It's been a while (all season?) since I've posted about the Steelers. Tomorrow is the Conference Championship game, which decides who goes to the Super Bowl. Since the Steelers are playing in that game, the city is rife with frothy excitement. I have no idea what our actual chances of winning are, but if the fans are to be believed, we will win because we are the best. We will win because the Jets suck. We will win because it is (long time former announcer, may he rest in peace) Meyron Cope's 82nd birthday.
We are going to watch the game at a friends, in our black and gold, and hopefully spend more time munching chips than biting nails. Hopefully there is more to say about the play off run on Monday than "Everyone is angry and sad."
And Noel- I'll leave you to moderate the comments on the Kendama post.
Showing posts with label Steelers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steelers. Show all posts
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Summer and Football have arrived
We had been blessed with very mild weather this summer, really wet actually. I was starting to think I was getting acclimated, that I could get used to living in this part of the world. And then it was August, and the thermometer spike well above 90 with every intention of staying there. And no, I am not getting acclimated. Instead, I am pulling out the blues, and iced tea and not moving much. Which reminds me, can anyone recommend any good blues for me? It just seems like the best way to beat the heat.
The other notable change in climate here is it's football season! And while the entire city of Pittsburgh is saying "Finally," our readership is saying "What?" In a city that takes it's football so seriously, the season really begins with training camp. Several co-workers have taken time to go to the camp and watch the new recruits. But the city donned their black and gold uniforms for the first game of the pre-season on Thursday. This certainly isn't our usual opening game fervor, but it was significant enough that I noticed to color co-ordination. The city clamors for more football in the few month between seasons. Here we go again...
The other notable change in climate here is it's football season! And while the entire city of Pittsburgh is saying "Finally," our readership is saying "What?" In a city that takes it's football so seriously, the season really begins with training camp. Several co-workers have taken time to go to the camp and watch the new recruits. But the city donned their black and gold uniforms for the first game of the pre-season on Thursday. This certainly isn't our usual opening game fervor, but it was significant enough that I noticed to color co-ordination. The city clamors for more football in the few month between seasons. Here we go again...
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Go Steelers!
IT'S SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!! I wanted to post an update, because I suspect our dear readers may not all be experiencing the same Frothy Football Frenzy as Pittsburgh. And since Mom and Dad will be welcoming the new Bishop 'Burgher into their lives soon, I thought it might be valuable as a sort of cultural exchange.
You may know that both teams playing today take a once week break before playing the Superbowl. This is theoretically to help the teams rest and prepare before the Big Game, but it also helps the Steelers Nation to prepare their pep rallies, the Terrible Towel Cakes, their Cardinal Stew and queue up the Fight Songs. I've been searching the internet to find a clear example of the fanatacism here, but I think you have to see both the breadth and profundity of the madness to really understand what is going on here. If you search the internet for Steelers followed by anything- there will be pages of hits- Steelers Radio, Steelers Recipes, Steelers Polka, Steelers School Supplies, Steelers School delay (I'll get back to this), it's all important stuff. If you search iTunes for Steelers music, you'll find an unbeleivable variety of artists have taken a swing at a fight song- Rock, Blues, Hip Hop, Punk, Polka- they've got it all. And these have been top requests on all the radio stations in town all week.
Friday was unoffical Steelers Party day. Much like in high school, people wear team colors the Friday before the Big Game. Black & Gold you can work into professional attire- I saw the black and gold scarf, the Steelers logo earrings, the black and gold tie- but most people just drop the professional guise and wear thier jersey. Riding in on the bus I was struck that I live in a town that by unspoken agreement will be Entirely Color-Co-ordinated for a day, every car had black and gold passengers. If only we could get this kind of concensus on the stimulus plan. My Weight Watchers meeting Saturday, every one there said at work, Friday, they had a Party for the Steelers.
Businesses that normally don't close for major holidays are closing thier doors- because lets face it- no one is going to be out. They say it is a holiday in Pittsburgh. My impression is if we win, there will be unprecident joy and goodwill spilling out into the (closed) streets, even more so than the Obama Inauguration. If we loose, there will be bitterness, tears, and petitions for the turnover of the coaching staff. But let's not dwell on that.
As a final testament to the unity the city feels about seeing its boys succeed, Pittsburgh Public Schools announced a 2 hour delay of ALL schools on Monday. Seriously. Hope you'll have extra reason to enjoy the game this afternoon. Go Steelers!
_______
UPDATE: FYI- Steelers won the Super Bowl. Great game on both sides, very close. Matt and I headed to Oakland to see the riots- we saw this guy and a camera watching a couch lit on fire, then heard about it (and the burning dumpsters and the Fire truck being swarmed) on the radio on our way home. After we saw the Mounted Police drove up the street a couple times, so we thought we should go home.
