The Chief's Forum

One Coin, Different Sides

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:15:00 +0000

From today's headlines on CNN.com and FOXNEWS.com respectively:

CNN and FOXNews are merely opposite sides of the same coin. Some of you may know this but there are so many people who claim otherwise... I can't tell you how many people tell me they watch CNN because it's more unbiased than FOX. Bull. They both have agendas - FOX is right and CNN is left. End of story.

What About Brett Fah-Vrraaah?

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:40:00 +0000

Let's put something to bed right now: The Minnesota Vikings are not as good as advertised. First off, their schedule during the first six weeks of the season was not exactly the symbol of strength. Second, the Steelers have been fighting all season to steady themselves in the stretch of a football game; their fourth quarter performances are reminiscent of Pee-Wee Herman impersonating a defensive line. This week, however, the Vikings showed up as themselves and the Steelers showed up as last year's Steelers: Tough defense and doable offense.

Now, let me say that I was not fortunate this past Sunday in that I was unable to watch the game and was limited to highlights and what I've read. Having said that, I still think that the Steelers were fortunate that their offense did not play the way they played Sunday with the way the defense has played on recent Sundays. If that combination had shown up, the Vikes would still be celebrating 7-0 on their way to play in Brett Favre's old stomping grounds in Green Bay. The fact that the defense stepped up just shows that they are still capable of playing at the level they did last year and if both defense and offense can show up on the same Sunday, they are going to be tough to beat down the stretch.

Some questions left now are whether Fast Willie Parker will still be a Steeler going forward. Is he expendable with the likes of Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore now strong enough to fall into second. Don't forget Isaac Redman waiting in the wings unless another team comes along while he whistles along on the practice squad. It might be to the Steelers' benefit to play Parker a little more to give other teams a look at what he can still do. Time will tell on that.

Another question is what the Steelers plan on doing with Jeff Reed. It's pretty obvious after his latest off-field antics that he is not destined to be in black and gold much longer so, who do we turn to? Let's not forget how hard it was to find someone who can kick at Heinz Field (remember Kris Brown? - he's put together a solid career in Houston).

The next game after the bye week will be crucial - it will tell which way the Steelers will head down the stretch. Denver, whether they stay unbeaten or not, will be a pivotal match up and a tell-all for the Steelers chances this season. We'll see how things pan out!

A National Emergency

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:38:00 +0000

Today, President Obama declared that the Swine Flu pandemic is a national emergency. It certainly is, but, hasn't it been? Couldn't one make the case that Obama and his administration should have been able to show that when it was so very bad in May and July, that we should have foreseen the fall - traditionally the cold and flu season - would be even worse?

No. Here's yet another example of where politics must be set aside. Those that know me, know full well that I'm no fan of George W. Bush - in fact I couldn't despise him more - but the hatred and dislike of the man and his job became a little too blinded when Hurricane Katrina hit. Good ole Kanye was famous - or infamous as it were - for saying "George Bush hates black people" because of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. Here, we see the same thing. No matter what, with Katrina, the response was not going to be quick enough when we saw the enormity and gravity of the situation. Who could have even guessed for one second that it would turn out as it did? The answer is, of course, no one. This is the same answer to anyone who wants to question whether the Obama administration reacted or failed to react to the H1N1 pandemic. First of all, no one could predict what something like this virus was going to become. Today's response seems like that of a thoughtful, rational leader and it certainly should go to show a few things:

See what can happen if you put political correctness, national 'feel-goodness' and a gratuitous spat with Fox News out the window? You get a focus on what's really important. Let's now take this national emergency and let it show us that we really should buy that extra bottle of Purell and wash our hands as often as possible. While it might be small, this is a good bit of leadership and I hope to see more.

Attention Whores

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:15:00 +0000

Congratulations, America.

Thanks, yet again, to the 24 hour news networks and the internet, we have managed to give a family of fucktards exactly what they've wanted. This family, whom I have not even taken the time to commit their names to memory, have managed to captivate this country and get the attention they have so aggressively sought.

Apparently, the father has been after TV networks to chronicle the family's everyday life in yet another "reality show." Bruce Willis was right when he was recently interviewed and called reality shows, "bullshit." I do, however, have to give credit to most of these networks for declining his attempts to exploit his bizarre family life.

I feel I've lost IQ points just in writing what little I have about this type of douchebaggery so I'm not going to perpetuate it any longer. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this whole thing though.

A Letter to Janeane Garofalo

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:20:00 +0000

Dear Janeane Garofalo,

Thank you for pointing out that the Tea Party protesters are are all racist. Thank you for stating that their opposition to the initiatives of the Obama Administration is not about politics or ideology but rather about "white people hating a black man," as you so eloquently put on your most recent appearance on Keith Olbermann's show.

I really do appreciate your helpful insight on this because I was unclear. You see, I remember when you were complaining about how the right-wingers called you 'unpatriotic' for disagreeing with them and their decisions. You're absolutely right and I see no parallel here. Clearly, opposition is not allowed; it's just the type of opposition.

Janeane, I now see that you and Jimmy Carter and so many others who feel this way have a lot of hatred. Not hatred towards the right - hatred of yourselves. The horrible way blacks have been treated in this country's history is atrocious. So much so that you find it hard to forgive. The color of your own skin makes you cringe when you look in the mirror. How can you wake up in the morning and go to bed at night knowing that in the time in between, you did nothing to lessen the guilt you have for being white. How awful it must be for you to wake up and see that your pigmentation is so much more pale than a black man or woman. Of course, you decide to take the only course of action that is left; you hate the white men and women. You see they disagree with the President and it must surely be about racism. The Tea Partiers or Joe Wilson... they don't state that it's about race - or even imply it in any way. So you make the statement and then is surely must be true.

