Farewell to Troy

Troy does his best Superman impression (NFL/Getty Images)

After 12 incredible seasons as a Pittsburgh Steeler, veteran safety and all-around defensive powerhouse Troy Polamalu plans to retire from the NFL. The announcement came down today and for most Steelers fans, the news was bittersweet.

Yes, Troy’s production has been waning for the last few years, primarily due to injury. But the fact is that without him, the Steelers wouldn’t have been the same team—and they surely wouldn’t have won two Super Bowls.

During his tenure, Troy was a difference maker, for lack of a better term. He broke Steelers’ defensive records, represented the team at eight Pro Bowls and was a leader in the locker room and on the field. Teammates respected him, fans loved him and opponents feared him.

And honestly, watching games without seeing his bushy hair flying around will be depressing, to say the least.

So on behalf of Steelers fans everywhere, I want to say thanks to Troy Polamalu—one of the greatest to wear the black and gold, and one hell of a great guy to boot. We’re going to miss you, my brother.

Don’t Be Hatin’

The most hated NFL teams by region, according to Reddit (KMHokies35/Reddit)

The new NFL football season hasn’t started yet, but already the rivalries are starting to rear their ugly heads. Take this infographic from Reddit user KMHokies35, which shows the most hated NFL teams in each U.S. state.

Most of the “hate” involves long-standing rivalries between division foes—like Dallas Cowboy fans disliking the Philadelphia Eagles, for instance—but others are more difficult to understand—like why people in Maine hate the New York Jets so much.

Of course, I was pleased to see my Pittsburgh Steelers represented in several different states. We must be doing something right!

Goodbye, Chuck

Chuck Noll: Best. Coach. Ever (Getty Images)

Last Friday, we lost one of NFL football’s greatest coaches: Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll. He passed away late Friday of natural causes at the age of 82. And as a die-hard Steelers fan, I can tell you that he will be missed… and not just by other Steelers’ fans, but by fans of sports in general.

Noll played the game in the 1950s as part of the Cleveland Browns—ironically one of the Steelers’ main division rivals—as a linebacker and guard. Following his playing career, he served as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Chargers and then as defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Colts in 1968. That year, the Colts gave up only 144 points, a sign of the defensive glory to come with the Steel Curtain.

Baltimore head coach Don Shula—who would later lead the Miami Dolphins to two Super Bowl victories—recommended Noll for the lead coaching job in Pittsburgh, a city that hadn’t enjoyed much success in nearly 40 years. And sadly, they wouldn’t taste success during Noll’s first year, when the team posted a pitiful record of only one win and 13 losses.

Fortunately, this would not become a habit.

By 1972—and thanks to some savvy draft picks and other roster adjustments—the Steelers’ luck changed completely as Noll led them to their first division title in the AFC Central. Hall of Fame players like Terry Bradshaw, “Mean Joe” Greene, Jack Ham, Mike Webster, Jack Lambert, Lynn Swann and Franco Harris helped Noll and the Steel Curtain achieve eight more such titles, as well as four Super Bowl victories. And by the time his career ended in 1991, Noll had 209 wins, 156 losses and 1 tie under his belt.

He also laid the foundation for one of the NFL’s most successful franchises. To date, the Steelers have six Super Bowl wins, more than any other team in history. And there’s plenty of time to add more… believe me.

Steelers’ Hall of Famers (Steel City Artist)

News of Noll’s death hit Steelers’ fans like me pretty hard, but no one felt it more than his former players. Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw—who often clashed with Noll both on and off the field—said he was “kind of like a father from whom you want approval [but] don’t quite get it.” He added that he was “proud to have played for him” and that “it was a great honor.”

Legendary defensive tackle “Mean Joe” Greene had this to say about his former coach, with whom he spent his entire professional career: “Chuck was just the ultimate leader. He had truth and belief in what he was saying, and over time all of those things he said were validated, the things about winning football games and being a solid citizen.”

And that, to me, was Noll’s greatest achievement: producing players who not only performed on the field, but also led by example in their daily lives. Unlike some of today’s prima donnas—who seem to care more about their individual performances and large paychecks—Noll instilled a strong sense of teamwork and unity in his players, who returned the favor by bringing the Lombardi trophy back to the Steel City not once, but four times.