Couch on Fire and Party On Campus
You may know that both teams playing today take a once week break before playing the Superbowl. This is theoretically to help the teams rest and prepare before the Big Game, but it also helps the Steelers Nation to prepare their pep rallies, the Terrible Towel Cakes, their Cardinal Stew and queue up the Fight Songs. I've been searching the internet to find a clear example of the fanatacism here, but I think you have to see both the breadth and profundity of the madness to really understand what is going on here. If you search the internet for Steelers followed by anything- there will be pages of hits- Steelers Radio, Steelers Recipes, Steelers Polka, Steelers School Supplies, Steelers School delay (I'll get back to this), it's all important stuff. If you search iTunes for Steelers music, you'll find an unbeleivable variety of artists have taken a swing at a fight song- Rock, Blues, Hip Hop, Punk, Polka- they've got it all. And these have been top requests on all the radio stations in town all week.
Friday was unoffical Steelers Party day. Much like in high school, people wear team colors the Friday before the Big Game. Black & Gold you can work into professional attire- I saw the black and gold scarf, the Steelers logo earrings, the black and gold tie- but most people just drop the professional guise and wear thier jersey. Riding in on the bus I was struck that I live in a town that by unspoken agreement will be Entirely Color-Co-ordinated for a day, every car had black and gold passengers. If only we could get this kind of concensus on the stimulus plan. My Weight Watchers meeting Saturday, every one there said at work, Friday, they had a Party for the Steelers.
Businesses that normally don't close for major holidays are closing thier doors- because lets face it- no one is going to be out. They say it is a holiday in Pittsburgh. My impression is if we win, there will be unprecident joy and goodwill spilling out into the (closed) streets, even more so than the Obama Inauguration. If we loose, there will be bitterness, tears, and petitions for the turnover of the coaching staff. But let's not dwell on that.
As a final testament to the unity the city feels about seeing its boys succeed, Pittsburgh Public Schools announced a 2 hour delay of ALL schools on Monday. Seriously. Hope you'll have extra reason to enjoy the game this afternoon. Go Steelers!
_______
UPDATE: FYI- Steelers won the Super Bowl. Great game on both sides, very close. Matt and I headed to Oakland to see the riots- we saw this guy and a camera watching a couch lit on fire, then heard about it (and the burning dumpsters and the Fire truck being swarmed) on the radio on our way home. After we saw the Mounted Police drove up the street a couple times, so we thought we should go home.
Couch on Fire and Party On Campus
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Days like this...
Days like this it is easy to like my job. This morning the street was covered by an inch of ice, so I got up early to give myself time to get in to work. Figured it would melt as the day warmed up. The freezing rain that fell on top of last night's snow was coated in another inch of sleet before it started snowing REAL hard. Dr. Rockstar told his lab to go home early, and Dr. Boss is out of town (in San Diego), so I deferred to Dr. Rockstar's wisdom. Most of the lab is gone to a different meeting, so I had planned to fill my time with some organizational tasks to make use of the extra space and quiet- nothing that can't wait. We 'survivors' all decided to cut our losses and head home before the roads got ugly. Caught a bus home 4 hours early and got to shovel the sidewalk and drink hot chocolate. Great Job!
I am home now watching the weather. They keep contrasting "Winter Weather Warnings" with updates from the weather in Tampa. Where the Super Bowl is going to be.
I am home now watching the weather. They keep contrasting "Winter Weather Warnings" with updates from the weather in Tampa. Where the Super Bowl is going to be.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Weekend in the Windy City
As I hinted, I just got back from a very quick trip to Chicago for a one day professional meeting. This was a very good meeting, science-wise, and also very different from the last meeting that I went to in that Dr.Boss was there, and he checked up on me and the 4 undergrads I was traveling with several times.
We arrived in the middle of a VERY cold snap, and headed to Evanston, near Northwestern University on Friday night. We didn't have much more time than to enjoy a true Chicago deep dish pizza- but that was quite a Treat. A Chicago deep dish is not a pizza made on a thick and fluffy crust like I'd thought. The crust was quite thin in the deep cake pan, but it was spread and extra inch up the side of the pan, so that all the toppings and juices were sealed inside. And there was a LOT in there- cheese was the bottom layer, which kept the crust crispy, then sausage and onion and mushrooms and finally chopped tomotoes on top. It was much more like a savory pie- and I could only eat one peice.
The day of the meeting we enjoyed some talks and endeavored to meet some new people. Dr. Boss gave the keynote talk, and at the end he said "I have a graduate student with a poster here that I recommend you all check out." Dr. Boss is a very big deal in our field, so pretty much everyone did exactly what he said. I've never had so many people be interested in my research- I am positively hoarse today still!