You know, Janeane, you're right. It's an awful thing to hate someone because of the color of their skin. Too bad you hate whites for the color of theirs!

Kanye West is Racist

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:22:00 +0000

How dare I. HOW DARE I! How dare I call Kanye West, a man I've paid no attention to before today, a racist. He's a celebrity. He's a celebrity who speaks out against racism (George Bush hates black people?)

What if Taylor Swift was black, Kanye and Beyonce were white? Old argument you say? No older than the constant cry of racism by those like Kanye if you ask me.

I'm sick and tired of it. Somehow the voters "dissed" the 'sista' and Kanye, along with a healthy dose of Hennessy no doubt, was going to give Beyonce her 'props.'

I wonder if Barack Obama would insist that Taylor Swift acted "stupidly?"

What is even more certain than his racism, however, is the fact that this man is an attention whore and we've all played into his hands. He got what he wanted. He was forgiven for his previous outbursts so these ones will be no different in his minds. The sad part is, he's probably right. He'll be back next year and people will be wondering what he's going to do and then when he does nothing everyone will take note of that fact and he'll still be getting attention.

So is Kanye West really a racist? Maybe no more so than any of the rest of us but we still get to have people like him kill an argument swiftly and successfully by asserting that as the truth so I'm making my case and telling you: He is.

Steelers 13, Titans 10

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:49:00 +0000

The Pittsburgh Steelers began the quest of defending their Super Bowl title last night in the first regular season game in the 2009 season with a 13-10 overtime win against the Tennessee Titans.

The win, as any of you saw, was not especially pretty but it's what champions do; overcome adversity and poor play - or in last night's case - sluggish play.

The first half was really an exercise in lethargy for both teams. The passing game was more effective than the running game as was the case throughout the entire game but I think we're seeing the truth in what Willie Parker said last season; Coach Mike Tomlin seems to be moving away from the running game as a staple of the Steelers' offense. There is still no fullback and no answer as to whether there will be. (It's possible Sean McHugh could have filled that position this season had he not been injured). The running game was not the crucial problem though: About the only thing that Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth got right last night was their assessment of the Steelers' horrific record on 3rd down and short yardage. Yes, they converted when they needed last night, but it might not have mattered so much at the time had they taken care of business on previous situations.

Regarding Michaels and Collinsworth: What did they mean by Ben's legal situation being "an obvious cloud" over the Steelers? If it is hanging over the Steelers (or Ben, for that matter), I don't think it's really that obvious. Is it a concern? Probably. But, as we say, championship teams overcome adversity and they showed last night, just how different from the 2006 defending champs they really are. Of course, it's only one game but I really believe that the '06 Steelers would have lost that game.

I also like what I've seen from Mike Tomlin since his rookie season as head coach; he's got a little fire in his belly! I never asked for him to be Bill Cowher II but he was downright hushed his first season. Last year and last night, he was anything but so Tomlin has really solidified himself as the next long-term Steelers head coach. Now, all we need is to brand his era (a la "Cowher Power") to make his mark.

All in all, the win was sweet and the Steelers (and football season) is back! Oh, not to mention the return of Monday Morning Quarterback here on the Forum!

The Chief's Celebrity Friend

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:13:00 +0000

Many of you five readers out there know that I am not only acquainted with author Kristen J. Tsetsi, I am a fan of hers as well. Having read and reviewed her book, Homefront, I can tell you that I am extremely happy to shout out to the world what a wonderful story she tells. The agony a loved one goes through while their significant other is in Iraq (or Afghanistan) is brilliantly told by our good friend and fellow blogger, Kristen.

I want to urge all of you again to read Homefront and if you'd like to get a little video review then please click here to watch! Kristen is interviewed by Channel 4 in Nashville and, if I might add, looks and sounds every bit as lovely as our correspondence has led me to believe. She is intelligent and that certainly comes through in the interview in how she carries herself and if you want further prove and insight, please, please, please... I'm not related to her in any way... please read the book. You won't be disappointed.

Jimbo

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:02:00 +0000

Former Ohio Congressman, James A. Traficant was released from Federal Prison today. Traficant, 68, was convicted of bribery and racketeering and sentenced to an eight year federal prison sentence in 2002 and became only the second United States Congressman since the Civil War to be expelled for misconduct.

Why is this news? Well, Jim Traficant was my congressman for many years when I lived in Youngstown, Ohio and was expelled when I lived in his district. Was he really guilty? Yes, he was - no doubt in my mind. Want to hear the kicker to this? Yours truly, the great and semi-wonderful Chief Rooney, would vote for him again in a heartbeat! Before you dismiss me as crazy, I urge you to hear me out on this before you judge me.

How many times have we said, "oh, all politicians are crooks and liars!" Do we just not want it proven true? Jim Traficant was lining his pockets - but when he was doing that, what was the "get" for the Mahoning Valley? The answer was simple: jobs. An aviation engineering firm was the business and they were looking to open shop and provide jobs for people in an economically depressed area and while Traficant was looking to pad his wallet - he was also attempting to do something to benefit the workers/taxpayers in the area. Did he have staffers from his office work on his farm? Yes. Was it wrong? Yes, it was but at the same time, I'm not attempting to argue that point.

