THE BURGH

Pittsburgh people are fantastic and those who religiously follow their three major sports teams, especially the Steelers,  definitely deserve the term "Fanatics" when describing them.

Yeah, yesterday, like most who are confined to watching them on TV, I threw up a couple of real invectives myself. Then I went to the mens room and was tempted to throw up again.

 But, I got over it. Some fans apparently did not.

When the game was on though it was an entirely different "poor barry" who was quite vocal as we sat across from our own personal screen down at Geckos.

 One critique that slipped out was of a religious nature - when used appropriately- and I'm not real proud of my lack of restraint. Needless-to-say, it was not "Hail Mary."

I was as shocked as most Steeler fans yesterday and also could hardly believe my eyes at the ineptitude of our (note the possessive) running backs. I also was disappointed with the  the backup quarterback, Charlie Batch - a good man - a solid teacher - and a valued community leader in Pittsburgh.

Yesterday was definitely a better day for Charlie to be off conducting positive community service in Homestead.

But, I got to be honest. I'm also the same guy who in pre-season was concerned they might let him go and retain as their backup that other guy who has the same fragility as Grandma's china - which is conspicuously absent from the kids table at Thanksgiving.

Yeah, I agree with those fans who suggest Tomlin shares some of the blame. But, as one pundit commented recently: "If Pgh decided to make him their scapegoat, and fire him, the sidewalk to his home would have more suitors than there were paparazzi outside the Tampa residence of Jill Kelley this past month."

You see, we love our Steelers when they are winning and because of this, the Steelers seem to sell out Heinz Field year after year. In addition, Pittsburgh fans  regularly help the economy of our oppositions home towns by dint of the efforts of our "Steeler nation" who definitely travel well.

Unlike our expectations for the Pirates, (particularly in the second half of the season)  many Steeler fans are baffled when our "immortals" lose.

Simply put, because of their winning records in the recent past; some of us have become spoiled fanatics.

The best example I can give is the current criticism aimed at 75 year old Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau. This is a guy who is considered to be one of the best Defensive Coordinators of all times and who usually keeps the Steelers defense huddling around the best five teams each year.

While playing cornerback for the Detroit Lions, after being cut by the Browns -LeBeau  went on to Hall Of Fame recognition in 2010  partially based on his 62 interceptions, which I believe was  or is 7th all time in the NFL.

Unfortunately, Ike Taylor, our current cornerback, is not a blood relative. Thus, Ike  did not inherit the interception gene. However, he is charged with the assignment of taking on the best receiver for the opposition every week. You might say in baseball parlance  he's a " good hit - bad field"  kind of guy.

The 'Stiller' defense and LeBeau are the same guys who kept the 57 and 49 point scoring Ravens from scoring a touchdown in our most recent loss against them.

Unfortunately, all that is forgotten when you blindly strike out at anyone and everyone when you're disappointed that you didn't get your way.

I get the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on-line and like a moth to the flame read the comments filed by the many would be sports writer/coach  fans after a loss or two by the Steelers.

It's hard to tell age by the pictures published in the paper - as some of those photos may be 15 years old or more  - like that of yours truly. But it is clear, perhaps by the immaturity displayed in their thought process, that many are young and are having difficulty in dealing with any disappointment - sports or otherwise .

Just a supposition, but it could simply be based on their parents need to still protect them from any trauma of any nature. ("Why, of course you can come back home to live with us Kevin, and don't forget your playbox or whatever you call it and don't you worry one second about not being able to help out with any of the bills, honey."

Maybe, it's just because LeBeau and I are the same age that I worry more about how Kevin is going to turn out than I do about this years version of the Steelers.

But, I still miss "The Burgh."