In other words, he was the ultimate football coach. And I, for one, couldn’t be happier to have watched Chuck Noll in action. I even had an opportunity to meet him and some of his greatest players when I visited the Steelers’ training camp as a child, so I can say this: I will always be a Steelers fan. And I have Chuck to thank for bringing me and so many others into the fold.

We will miss you, Chuck. Rest easy and I promise the Steelers and their fans will keep your dream alive. Always.

Christmas is Coming!

As if this were even possible! (Keep Calm O Matic)

In just a few days, jolly old Santa Claus will begin his annual gift-giving journey to bring happiness to all the children of the world. The hustle-and-bustle of holiday shopping will magically transform into toys, delicious food and priceless time with family and friends. Yes, Christmas will help bring to an end another tumultuous—yet wonderful—year and will help usher in a new one. And though I’m not nearly as excited as I was as a child, I can say that I’m looking forward to it.

December 25^th is an amazing day, to be sure, but it also got me thinking about today, the under-appreciated December 23^rd. You see, of all the days leading up to Christmas, I believe that December 23^rd gets the least love of them all. By now, people are so excited for “The Big Day” that they’re in a state of panic to finish all their last-minute shopping, wrap their presents and prepare for all the cooking to come. They rarely stop to appreciate the wonder that is December 23^rd—a time when dreams still live and the wishes of Christmas haven’t been dashed by poor gift choices or… perish the thought… FRUITCAKE! Yuck!

Yet somehow, December 23^rd—the so-called “tenth day of Christmas”—still got stuck with “ten lords a leaping” in that famous holiday song. What in the crap does that even mean? I’m sorry, but even ten “maids a milking” or “swans a swimming” would have been better than a bunch of royals with ADHD.

In an effort to right this terrible wrong and to show December 23^rd the respect it so clearly deserves, I am proud to present some interesting facts and other tidbits about this important date—if you’re not too busy with your Christmas chores to check them out, I mean:

• 1783: George Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland.
• 1805: The founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, Joseph Smith, is born in Sharon, Vermont.
• 1913: President Woodrow Wilson signs the Federal Reserve Act into law and creates the Federal Reserve System.
• 1941: America gets its collective butt kicked as the Imperial Japanese Army occupies Wake Island after 15 days of fighting.
• 1946: Soap opera queen Susan Lucci is born in Scarsdale, New York.
• 1948: I can’t help showing some love for my boy Jack Ham, former linebacker for my Pittsburgh Steelers, who celebrates a birthday today. Hope it’s a good one, Jack!
• 1951: An NFL championship game is televised nationally for the first time as the Los Angeles Rams beat the Cleveland Browns 24-17.
• 1954: J. Hartwell Harrison and Joseph Murray perform the first successful kidney transplant.
• 1963: Former NFL quarterback and current San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh is born in Toledo, Ohio.
• 1970: The North Tower of the World Trade Center becomes the tallest building in the world at more than 1,300 feet. It would be destroyed 31 years later during the terrorist attacks of September 11^th.
• 1972: The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Oakland Raiders 13-7 following the “Immaculate Reception” by Franco Harris, who caught a deflected pass and ran it in for the winning touchdown! Go Steelers!
• 1972: The survivors of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 are rescued after 73 days in the Andes—they resort to cannibalism to survive and are later featured in the 1993 film Alive.
• 1973: The soap opera “Young and the Restless” premieres on television, much to the chagrin of husbands everywhere. And no, I don’t watch soaps myself, even though this is the second time I’ve mentioned them here… strange.
• 1982: American actor Jack Webb—best known for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday on the radio and television series Dragnet—passes away from a heart attack at age 62.
• 1996: Four female priests are ordained in Jamaica, the first in the 330-year history of the Anglican Church.
• 1997: Terry Nichols is found guilty of manslaughter in the Oklahoma City bombing.
• 2000: Beloved American actor and “little person” Billy Barty dies of heart failure at age 76.