Back in the late 70's and early 80's, the steel industry collapsed. I did a book review on the Youngstown steel industry which you can read here. In the book, Steelworker Alley, Robert Bruno outlines the domino-style fall of the mills in Youngstown from Youngstown Sheet & Tube to Republic Steel. During this time, Jim Traficant was the Mahoning County Sheriff and he outright refused to foreclose on any homes owned by out of work steelworkers.

I assert to you that Jim Traficant was not immoral and nor was he amoral. To define him as either is to dismiss him and just because a man serves time in prison, does not mean we should do this. He was (and is) an enigma. His morals were not sensitive to the boundaries we know. He saw what needed to be done and he sought a way to do it any way he could - and if he saw an opportunity to help himself along the way, well, he did that too.

Jim Traficant is no hero, make no mistake. But Jim Traficant is also no worse than any other member of the United States Congress - you've all said that very thing at one time or another - I just ask you to look beyond who's been caught and ask yourself this question of the rest of the men in that body - what was their ultimate end to their take? How many jobs did they create?

Beam Me Up!

NPR is at it Again

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:25:00 +0000

NPR is at it again. The so-called "independent thinker's" radio network is taking advantage of the death of Senator Edward Kennedy to promote the health care initiative. Listening today, the quotes were not subtle at all - in fact they were a patently obvious use of sympathy and play upon the Senator's death when people like Melissa Block said, "his most passionate issue did not come to pass in his lifetime - universal healthcare." Read it any way you want it - but the wording and the tone were unmistakable.

Shame on NPR. I've said it a million times regarding their obvious love and adulation for Barack Obama throughout the campaign - and not they're at it again.

Affadavit Casts Doubt on Roethlisberger Accuser

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:41:00 +0000

Hmmmm... starting to seem more and more like this is simply for money?.....

Affadavit casts doubt on Roethlisberger accuser. I wonder what will come of this?

Damn, the 80's are Dying!

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:48:00 +0000

I was never a fan of Michael Jackson so his death didn't really faze me one bit aside from all the attention it seemed to (and still seems to) have gotten but yesterday we lost someone who brought us some of the staples of the 1980's - maybe even more than that - perhaps some of the more defining films of the 80's, John Hughes.

Hughes was best known for movies like "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," "Planes, Trains & Automobiles," and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" just to name a few. The teen years have always had their tribulations but it was the films of John Hughes which we looked at with recognition. The best example of this is "The Breakfast Club." The movie strongly parallels "Twelve Angry Men:" Consider that the movie takes place in one room, primarily; all are there against their own desires and; they each represent a class within high schools: the brain, the jock, the beauty queen, the nerd, the outcast and the outlaw. While there, these worlds clash and are forced to discover their similarities despite wishing to do so culminating in their leaving to the same worlds they inhabited before - this day known only to them.

Someone recently compared Hughes to Judd Apatow but I maintain that Hughes' characters were so much more defined and driven by real things - more cerebral. This is not to say Apatow's movies are not funny - but they don't speak to reality like John Hughes' did. Like his frequent muse John Candy, Hughes passed away from a heart attack at an early age but maybe their respective and collective work was meant to speak primarily to our generation? I don't know for sure and that is certainly arguable but I do know this:

They will be missed!

Does Winning Come With Such a Big Price?

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:59:00 +0000

Distractions?

Drama?

Scandal?

What? Oh, let me drop the keywords then: Big Ben's arm strength; Big Ben's legal predicament; Limas Sweed is or isn't ~~cutting~~ catching it; Former Steeler, future Hall of Famer, Jerome Bettis has had some death threats recently; Is Batch or isn't Batch the guy/Michael Vick may or may not come to town...

What's funny about all this stuff? It all seems to come with the territory. We won the Super Bowl and unlike the 70's Steeler teams, these Steelers are winning in the era of instant communication and 24 hour news and sports outlets. When you translate this, it means that winning teams no longer have to deal with increased fans screaming for autographs and intense recognition at the grocery store. Instead, they now must deal with two-bit hacks like blog pundits disguised as NBC reporters, lawyers who want a piece of every bonus check, mentally ill people who read about the athletes and see the opportunity in front of them for an early retirement and/or sick fantasies being played out.

Anyone else think the Pirates might be going about this thing the right way? Go in under the radar! I'd love to hear what others think... Is winning worth all the drama, extra and/or unwarranted scrutiny et al?

Some Thoughts on Football & Fall

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:40:00 +0000

Now that it's August, the summer of 2009 is getting long in the tooth and will soon give way to the wonderful fall which will, of course, beget the new football season. The Steelers have begun training camp - for which I am very grateful to the blogs like Cotter's One For The Other Thumb and others like Non Stop Steelers, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls et. al. It's nice to see that Big Ben is being professional and keeping the pending civil suit he's involved in from turning into a free-for-all media circus. Nose Tackle, Casey Hampton is as thin as he possibly can be, (First round pick) Ziggy Hood is signed and ready to go and Limas Sweed is - well - Limas Sweed.

There is another reason for the love of fall and the football season and that is the "fall feeling" I get - especially on those Sundays. One of the fun things for me is the annual drive I make through southern Ohio to visit Elgarf in late October. Call me crazy but I love the long drive along country backroads (you know, "the heartland!) - but the radio is always tuned to a sports talk station on the way out and on the way back - it's always an NFL game (geographically, it's always the shitty Bengals games) but it doesn't matter who it is - it's football and I love it.

