock, so my hopes were not dashed when the Cards took the lead. I knew they could come back, and they did. Of course, those last 35 seconds were a bit nerve-wracking, but it made the final victory all the more sweet.

Thanks for your input, Lisa!

The Joy of Six

I'm not going to do the traditional installment of 'Monday Morning Quarterback' that I usually do and, instead, I will take you through my thoughts and experiences throughout what will surely go down as one of the all time greatest Super Bowls in history.

The entire day was nothing but a series of nerves clattering against one another for me. I think a lot of my friends felt the same way and we longed to be back in Pittsburgh to be among "our own" and no - I didn't mean that I wished I was at the Super Bowl in Tampa - I wanted to be in the 'burgh and go through the gamut of emotions that my fellow Steeler Nation citizens were feeling. To know the bond between the fans and the Steelers is hard to understand for those outside of Pittsburgh. I'm not saying you couldn't or don't - but it's a lot easier when you're a western Pennsylvanian growing up in Steeler Country no matter if it was during the Steel Curtain era of the 70's, Bubby Brister and Louis Lipps of the 80's or the 90's era of Cowher almost-wons - you know and understand the way the Steelers are so woven into the fabric of our western Pennsylvanian upbringing. Although not a sports fan, Elgarf might even be able to chime in on what it was like growing up with the love so many of his friends and family had for the Black & Gold.

When kickoff finally arrived, I spread out my Super Bowl XLIII edition of the Terrible Towel next to me on the arm of my chair - so it was "poised to strike" at any given moment. It was doing very well as we got off to a very good start which was not the case three years ago in Detroit for Super Bowl XL so it really did seem like Big Ben shook off those butterflies he had then and was "just having fun" for this one. We all heard about the threat Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald were to Dick LeBeau's vaunted Steeler D but the defense really stepped up. I admit that I was a bit unhappy about being unable to score on so many opportunities at the beginning of the game, but it was better to get the three points off a Jeff Reed field goal than to try to go for it on fourth down. The towel got a bit of a wave then as I thanked it for the fortune - no matter how big that fortune was - that it brought. Warner and his band of Merry Larry men showed that they, too, were capable of marching and making a bit of noise on offense. Of course, all that changed just before halftime.

The Steelers were facing a sure Kurt Warner scoring moment when all of a sudden, James Harrison seemed to slip - and that's the most appropriate word as he just slid himself into a slot and truly intercepted a Kurt Warner pass right at the goal line. What happened next was a thing of legend. 'Silverback' took that ball and rumbled like a runaway truck all the way down the sideline and scored the defensive touchdown of all defensive touchdowns. To see him lumber all the way down and then just 'die' right in the end zone - sprawled out on the ground because he was so winded - was just an unbelievable sight - the towel was waving and The Chief was yelling, "go, Silverback, go!" John Madden - usually an 'anti-Steelers' guy - was so right on when he said that after all that, even if his knee touched the ground a second before the ball crossed the goal line - you've got to give him the touchdown after all that and the fact that this is the Super Bowl. My emotions were really firing at that point!

Did I enjoy Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band? Yes, but I just wanted to get the game going again - I was hungry for more but the halftime shows at the Super Bowl are always a bit longer so I had to temper myself - again, I turned to the Terrible Towel. I made sure it was unfolded and unwrinkled for the start of the third quarter after all, it was bringing me some great luck through the game so far. It did not let me down as, again, I believed the Terrible Towel was yet again, "poised to strike."

It was about this time that my phone started to jingle... I received this "text" message from my good friend, Wendy, who sent me the 'mobile wave of the Terrible Towel' and to keep it going throughout the game. I wonder how well that did. I'd love to hear from anyone who also got it!

