I also won 4 tickets to go see Yo Gabba Gabba Live! from Giant Eagle as part of a twitter contest. I’m tellin ya folks, social media channels are a great way to win free stuff! The plus side, The seats were a fantastic location and we even got 2 kids DVDs to go with it BUT I had to work Saturday and there was no way Lushie was going to handle both kids at that. Tickets ended up going to a very thankful co-worker of hers.

Saturday was an incredible day. I’ve been planning a concert for the last month and trying to get this to go smooth was an interesting task but always rewarding task. I booked Clarks frontman Scott Blasey as our kickoff act for homecoming this year which was also part of our year long 90th anniversary celebration. Needless to say there were some very distinguished people that would be in attendance.

Someone up above was looking out for me because the weather the entire weekend was 80F and sunny… in October… IN PENNSYLVANIA! Yeah that doesn’t happen. Scott arrived and we got him set up, I scheduled an interview with the radio station and we had the interview and concert recorded on video and audio. I’m geeking out over how the audio could turn out. He played 60 minutes of non-stop hits and the crowd was loving it. I sent someone to the back of the lot and found out people were dancing and singing by their cars. Show ended and Scott was generous with his time to sign every autograph request and pose for pictures.  Some people hate on the Clarks because WDVE has played them a lot over the last 25 years but Scott is a 100% class act. I’ve worked with performers in the past and not one was as professional and pleasant as he is.

Homecoming is always an exhausting day but I work with some incredible people whom make the event insanely fun and that’s what makes us successful. To celebrate I stopped and picked up bombers of Golden Monkey from Victory and The Great’er Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale from Heavy Seas. Both delicious choices.

Sunday was a great day. My brother called me earlier this week and asked if I would like free tickets to the Steelers game vs the Titans. Yeah like I would pass that up.

We walked across the Allegheny River from Point State Park and with the 75F temp and blue sky I took a moment to soak it all in because the view of the North Shore from the pedestrian bridge is breathtaking. Felt like the Regatta was going on with all of the boats on the river.

Our seats were on the 20 yard line, 12 rows back and as great luck would have it my bud Tall Cathy was sitting 2 seats down from me. Taunting each other wasted no time getting started.

Steelers won the game 38-17 but the story for me was in the craft beer served at Heinz field. In fact anything sold in general.  Stay tuned for that! Steelers also gave out a pink version of the Terrible Towel in honor of breast cancer awareness month. You can never have enough towels in the house.

On the walk back we decided to hit Primanti’s in Market Square for a Derda boys dinner. I went with my favorite Capicola and Cheese but they 1) ran out of bread for the sandwiches 2) it took 20 minutes for a server to come over to us 3) 30 minutes to get a glass of water.  If we weren’t exhausted we probably would have left. I was able to check out the changes that have been made to Market Square and I like it SO much better now with the center of the square being a common area. Very nice upgrades!

Everything that has gone on over the last few weeks made this weekend worth it.

Here’s a moment in the game that Steelers fans everywhere get chills over when you’re a part of it.

So, what’s next?

Winter Classic Game album | Alumni Game album

The Winter Classic is quickly becoming the Super Bowl of the hockey world. I couldn’t make it to Buffalo for the first Classic game and the last couple years I would watch the game but I was never “into” it. This year with Pittsburgh hosting all of that changed. I’ve been to a lot of high profile hockey events in my days and will say that this was the most incredible ever.

I walked over from town on a night filled with a mystifying fog lingering over the rivers. With the lights of the bridges and city glowing it was a scene reminding me of a Crow movie. As I passed PNC Park the tailgating began and what a party these people were having! The amount of hockey love was amazing! Still the vibe didn’t hit me until I reached Heinz Field and walked through Spectator Plaza. Knowing this is a growing event I appreciated what was there but could see how the NHL could have dominated a lot more floor space.

Signature Sandwich Face-off
In a first for the Classic, Aramark pitted the signature sandwiches from the Washington Capitals (The Fury) against the Pittsburgh Penguins (Kielbasa Grinder). Its no secret that I am obsessed with the sandwich but I was severely disappointed with the offering at the Classic. The meat was dry, the cheese was hard and there was barely any sauce. Somehow it won though so kudos for that.

The Game

I went to the game with my nephew Ben. We have started making it a tradition going to important Pens games together and this was another one to chalk up. Our seats were in 147 which if you go there for any other event don’t exist. If you’re watching the Steelers game its the open end section of the south end zone. Seats were incredibly tight (dude next to me was 180lbs and barely fit) but the view was absolutely amazing.