I think this is what really cements the fall as my favorite time of year. It's not just the football either, its the trees, the way the sun looks, it all just fits. I can remember Friday nights, sitting in the stands of those high school football games while there was a chill in air but things were buzzing and there was excitement. I know fall is supposed to signify the end of things: the end of summer, the end of leaves on the trees, the end of freedom for us kids with the inevitable return to school. Of course, that last fact is quite possibly another reason to love fall now - only the leaves are changing - I go to work everyday just the same - there's no more school to worry about!

So, as August rolls in, I'm really excited for not just the football season, but the good times that are surely ahead.

The Chief's Forum is now on Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:34:00 +0000

The Chief is no longer in the "dark ages." The site now has it's own Facebook page. Just click on the "Become a Fan" link on this page or simply search "The Chief's Forum" on facebook. Please also suggest to your friends/followers to join as well. Maybe we can branch out and increase the readership a bit. I'll do some polite asking from time to time too!

Reflections on 17 Years of Heartache

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:38:00 +0000

All my life, I've been a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. In fact, I rooted for the Pirates even before my beloved Steelers. I have watched and met so many great players: Andy Van Slyke, Barry Bonds, Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, Manny Sanguillen, Jay Bell, John Smiley, Brian Giles, Jeff King, Kent Tekulve, Tony Peña, Bob Walk, Mike LaValliere, Don Slaught, Bobby Bonilla and on and on and on. For the last 17 years, I have also witnessed an incredible run at hearache - one that is really unrivaled by any other. My beloved Buccos have not had a winning season since 1992. I have gone over it a few times on this site: I've discussed some of the things that have occurred in that time frame but I've not put it into the personal perspective in terms of my own life.

You see, I have always been a person, or a sports fan, that has said you remain loyal to your team and cheer for them through thick and thin. I have always meant that and still do. I will always love my Pittsburgh Pirates but, unfortunately, I don't know where they've gone. I have never NOT been a Pirates fan and I can't see it ever happening but having said that, I think there's a threshold to the amount of pain a fan can endure. I feel I have reached that. Am I denouncing my being a fan? No, I'm not. But I am saying that after the most recent "fire sale," I can no longer care to look in the standings or check the news online. No one - and I mean NO ONE can ever say I am a fair-weather fan. But at the age of 35, I have to consider that since 1985, the Pirates have had exactly four seasons where they won more games than they lost (1988, 1990, 1991 and 1992). Consider this: most of the current Pirates players were born during the years I just mentioned and could never recall witnessing those teams! It's just so sad.

So, again, am I renouncing my position as a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates? No. But I am saying that I can no longer take following them - following the heartache they instill. If you ask me how the Pirates are doing, I could not tell you because it's too hard to follow. A fellow blogger out there sure had it right when he named his site:

Where Have You Gone, Andy Van Slyke?

Star Trek

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:18:00 +0000

Before I went on hiatus, I mentioned several times how much I was anticipating the new Star Trek movie. I wanted to just give my opinion and thoughts on it since I'm back now and I also would like to hear from anyone who has seen it. What are your thoughts on it?

Elgarf came into town and we went to the local IMAX theater - we were not disappointed in the least. The anticipation was pretty high and I must say, when the theater lights dimmed and the movie started - it was non-stop! I'm not going to discuss, point by point, the movie as a whole but I wanted to touch on some real strengths:

First, Leonard Nimoy's return as the elder Spock in this movie was not only a welcome treat, but it was a necessary nod from a now-gone era to a bright new one. The writers showed guts and sensibility by not simply throwing Nimoy's Spock on the bridge and playing the "mentor and guardian." Explained in a scene at the end where the elder and younger Spock meet and the younger Spock asks him why he didn't just help he and Jim Kirk - the elder Spock replies that he couldn't deprive the two of them the chance to discover the great things they could achieve together.

I also can't say enough about Zachary Quinto (a Pittsburgher!) as Spock. I think he captured the mannerisms and the demeanor of Spock while still making the character his own. His complement to Chris Pine's quite different Kirk, should make for an interesting couple of films in the future to say the least. In fact, I wasn't disappointed in any of the casts' portrayals except to say that John Cho's portrayal of Sulu while not a bad one, was really the one that stood out for me as lacking any attempt at capturing the essence of what the original actor (George Takei) did in creating the character. Of course, this is not to say it's a bad thing, just less reminiscent of the original.

Of all the portrayals, however, I thought Karl Urban's Dr. McCoy was "spot-on!" He did a wonderful homage to the late DeForest Kelley and really had me believing he was THE Dr. McCoy! The only thing I disliked involving McCoy was the few lines that provided the genesis behind the nickname "Bones." In it, he makes reference to his wife taking everything in the divorce and leaving him with only his "bones???" Did it seriously not occur to the writers that "Bones" came from the old fashioned slang term for doctors: 'sawbones?'

These slight pecadillos aside, this movie was so well cast and so well written that it couldn't do anything but please the viewer in my mind. I absolutely loved it and can't wait for the DVD. Heck, I might even make the jump to Blu-Ray for this one! (Yes, I know, I'm behind the times!) What would make a sequel better? Well, at this year's ESPN ESPY Awards, after presenting the Super Bowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers the award for best game, Zachary Quinto joked with Offensive Guard, Darnell Stapleton that they were going to try to get him in the sequel! How awesome would that be if it were true? (Of course, the late Carnegie-Mellon professor, Randy Pausch did have a small cameo in this one so anything is possible!)