Our flight home was later on Sunday, so we got to check out downtown Chicago- we drive in on Lake Shore Drive, and headed to the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building to enjoy lunch and an incredible view! Yes, I regret leaving my camera. Strangely, the best view of downtown and the Sears Tower was out of the woman's restroom. We also went to Millennium Park and say the giant bean. Chicago is of course much bigger than Pittsburgh, and has a similar long history and immigrant population. Beautiful architecture and interesting things to see all around- though it was pretty nippy.
Our flight home took place during the end of the Eagles vs Cardinals and the first quarter of Steelers vs Ravens. FYI- this was the last round of play-offs before the Superbowl. We parked ourselves in front of a TV playing the game and ate a chicago dog, which made me wonder why there aren't more fat people in Chicago. One of my travel companions had packed her jersey with her to put on in the airport. She was also the one keeping us up to the minute via iPhone once we left the TV.
Pittsburgh's airport is about 30 mins outside of the city, and it can take much longer to negotiate the tunnel if there are lots of cars on the road. When we arrived, in the middle of the second quarter, there was no traffic. We hardly saw a dozen other cars on the road. I've mentioned that Pittsburgh really gets behind their football, and this VERY important game was no exception. The city was rapt with anticipation. Our route home took us past the screaming stadium, but not close enough to see the men in action. When the Steelers finally won, we could hear the fireworks from our apartment. Still Tuesday, newspapers were front to fold and then some news about the Steelers- did headlines in other papers cover any different news Tuesday?
We arrived in the middle of a VERY cold snap, and headed to Evanston, near Northwestern University on Friday night. We didn't have much more time than to enjoy a true Chicago deep dish pizza- but that was quite a Treat. A Chicago deep dish is not a pizza made on a thick and fluffy crust like I'd thought. The crust was quite thin in the deep cake pan, but it was spread and extra inch up the side of the pan, so that all the toppings and juices were sealed inside. And there was a LOT in there- cheese was the bottom layer, which kept the crust crispy, then sausage and onion and mushrooms and finally chopped tomotoes on top. It was much more like a savory pie- and I could only eat one peice.
The day of the meeting we enjoyed some talks and endeavored to meet some new people. Dr. Boss gave the keynote talk, and at the end he said "I have a graduate student with a poster here that I recommend you all check out." Dr. Boss is a very big deal in our field, so pretty much everyone did exactly what he said. I've never had so many people be interested in my research- I am positively hoarse today still!
Our flight home was later on Sunday, so we got to check out downtown Chicago- we drive in on Lake Shore Drive, and headed to the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building to enjoy lunch and an incredible view! Yes, I regret leaving my camera. Strangely, the best view of downtown and the Sears Tower was out of the woman's restroom. We also went to Millennium Park and say the giant bean. Chicago is of course much bigger than Pittsburgh, and has a similar long history and immigrant population. Beautiful architecture and interesting things to see all around- though it was pretty nippy.
Our flight home took place during the end of the Eagles vs Cardinals and the first quarter of Steelers vs Ravens. FYI- this was the last round of play-offs before the Superbowl. We parked ourselves in front of a TV playing the game and ate a chicago dog, which made me wonder why there aren't more fat people in Chicago. One of my travel companions had packed her jersey with her to put on in the airport. She was also the one keeping us up to the minute via iPhone once we left the TV.
Pittsburgh's airport is about 30 mins outside of the city, and it can take much longer to negotiate the tunnel if there are lots of cars on the road. When we arrived, in the middle of the second quarter, there was no traffic. We hardly saw a dozen other cars on the road. I've mentioned that Pittsburgh really gets behind their football, and this VERY important game was no exception. The city was rapt with anticipation. Our route home took us past the screaming stadium, but not close enough to see the men in action. When the Steelers finally won, we could hear the fireworks from our apartment. Still Tuesday, newspapers were front to fold and then some news about the Steelers- did headlines in other papers cover any different news Tuesday?
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Mayor makes headlines for being a Steelers Fan
This is the kind of fanaticism I've mentioned before. I found this link of CNN's homepage:
Pittsburgh Mayor Changes Name From Ravenstahl To 'Steeler'stahl
FYI- I'll be flying back from Chicago during the play-offs. That shouldn't stop any of you from cheering yourselves hoarse in your own living rooms.Sunday, November 23, 2008
Visiting the Holy Place- Heinz Feild
This Thursday, Matt and I had the awesome opportunity to attend a Pittsburgh Steelers game. Going to see the Steelers play, was a unique opportunity to understand something really fundamental about the local culture.