A lot has happened on December 23^rd, don’t you think? And since there are still a few hours of daylight left, who knows what the immediate future will bring?

Happy almost Christmas, everybody!

Mad Monday

Pot in the day care (Getty Images)

Like many others who work a five-day work week, my least favorite day is Monday. Aside from signaling the beginning of a long, busy week, Monday also represents the end of another weekend. And if it was a good weekend—or even if it wasn’t—the last thing most of us want to do is wake up early and return to the office after relaxing for several days.

Unfortunately, working on Monday is a necessary evil for many of us. And in my experience, it’s never as bad as we imagine it will be as we’re watching the clock on Sunday night. Yes, there is always tons of work to be done, but at least Monday gets the proverbial ball rolling—and once it’s over, we are one step closer to the next relaxing weekend.

In terms of news, however, Monday is a virtual treasure trove of blog material. Most news sites ease off the gas a little on the weekends, but stories always come pouring in when the new work week arrives. And why should today be any different?

Normally, I would use this information for the next edition of the Reality Round-Up, but in the interest of time—which I seem to have less and less of with each passing day—here’s a quick look at some of the stories that caught my eye today. I’ll do my best to keep them brief for your more convenient reading pleasure.

The place for all your human hamburger needs (News-13 Orlando)

Where’s the beef?

If you live in Orlando, Florida and frequent the La Primera Grocery on 39 S. Semoran Boulevard, then the answer to this question is both simple and disgusting: the beef is in the meat grinder.

This may not sound strange until you know that the meat grinder is where one store employee’s hand got stuck on Sunday. Fortunately, emergency workers were able to remove the grinder and managed to save all of her digits.

In other words, she should be able to sell ladyfingers to customers without grimacing in pain or reliving past trauma every time!

I Scream, You Scream

Few childhood memories are as fond as those summer days when, in the midst of sweltering heat, familiar music signaled the arrival of someone providing instant and delicious relief: the ice cream man. After pestering parents for money, kids would sprint to the truck to purchase their favorite ice cream confections: push-up pops, dipped cones, nutty buddies and a host of other tasty treats.

Sometimes they reached the truck in time and sometimes they didn’t. Inevitably, there was always one kid who simply moved too slowly—and this was the poor child you often saw chasing the ice cream truck before finally giving up and returning home, dejected and sad.

The scene of the ice cream truck tragedy (Scripps Media)

Last Friday in Kansas City, Missouri, the late child was 8-year-old Lillian Simon. She chased the truck and it briefly pulled over, but when it drove off again, the driver didn’t notice that Lillian had stepped in front of the vehicle. Lillian was run over and died a short time later at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

What a terrible price to pay for something that should eventually become a cherished childhood memory—as it was for many of us. Tragic doesn’t even begin to describe this terrible situation.

Day Care for Pot Heads?

When parents drop their children off at a licensed day care center, they expect them to be cared for in the same manner by which they care for them. After all, day care employees sometimes see children more than parents do—especially during the work week—so it is important for them to live up to these expectations… and they should be trusted to do so.

Sadly, this was not the case in Savage, Maryland recently.

Anderson was too ashamed to face the camera (ABC News Local)

Mary Maloney obtained an in-home daycare license for her residence at 9058 Baltimore Street, but it was 31-year-old David Anderson—with whom Maloney had a child—who lived at the residence. And it was Anderson who was arrested by police and charged with numerous drug offenses last week.

Upon searching the residence, police discovered a loaded handgun, fertilizer, seeds and numerous baggies filled with marijuana—all in a home frequented by children, some of them from military families. According to some reports, officers were seen leaving the home with buckets of pot, and customers from the neighborhood are understandably upset. They did learn a valuable lesson, though, and one articulated perfectly by Donna Hosang, a neighbor of Maloney and Anderson: “You just never know who lives next door to you.”

Amen to that, sister!

A Very Bad Sport

If you follow NFL football, then you likely know that my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers are struggling at the moment. Their record thus far is terrible, players continue to get injured and we simply cannot move the ball on offense. In other words, we’re headed for a losing season that, after so many recent victories, can be difficult for fans like me to stomach.

