Big party dahntahn
by M. Stewart
It would have been fun to join the 350,000 people who participated in Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl victory parade on Tuesday, but like a lot of other people, I chose work instead.
I am beginning to understand why they don’t hold such events until the weekend when more people are free to attend. If 350,000 will fight their way downtown on a cold Tuesday morning, three or four million might show up on a Saturday, and that's more than the city can hold.
Watching coverage of the parade at the Post-Gazette site, I couldn’t help but notice how many of the Steelers players were using video cameras to tape the crowd during the parade. Of course most of those in the crowd were snapping pictures and shooting video of the players as they went by in convertibles. As strange as that was, it was great watching Troy Polamalu leap out of his car for some crowd surfing.
Have you even wondered what happens to all the T-shirts and hats that get made up for the losing teams? Turns out they are collected by World Vision, a Christian relief group that sends the garments to distant parts of the globe for use by the poor.
So someone out there will be wearing a T-shirt, a sweat shirt, or a hat that declares the Arizona Cardinals winners of the 2008 NFL Super Bowl, but not too many. According to the story, Arizona is “a small market [with] no fan base.” As a result, not a whole lot of merchandise was printed up.
Speaking of Cardinals fans, the word is that many are saying nasty things about the people and the city of Pittsburgh after the Cardinals lost in their first-ever Super Bowl appearance.
With six Lombardi trophies, the Steelers and their fans are used to it by now. For example, Cleveland and Baltimore fans have developed an advanced inferiority complex that they express in the form of irrational hatred for the Steelers and their city. So all you unsophisticated, sore-loser Cardinals fans will have to get in line to hate Pittsburgh.
Apparently losing with grace and dignity is something people can do only after they’ve experienced success. As such, perhaps Cardinals fans should take their lead from their quarterback, Kurt Warner, who was as graceful and articulate in defeat as a man could be.
It would have been fun to join the 350,000 people who participated in Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl victory parade on Tuesday, but like a lot of other people, I chose work instead.
I am beginning to understand why they don’t hold such events until the weekend when more people are free to attend. If 350,000 will fight their way downtown on a cold Tuesday morning, three or four million might show up on a Saturday, and that's more than the city can hold.
Watching coverage of the parade at the Post-Gazette site, I couldn’t help but notice how many of the Steelers players were using video cameras to tape the crowd during the parade. Of course most of those in the crowd were snapping pictures and shooting video of the players as they went by in convertibles. As strange as that was, it was great watching Troy Polamalu leap out of his car for some crowd surfing.
Have you even wondered what happens to all the T-shirts and hats that get made up for the losing teams? Turns out they are collected by World Vision, a Christian relief group that sends the garments to distant parts of the globe for use by the poor.
So someone out there will be wearing a T-shirt, a sweat shirt, or a hat that declares the Arizona Cardinals winners of the 2008 NFL Super Bowl, but not too many. According to the story, Arizona is “a small market [with] no fan base.” As a result, not a whole lot of merchandise was printed up.
Speaking of Cardinals fans, the word is that many are saying nasty things about the people and the city of Pittsburgh after the Cardinals lost in their first-ever Super Bowl appearance.
With six Lombardi trophies, the Steelers and their fans are used to it by now. For example, Cleveland and Baltimore fans have developed an advanced inferiority complex that they express in the form of irrational hatred for the Steelers and their city. So all you unsophisticated, sore-loser Cardinals fans will have to get in line to hate Pittsburgh.
Apparently losing with grace and dignity is something people can do only after they’ve experienced success. As such, perhaps Cardinals fans should take their lead from their quarterback, Kurt Warner, who was as graceful and articulate in defeat as a man could be.
posted by M. | 7:19 AM
21 Comments:
It was a stretch to write about this victory parade I'm sure. Not quite as exciting as the game. I thought you'd be writing about the mayor's state of the city address.
The Seachicken fans out here in WA are still whinin' about Super Bowl XL...I always tell 'em to blame their coach who pouted all game instead of moving on about Ben's run for the touchdown early in the game. Not to mention their missed field goals, poor clock management, dropped passes, loudmouth Jeremy Stevens...etc., etc., etc. That usually shuts 'em up.
Go Stillers..."Stairway to Seven" in '09!!!
Native--
I figured Seahawks fans were still smarting after their SB loss, but the team has tanked since then. They've got other serious problems to worry about.
Old Ranger--
I'm not sure what there is to say about Mayor Swoger's state-of-the-city speech. It's the same old song of a dwindling tax base.
The city will do what it has to do. If we have to raise sewage rates, then do it. As most people know, I'm all for putting the tax burden on people who do the most damage to the city's tax base in the first place--that is, landlords. I advocate raising taxes on everything associated with rental property in the city with the hope that it will become less profitable for those who exploit the CMHA system.