We've never lived in a football town before, but it seems to me Pittsburgh takes it to the extreme. Most people here have very strong opionion about how the team should play. They follow the injury lists, the training targets and performance statistics for every man on the field. On game day, no matter what your business, professional dress is swapped for Steelers gear. The day after a game, everyone will be prepared to analyze the game play-by-play with anyone whose got the time- construction workers, college students, yuppies, mothers and grandmothers- it's all anyone can think about. Once we flew into town during a Steelers game, a businessman with a blackberry was updating the score for the whole plane until the cabin door shut, and as soon as we landed the mom with two kids in tow called in for the final score. Heaven forbid a game should end in a loss- the whole city is depressed, moping and grouchy, bitter at the coaching staff and players and each other for letting such a catastrophe befall the sacred Steelers. Football is *important* here.
I am still not sure I understand why, but after going to see a real game, but I understand how. Every seat in the stadium belongs to a seasons ticket holder. Fans pre-lease parking spot near the stadium to begin the righteous tailgating ceremony that involves beer, fire, music and cars. People stream across the bridges to the stadium in a stream of black and gold, the stadium itself is a flood of screaming passion and costumed enthusiasm. We went to a Thursday game, against a team that we were confident we could beat, but not one of the half a dozen teams that Pittsburgh HATES for some historical slight. 60,000 crazy Steelers fans were there, in full dress, in the first winter snow shouting like the place was on fire and waving those Terrible Towels. They take the game SERIOUSLY.
If you didn't see the results, the Steelers won. At work the next day, the discussion centered on whether or not they'd won by enough. Because I was among the chosen there in the stadium, I felt like a hero- as though I personally may have in some small way, through my shouts, or transmitted hating the Bengals, actually had anything to do with the win. Check out the album here.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Working a lot is boring
It has been a while since I posted, but it has been a while since anything interesting happened. With Matt's OT schedule, and my new teaching obligations, the new MO has been to both get home around 7, scavenge food and try and deal with the house before getting to bed hopefully before midnight. It is a thrill-fest, made all the more thrilling by my Saturday TA training.
This was the last day (!), which covered inappropriate behavior and cheating. This was a bit disheartening. I may have mentioned that I already know about half the class personally- the suggestion was that there may appear to be an unfair advantage for these students, so I should just cut them off until the end of the semester. No lunch runs, no beer hours, no coffee fixes, no talking about anything but class... yeah right. I see these guys everyday, and I think it is good for them to be able to ask me questions about class. I don't tell them anything I wouldn't tell another students who came by, but admittedly, most of the other students don't. I am considering announcing in class where I eat lunch so that other students can drop by (I don't keep office hours- they are 'by appointment' or whenever they run into me), but I am not sure if this will just disrupt my one moment of relaxation during the day.
I am still working on my interactions with Dr. Teacher- he left me a nasty note before our Thursday lab, but was very apologetic and told me he "didn't mean for me to see it." I used it as a chance to air some of my concerns about my teaching obligation (I need a schedule if I want to do any science- he can't call me in the middle of the day an expect me to have 4 hours for him), but I've been warned he'll do this again. I am already working on my response for next time- something like "that actually upset me a lot" or "it makes me anxious to work independently when I might elicit such a response from you." Sigh.
On the upside, the Steelers season kicks off today, which gives the city something to rally around. We are going to watch the game with our camping friends, which sounds way more like recreating then the rest of the weekend.
This was the last day (!), which covered inappropriate behavior and cheating. This was a bit disheartening. I may have mentioned that I already know about half the class personally- the suggestion was that there may appear to be an unfair advantage for these students, so I should just cut them off until the end of the semester. No lunch runs, no beer hours, no coffee fixes, no talking about anything but class... yeah right. I see these guys everyday, and I think it is good for them to be able to ask me questions about class. I don't tell them anything I wouldn't tell another students who came by, but admittedly, most of the other students don't. I am considering announcing in class where I eat lunch so that other students can drop by (I don't keep office hours- they are 'by appointment' or whenever they run into me), but I am not sure if this will just disrupt my one moment of relaxation during the day.
I am still working on my interactions with Dr. Teacher- he left me a nasty note before our Thursday lab, but was very apologetic and told me he "didn't mean for me to see it." I used it as a chance to air some of my concerns about my teaching obligation (I need a schedule if I want to do any science- he can't call me in the middle of the day an expect me to have 4 hours for him), but I've been warned he'll do this again. I am already working on my response for next time- something like "that actually upset me a lot" or "it makes me anxious to work independently when I might elicit such a response from you." Sigh.
On the upside, the Steelers season kicks off today, which gives the city something to rally around. We are going to watch the game with our camping friends, which sounds way more like recreating then the rest of the weekend.
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