What a Game!

Gone are the days that you can say "the AFC or NFC championship is really the game."  Over the past few years, the fore thought blow-outs have had very different results.  The Giants beating New England is probably the pinnacle of them all, yet this years game offered a similar feeling.  However, I was watching in a room with my In-Laws, mostly Steeler fans.  That added a lot to the intensity of the game.  It was amazing to watch an elated crowd get deflated with one pass.  One of the younger ones even threw a yellow flag (bought with a matching challenge flag) in hopes the refs might see holding or such.  Another Terrible Towel was thrown at the TV, either in frustration or hoping to trip the wide open Larry Fitzgerald.  It was amazing to see and made me glad that I had made other plans for Superbowl XL.  I get the same way.  The touchdown pass to Holmes in the back of the endzone (he did catch it!) was another amazing thing.  The room was a stunned silence of un-acceptance even after the line judge signaled TD.  It was only after several replays of the catch that the room erupted in elation.  Even the Cowboys fans in the room were jumping up and down.  It was amazing, even better than last years upset that everyone was routing for.  It was, for me, the exact opposite feeling than Superbowl XL, although a similar result.  The Steelers are an iconic organization.  They are what all other sports franchises should want to be.  Not because they have an NFL record 6 Superbowl Championships, but because they win with consistency. 

 They hired Chuck Knoll in 1969 and turned their ugly history around.  Under Knoll, they won 9 Division Championships, 4 Conference Championships, and went 4-0 in SuperBowls.  They had a rough patch in the 80's, but the Rooney family was loyal to Knoll and he didn't leave until he retired in 1992.  They turned their attention to Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Bill Cower.  He led the team to 8 Division Championships, 2 Conference Championships, and went 1-1 in the Superbowl.  Losing to the Cowboys in 1995 and beating the Seahawks in 2005.  Now, under Mike Tomlin, another young Defensive Coordinator, they have continued there success winning yet another Superbowl.  Congratulations to one of the most successful and classy organizations in all of sports.  My hat is of to you...it's still a Seahawks hat, but it is still off in salute to you.  Now only if Paul Allen can follow the Rooney family...