Steelers Fans Being Part Of The Game

PITTSBURGH — The singsong refrain rains down from the rafters of frigid Heinz Field: “Here we go, Steelers. Here we go!” Perhaps the black-and-gold faithful should add the word “again” to their familiar chant. The National Football League team with the most Lombardi Trophies on the planet is vying for yet another trip to the Super Bowl. Today’s showdown with the New York Jets marks the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 15th AFC Championship Game, the most for any team since the 1970 merger of the NFL and the American Football League.

The winner goes to Super Bowl XLV, to be played Feb. 6 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Tonight's game will be televised on Fox at 6:30 p.m. In Pittsburgh, the team’s quest is known as the “Stairway to Seven,” or “Knocking on Seven’s Door.” Customized song lyrics have been written and recorded to the melodies of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and Bob Dylan’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.” These tunes, along with the latest updates of old-standards such as “The Steelers’ Polka” and the “Here We Go” song, are but a few of the signs of the black and gold buzz saw that’s revving up in this football frenzied city.

Yet, with the Steelers long ago having risen from lovable losers to NFL royalty, does Pittsburgh’s perennial playoff party ever get old? Might Pittsburgh’s football fanaticism have reached its limit? The Steelers faithful do not simply cheer on a football team. They see themselves and their city reflected in the team’s mixture of blue-collar work ethic, family ownership and tough-as-nails mentality. So when Steelers fans want to show their black-and-gold allegiance, they don’t just don jerseys and leave it at that. They make themselves part of the team, intertwining their own life experiences with those of the Steelers until the two are inseparable.



 
City buses don’t just flash with the route number; their electronic signs alternate with the words, “Go Steelers!” Similar messages blink on traffic alert signs hanging over I-376 heading into the city. Fridays before playoff games are black-and-gold dress-up days in offices, retails stores and virtually every school, public or private, in Western Pennsylvania. In fact, one woman was overheard confiding to a friend that if she didn’t buy her daughter a Steelers’ T-shirt ahead of the championship game, the girl risked being teased mercilessly. This mother promptly picked over tables of Steelers’ merchandise outside shop after shop in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, a street of riverside warehouses known for it deals and its diversity of team gear.

Steelers fans, it seems, just can’t stop themselves from buying. “You can never have enough black and gold,” insisted life-long fan Dawn Phillips of East Liberty, who was combing packed racks at the Yinzers store in the Strip District. “We don’t take anything for granted,” she added of all the Steelers’ successes. “We know we’re blessed, but we know we’re No. 1, too.” Caroline Pina and Dustin Perry blew in to blustery Pittsburgh from laid-back Los Angles, and made a beeline from the airport to the Strip District, which they called “Steelers’ Street.” 

 

Jenny Kane, The Patriot-News Caroline Pina and Dustin Perry of L.A., traveled directly from the airport to buy Steelers merchandise in the Strip District, which they called "Steelers Street." In town for a grandparent’s 80th birthday, the couple happened to score tickets to the championship game. Now, the pair with only loose ties to Pittsburgh were getting crash courses in Steelers culture. “You don’t see this in L.A.” marveled Perry of the legions of similarly dressed Steelers fans. “We don’t even have a team.” “There’s a lot more camaraderie,” added Pina, already wearing a Steelers cap. “You go up the street, and you can feel the amount of Steelers pride.” While some teams’ fans fly their colors on game days, Pittsburghers wear their loyalty on their sleeves year-round. “When you live in Pittsburgh, black and gold is part of your wardrobe all year long,” he said. “It’s the loyalty.

People are so proud.” Fans seem as connected to the team this year as ever. That’s why Cheryl Doerfler wears the same pair of Steelers socks for every game. She’s convinced her footwear — and even the seating arrangement at the Steelers parties she throws at her house — have something to do with the team’s success. So as her guests begin arriving for this evening’s Championship game, expect Doerfler to pull out the seating chart from last week’s playoff win over the Baltimore Ravens. Doerfler said she wants everything just do for another Steelers win. What’s more, none of her guests will give a second thought to such a request, as if her seating chart strategy were perfectly logical. “It’s hard to explain if you’re not from Pittsburgh,” Doerfler said.  By JOHN LUCIEW, The Patriot-News

Top 10 Reasons To Buy Pittsburgh Steelers Merchandise Online

1. The choice of quality fan gear is much larger because of the amount of websites with Steelers merchandise for sale. The range of potential gifts is almost limitless. Most teams have their own merchandise stores.
2. Shopping online has become more secure. It safer and easier to purchase Pittsburgh Steelers items without fear of fraud or loss of funds.
3. Many Pittsburgh Steelers merchandise vendors offer low shipping rates and even free shipping on qualified orders.
4. Most online stores and merchandisers will not charge sales tax on merchandise bought outside the state where the items are shipped.
5. By buying Steelers gear online you don't have to put up with pushy sales clerks looking over your shoulder. Browes all the departments you want and compare the merchandise before you buy without being hurried.
6. You don't have to stand in and waste time checking out. That's the convenience of the internet.
7. Searching for a parking space in a crowded mall or store paking lot is a thing of the past.
8. When buying Pittsburgh Steelers merchandise online, you don't have to fight traffic and risk you or your family's safety.
9. With gasoline prices fluxuating lately, you can save the money you would have spent traveling from store to store to find that perfect Steelers gift and put it into your pocket instead of your gas tank.
10. And last but not least, you will have more time for other things. Like spending time with your family or watching the Pittsburgh Steelers as they make another run for the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 Schedule?

On paper the Pittsburgh Steelers had the toughest schedule in the NFL in 2008. They went 12-4 and beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII. From what I can see, the 2009 Steelers schedule looks a whole lot easier. I think their strongest competition will come in the season opener against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have a quarterback controversy to overcome, but they are probably the best team the Steelers will face. At least according to their 2008 record. The Chicago Bears have been improving and may be trouble for the Steelers if they overlook them. On week 7 we play the Minnesota Vikings who could be dangerous. They won their divsion in 2008 and beat the Arizona Cardinals 35-14. Brett Favre could be their quarterback if his surgery went well.

The Pittsbugh Steelers play 7 more non-divisional games against the San Diego Chargers, the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oakland Raiders, the Green Bay Packers and the Miami Dolphins. Out of these teams their may be 1 loss, but I doubt it. The only competition from our own division will be with the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens were 11-5 and 2nd to the Steelers in the AFC North. We could end up splitting the 2 games we play with them, but we swept them last year. The other 2 teams in our division, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns have not improved enough to stop us from winning another AFC North division title. The Pittsburgh Steelers should go at least 13-3 in 2009. Look here for Pittsburgh Steelers merchandise.