All in all, a superb reboot for a franchise that desperately needed it. Star Trek has always been a story telling vehicle that shows a bright future where anything is possible. That's what this does - and on many levels - because the timeline is irreperably altered, anything is now possible for these characters going forward and just because we've seen them age with older actors playing them - well - that means nothing now - the sky's the limit where anything can (and in this movie, it did!) happpen.

Chiming Back In

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:07:00 +0000

Greetings, one and all! It's been a few months since I've been on here and I wanted to let you all know that I am still here and doing well! The Chief has been very busy with work so what little time I've had to myself, I've chosen to do other things and not do the whole "blogging" thing. I want you all to know that I'm still here and haven't forgotten about the site or any of you. I have just recently begun to check my email and I have received your emails and will do my best to get back to you all very soon so in the meantime, I thought I'd chime in on a few things;

First, as a Steelers fan and a website with a Steelers theme, I thought it appropriate to provide you with my take on the recent events involving Ben Roethlisberger. As a Steelers fan, I want to believe Ben is innocent. As a person, I also want to believe Ben is innocent. He is. This process must play out in the legal system now so I say he is innocent because we are all innocent until proven otherwise in this country. Now, I think it's also a lot harder to say he is not innocent as these are not criminal allegations - they are civil. Anyone who forces themselves on another person should be punished - Ben Roethlisberger or Ben Smith - it doesn't matter. But I have several problems with this case already:

1) You fear retribution if you go to the police but filing a civil case seeking money is ok?

2) You file a suit over a year later - a civil one - where there need not be any evidence beyond 'he said/she-said.'

3) The 8 other people named in this lawsuit just happen to be the 8 other people who could testify whether this thing happened or not? Much like the people who say the Apollo Moon landings didn't happen - this person is asking us to believe that a whole group of people would have to keep a secret like this - a secret involving a celebrity like this? It's possible, but is it likely?

I'm not attempting to defame this woman, I'm asking some serious questions on the flip side of this because, as we all know, in a case of he-said/she-said sexual assault allegations, we all want to believe the woman because this is a serious and vicious crime. Having said that, it is precisely because this is so serious that we need to question her here. In the absence of any evidence, any doubt can hurt both parties and what I fear in this case is that will happen no matter what. Ben's reputation is likely to be irreparably harmed because, barring an admonition on the plaintiff's part, there's no way to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that it did not happen so there will always be those who question him going forward should he prevail in this case. Likewise, no matter the outcome, she is going to face similar scrutiny now because of that. To say, 'oh, that shouldn't happen' or 'it's sexist to allow that to happen' is stupid. People are human and given to human foibles - we don't operate in that perfectly tuned world where it's A or B.

When a sexual assault occurs, the police must be notified IMMEDIATELY. To make excuses otherwise is damaging. I understand that it's traumatic. Murder, armed robbery and assault are all traumatic but if you expect any kind of justice, you must report the crime immediately. Failure to do otherwise only damages the persons involved and could easily allow behavior to continue. I know I'm going to be beat to hell in the comments section for this post but I can't help it, these are my thoughts on this subject and I'm an honest person and I'm going to remain honest in my opinion. I think most of you who have read this blog in the past and followed it know that I don't cave to politically correct bullshit.

I also have thoughts regarding the incident with Henry Louis Gates and the Cambridge Police Department. I've read the reports and countless newspaper articles and interviews with the cops and with Gates and here we have yet another case of reverse racism. This man had a problem with a white cop questioning him on a legitimate call so he became verbally abusive and showed his true racist self. If anything, it was the neighbor that he should be angry about! The cop was responding to a call regarding a possible break in by "two black males." How in the hell is it profiling on the cops' part when the call comes in about two black males??? Is he seriously supposed to then stop and detain only Whites, Hispanics or Asians??? Give me a break - when the cop asks you to prove you live there - he's doing his job! Prove to him you live there and then do the American thing - sue your neighbor!!! (Of course, you'll hear more from me if you do that too!)

There it is folks, The Chief has returned. I'm not sure how often I will be on but I be trying more as we go forward.

Respite

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:07:00 +0000

1. re·spite
Pronunciation: \ˈres-pət also ri-ˈspīt, British usually ˈres-ˌpīt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English respit, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin respectus, from Latin, act of looking back — more at respect
Date: 13th century

1 : a period of temporary delay
2 : an interval of rest or relief

This is what I've been on (obviously) and I honestly don't know how often I'll be online. It's been very difficult and I know this isn't the first time I've been absent from the site. I'll spare you all the details of how busy things have been but I also can't lie and say that I haven't had the time to get online and post to the site - I just haven't done it. Checking email is sporadic for me anymore - there have simply been other things I've occupied my time with and all I can urge you all to do is subscribe to the site and it will let you know when I post (assuming anyone wants to).

I will still be around - just, perhaps, not as often.

-The Chief

Lisa Yak's Thoughts on the Super Bowl

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:55:00 +0000

Recently, I asked some of my friends - non-sports fan friends - to give me a little of their perspective on the Super Bowl. I asked them for their thoughts and experiences on/and/or during the game. I'd like to share their thoughts with everyone else so here is the first entry and this comes from Lisa Yak at Yak Talk.

Here's Lisa's experience:

I'm not a big football fan (hockey is my spectator sport of choice--go Rangers!) but when I do watch, I'm usually rooting for the NY Giants. I do feel an affinity for the Steelers, though, because I once wrote a travel guide to Pennsylvania, and absolutely fell in love with the city of Pittsburgh. To this day, it's the only other metropolitan area besides Manhattan where I could see myself living.

