How 'bout them Stillers n'at?

[illusionofjoy]

The Steelers Have Won Superbowl XL, as if you didn't already know. Now, faithful (or fair-weather) reader, you no doubt are aware that I don't give a flying fuck at a doughnut about sports but the whole "Steelers phenomenon" fascinates me. The city of Pittsburgh is devoted to its team in a manner that is second to none. Pittsburgh is The Steelers, the Steelers are Pittsburgh…get it? Well, neither do I, being a mere carpetbagger, but that doesn't lesson the fascination.

The buzz of excitement began when the boys in black and gold won the AFC Championship two weeks ago, thus securing themselves a trip to Detroit. Over the time between then and tonight, that buzz grew into a roar; the vibrations of a city forged in Steel became a palpable hum of electricity in the air. People went out day and night, painting the town black and gold while every local newspaper devoted at least a quarter of its pages (regardless of whether of not they were contained in the sports section) to The Steelers.

What's more…Steeler fever is highly contagious. Even I, who have at times fantasized about the abolition of sports just to see the armchair jocks of the world made miserable caught myself thinking, "I hope the Steelers win." At work, I would crack jokes like, "Well, of course the Steelers are going to win over the Seahawks – it's simple physics…have you even see a bird fall into a vat of molten metal?"

More pragmatically, I wanted the Steelers to win because I didn't want to see Pittsburgh go down in flames. joi_division has lived here long enough to see the team win four Superbowls (and lose others). Several times she told me that the excitement now was much more intense than she ever remembered it being then. A consequence of pent-up frustration? Perhaps – but a loss would have been devastating for the morale and likely the infrastructure of Pittsburgh.

So, go Steelers. I expect to be one of the very few people to actually show up to work tomorrow. I wonder if it's too late to buy a Terrible Towel and get rat-faced? I'd like to sleep in too, you know…

Comments

[candyblades.livejournal.com]

I watched two movies tonight...by myself...in my house. :|

It's lonely not being a sports fan

[illusion-of-joy.livejournal.com]

I played The Sims 2 all day. I only know about the score because Joi looked it up online. The KDKA news clips are well worth watching, if you want to be entertained by those who did watch the game - nay - immersed themselves in the game.

[candyblades.livejournal.com]

I did watch the news after the game was over. Only to make fun of the people freezing their asses off in the Southside. :D