Skip ahead to the fourth quarter as the game had progressed, the Steelers led by 13 points - I was feeling pretty good so far and why not? Because it seemed like the Black & Gold was really in the driver's seat and was cruising at this point. How wrong that was. All of a sudden, the Steelers found themselves in a goal line stance - but of course, they were the ones backed up in their own end zone - trying to get some momentum back their way only to get called for a safety. It was at this very moment - this very gut-wrenching moment that I felt the most uncomfortable feeling come over me - the feeling that we could actually lose this thing that, up until two minutes prior, we had already sewn up!

Enter Larry Fitzgerald.

This man was the most feared receiver of the post-season but up to that point, the Steelers managed to contain him. Not now. A Kurt Warner toss led to a touchdown by Fitzgerald which sent the Cardinals to hold their first lead of the entire game at 23-20.

'We lost the Super Bowl.' This was my thought. We just gave up the Super Bowl.

Here is where I need you to stay with me because this is going to sound crazy but I swear to you all... this absolutely 100% true...

I looked over at my couch at the other two Terrible Towels (I have four altogether) and I saw the commemorative Myron Cope Terrible Towel sitting there. What have I said ever since I made the post which you can read here? It couldn't be fate. I'm not a prognosticator by any stretch of the imagination and all those times I said it on this site - it was more or less a wonderful idea but not much more realistically. What the hell, though, right? There's less than three minutes in this damned game and I've got nothing to lose so what did I do? You better believe I picked this up:



I raised it up and just said, "Myron, buddy, if you are looking down right now, if there's ever a time for the Towel to show it's power - it's now - can you do it for us?" I'm not kidding, kids... I did this and I'm not lying. You can call it a coincidence if you want but I don't see it that way because what happened next was nothing short of miraculous.

The Steelers took the ball and marched 70 yards down the field. As this is happening and as I twirl the Cope Tribute Towel, I thought I heard Al Michaels mention a much easier kick for Jeff Reed and I'm thinking... Jeff Reed??? Jeff Reed??? What the hell are you talking about - it's first and goal - we've gotta do this and do it now!!! My heart sunk when Ben released the ball only to see it go through Santonio Holmes' hands on 1st and goal. It seemed like such an easy play - why couldn't he make that catch - he made every other catch on the march down here so why are we now going to see a colossal collapse of that beautiful drive? It can't be.

Then.

Does it get any better? The Steelers are now six-time Super Bowl Champions and Mike Tomlin really said it best: "Steeler football is sixty minutes." How true. Kurt Warner himself acknowledged that his teammates came over to him on the sidelines after Fitzgerald's go ahead touchdown and were congratulating him. Warner warned them not to celebrate too soon. They should have listened.

There was still football to be played and you cannot quit until the end. The Arizona Cardinals did. The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't.

WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!

Super Bowl XLIII

The talking is done, the hype has passed and now it's time to play the game. Whether it's "One for the Other Thumb," "A Six Pack" or any other thing you care to call it... we want that sixth Lombardi Trophy to place alongside our other five.

Here We Go, Steelers, Here We Go...

A Final Remembrance and Dedication to Myron...

I have not, cannot and will not forget that this was the first Steelers season ever that Myron wasn't alive. I still believe we're doing this one for him... and I wanted to remember him one last time before the game

For those who don't know... if you want to get to know the man we simply know as Cope, here is a great little bio/remembrance of him from Joe Starkey of Trib Total Media:

Here's an odd one sung to U2:

Here's how much Myron meant to us in Steeler Nation:

Yoi!

Double Yoi!

Celebrity Steeler Fans: Part Deux

The first installment of which celebrities were Steeler fans garnered so much attention that I could not let this one go without a follow-up. A few people chimed in with some that I'd missed and then there were others that were brought to my attention too. What I've done is made a similar list but there's also a bonus - some well-known Super Bowl picks for your amusement - every year, Scripps Howard presents the Sage Award for celebrity Super Bowl picks - seems I'm not the only one messing around in this area.