But I would never try to hurt someone who supported a different team… and I certainly wouldn’t let some innocent trash talking set me off to the point where violence seemed necessary.

If only others felt the same.

Early Sunday morning, police were called to the Ba’runi Hotel & Grille on Duss Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania after sports trash talk turned into a violent stabbing. The culprits were Michael Landeros and Armando Encinas, an uncle and nephew originally from Maryland who apparently got into a heated argument about who was the best professional basketball player of all time: LeBron James or Michael Jordan.

Landeros and Encinas need to support better sports teams (WTAE-4 ABC)

One thing led to another and the trash talk expanded to include football and hockey—with the main focus falling on the Steelers and Penguins, the two local teams in these sports. Before anyone knew what was happening, Encinas pulled a knife and stabbed Ba’runi owner Alex Barlamas, as well as two others—patron Timothy Edwards and employee Robert Gavlua. All three men were taken to the hospital and they should all survive.

The same can’t be said for Encinas and Landeros, though. They have been charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault and disorderly conduct. And after they appear in court later this month, odds are they will spend at least some of their future behind bars.

And for what? Trash talking about sports. These two definitely aren’t the brightest bulbs in the box!

The Word of God

Our final news story comes from Phoenix, Arizona, where a man named Joseph Cecil has been arrested for murdering his mother, 65-year-old Ronna Thomas, and seriously injuring her 63-year-old sister… his aunt. Cecil attacked both women with a knife last Friday evening and his attack only ended after a neighbor intervened—he hit the knife-wielding madman over the head with a shovel to finally bring him down.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene and arrested Cecil, who was later booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and attempted murder. Thomas was taken to Casa Grande Regional Medical Center, but died from her wounds a short time later. Her sister was airlifted to a Phoenix-area hospital, but luckily she remains in stable condition.

If God speaks to someone, I seriously doubt Cecil would be His first choice (Pinal County Sheriff’s Office)

When deputies asked Cecil why he killed his mother and tried to kill his aunt, the young man answered simply that God had asked him to do it.

Now I’m not religious and never claimed to know everything about God, but does this seem like a request He would make? In the future, claiming that Satan made you do it might be easier to accept, Mr. Cecil… one look at you and I don’t know anyone who would doubt it!

Monday sure has taken a turn for the weird, but at least it will be coming to an end soon. I just wonder what we can expect to see in the news on Tuesday, my second least favorite day of the week!

In Loving Memory

This combination of stickers works much better for me. Go Steelers! (deadspin.com)

Despite finding them rather tacky, I once had at least a sliver of respect for people who put stickers in the back windows of their cars to memorialize loved ones they’ve lost. It could be a father, mother, sibling, close personal friend… whatever the case may be. I may find their medium rather kitschy, but their messages always seem heartfelt.

The example in this photo is an obvious exception, of course, but I’m sure most of you know what I’m talking about.

And I do love those Pittsburgh Steelers. Go team!

Yesterday, however, I encountered such a sticker on my way home from work. It was attached to some run-of-the-mill vehicle—a Toyota Camry or something, I think—and sadly, it now seems as if I’ve lost all respect for these “In Loving Memory” sticker folks.

Present company excluded, of course.

I can’t recall exactly who the sticker memorialized, but whoever was behind the wheel certainly tarnished his good name—I do remember it being a male. Jimmy something? It’s not important, but that’s as good a name to use as any.

A sticker this size blocking the rear view might be part of the problem (eBay)

I never knew Jimmy—at least I don’t think I knew him (it’s a small town and I’ve lived here for most of my life, so it is possible we crossed paths before)—but if he was buried in the ground after he died, I’m sure he was turning over in his grave when he saw how this relative was driving. It was one for the record books, let me tell you.

The encounter began as I approached the Camry, which was several hundred yards ahead waiting to pull out from a side street. Ten seconds more and I would have passed right by, leaving nothing but clear road for the Camry behind me. Apparently, this was too long for the impatient driver because rather than waiting, she let me get closer and then pulled out in front of me.

Yes, I just remembered the driver was female. And no, this doesn’t mean all women drivers are terrible. Stereotypes aren’t my bag, baby, but back to the story.