This year's Superbowl was definitely more interesting to me because of The Chief's Forum. Normally, I would not have paid as much attention to the game, but knowing how much a win would mean to my cyber-friend made me cross the ole fingers AND toes for a Steeler victory. This was not greeted with enthusiasm in my household, however, since my husband was rooting for the Cardinals.

I watched the entire game with my husband, and throughly enjoyed the harrowing roller coaster. Too often, the Superbowl ends up being a blowout, but this game was exciting. When things were looking bad for the Steelers, I yelled and hurled expletives at the screen, which I am sure was instrumental to their pulling out a win. (Of course they heard me....I'm from Brooklyn...I'm loud.)

As a die-hard Rangers fan, I know what it's like to sit there and watch your team seemingly fall apart at the last minute. I also know that "It Ain't Over Till It's Over," and you can't ever give up on your guys while there's still some time left on the clock, so my hopes were not dashed when the Cards took the lead. I knew they could come back, and they did. Of course, those last 35 seconds were a bit nerve-wracking, but it made the final victory all the more sweet.

Thanks for your input, Lisa!

The Joy of Six

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:44:00 +0000

I'm not going to do the traditional installment of 'Monday Morning Quarterback' that I usually do and, instead, I will take you through my thoughts and experiences throughout what will surely go down as one of the all time greatest Super Bowls in history.

The entire day was nothing but a series of nerves clattering against one another for me. I think a lot of my friends felt the same way and we longed to be back in Pittsburgh to be among "our own" and no - I didn't mean that I wished I was at the Super Bowl in Tampa - I wanted to be in the 'burgh and go through the gamut of emotions that my fellow Steeler Nation citizens were feeling. To know the bond between the fans and the Steelers is hard to understand for those outside of Pittsburgh. I'm not saying you couldn't or don't - but it's a lot easier when you're a western Pennsylvanian growing up in Steeler Country no matter if it was during the Steel Curtain era of the 70's, Bubby Brister and Louis Lipps of the 80's or the 90's era of Cowher almost-wons - you know and understand the way the Steelers are so woven into the fabric of our western Pennsylvanian upbringing. Although not a sports fan, Elgarf might even be able to chime in on what it was like growing up with the love so many of his friends and family had for the Black & Gold.

When kickoff finally arrived, I spread out my Super Bowl XLIII edition of the Terrible Towel next to me on the arm of my chair - so it was "poised to strike" at any given moment. It was doing very well as we got off to a very good start which was not the case three years ago in Detroit for Super Bowl XL so it really did seem like Big Ben shook off those butterflies he had then and was "just having fun" for this one. We all heard about the threat Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald were to Dick LeBeau's vaunted Steeler D but the defense really stepped up. I admit that I was a bit unhappy about being unable to score on so many opportunities at the beginning of the game, but it was better to get the three points off a Jeff Reed field goal than to try to go for it on fourth down. The towel got a bit of a wave then as I thanked it for the fortune - no matter how big that fortune was - that it brought. Warner and his band of ~~Merry~~ Larry men showed that they, too, were capable of marching and making a bit of noise on offense. Of course, all that changed just before halftime.

The Steelers were facing a sure Kurt Warner scoring moment when all of a sudden, James Harrison seemed to slip - and that's the most appropriate word as he just slid himself into a slot and truly intercepted a Kurt Warner pass right at the goal line. What happened next was a thing of legend. 'Silverback' took that ball and rumbled like a runaway truck all the way down the sideline and scored the defensive touchdown of all defensive touchdowns. To see him lumber all the way down and then just 'die' right in the end zone - sprawled out on the ground because he was so winded - was just an unbelievable sight - the towel was waving and The Chief was yelling, "go, Silverback, go!" John Madden - usually an 'anti-Steelers' guy - was so right on when he said that after all that, even if his knee touched the ground a second before the ball crossed the goal line - you've got to give him the touchdown after all that and the fact that this is the Super Bowl. My emotions were really firing at that point!

Did I enjoy Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band? Yes, but I just wanted to get the game going again - I was hungry for more but the halftime shows at the Super Bowl are always a bit longer so I had to temper myself - again, I turned to the Terrible Towel. I made sure it was unfolded and unwrinkled for the start of the third quarter after all, it was bringing me some great luck through the game so far. It did not let me down as, again, I believed the Terrible Towel was yet again, "poised to strike."

It was about this time that my phone started to jingle... I received this "text" message from my good friend, Wendy, who sent me the 'mobile wave of the Terrible Towel' and to keep it going throughout the game. I wonder how well that did. I'd love to hear from anyone who also got it!

Skip ahead to the fourth quarter as the game had progressed, the Steelers led by 13 points - I was feeling pretty good so far and why not? Because it seemed like the Black & Gold was really in the driver's seat and was cruising at this point. How wrong that was. All of a sudden, the Steelers found themselves in a goal line stance - but of course, they were the ones backed up in their own end zone - trying to get some momentum back their way only to get called for a safety. It was at this very moment - this very gut-wrenching moment that I felt the most uncomfortable feeling come over me - the feeling that we could actually lose this thing that, up until two minutes prior, we had already sewn up!

Enter Larry Fitzgerald.

This man was the most feared receiver of the post-season but up to that point, the Steelers managed to contain him. Not now. A Kurt Warner toss led to a touchdown by Fitzgerald which sent the Cardinals to hold their first lead of the entire game at 23-20.

'We lost the Super Bowl.' This was my thought. We just gave up the Super Bowl.

Here is where I need you to stay with me because this is going to sound crazy but I swear to you all... this absolutely 100% true...