Besides the Caps winning 3-1 the game was hard hitting and amazingly fast given the poor ice conditions. Officiating was mediocre which we’re use to and probably to the disappointment of HBO/NBC you didn’t see much from Crosby or Ovechkin. At the end of the game neither team shook hands, they just left the ice. I have a severe hatred for the Philadelphia Flyers but the joy I see in defeating the Caps grows every game. Pens fans hate Philly because that’s history. Its just what you do. Caps players and their fan base hate anything Pittsburgh and I LOVE it. It makes for a healthy obsession with my team.

In between periods were short sets performed by Hinder, The Clarks and Styx. Styx? yeah I guess they thought it was a Steelers game. The bands sounded great but that happens when everyone does the lip sync.

What I wasn’t crazy about
You take the good, you take the bad and… that song is now in your head. You’re welcome.

1. Heinz Field needs upgraded. It was great 10 years ago but I’m still pissing in a trough, your concession stands don’t take credit/debit cards and your Nacho Grande is 2 cups of cheese? Your sound system crackles and the video was 3-5 seconds off of the audio. It was worse than watching TV and listening to the radio. Lame.
2. Alyonka Larionov – who hired this girl? The most basic video segments and she fumbled over all of them. You called the band “The Styx”? Were the cards in Pittsburghese and you couldn’t read them? You’re not that cute. What a joke
3. The Franco Harris/Jerome Bettis shootout – Who’s idea was THAT debacle?
4. rain – mother nature you were a pain in the 3rd.
5. Cell coverage – my phone showed 4 bars and 3G coverage but I couldn’t upload anything and twitter was impossible. Its worse than Consol Energy Center. Verizon should spend more money on coverage than on advertising being a top sponsor.

The weekend was absolutely amazing and I will never forget the hockey love that took over the north shore.

January
Reflected on the first beer I EVER drank and yes, I kept the bottle. Prepare for the end of my 10+ year employment at ForeSystems/Marconi/Ericsson. Bitched about the weather and yinzers inability to drive in snow plus dumb ass snow removal by my neighbors. Both of those still hold true today. Got ready for an unbelievable run to the Super Bowl

February
Steelers won the Super Bowl and became the first ever 6 time champ thus giving every knock off t-shirt maker starry eyes at the potential of “6 pack” shirts. Punxy Phil said 6 more weeks of winter. I was officially laid off, was interviewed for a Post Gazette story on unemployment moments after i was laid off (that never was published), Pens started to turn it around and the biggest shock of them all… Teaspoon arrived 2 months early making me the happiest and most terrified dad. Came in at 4.1lb, dropped to 3.2lb and would leave at 5 in March.

March
It was the month of Teaspoon. Lushie and I spent every minute we could at the Mercy NICU while he got healthy in an incubator. 28 days later he came home. Also witnessed the stupidity of some Hill District parents who think its a hotel in there and the joke that is unemployment system in PA.

April
Went to my first ever Rugby match and got addicted to watching Claire and the girls kick ass. Missed my first opening day of Pirates baseball since 1984 (watched it on TV with Teaspoon and started a new tradition with my boy). Bought a Wii. Enjoyed the greatest comeback in Pens Playoff hockey that I have witnessed as the Pens turned the series around with 1 fight and the Max Talbot shhhhhhh! Saw Beer Wars the Movie with hundreds of other craft beer fans around the world and baked an incredible beer ham for Easter.

May
Should I Drink That turned 3. Pens defeated Washington and Carolina to earn a second trip to the Stanley Cup Finals for a 2nd year. Bought a Blackberry. Joined Sadie’s Soldiers and took some Great Strides. KDKA reads my “tweet of the day” which I WISH they would bring back. The great personalized jersey debate. Meatshield welcomed his first child (i swear it was the year for kids to be born) and we had a cookout with some family. Bowling league ended and we were the undisputed champs.

June
Teaspoon’s first trip to the ER. Coming out of golf retirement after 3.5 year for a day with Yinz Teamer’s Woy, Lokay and Shireman at Cranberry Highlands. The Clarks release Restless Days after 5 years. Pens win the Stanley Cup in 7 games vs Detroit. Pittsburgh floods… again. Unemployed Utensil makes his first appearance as a way to help me get through not working. My first Father’s day and Pirates waste of talent Ian Snell cant take negative people.

up next… July through December.