I was obviously pissed at this point, but I quickly got over it because people pull out in front of me all the time. I’ve worked hard to contain my road rage, so snapping on all of them would undoubtedly punch my stress ticket to the afterlife. Best to just take these things in stride.

Of course, pulling out in front of me was only the beginning. For the three or four miles I was behind this idiot, she swerved onto the shoulder multiple times, lowered the speed limit from 55 m.p.h. to 35—sometimes as low as 20 in places—and proved once again that for some people, multitasking simply isn’t an option.

In other words, she got a call on her cell phone, answered it and immediately experienced a deterioration in her driving skills—which were already shitty, as you can see. Talking and driving was simply too much for her, so hopefully no one ever asks her to walk and chew gum at the same time.

She might need to take some kind of class or acquire some specialized training before tackling that daunting task.

Finally, we reached the turn for my neighborhood and in spite of being agnostic, I found myself praying that she would continue on her way and find some other poor bastard to irritate—this poor bastard had enough and his fuse was getting shorter by the minute. I prayed to God—supposing there really is one out there (sorry for the gratuitous agnosticism plug)—and for a moment there, I even prayed to Jimmy… or whatever his name was.

This seems a little excessive, don’t you think, Stinky? (Real Deal Auto Blog)

Maybe there really is a God, or at least the spirit of Jimmy intervening on behalf of his kin, but she kept on driving and I was soon home safe and sound.

I know it wasn’t the “In Loving Memory” sticker that made this woman such a “horror on the highway.” It’s like those pine tree air fresheners that people hang from their rear view mirrors. Every one that I have encountered has been in the car of a driver like Jimmy’s loved one—some maniac who put his life and the lives of everyone around him in danger—and I even theorized that some chemical in the freshener caused those who inhaled it to suddenly regress to a second-grade intellect. I was wrong, of course… at least I hope I was wrong.

On this particular day, though, “in loving memory” turned into “in your face trying to seriously f-up your day.” I just hate that poor Jimmy had to get dragged into it.

Super Bowl Fever Sets In

The Super Bowl stage is set! (courtesy of TVRage.com)

Anyone familiar with me or my blog should know by now that my favorite professional sport is, and will always be, NFL football. And my team of choice is none other than the Pittsburgh Steelers, winners of more Super Bowls and conference championships than any other team in the league’s history.

Of course, they will also watch the Super Bowl from home after a mediocre, injury-filled season of disappointment, but that’s a story for another time.

This Sunday, the Colin Kaepernick-led San Francisco 49ers face Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. And believe me when I say that this should be a game for the ages.

On one side you have the San Francisco 49ers from the NFC, a team with a history of great quarterbacks and Super Bowl victories, but a more recent past peppered with losses, personnel problems and a dwindling fan base. In the last few years, however, the 49ers have returned to prominence due in large part to their stifling defense and very capable coach, Jim Harbaugh, who is taking his team to their second consecutive conference championship.

The San Francisco offense has been more of a challenge though, as evidenced by their heartbreaking 20-17 loss in last season’s NFC championship game against the New York Giants, who went on to win the Super Bowl.  To prevent the same issues in 2012, the team signed a number of new players, including the good-but-fading wide receiver Randy Moss and former Giants receiver Mario Cunningham. It obviously paid off because this season, the 49ers offense has been hitting on all cylinders.

Granted, there was plenty of drama in San Francisco when star quarterback Alex Smith was injured, replacement Colin Kaepernick stepped in and the team continued to win. Once Smith returned, Coach Harbaugh stuck with Kaepernick–the general rule being that you never pull a player who’s hot–and drew tons of criticism for keeping his high-dollar quarterback on the bench.

Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick is on fire (courtesy of Tony Avelar/AP)

Those same critics were silenced the moment San Francisco made the playoffs and continued their winning streak during the post season. And now that they could potentially win the Super Bowl, I don’t expect to hear anyone talking smack about Harbaugh, at least not until next season.

