February 1, 2009 was yet another holiday for football fans across the United States. It was the NFL's 43rd Superbowl, and for the 2nd time in 4 years, and 6th time overall the Pittsburgh Steelers hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy proudly, as they beat the Arizona Cardinals in an epic battle. Tampa Bay, Florida was the site of the most depressing Superbowl ever watched by a Baltimore fan.
For Ravens fans, this is the last team that you want to see popping the champagne in the locker room of where we won our first Superbowl. The Steelers/Ravens rivalry began in 1996, and ever since then, the fans have grown strong hatred for each other. A few things come to mind when thinking about a Steelers/Ravens matchup: Close games, bad calls, hard hits, and pure hatred. Growing up in Baltimore it is considered a sin too even remotely like Pittsburgh. Both teams have never gotten along. Players and coaches absolutely despise each other, and neither of them like the way they play the game.
I never really had a huge problem with Steeler fans until this year. Sure, I couldn't even bare to look at a Terrible Towel, or even wear black and yellow at the same time. And maybe I DID see Steeler fans as arrogant, cocky, and classless. But, as a Ravens fan, I knew the bad mouthing was all in fun because we can sometimes get the same way. The little respect that I did have for Pittsburgh was flushed completely down the toilet when I went to Heinz Field for this year's AFC Championship game. The Ravens were trying to avoid a 3 game sweep in one season by the Steelers. This might have been the most crucial, hard-nosed, blood and sweat game anyone had ever witnessed. It felt like I was enlisting into World War III. The battlegrounds were brutal, and the victory was worth more than just a trip to the Superbowl, it was about dignity and pride.
Never in my wildest dreams have I ever thought about sitting in a bright yellow chair in Heinz Field. For some strange reason, it felt pretty good. It felt as if I was part of the rivalry, as if I was suited up and ready for war. I felt like I belonged, and maybe I was right about never really having a problem with the Steelers. I figured, both teams made it this far, the least we could do is congratulate each other, and wish them the best. WRONG. To put this lightly, I have never met a bigger group of classless, disrespectful degenerates in my life. Everyone told me I was crazy for wanting to go to Pittsburgh, and get hounded. Well, I took that with a grain of salt and never really thought my experience would be as bad as it was. My comfortability level completely collapsed, and I felt like the smallest person in the world.
I will admit that in Baltimore we are not the most welcoming fans. Up until now, I really did feel as though the ridicule was just for laughs. NOT in Pittsburgh. The fans genuinely hate everything about Baltimore and the people that live there. Let's just say the time I spent there wasn't exactly like a trip to Disneyworld. I have never felt so low in my entire life. The verbal abuse that I took was more psychologically harmful than a physical beating I could, and almost received. I really did fear for my life at one point during the game.
Of course, the Steelers came out winners, and we once again felt like complete losers. Our walk of shame out of the stadium consisted of trash thrown at us, gloating, and still more bad-mouthing. The torture we were going through did not strike me until a Steeler fan bragged about the near death hit one of his players put on Willis McGahee. From that moment, I 100% lost all respect for anyone who supported the Steelers. How could any human being be so rude as to say stuff about a player that was almost killed? A human being with no respect. I expected a little more from everyone at Heinz Field. I promised myself I would never go back to Pittsburgh.
Two weeks later, Superbowl XLIII rolled around. The Cardinals were clear underdogs in the matchup, but that did not stop me from wearing red and rooting against the Steelers. After the heart wrenching loss, I never wanted to watch football again. Baltimore fans can not catch a break with the team that steamrolled past them 3 times this season.
No matter how badly I hated the Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh, I was absolutely impressed with the way they played this season. They truly are the greatest team, and deserved every bit of their 6th Superbowl victory. It breaks a piece of my heart to say that the Pittsburgh Steelers are extremely talented, and that Big Ben is possibly one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. I have to commend every player on the squad for an amazing season. Everyone says how lucky they get, and I disagree. If teams do not cash in on big scoring opportunities, then they do not deserve to beat the Steelers. After sulking for 2 days, I was given a new found respect for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They really are a great team. I still will never forget how badly I was treated, but the experience might be worth remembering.
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Well the experiance of the AFC Championship game was great until things went bad in the 4th quarter and the fans started to get nasty. One thing I wanted to add was teh fact that personally the Steelers to me at least dont deserve the trophy. I feel as though they cheat a lot and they get away with the most rediculous calls. One example is when the cardinals got a penalty for ruffing the holder. to me that was just flat out retarded. There was no way he could hve phisically stopped his body in time to no hit him.
ReplyDeleteAlso hen Harrison got away with that dirty play where he was pretty much punching one of the guys and then throwing him to the ground. That I feel wasnt handeled properly. He should have been fined and ejected from the game for such unsportsmanlike conduct.
Maybe these arnt good reason to hate the steelers but to me there just some litle things that i hate about them. The fans are terrible but its easier to tollerate them than it is when reffs blow a game becasue they show favoites towards the steelers
As a raven's fan I will never like the steelers and I think that they play cheap and dirty. I feel the team does not have any class at all. I beleive a few seasons ago Todd Heap had an ankle injury on a play at the end of a game. The raven's had to go to the line fast to spike the ball and a steelers player pushed him down for no reason seeing that he was injured after the spike. So they will always be the thugs of the NFL. I think you are wrong Joe about the steelers you go to stick wtih your team. I also hate how the broadcasters love the steelers and just drool over them. To me they should not be biased to one team but they clearly are and that not right. Well lets hope one day they will change
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with their dirty play. I am not saying that I am switching sides, nor am I saying that I like the Steelers.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned the hit against Heap. I remember that vividly. Then again, how long ago was that? If I'm not mistaken, the thug that knocked over Heap was none other than Joey Porter, and he's long gone. While I hate the majority of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization and the players, everyone has to tip their hat. Yes, they do get by with some lame calls, and yes they do have some players that are complete scum. And yes, I will hate them until I die, but I am tired of everyone making excuses. The Steelers are the greatest team in the NFL right now. Someone should give them a little credit. Every team this season had so many opportunities to beat the Steelers, but they never took advantage.
I do disagree that the league is biased. You look at the Yankees. Everyone hated the Yankees, and that the league was biased toward them also. Well, what happened? That's right, they have not won a World Series since 2000. Everyone then positioned themselves over to Boston. I think it just feels like bias because they truly are a great team, and everyone hops on the bandwagon. The Steelers will eventually crumble, and blow away in the wind, just as the Yankees did.
What Im saying is, I hate the Steelers as much as the next Ravens fan. Trust me. I should have been more specific as to who I respect on the team. The Steelers are great, and they didnt have to cheat, or use another team's film to prove that. And I think my feelings and comments stem from the acceptance that they kicked our butt, not once, not twice, but three times.
i gotta admit that some fans can be completely rude and disrepectful. both steelers and ravens fans (and all fans in that matter). i went to the ravens/steelers game here in baltimore and i got heckled and cussed at by most of the raven fans siting by me(yes im a steelers fan!). even some other ravens fans were getting tired of hearing these people. some were even with there 10 year old kids. but because SOME fans act the way they r is because of the love of their team. u look at the steelers history and how long they have been a team. most people were born and rised as a steeler (like me and my parents and their parents and im sure their parents also!). we want them to win so badly that we take out our aggressiveness on opposing fans (not just raven fans). but because of this great rivalry and because the players even hate eachother, we hate eachother. and it will always be that way.
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