This is the best thing about Steeler games in our house, the food. Today I had a craving for a taco salad dip and after a quick trip to Giant Eagle, Lushie whips this bad boy up. I like watching the games and I know our players but don’t try talking about other teams with me cuz I’ll just nod and say “oh yeah, of course!”  I’m not a big football guy but I’m a fan of the festivities. If a guy isn’t on my fantasy team I wont know who you’re talking about. However I will be able to give you some kickass food and serve up the finest craft beers.  Today is Erie Brewing Ol Red Cease n Desist.

I’m in between games of NHL10 so I have to keep this brief before some friends show up.

Go Steelers!

This is in reply to a piece that Jessica Isner wrote titled “Top 10 Reasons Boston Will Dethrone Pittsburgh as Best Sports City in 2010“. Lets address each of her claims as to why Boston will win.

10. Pittsburgh has no MLS team and no NBA team.
Didn’t realize people actually followed MLS and NBA teams still. That’s SO 90′s. We’ve been too busy to notice down here, you know, winning hockey and football titles. Honestly, if not for ESPN would anyone even know the NBA was around? My bet is that if you throw a bunch of “pro” teams at a city eventually one of them will win.

9. The Penguins may be better than the Bruins, but…
But nothing. Penguins are 5-1, Bruins are  2-3.  No Stanley Cup since 1971-72? Wow that’s almost as pathetic as Toronto. suck it.

8. The Charles River trumps all three rivers in Pittsburgh.
Here’s the part that kills me, “The Charles has history, collegiate regattas and celebrity fans.”. Darlin, you may want to check out the Three Rivers Regatta and Head of the Ohio. Since you’re up on history I’m assuming you know about Fort Pitt? right? What a joke. Did you even fact check?

7. Pittsburgh doesn’t have cool celebrity fans.
What does this have to do with best Sports City? Oh well I’ll humor it. If you could fill your seats on your own you wouldn’t need celebs. That’s why we have waiting lists to get into our games.

6. Sam Adams > Iron City.
Iron City? Really? I like Sam and all but I think you need to have a few beers from East End Brewing. You’ll find the emerging craft beer scene here quite impressive. Take off the beer goggles.

5. Boston is a college hockey utopia.
Granted you have a GREAT hockey program up there but you should check your facts. True that Pitt doesn’t have a  Div 1 hockey team but Robert Morris does and look at the score sheet of the last time they played.

4. After much debate, it’s true: BC football is better than Pitt football.
Debate with whom? the mailroom guy?

3. Fan devotion
Steeler Nation would destroy you and Penguins fans would trample your weak and hurdle your dead Bruins fans. no contest.

2. Speaking of the Patriots and the Steelers …
Yeah speaking of, I forget, which city does your football team play in again? Ours is actually IN Pittsburgh so I was just curious.

1. This is a baseball country, and — shocker — the Pirates just don’t cut it.
Its whatever country you want it to be when you’re trying to grasp for hope. Pirates have lost for 17 straight years and the only person this seems like news to is you. Seriously, we don’t even notice anymore.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I arrived at Station Square shortly after 8am yesterday morning and met up with Stoosh on my way over. The weather couldn’t have been planned more perfect than sunny and temps in the high 70′s/low 80′s. Granted the parade didn’t start until 12pm we wanted to make sure that we had the perfect spot.

Here are some teasers from the day I took with my Nikon and Blackberry:

(click here for the full album on Flickr)

The Penguins displayed once again why they are a top notch organization. The parade was fantastic and players took time to walk along the fences thanking fans. An estimated 375,000 fans showed up for the parade which is roughly 25,000 more than for the Steelers bash in February. Anyone who thinks hockey is a dead sport or is a passing fad needs to spend some time in the City of Champions. For the first time in Professional Sports history a city has a Stanley Cup and Super Bowl Champion in the same year.

Following the parade I met up with Jim and Scott for after parade beverages and grub on the patio of  Palomino’s and then outside 1902 Tavern followed by a quick trip to the new KDKA HD studios which went live today.

It was a great day for hockey!

• Watch it online – KDKA, WTAE and WPXI will all have live webfeeds
• Follow on Twitter – Jim Lokay (KDKA) and Tall Cathy (KISS FM) are live blogging or you can use the hash to find out who else is down there.  Pittsburgh new media again proving to be ahead of the game.

Here is my album from the Super Bowl XL parade. It was just as cold then.

cheers!

I won’t lie, with 1:30 left in the game I thought it was over. I wanted to believe there was a comeback in place but something just didn’t feel right. Then Dime Bag thankfully proved me wrong and life is good again in Steeler Nation.

I don’t think the realization of what happened last night has settled in for me yet. Counting all of the Super Bowls I’ve watched since I was a kid, this was my favorite and I’m not saying that because the Steelers won either. Tight scoring game, blood pressure probably maxing out at 160 with the holding call that resulted in a safety, every series felt dramatic. The game was exhausting to watch and I loved it.

