Even though I’m not a Steelers fan, it’s interesting to read the history of such a nationally recognized movement. Read more about the history of the Steelers’ symbol.

On a side note, Myron Cope was truly one of the great broadcasters of the time. Also hilarious:

“I said, ‘I’m not a gimmick guy,’” Cope said in a December 2006 interview with ESPN. “One of them reminded me my contract was coming up for negotiation … and I said, ‘I’m a gimmick guy.’”

This describes the last few days. Everything is covered in a cold, slick layer of ice. The roads have been awful and going outside (or to other people’s houses) is extremely limited. I’ve basically been a prisoner in my own home since Sunday Night leaving only once Monday night to go to work for a few hours.

I’ve always been an advocate of winter and the beauty of the season but some experiences in the last few days have made me reconsider my undying devotion towards it. While I do not deny the majesty and wonder of freshly falling snow, I have grown weary of it’s awful symptoms on the world.

It makes me seriously widen my range of potential relocation someday, perhaps someplace south, where I never desired before. Snow from December 20th to January 2nd, and then give me spring. Let’s see some grass.

A week or so ago there was a big fuss going around when a high school girls basketball team defeated another team 100-0. Everyone made a big deal about how it wasn’t a “victory with honor” and the losing team has received invites to appear on late night talk shows and at a Dallas Mavericks game with Mark Cuban. The team that won 100-0 actually forfeited the game because their dean said it was an embarrassing victory.

Now, the winning team’s coach has been fired for not publicly apologizing for the victory.

I find it absolutely ridiculous that a team can be seen as a villain because it performs too well. People said “Oh, but the other school was a small high school where it focused on students with learning disabilities.” Alright, from what I’ve heard nobody on their team was mentally handicapped. They had dyslexia and ADD. Both of those, I’m sure, do not significantly hinder basketball performance.

Now, the team continued to full court press and shoot 3-pointers in the 4th quarter. They shouldn’t have done that, the victory was well in hand, but there is no reason why there has to be the backlash and anger towards the team and the destruction of this coach’s career because of it.

The winning team, a private christian school, thought this was a PR nightmare so they went overboard and got rid of a good coach and hurt a strong athletic team. What are other teams supposed to do now? Baseball goes up 10-0 are they supposed to toss a couple lobs in there to let the other team feel good about themselves? The swimming team going to wait to touch the wall so the others could catch up and they can all touch at the same time?

If you don’t want your team to perform to the best of it’s ability every time, then why even compete? Pass out trophies to everyone who shows up on the first day and don’t waste anyone else’s time.

I hearby claim ownership of the phrase: “Follow the smiles.”

It’s a mantra to live by indicating you should do whatever makes you happy. Wherever you smile the most frequently, continue down that path.

So Ty, the makers of Beanie Babies, claim their new dolls are not inspired by the new first children of the White House. Really? Let’s look at the facts.

They are the only African-American dolls in the entire Ty collection. The first children are named Malia and Sasha. The dolls are named “Marvelous Malia” and “Sweet Sasha.”

Come on Ty… do you expect us to really believe this is all a coincidence? Even OJ had a better defense then you.

It’s stories like this one that make me want to root for the Cardinals even more.

Every year since 1981, the longtime Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder sportswriter has covered the Super Bowl.

Now he’s going to be covering a Super Bowl in which their elder son is the most electrifying player in it.

Despite stumbling a bit on the oath, President Obama has inspired hope and confidence thus far in his speech. These are all just words so far. I look forward to his first 100 days.

First and foremost today I’ll be cheering for the Cardinals. I know what it’s like to be a fan of a team that’s suffered for so long. I’ll be hoping they win it all.

I’ll then be rooting for the Steelers. Not because of the regional tie, despite of that I think. The Ravens just annoy me. Willis McGahee annoys me. Joe Flacco’s unibrow annoys me. Everyone forgetting that Ray Lewis was once tried for murder annoys me. They also play pretty boring football. I’m a fan of defense but have some type of offense to back it up. I don’t want to see a 13-9 Super Bowl.

I think Steelers have the edge though, Ravens banged up and still have a rookie QB. Snow game, and in Pittsburgh. I think Steelers will roll.

Although with how my predictions these playoffs have gone so far, that might have just cursed both teams.

It’s always news when there is activity over at our Brotha Site CarlAngeloff.Net… especially an update as big as this, huge photo gallery from a recent spontanious trip he made.

Some quick highlights:  amazing hiking, seeing live coyotes, having my own suite with a fireplace, some off roading with a rental car totally not meant for that, and much more.  This is all captured in the photos, so check it out.

Some great shots. Worth a look.

I don’t really mind if he sampled all these old songs. I prefer his versions anyway. Just interesting to see such a wide variety he’s pulled from and made into hip hop megahits.

Source: Jared Paven Facebook Post

I think he definitely deserves it. An outstanding performance but I hope I’m not disrespectful to say it’s being amplified by his tragedy. It seems that with many artists their work isn’t truly appreciated until they are no longer around to create it. Would he have still won if it were him sitting at the table to accept? Unsure. Either way, it’s one of those rare moments you’ll want to see and remember.

So Max, our puppy, got out this morning… twice. Mom and Noodle, our other dog, were going for a walk and didn’t take Max like they usually do in the evenings. Max was obviously pissed and managed to thwart my sister’s grabs as he streaked out the door.

Luckily, the first time he ran straight to my Mom that was positioned about 100 feet up the road on their normal walk route. The second time a few minutes later though, Max shot off like a rocket out of sight. I chased after him as best I could but eventually missed a turn and didn’t see him. It turns out he sprinted through their everyday walk route until he caught up to Mom and Noodle where he proceeded to happily wag his tail and do normal walk things.

I find it very impressive that at seven months old it understood where it’s master and companion dog were going and the exact path they were taking. Pretty certain it was about the path and route rather then like a bloodhound smelling the trail. Either way, I don’t think Mom should be going without Max again anytime soon.

Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent…. one thing we can all agree on is that Barack Obama is going to look very very old in four years.

Stories that I can never get enough of are coaches’ methods of motivating or inspiring their team. Earlier this year Jeff Fisher, coach of the Tennessee Titans skydived into practice. I’m not sure what he was exactly trying to say, but whatever it was probably involved being out of breath, his hair all messed up and a little bit of a pee stain on his pants.

The latest act is by Texas Tech Basketball Coach Pat Knight, the son of legendary coach Bob Knight, who brought a 12-year-old from the stands into the huddle. His point being that a 12-year-old could make a layup, why couldn’t his college aged kids? His team eventually went on to win the game, so clearly the tactic worked. I say he should’ve put the kid in at point guard and really showed up his players.

Either way, he still has a long way to go before he catches up with his father’s inspirational acts like choking a player and throwing a chair across the floor.