Death of a Legend. #danrooney #steelers
DEATH OF A LEGEND
#danrooney #steelers
If Ice Cube wrote a sad song, then today was a bad day.
You hope the story is right after telling it a certain way all these years. Born into an Eagles family, I was allowed to choose my allegiances. My uncle sending me kid items from Western PA with exciting black and gold colors probably seeped into my subconscious. My birth date being in 1972, three years before a team won four of the next six Super Bowls, probably assisted. And probably being around Eagles fans constantly growing up figured into the equation. Whichever things helped out more in the cause, I became a diehard Steelers fan. Never have waivered, never have strayed.
Dan Rooney died today. It is a sad day for fans, the Steelers, and the NFL brass. He changed things. He made people aware of tendencies. He was the son of the founder of the Steelers franchise. He was chairman of the board.
My favorite story about Mr. Rooney was that he was supplanted in his own football lineup by some guy named Johnny Unitas. Then, the Steelers brought on and then CUT that same Unitas guy. 1949. Might have won something a little sooner if they would have kept that guy around.
I believe it was 2003 or so when Dan Rooney said that the NFL needed to look at minorities for coaching hires. They named the rule after him. He has a black head coach. He has had three head coaches during his entire tenure. He talks the talk, and walks the walk.
He believed in the draft. He helped orchestrate the greatest NFL draft in history. He didn’t worry about flashy free agent pickups. He brought on class acts and got rid of the not as classy acts (Hey! Ben turned out to be an ok guy after the college bar and motorcycle thing! WRITE off.).
Side note. I went to Pittsburgh a long, long time ago, and I have been once or twice in the last 5 years. That town is awesome now. One of my favorite walking towns that transformed from a shady, ragged place.
It is kind of easy to stay true to an organization like the Steelers. It is kind of easy to associate the name “Rooney” with one thing in life. It is kind of easy to cheer for the black and gold.
It is not as easy losing Mr. Rooney. Happy trails, sir. You were a legend.
SHORTS:
-More to come on the NBA playoffs and my predictions (I am tired from my tradeshow, want to do some work, and want to read my Nelson DeMille novel on the plane). I find it tough to get past the view it will be anyone else but the Cavs and Warriors. But, I want to think about it some more.
-I just don’t understand how the Celtics think that no moves are needed. Weakest #1 seed in a while overall. Solid team overall, but not sure their lack of stars won’t bite them when the slower play in the playoffs kicks in.
-The Nuggets showed JUST enough improvement to be at the tail end of the draft lottery. They just suck at tanking.
-I like traveling and getting my daily USA Today. Then, I get home, and laugh each time as it is one of the most mindless reads ever. Love the pics and charts though.
-When I go back to San Diego, I will note moving forward that I might have to get another sandwich in my life from The Beach Hut, at the corner of the Springhill Suites building. Incredible sandwiches AND they serve drinks.
-Sad that Tony Romo didn’t play on his one day contract, and figured a story would be released that Mark Cuban tried very hard to have the NBA allow him to play him.
-No. I wasn’t happy with the irony that I was right down the street from Petco and the Padres were in Denver playing the Rockies.
-San Diego is hosting a cool Red Bull boating event in the bay area this weekend. Lack of research. Had I known that, I might have flown my wife out here and just stayed the weekend. You are welcome, work. I am coming back to work Friday.
-Why don’t more bums save up $10 and not eat or drink, and then go to San Diego, where the weather is always the same? They could sell their warm clothes they have accumulated and know they won’t need them in SoCal.
-That’s it for today. I need to do some work in the hour before we take off. Will I blog again? That is a CLOWN question, bro. Peace.