So, without further adieu blabber from me... here are more well-known fans:

The late Professor Randy Pausch

My main oversight from the first post, Rush Limbaugh

Poison frontman, Brett Michaels is a native of Butler, PA and even sports a Steelers painted guitar

Golf Legend Arnold Palmer

Burt Reynolds
Dennis Miller


McKees Rocks native and Batman, himself, Michael Keaton

Brad Pitt SNL comedian and the man who twirled a Terrible Towel on Weekend Update once, Seth Meyers

Here also are this year's sage picks (I've only included those who have picked the Black & Gold to win it all as they are the only ones that matter and also note that each of these people may not necessarily be fans, but just picking the Steelers to win):

ARNOLD PALMER, golfer, 2003 Super Sage Award winner: Pittsburgh, 28-14. The Steelers defense is very strong. That will be the dominating factor in the game. I know and like (coach) Ken Whisenhunt from his days with the Steelers, though, and think that the time he spent as the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh will help him prepare for the game.

JACK NICKLAUS, golfer: Pittsburgh, 24-17. Pittsburgh has been a strong and steady team all year. My emotions tell me I would love to pick Arizona, but I just think Pittsburgh’s defense is too strong. And as we saw against a stout Baltimore defense, their offense can’t be overlooked.

MIKE HAYDEN, CIA director: Pittsburgh, 27-17. The Cardinals are on a roll, but it’s tough playing against a team of destiny. Blocking is blocking, and tackling is tackling.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion: Pittsburgh, 31-21. Even though I grew up in San Diego watching the Chargers, I always liked Pittsburgh especially when Bill Cowher was there.

PAUL PIERCE, NBA champion Boston Celtics: Pittsburgh, 31-17. The Steelers won't be overwhelmed with all the hype of everything.

PENN AND TELLER, magicians, 2007 Super Sage Award winners: Pittsburgh, 27-17. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has an unbeatable motivation: the NFL promised that if he wins a second Super Bowl, he can put an umlaut on his uniform.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN anchor: Pittsburgh, 42-10. I think Pittsburgh is a much better team. Period.

BILL O'REILLY, Fox News: Pittsburgh, 24-17. Pittsburgh's defense is going to get Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner.

CHRIS MATTHEWS, MSNBC "Hardball" host,: Pittsburgh.

PLACIDO DOMINGO, opera star: Pittsburgh, 31-17.

MATTHEW MODINE, actor: Pittsburgh. With the Giants and Jets gone, I lose interest.

HOWIE MANDEL, "Deal or No Deal," "Howie Do It": Pittsburgh, 21-14. Because, and I won't mention who, I have gotten some notes from two players on the Steelers that they are fans of my show "Howie Do It."

PILAR LASTRA, "Deal or No Deal" briefcase girl No. 14/Playboy's Miss August 2004: Pittsburgh, 28-24. They have both an amazing defense and their offense is right up there with Arizona's.

JOAN JETT, rock star: Pittsburgh, 24-17.

LEROY NEIMAN, artist: Pittsburgh, 28-17. It just seems like it's time for Pittsburgh, a great sports and football city, to win BIG.

YOGI BERRA, Hall of Fame baseball player: Pittsburgh, but Arizona's not bad. It should be pretty close.

BOBBY THOMSON, former N.Y. Giants baseball player who in 1951 hit "Shot Heard 'Round the World": Pittsburgh, 28-24. They look tough to me.

KERRI WALSH, Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist: Pittsburgh, 27-21. I like both QB's and know they will both have great games. I think the Steelers defense is going to step up and hold the Cardinals a bit more than vice versa. Go Steelers!

CRYSTLE STEWART, Miss USA: Pittsburgh, 27-21. Arizona's offense has been flying high in the playoffs and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been playing out of this world (he can catch a pass from me any day!). But the Steeler Defense has been kicking butt, and more importantly, you have got to love the old-school black and gold uniforms. After all, gold is my favorite color.