But I've finally come to the conclusion that this is a losing battle. Neither the mayor nor anyone else at city hall wants to take on the powerful, entrenched slumlord system that is squeezing the city dry. The idea must be that if you don't talk about it, it doesn't exist. It's easier to blame it on the economy or some macro-force that you can't do anything about. That way, no one is responsible for actually addressing the problem. You just do a lot of moaning and groaning at the appropriate moments.
The way I see it, self pity gets you nowhere and keeps you there.
I needed a good laugh, so for the kicks of it I looked up the CMHA just to find out what type of "assistance" is provided. Check this out:
"NUMBER OF UNITS: 130 units.
BEDROOM SIZES: 1,2,3,4, & 5.
FACILITIES: Community room, laundry, bus and taxi service, playground, after school program for grades 1-12, and a computer lab.
The resident is responsible for all utilities which include gas heat, electric for cooking/ lights, phone & cable. Wather is paid by the Housing Authority. Each apartment is furnished with a stove and refrigerator.
On site manager and police officer during business hours and security guard after hours."
So, in essence, if I were so poor that I couldn't put a roof over my kid's head, the CMHA would offer an after school program, a computer lab, and "Wather" (I presume they mean "water"), AND security???
I'm telling you what, if something happens to my husband, and I'm left to raise my kids on my own, I say SIGN ME UP!!!! That's an easy $9,000 a year! Plus they'll throw in a free stove and fridge!!!
I wonder how much more I could soak out of a county that is already so depressed?
If those people pay their own utilities I would be surprised. I guarantee they get some sort of subsidy for that, too.
They MIGHT have to pay for cable (I work every day and can't afford it and don't have it) but I think I've read in the paper or heard that they also get some sort of break on their phone bills.
The only ones getting ahead in this world are the ones living on welfare or some sort of government assistance.
It amazes me to see them: they all have cable or satellites; cell phones or even blackberries; cigarettes and booze; cars; Nike shoes and clothing.
And yet I work every day and can afford none of that (except the car and it's 9 years old).
Something is very wrong.
Sick of It,
You have a computer. Stop complaining and get out there and find yourself a job that pays enough so you too can have the good things in life. Complaining about not having anything is not going to help you reach your goal. Or comparing your situation to those on welfare. I they are better off than you are maybe you should go on welfare.
Get used to it folks, our new Prez is going to "spread the wealth" even more.
So the Obama administration is responsible for a widening welfare state? When you have evidence of this, please let us know.
M,
That's not what he said. He said he "IS GOING TO" not that he's responsible for it.
You are getting too sensitive in Obama's defense to the point where you'd think you were black.
sick of it said...
"The only ones getting ahead in this world are the ones living on welfare or some sort of government assistance."
You said it, Corporate CEOs are doing pretty well thanks to corporate welfare.
Honest John--
Not at all. I'm just already tired of right-wingers making assumptions based upon nothing but their fear of Africans. You're no different: To ask for evidence of a claim, you say I must be black. Oh yeah, but none of you is a racist. Of course not.
I'm not a racist, but I thought I was addressing a racist issue, that is you jumping to conclusions about what Obamer was/has done. You seem to have an excellent way of turning things around, but it's pretty obvious.
M, Are you saying Obama never said he was going to spread the wealth in his campaign? He said it more than once. Its just kind of funny on this blog that people are aloud to bad-mouth republicans, conservatives and/or christians but as soon as they mention liberals, democrats or Almighty Obama they are racists or uneducated. Its kind of like watching the national news or CNN.
I am not hearing much grumbling about the Steelers victory, and I live in Arizona. Then again, I live in Tucson, and the apathy of Tucsonans with respect to the Cardinals is noticeable any time of the year.
Even though the Cardinals years ago changed their title from the Phoenix Cardinals to the Arizona Cardinals in an effort to draw more fans from Tucson, it has not worked.
Tucson, surprisingly, is a town full of Steeler fans. I'm not talking closet Steeler fans, either. Not a day goes by that I do not see a Steelers decal on a car, or a man in a Steelers hat, or a woman in a Polamalu jersey.
And while the NFL does exhaustive market research and team brand loyalty studies, here's one interesting factoid that those studies miss: Mexicans and Native Americans love the Steelers like mad. Whole families drive up from the Mexican states of Sonora and Sinaloa to Tucson every Sunday during the season to watch Steeler games.
During the last Super Bowl, I saw five or so Mexican men openly weeping at the bar and hugging one another in celebration. It's a very impressive thing to see the reach of the Steelers franchise, and we should all be proud to hail from that kind of work ethic, loyalty and heritage.