Something was missing for me though. I had more fun celebrating Super Bowl XL due to the fact that was my first time seeing a Steelers Super Bowl win that I wasn’t an infant for. I bought the swag, went to the parade and took part in every celebration I could. This year I was cheering in my house but not to the same level as XL. I’m not really interested in the parade since I’ve already been there before and I may buy some collectibles for Teaspoon’s room but that’ll probably be it. Here is my collection from the Super Bowl XL parade.

I am happy though. Not to the level of burning couches like the idiots in Oakland but pretty high up there. This will be a great morale booster in a city where unemployment is increasing every day and we continue to fight the image of a burned out steel town from the 80′s. 6 Super Bowl titles… saying that just amazes me.

Couple observations from my captain’s chair:

• In my lifetime I have now had 2 aging rockers shove their crotch in front of me without asking. 1) Mick Jagger at the Stones concert at PNC Park a couple years back when we were front row. 2) Bruce Springsteen’s slide into the camera during Super Bowl XLIII half time show.
• I need therapy after that previous statement.
• Glad to see the bailout money to the auto industry will be put to good use… cleaning up the mess from the horrible Super Bowl ads. (*note*  it’s a joke people. like “great there’s a bailout and we still get shitty commercials”. I know that Audi didnt get a bailout.)
• Budweiser, please stop showing us your horses and spend the money on improving your beer.
• Doritos proved that hits to the jewels is still classic.
• Career Builder makes me wanna punch a Koala now and I’m OK with that.
• John Madden is like Harry Carry was. Old and no one cares if you show up drunk to babel about nonsense.
• Why do the Super Bowl hats look like they should belong to Seattle?
• This morning while reading the PG I saw a classic ad from Highmark. Yeah, I dig that.
• You haven’t seen fires burn as brightly and cars tipped over with finesse until you do in HD.

Love’m or hate’m, Steelers are the 6 time champions of the NFL and you’re not

Go Pittsburgh!

Mike Pound shows you that even a Browns fan (I won’t hold that against him) can get ready to watch the Steelers in style.

Come on Mike, you know that black n gold felt good on.

Today I bought my first Terrible Towel in decades. My dad had given me my original one when I was a kid and when he passed in 2006 I gave it to him for the ride upstairs.  Lushie said while at the store that I can’t watch a Super Bowl w/o a towel and dad would have kicked my ass if I did so.

cheers!

** Lushie came to me wanting to rant.  This is it…**

Well as you know,  for the AFC Championship game WTAE decided that “BREAKING NEWS” was not only the score of the Steeler’s game but also a bar tour of the local drunks to get there oh so insightful reactions.  I, of course,  was one of many that complained to WTAE and ABC news that this was abuse of the term “BREAKING NEWS” and was rude to those of us who either did not want to watch the game or recorded the regular shows while we watched the game.  Now after a backlash of complaints WTAE printed an excuse in the Post Gazette later in the week.  Like I said, this was an excuse not an apology, because they planned for this breaking news event, there were reporters at many locations to give a live local reactions.  As commented by WTAE in the paper this was important to the residents of Pittsburgh.

Well here the facts:

1.  The game was televised on a local station.
2.  Anyone that wanted to watch the game or see the score had local access
3.  Breaking news is not and never will be the score of a sporting event.  Breaking news is a tragedy like a fire, accident or missing child.
4.  WTAE stayed in the Breaking News until 11 pm when they started the news with guess what,  THE STEELERS.
5.  Yes the game is important to most Pittsburgh and Pa residents but not everyone. Now forgive me Steeler Nation but some people do not like football and yes some people who live here are fans of other teams.

Well now that I have said that spew here is my next.  Yes, we are all happy that our team is in the Super Bowl.  I will be watching the game in my Steeler clothes, with all the football food, the Terrible Towel and of course my Steelers blanket.  So don’t even think of bashing me for not being a fan and yes I have watched all the games the same way so I am not even a fair weather fan. However,  the constant coverage from the 20 minutes of news on when they landed to what they are eating and the charge sound effects prior to every song on the radio is overboard.  This is a great thing for the city and for us as fans, but it is not the end all be all of our lives.  Life will go on after the Super Bowl and if we don’t win, yes I will be upset.  I will not die if they lose. However, I do believe that some news anchors and radio DJ’s will have to be put on suicide watch. This will make the police work harder to patrol the bridges so maybe it will be good for the city all around, win or lose.