BOB WEIR, guitarist, Grateful Dead, 2004 Super Sage Award winner: Pittsburgh, 20-13. It depends on how many times Pittsburgh picks off Warner. They'll start getting pressure on him with a four-man rush in the 2nd quarter; 1st pick. 2nd pick in the late 3rd or early 4th quarter, and that will seal the deal.

DENNIS FARINA, actor, 2005 Super Sage Award winner: Pittsburgh, 27-16. Why? Big Ben.

MARK CUBAN, Dallas Mavericks owner: Pittsburgh, 23-17. De-Fense!

DR. PAT ROBERTSON, reverend, 2008 Super Sage Award winner: Pittsburgh, 35-22. Pittsburgh has more experience going to Super Bowls, and they are more hungry for this kind of win.

JIM COURIER, tennis Hall of Famer: Pittsburgh, 24-14. It feels like it’s their year.

JAMES BLAKE, tennis star: Pittsburgh, 24-10. Pittsburgh is going to win because their defense is just too good. They have the No. 1 defense in the league and they will just shut down the Cardinals offense.

RUSSELL JOHNSON, professor on "Gilligan's Island": Pittsburgh, 24-21. I'm from Pennsylvania. I'm glad to see at least one Pennsylvania team in the game.

JERRY MATHERS, actor, "Leave it to Beaver": Pittsburgh, 28-21. I think honestly they play a tougher game of football. They hit harder. That's what's going to do it.

TARAJI P. HENSON, Oscar-nominated actress, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button": Pittsburgh, 45-12. Since the Eagles are out, I guess it’s going to have to be the Steelers.

TRACY MORGAN, actor "30 Rock": Pittsburgh, 24-17. I love Pittsburgh. I love blue collar. They play blue collar, smash mouth, blue collar football.

HALEY JOEL OSMENT, actor: Pittsburgh, 27-21.

PATRICIA DE LEON, actress: Pittsburgh, 27-24. It just depends if you like ballerinas, you stay with Cardinals. If you like tough bulldogs, then Pittsburgh is your team, and I like bulldogs!!!

SHEILA KELLEY, actress: Pittsburgh, 37-24. Steelers all the way babyyyyyyyy! I’m a hometown girl, and that is all these mad warriors need to bring home the trophy! Seriously; Franco’s Army, the Steel Curtain, need I say more?

OLIVIA MUNN, G4TV host: Pittsburgh, 24-21. Because defense wins football games. And the Steelers have the best defense in the country.

KURT ANGLE, TNA/Olympic wrestler: Pittsburgh, 27-13. Being born and raised in Pittsburgh, there’s no way I’m picking against my Steelers. The Pitt D will be too much for Kurt Warner, and the Steelers’ offense will grind out a win late.

GORDON CLAPP, actor: Pittsburgh, 38-16. The Steelers will win their record sixth Super Bowl. The prolific Warner will be stonewalled by the Steelers defense. Arizona will suffer an emotional collapse similar to that of the Devil Rays in the World Series.

JON GOSSELIN, "Jon and Kate Plus 8": Pittsburgh, 35-17. The Steelers defense is unstoppable.

SAMANTHA BROWN, Travel Channel host: Pittsburgh, 24-21. My whole family is from Pennsylvania.

TOBIN BELL, Jigsaw in "Saw" movies: Pittsburgh, 24-21. You can run but you can't hide from Troy Polamalu.

TED MCGINLEY, actor: Pittsburgh, 20-17. My heart will be with Arizona as I sit in the stands with my son, but my money is on Pittsburgh. I think Pittsburgh's defense is too strong all the way around.

SCOTT TUROW, author: Pittsburgh, 24-14. Their combination of offense and defense is a little bit better. Kurt Warner is a great quarterback, but when he gets knocked around, he's not any better than anyone else.

ALAN CUMMING, actor: Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania came through for us in this election. Arizona, not so good.

SCOTT ADAMS, "Dilbert" cartoonist: Pittsburgh, 21-14. Clearly a steelworker could stomp a bird to death.