I looked over at my couch at the other two Terrible Towels (I have four altogether) and I saw the commemorative Myron Cope Terrible Towel sitting there. What have I said ever since I made the post which you can read here? It couldn't be fate. I'm not a prognosticator by any stretch of the imagination and all those times I said it on this site - it was more or less a wonderful idea but not much more realistically. What the hell, though, right? There's less than three minutes in this damned game and I've got nothing to lose so what did I do? You better believe I picked this up:

I raised it up and just said, "Myron, buddy, if you are looking down right now, if there's ever a time for the Towel to show it's power - it's now - can you do it for us?" I'm not kidding, kids... I did this and I'm not lying. You can call it a coincidence if you want but I don't see it that way because what happened next was nothing short of miraculous.

The Steelers took the ball and marched 70 yards down the field. As this is happening and as I twirl the Cope Tribute Towel, I thought I heard Al Michaels mention a much easier kick for Jeff Reed and I'm thinking... Jeff Reed??? Jeff Reed??? What the hell are you talking about - it's first and goal - we've gotta do this and do it now!!! My heart sunk when Ben released the ball only to see it go through Santonio Holmes' hands on 1st and goal. It seemed like such an easy play - why couldn't he make that catch - he made every other catch on the march down here so why are we now going to see a colossal collapse of that beautiful drive? It can't be.

Then.

Does it get any better? The Steelers are now six-time Super Bowl Champions and Mike Tomlin really said it best: "Steeler football is sixty minutes." How true. Kurt Warner himself acknowledged that his teammates came over to him on the sidelines after Fitzgerald's go ahead touchdown and were congratulating him. Warner warned them not to celebrate too soon. They should have listened.

There was still football to be played and you cannot quit until the end. The Arizona Cardinals did. The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't.

WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:02:00 +0000

Super Bowl XLIII

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:13:00 +0000

The talking is done, the hype has passed and now it's time to play the game. Whether it's "One for the Other Thumb," "A Six Pack" or any other thing you care to call it... we want that sixth Lombardi Trophy to place alongside our other five.

Here We Go, Steelers, Here We Go...

A Final Remembrance and Dedication to Myron...

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:56:00 +0000

I have not, cannot and will not forget that this was the first Steelers season ever that Myron wasn't alive. I still believe we're doing this one for him... and I wanted to remember him one last time before the game

For those who don't know... if you want to get to know the man we simply know as Cope, here is a great little bio/remembrance of him from Joe Starkey of Trib Total Media:

Here's an odd one sung to U2:

Here's how much Myron meant to us in Steeler Nation:

Yoi!

Double Yoi!

Celebrity Steeler Fans: Part Deux

noreply@blogger.com (The Chief) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 04:04:00 +0000

The first installment of which celebrities were Steeler fans garnered so much attention that I could not let this one go without a follow-up. A few people chimed in with some that I'd missed and then there were others that were brought to my attention too. What I've done is made a similar list but there's also a bonus - some well-known Super Bowl picks for your amusement - every year, Scripps Howard presents the Sage Award for celebrity Super Bowl picks - seems I'm not the only one messing around in this area.

So, without further ~~adieu~~ blabber from me... here are more well-known fans:

The late Professor Randy Pausch

My main oversight from the first post, Rush Limbaugh

Poison frontman, Brett Michaels is a native of Butler, PA and even sports a Steelers painted guitar

Golf Legend Arnold Palmer

Burt Reynolds
Dennis Miller

McKees Rocks native and Batman, himself, Michael Keaton

Brad Pitt SNL comedian and the man who twirled a Terrible Towel on Weekend Update once, Seth Meyers

Here also are this year's sage picks (I've only included those who have picked the Black & Gold to win it all as they are the only ones that matter and also note that each of these people may not necessarily be fans, but just picking the Steelers to win):

ARNOLD PALMER, golfer, 2003 Super Sage Award winner: Pittsburgh, 28-14. The Steelers defense is very strong. That will be the dominating factor in the game. I know and like (coach) Ken Whisenhunt from his days with the Steelers, though, and think that the time he spent as the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh will help him prepare for the game.

JACK NICKLAUS, golfer: Pittsburgh, 24-17. Pittsburgh has been a strong and steady team all year. My emotions tell me I would love to pick Arizona, but I just think Pittsburgh’s defense is too strong. And as we saw against a stout Baltimore defense, their offense can’t be overlooked.

MIKE HAYDEN, CIA director: Pittsburgh, 27-17. The Cardinals are on a roll, but it’s tough playing against a team of destiny. Blocking is blocking, and tackling is tackling.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion: Pittsburgh, 31-21. Even though I grew up in San Diego watching the Chargers, I always liked Pittsburgh especially when Bill Cowher was there.

PAUL PIERCE, NBA champion Boston Celtics: Pittsburgh, 31-17. The Steelers won't be overwhelmed with all the hype of everything.

PENN AND TELLER, magicians, 2007 Super Sage Award winners: Pittsburgh, 27-17. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has an unbeatable motivation: the NFL promised that if he wins a second Super Bowl, he can put an umlaut on his uniform.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN anchor: Pittsburgh, 42-10. I think Pittsburgh is a much better team. Period.

BILL O'REILLY, Fox News: Pittsburgh, 24-17. Pittsburgh's defense is going to get Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner.

CHRIS MATTHEWS, MSNBC "Hardball" host,: Pittsburgh.

PLACIDO DOMINGO, opera star: Pittsburgh, 31-17.

