"PITTSBURGH'S GOIN' TO THE SUPER BOWL! HERE WE GO!"

This photo is the 1st known photo taken of Amanda & I, with a few members of our "Steelers Family" here in South Florida. The Bru's Room in Margate is home to The Iron City Pittsburgh Club of South Florida every Sunday of the football season, and I've been a member since 2004-2005. (Although, I've been watching games with some of these guys and gals, every Sunday, since 1994.) Pictured here with us are "the Beaver Boys" Rick and Don Beaver. These two epitomized the essence of "Steelers Family", the 1st season I started bringing Amanda to watch the games on Sunday, when they consistently went out of there way to make her feel comfortable. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, because that's how Steelers fans are with one another. Ironically, this photo was taken, almost 3 years to this day, in January 2006 when the Steelers were last en route to the Super Bowl. Here are some photos from that day, February 5, 2006, as the Pittsburgh Steelers became the Super Bowl XL Champions:

Don & Rick's Mom, Don, myself and Rick.

Myself and Thee One and Only "Steeler Don!"

"The Twins" Phyllis & Becky, myself & Amanda

"Steeler Don," "Big Mike" and myself.

"Steeler Don," Steve, "Big Mike" and myself.

Myself and Vince.

Here, I'm making a call to the one person missing from that day, my Dad. I wanted to share the excitement of the moment with him, even though, he was at home in New Jersey. (On any given Sunday, I - probably - call him a dozen times, during the game.)

In 2007, this photo was taken, when the "Beaver Boys" surprised Amanda & I with a birthday cake on her Birthday. Again, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, because that's the kind of thing you can expect from Family. This is one of my favorite pictures of Amanda & I. At the time, we had been married all of about 2 months. I remember that, during a Steeler game at the Bru's Room, many Sundays prior to July 21, 2007, Amanda had said to me, "Y'know, if we ever get married, Rick and Don have to come to the wedding..." Rick and Don were there.
Now, in preparation for this 2008-2009 season, I traveled with my "game day" Terrible Towel on our July trip to Costa Rica. My "game day" Towel is the same one that's been with me every Sunday, since the Super Bowl in 1995. It then traveled with us on our trip to Ohio in September. I guess, I figured with the Bengals and Browns in the Steelers' division, bringing the Towel with us into enemy territory, would give us good luck. (By the way, Steelers went 4 - 0 against them, this year.)

In October, I, finally, got to watch a game with my folks. However, it was a night game, so we didn't make it to Bru's Room. This after a hurricane had prevented them from coming down for Week 1. So, after all these year's, they've - yet - to meet our Steelers Family.

Mom is a good sport, as well. Probably, because she knows that neither Dad, nor I are very fun to live with for a week if, the Steelers don't win on Sunday.

By the way, that game was a win, against Jacksonville!






That brings us to today. The Steelers are coming off a win in the AFC Championship and are going to the Super Bowl! And, I'm thrilled to say...that Dad and Mom will be at the Bru's Room with Amanda & myself, Rick & Don, Steeler Don, Becky & Phyllis and all the members of the Iron City Pittsburgh Club 0f South Florida's Steelers Family on Sunday, February 1st!!!!

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!
Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 AFC Champions Cap: photo courtesy of "Steeler Don"