Across the field from the 49ers will be the AFC champion Baltimore Ravens, a team I am proud to say comes from the same division as my beloved Steelers, the AFC North. Given the rivalry between these two teams over the years–not to mention all the losses the Steelers have incurred at the hands of the Ravens–I can’t claim to be a Baltimore fan. However, I am planning to pull for them on Sunday because a win reinforces just how tough our division is.

It also stings a little less to say my Steelers lost to the Super Bowl champions. And after this season, every little bit helps.

Another reason I find myself pulling for Baltimore this year is Ray Lewis, the all-pro linebacker who single-handedly changed the face of defense in the NFL. Before the regular season ended, Lewis announced his plans to retire. This revelation obviously revved up his teammates because now, Lewis has a chance to get his second Super Bowl ring and to go out on top.

This also means Ray won’t be around to harass my Steelers any more, which is another huge plus. Hopefully this will give us a better chance of winning, but it’s only a matter of time before some other player steps up to terrorize Big Ben and the rest of my guys. At the very least, though, this is a good start.

The great Ray Lewis (courtesy of Mitch Stringer/USA Today)

So whether you love football like me or simply enjoy the hype surrounding the Super Bowl, I hope you will tune in this Sunday. Regardless of the outcome, it should be an awesome game full of big hits, unbelievable performances and above all, tons of emotion.

I hope you win your ring, Ray Lewis. And I’m going to miss you… well, sort of.

Enjoy the game, everybody!

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive star protects himself

Steelers’ defensive juggernaut James Harrison (courtesy of Getty Images)

In 2010, CNN reported on former San Francisco 49ers lineman George Visger, who suffered a concussion in his short NFL career, fell into a coma and nearly died. A priest even administered last rites before Visger finally returned to consciousness.

Beginning in 1982, Visger started to notice his memory fading. He has since started to write everything in his life down in little notebooks because he simply cannot remember them. Experts believe he suffered brain damage as a result of his on-field injury.

Concussions are a growing problem in NFL football that have garnered all sorts of attention over the years. Unfortunately, the NFL has not been as quick to act when it comes to protecting their players. Sure, there are more extensive tests before a concussed player can return to the field, but there have been almost no improvements to players’ equipment… until now.

Pittsburgh Steelers‘ outside linebacker James Harrison claims to have suffered double-digit concussions during his professional career. Of course, he’s administered concussions to opposing players and been fined more than six figures for his hits, but that’s beside the point.

Harrison’s new helmet (Photo: Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY Sports)

Harrison and as many as 100 other NFL players now use helmets designed by Unequal Technologies that include an added layer of protection made from Kevlar, the same material used to make bulletproof vests. Although the company claims their helmets aren’t designed to prevent concussions, it seems clear that they couldn’t hurt, either. In fact, members of the NFL Player’s Association have recommended them to players, at least until the NFL itself does more to protect against head injuries.

Fortunately, next year’s players will be required to use knee and thigh pads, which will help with lower body hits. Of course, thigh injuries normally don’t result in depression, memory loss or brain damage, so it’s obvious things are being prioritized poorly.

What will it take for the NFL to respond to the real threat: concussions and the ripple effects they cause? I certainly don’t want something tragic to happen before steps are taken to protect our athletic heroes. So if you’re listening, Commissioner Goodell, it’s time to tighten up!

Welcome back, NFL

Granny sends her best, too

At long last, NFL football has returned to American television and today is opening Sunday. I could not be happier. It was a long summer of reruns, but the Olympics helped bridge the gap between the end of the last college basketball season and today. Now my Sundays will be spoken for through New Year’s.

Like many NFL fans, I have a pretty standard Sunday routine that I follow. First, I never plan anything on Sunday, unless it happens before noon, that is—I need at least an hour to “set up” for the 1:00 kickoffs. Second, I multi-task during each commercial break and do my weekly chores—washing clothes, taking out the trash, feeding pets and performing other equally banal activities. Finally, I screen all my phone calls. And trust me, only emergency calls get returned. The rest have to wait until halftime or the next major stoppage.

Please keep this last rule in mind if you ever try to reach me on Sunday. A text message is an acceptable alternative and I assure you my response time will be faster.