MATTHEW MODINE, actor: Pittsburgh. With the Giants and Jets gone, I lose interest.

HOWIE MANDEL, "Deal or No Deal," "Howie Do It": Pittsburgh, 21-14. Because, and I won't mention who, I have gotten some notes from two players on the Steelers that they are fans of my show "Howie Do It."

PILAR LASTRA, "Deal or No Deal" briefcase girl No. 14/Playboy's Miss August 2004: Pittsburgh, 28-24. They have both an amazing defense and their offense is right up there with Arizona's.

JOAN JETT, rock star: Pittsburgh, 24-17.

LEROY NEIMAN, artist: Pittsburgh, 28-17. It just seems like it's time for Pittsburgh, a great sports and football city, to win BIG.

YOGI BERRA, Hall of Fame baseball player: Pittsburgh, but Arizona's not bad. It should be pretty close.

BOBBY THOMSON, former N.Y. Giants baseball player who in 1951 hit "Shot Heard 'Round the World": Pittsburgh, 28-24. They look tough to me.

KERRI WALSH, Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist: Pittsburgh, 27-21. I like both QB's and know they will both have great games. I think the Steelers defense is going to step up and hold the Cardinals a bit more than vice versa. Go Steelers!

CRYSTLE STEWART, Miss USA: Pittsburgh, 27-21. Arizona's offense has been flying high in the playoffs and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been playing out of this world (he can catch a pass from me any day!). But the Steeler Defense has been kicking butt, and more importantly, you have got to love the old-school black and gold uniforms. After all, gold is my favorite color.

BOB WEIR, guitarist, Grateful Dead, 2004 Super Sage Award winner: Pittsburgh, 20-13. It depends on how many times Pittsburgh picks off Warner. They'll start getting pressure on him with a four-man rush in the 2nd quarter; 1st pick. 2nd pick in the late 3rd or early 4th quarter, and that will seal the deal.

DENNIS FARINA, actor, 2005 Super Sage Award winner: Pittsburgh, 27-16. Why? Big Ben.

MARK CUBAN, Dallas Mavericks owner: Pittsburgh, 23-17. De-Fense!

DR. PAT ROBERTSON, reverend, 2008 Super Sage Award winner: Pittsburgh, 35-22. Pittsburgh has more experience going to Super Bowls, and they are more hungry for this kind of win.

JIM COURIER, tennis Hall of Famer: Pittsburgh, 24-14. It feels like it’s their year.

JAMES BLAKE, tennis star: Pittsburgh, 24-10. Pittsburgh is going to win because their defense is just too good. They have the No. 1 defense in the league and they will just shut down the Cardinals offense.

RUSSELL JOHNSON, professor on "Gilligan's Island": Pittsburgh, 24-21. I'm from Pennsylvania. I'm glad to see at least one Pennsylvania team in the game.

JERRY MATHERS, actor, "Leave it to Beaver": Pittsburgh, 28-21. I think honestly they play a tougher game of football. They hit harder. That's what's going to do it.

TARAJI P. HENSON, Oscar-nominated actress, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button": Pittsburgh, 45-12. Since the Eagles are out, I guess it’s going to have to be the Steelers.

TRACY MORGAN, actor "30 Rock": Pittsburgh, 24-17. I love Pittsburgh. I love blue collar. They play blue collar, smash mouth, blue collar football.

HALEY JOEL OSMENT, actor: Pittsburgh, 27-21.

PATRICIA DE LEON, actress: Pittsburgh, 27-24. It just depends if you like ballerinas, you stay with Cardinals. If you like tough bulldogs, then Pittsburgh is your team, and I like bulldogs!!!

SHEILA KELLEY, actress: Pittsburgh, 37-24. Steelers all the way babyyyyyyyy! I’m a hometown girl, and that is all these mad warriors need to bring home the trophy! Seriously; Franco’s Army, the Steel Curtain, need I say more?

OLIVIA MUNN, G4TV host: Pittsburgh, 24-21. Because defense wins football games. And the Steelers have the best defense in the country.

KURT ANGLE, TNA/Olympic wrestler: Pittsburgh, 27-13. Being born and raised in Pittsburgh, there’s no way I’m picking against my Steelers. The Pitt D will be too much for Kurt Warner, and the Steelers’ offense will grind out a win late.

GORDON CLAPP, actor: Pittsburgh, 38-16. The Steelers will win their record sixth Super Bowl. The prolific Warner will be stonewalled by the Steelers defense. Arizona will suffer an emotional collapse similar to that of the Devil Rays in the World Series.

JON GOSSELIN, "Jon and Kate Plus 8": Pittsburgh, 35-17. The Steelers defense is unstoppable.

SAMANTHA BROWN, Travel Channel host: Pittsburgh, 24-21. My whole family is from Pennsylvania.

TOBIN BELL, Jigsaw in "Saw" movies: Pittsburgh, 24-21. You can run but you can't hide from Troy Polamalu.

TED MCGINLEY, actor: Pittsburgh, 20-17. My heart will be with Arizona as I sit in the stands with my son, but my money is on Pittsburgh. I think Pittsburgh's defense is too strong all the way around.

SCOTT TUROW, author: Pittsburgh, 24-14. Their combination of offense and defense is a little bit better. Kurt Warner is a great quarterback, but when he gets knocked around, he's not any better than anyone else.

ALAN CUMMING, actor: Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania came through for us in this election. Arizona, not so good.

SCOTT ADAMS, "Dilbert" cartoonist: Pittsburgh, 21-14. Clearly a steelworker could stomp a bird to death.