.png)
| Confessions of a Steelers Fan |
| Written by Kevin Lambert |
|
I have a confession to make: As the sports writer for AZ Weekly, I have composed all different colors of Arizona Cardinal articles, from the hopelessly tragic meltdowns (Bears, Monday night) to the apocalyptic insinuations of their improbable ’09 run to Super Bowl XLIII. I have lived in Arizona for nearly 9 years, and until three weeks ago, I considered myself among the team’s more optimistic followers. By nature of my occupation, I ingratiated myself to real Cardinals fans by way of spot-on statistical recitation. I admire and celebrate the talents and character of guys like Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Adrian Wilson, and Darnell Dockett. I was touching the boundaries of real Cardinal fan-dom, hoping and cheering against all plausibility that this historical underdog would put Arizona on the NFL map for the first time. Three weeks ago, however, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game. I am a lifelong Steelers fan, and in the time-honored code that real fans practice with religious exclusivity, I wore black and gold on February 1st. The back story: I was born in Vermont, 1976. Though it is one of six New England states, as a young boy I wasn’t turned onto the Patriots because, well, they sucked badly. ‘America’s Team’, the Dallas Cowboys, had made its impression on my older brother of two years by the time I started applying athletic heroworship to sibling rivalry. There was a team featuring a punishing defense and an acrobatic receiving corps that kept beating the Cowboys in the big game at the end of the year, and they represented to me the ammo I needed to engage my brother in our daily fraternal conflicts. It may have been a bandwagon, but I hopped on at 3 years old and I have hung on tight ever since. Throughout the course of a game that will go down in history as the most exciting of all Super Bowls, however, for the first time in my 32 years, there was a strange tingling in the back of my brain that told me had the Steelers lost, I would not have been too disappointed. In areas of my psyche never revealed to me before last weekend, I was cheering for Larry Fitzgerald as he ran into the endzone with 2 ½ minutes left in the 4th quarter to give the Cardinals a 2 point lead. When Steelers WR and Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes’ tip-toed his team to victory in the corner of the endzone with an acrobatic reception among three Cardinals defenders, a part of my heart bled for Coach Ken Whisenhunt and the men under him who proved to the world that the world doesn’t always work the way it’s supposed to. But I jumped and screamed for my beloved Steelers as raucously and relentlessly as I ever have, because loyalty is one of sports’ untended virtues, especially in ‘09’s unique scenario of geographical sway. Indeed, I actively resisted the influence of red and white, taking up the flag of Steeler nation and marching it into the center of my taunting and be-reddened associates. But underneath this ‘iron’ exterior is a Red Bird enthusiast who, though elated at the prospect of rooting for the NFL’s most successful franchise of all time, is also excited to watch this resilient, wellrounded, talented Arizona Cardinal team mix it up next year and for years to come. 2009 marked the beginning of a new era in Arizona football, and no matter who you were cheering for during the Super Bowl, everyone can agree that this overachieving team was more than worthy of their achievement.
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email this
Trackback(0)
Comments (0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Arts JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT SPECIAL SUMMER PRICES OFFER VALLEY FAMILIES AN AFFORDABLE OUTING
Fresh, innovative, and an awe inspiring crowd-favorite is the best...
|
Beer When you walk into Stogie Cutter Cigar & Craft Beer Lounge, you immediately think of a great neighborhood pub. There is a nice, fri...
|
.jpg)
Music The ALL NEW Joe's Grotto Music Venue is changing the face of live music on the North side! But before we introduce you to the new Joe's...
|
Valley Sports CATCH THE VISION CELEBRITY GOLF CLASSIC April 30th 2010 to Benefit Arizona Youth
Catch the Vision and the Legacy Resort and Golf club have announced plans for the Cat...
|
Latest Movies
 ‘Knight and Day’, a dynamic team for action! What happens when you pair an action actor known for... |
 |
 |
“The Yellow Handkerchief”, a story of newfound love… “The Yellow Handkerchief”, a story of newfound l... |
.jpg)
Follow us