The first half has ended in all the early games and I can tell it’s going to be an exciting season. Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin, III is leading the Washington Redskins to pay dirt against the New Orleans Saints. He just threw his first touchdown pass, an 88-yard beauty to Pierre Garcon. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady became the 14^th player in NFL history to pass for 40,000 yards in his career. He also surpassed John Elway for all-time touchdowns and now ranks fifth.

Things are really heating up.

Steelers look good this year!

Of course, my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers don’t play until tonight in primetime, so I get to spend my entire day in agony as I anticipate a tough match. We’re facing the Denver Broncos and their new Super Bowl MVP/future Hall of Fame/freaking awesome quarterback, Peyton Manning. These guys have a lot of weapons and Peyton is making a comeback, so I have no idea what to expect. I’m optimistic, but also nervous as hell.

And that’s something I love about NFL football. It gets into your blood and drives your emotions. It gets your adrenaline pumping and your hair standing on end. And best of all, it gives you hope because truly, anything can happen. It’s never over until that final clock shows nothing but goose eggs.

To spice things up even more during the NFL season, I participate in an annual fantasy football league with some buddies for a small, winner-take-all cash prize. You may find this a little nerdy, but it adds a layer of excitement, I assure you. For those of you unfamiliar with fantasy football, here’s how it works.

You or a friend set up a free league at one of the big sports websites like ESPN or NFL.com. Invite some friends, adjust some settings and viola! Your new league is born. On draft day, the group meets live online to select the best possible players at key positions. Everyone begins with the same roster structure—normally a QB, several RBs and WRs, a TE, a K and a Defense, plus some bench spots. You take turns cherry-picking from the best positional players in the league and build the best possible roster. Each week, you face off against other teams in your league. When your players perform well, they score points for you; when they suck or get hurt, they can lose points for you. Once the smoke clears in each weekly battle, the victor is the player with the most total points; the other guy is the loser.

What this means is I now have a reason to watch a lot of different games with great anticipation. I have players all over the place. The Redskins-Saints game is a perfect example. I’m pulling for the Redskins and currently, they are winning. But my starting fantasy quarterback is Drew Brees of New Orleans. I have to cheer for him to throw completions and hopefully touchdowns, while also hoping the Redskins can stay one step ahead of him. Drama, suspense… it’s got it all!

Go Panthers (courtesy of eBay)

An hour from now, the plot will thicken even more when Carolina and Tampa Bay kick off. The starting wide receiver for each team—in this case Steve Smith and Vincent Jackson, respectively—is on my fantasy roster and will be starting for me today. So I need them both to catch passes and score as often as possible. The down side is that I pull for the Panthers and thus don’t want Mr. Jackson to hurt them too badly. It’s like some kind of soap opera, to be sure.

Welcome back to my life and my television, NFL. I adore you while you’re here and miss you like crazy when you’re gone, so I’m ecstatic the season has just begun. And as long as the Steelers win, I trust we will have smooth sailing ahead…

The return of Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning (property of Getty images)

Peyton Manning unleashes Denver’s passing offense in first half against 49ers | Shutdown Corner – Yahoo! Sports.

I am a huge NFL football fan and must warn my readers that this is likely the first of many NFL-related posts to come. Granted, these may not interest my international folks, but I cannot resist since I have been an American football fan from a very early age. Please forgive me if you find these boring and feel free to check out one of my non-football posts instead.

After sitting out for a year and undergoing a number of neck surgeries, Peyton Manning returned to the field as starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos. And in his first two preseason outings, it looked as if his skills had grown very rusty.

Then the Broncos met up with one of the best defenses in football, the San Francisco 49ers, and everything changed.

In only three series, Manning shredded the San Fran defense, completing 10 of 12 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. One of Manning’s touchdown passes even came moments after being levelled by linebacker Parys Haralson.

In other words, it looks like Peyton’s neck is doing fine and that his skills are heating up just in time for the start of the regular season.

As a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, this doesn’t bode well since we inevitably play the Broncos every year, or so it seems. And while I have a lot of respect for Peyton Manning and his mile-high team, I sincerely hope my Steelers can shut him down this year.

Only time will tell, of course, but I can say one thing for certain: it’s going to be one hell of a great season!