-Will W.
Will--
Very interesting indeed. So Steeler Nation is not a myth after all.
Wealthspreader--
Obama campaigned against the increasing concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. Many of these guys are the very same who have been begging the government to bail out their companies while handing out multimillion dollar bonuses to themselves and their friends. Obama is against corporate welfare, which is where he departs from the Bush-Cheney gang, who saw government as a means of transferring public funds into private hands.
That you completely (and I suspect willingly) misunderstood Obama's statements to assume he would expand the welfare state for the poor is unfortunate. There is no evidence of that at all. You supplied none. Beyond that, I think it's funny that conservative working class people are so eager to identify with the super rich, as if they had something in common with them.
If and when President Obama does something that I find problematic, I most certainly will say something about it. So far (and that's not very far at all) he's done a great job simply not being George Bush. I'm afraid I don't understand the CNN comment. What does that have to do with ORL?
Finally, if you want to take part in discussions here, you must be prepared to defend yourself. If you're offended by someone asking you elaborate on your claims, then don't get involved in the discussion.
Will--
Very interesting indeed. So Steeler Nation is not a myth after all.
Wealthspreader--
Obama campaigned against the increasing concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. Many of these guys are the very same who have been begging the government to bail out their companies while handing out multimillion dollar bonuses to themselves and their friends. Obama is against corporate welfare, which is where he departs from the Bush-Cheney gang, who saw government as a means of transferring public funds into private hands.
That you completely (and I suspect willingly) misunderstood Obama's statements to assume he would expand the welfare state for the poor is unfortunate. There is no evidence of that at all. You supplied none. Beyond that, I think it's funny that conservative working class people are so eager to identify with the super rich, as if they had something in common with them.
If and when President Obama does something that I find problematic, I most certainly will say something about it. So far (and that's not very far at all) he's done a great job simply not being George Bush. I'm afraid I don't understand the CNN comment. What does that have to do with ORL?
Finally, if you want to take part in discussions here, you must be prepared to defend yourself. If you're offended by someone asking you elaborate on your claims, then don't get involved in the discussion.
What's going to happen with the Democrats holding the majority in both house and senate as well as the presidency? You watch and mark my words, there'll be no change. No change. Things will stay the same. Same policies different administration.
Oh there'll be little things, but nothing of any substance.
"Pickled Tink said...
Sick of It,
You have a computer. Stop complaining and get out there and find yourself a job that pays enough so you too can have the good things in life. Complaining about not having anything is not going to help you reach your goal. Or comparing your situation to those on welfare. I they are better off than you are maybe you should go on welfare."
How dare you? I have worked since I was 14 years old, starting at $1 an hour as a waitress. Today I make more than $14 an hour in a professional job which may not be the $25 an hour some make but is not exactly a minimum wage job at McDonald's (and I am not one of those people who look down at "burger flippers" since I think ANY honest job is worthwhile; someone has to do all those jobs).
I work my ass off every day, 10-12 hours a day and just recently was told there will be NO overtime paid so I expect to eat those extra two to four hours a day I work to make sure my work is done and done well.
Yes, I have a computer; I use it for work. But guess what...I have DIALUP internet at a loust $15 a month, not the high-speed, expensive Broadband or whatever.
Your elitist, patronizing tone is just what I can expect from someone who probably has never had to work for a living or seen every dime he works for going for just the basics.
Believe me, my household lives from paycheck to paycheck as do most of my family and friends. We don't live lavishly; we don't have expensive cars or take exotic vacations and we work every day.
But when I see people living on welfare with so much more than I have, am I bitter? You bet your freaking ass I am. I deserve it; they don't.
And I'm not talking about those people who fell into dire circumstances due to illness or a job loss who suddenly find themselves on welfare. THAT is exactly what the program is supposed to be for, not these no-good, bottom-feeding scumbags who have lived on it for years, not even trying to better themselves.
Maybe that's YOU, Pickled Tink.
I am just saying that you are biased like CNN or the national news.
Sick of It,
Believe me I'm not what you think I am at all. You've misinterpreted my message and having reread it I don't blame you. I'm sorry.
Old Ranger, you hit it right on the nose. There will be no change, just a different bunch doing the same things over again. For all Obama's talk of change and hope, just look at his cabinet selections. Three tax cheats, a former Clinton aide who used some shaddy dealings to help get that upstanding citizen Marc Rich a pardon, and a few former lobbists who somehow became exceptions to Obama's rule that no Lobbist would be part of his administration. Now we have this massive spending bill that's going to save the economy after the last round of spending failed. Nothings changed but the date on the calender.
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