Why Do You Watch?

.....and name the defensive coordinator....

 

I was born with black and gold blood, so there you go.

 

Fire Mike Tomlin Immediately

 

Those were the good old days. Ringside Rosy, Chilly Billy and Pie Trainor saying "Who can? American!"

 

Because they aren't happy unless they are biatching about someone else and they want everyone to know just how miserable they are. They sit there in their own personal echo chambers pecking away at their keyboards wearing their crown of thorns and telling everyone about how they are saving the world. Tragic.

 

Blah blah blah

 

It’s the most hypocritical nonsense I have ever seen. Complain nonstop about people complaining nonstop about MT. And like you said they won’t ignore it or move on because they want an argument or they really like MT that much (which at this point is even more insane)

 

Glenn must have the night off. I see he put his goofy ass sidekick in charge of monitoring the halls.

 

I hear ya, but what is the point of the site, just to come on and say hi. Currently we are stuck in a unsuccessful era where we haven't achieved what many of us felt each year we had a legitimate shot to do for a long time which was make a playoff run. Even during the 80's we still had that hope, Hoge going off in Denver before we flamed out, the bubby brister days because our defense gave us a chance, the o'donnell and kordell era's and the early Ben era, now it feels like we don't really have a shot to do anything or surprise anyone anymore. So folks get frustrated come to the board and express it. I try not to get as emotionally into it as I did in my 20's, 30' and 40's but I still get pissed. I get pissed because I hate hearing the media hype our coach when the same issues keep showing themselves over and over. I hate that our team has undisciplined "me" players and I truly believe to some extent the Steelers sold out when they didn't jettison Ben when he had the legal issues he did. They canned Santonio but kept Ben. So now they don't have that sorta moral high ground they used to by getting rid of problem players, they kept the QB and it paid off with another Super Bowl run but then Tomlin made it worse with his tolerance of AB and separate rules for Ben, etc.

So the team and the Standard many of us grew up has changed and I for one focus a lot of it on the head coach who I think runs a loose ship and our team has to be almost perfect to overcome our head coaches flaws and their own mistakes at times. If someone posts a thread bashing Tomlin and you don't like it, why do you feel compelled to write something or read it, just ignore it if you want. So it goes both ways, when the Steelers get to winning playoff football and playing Steeler ball like we reemember you will see people singing their praises and be pumped up. But to expect a forum to just be "Hey lets go Steelers" or "That was a tough loss, we'll get em next time" is a bit naive.

 

Its called fandom. It is closely related to irrational hope, irrational love, etc. I watch because it is the best memories I have growing up. Steelers games with my brother and dad.

But being a fan means that you're somehow invested in the team (financially with jerseys and tickets, emotionally with the years of support etc.). I always cheer for the team no matter what, but that doesn't mean I can't have opinions on coaching or personnel. I get that my opinions mean absolutely zero to the organization, but I am allowed to have those opinions (critical or otherwise). People join places like message boards to be able to voice these opinions with other fans of the same team. People see things differently (and deal with things differently) and that is what makes the board fun. I don't mean this in a personal way towards you, but I really hate this type of argument. Like because someone complains, or has negative opinions of players/coaches, then why even bother at all? That isn't how this works. Other people are allowed to internalize their own opinions as they see fit, and have every right to post them on a message board so long as they stay within community guidelines. If that type of thing bothers you, maybe the internet isn't a place you will find much joy spending time on. Nobody cares if nothing we say changes anything. We're just enjoying a message board and voicing frustrations to a group of fans who largely share similar opinions. And just as anyone else's complaining changes nothing with the Steelers organization... you complaining about the contents of others' posts isn't going to change anyone's opinion on the matter. So why bother posting it at all? See how that works? It sucks. You are allowed to have this opinion just as much as they are allowed to complain. Such is life.

The coaches and players are professional athletes. They aren't my friends, or my family... they're just people that are employed by my favorite entertainment franchise. My opinions are my own and I've had a lot of positive interactions over the past 11+ years spent interacting with folks on this site. You don't like the contents, that is totally fine. You don't have to participate.

Again, this opinion is pointed more towards the "take" as a whole and not directly at you. Just my feelings on the issue.

 

I watch hoping Ben is running the offense then I keep waking up to some mediocore offense at best.

 

For me it’s a generational aspect. I grew up in the 70s watching with my Dad. The 80s it was my wife and me, then with my children. Now I have grandsons to watch with.

In the 70s 80s if the Steelers lost I’d be bummed until Thursday.

I highly enjoyed the Cowher years and the Killer B era.

Now, I still watch every game put don’t wear my emotions on my sleeve. I guess I’m an old geezer and have other priorities.

Unless big changes happen soon I will probably watch them less next year.

My bucket list still includes attending a home Monday night game

 

Blah blah blah

 

I get it, my posts are more towards the every game, every year negative Nancy’s. For instance saying we are gonna lose the next so many games. If they truly feel that way, why are they watching the games. While watching are they at least optimistic that we win and they are wrong, or are they hopeful that their predictions are correct.

I along with everyone else am tired of the non losing seasons being mediocrity. But I would hope that every member on here would be optimistic going into each game.

Yes Tomlin is to blame for many reasons, but so is not executing. Last night for instance. Is Tomlin the reason we couldn’t get a half yard 3 straight times, Did he cause Austin to fumble the ball on a return? Did he make Pickens miss every pass thrown his way or Muth to not catch the wide open pass?

Like I said in my post I’m going to continue to root my team on no matter who the coaches are and the players in black and gold. Do I wish for changes, yeah I do. But I don’t have to come in and post on every post available week after week saying the same thing. Every single post on here gets hijacked.

 

Some people deal with disappointment differently. Its more constructive for some, and more negative for others unfortunately.

No one is under the impression one person is the only issue. There is always more than one, but I think many see Tomlin as the main point of contention. Hard to blame them.

I get it that some people beat a dead horse. It can be frustrating too. However, toxic positivity is just as toxic to some as negativity. I am always rooting hard (and tend to be overly optimistic), but as the years go on and the same movie is on repeat... it is getting harder and harder to be so.

 

I knew the end results of Episodes 1-3 of Star Wars but I still watched it because I was interested in how the Empire took over the Old Republic and the Jedi were hunted to near extinction.

I knew the end results of Dune part 2 since I read the Frank Herbert book and saw the '84 Lynch movie. Wanted to see Villanueve's interpretation of Dune story.

I know what eventually happens to the Targaryen dynasty in House of the Dragon after watching Game of Thrones, but it's cool to see the events that led up to the downfall of the Mad King, Aerys II.

I know the ending to Steelers 2024 season because Tomlin has given me no reason to have any kind of faith in a playoff victory over the Ravens after 14 years of the same results in the post season. That...and the performance of the team over the past 4 weeks.

 

The same way overly negative people rub some the wrong way so do overly optimistic (head in the sand) posters for others. People are different ever hear of half full/half empty? If it bothers someone that much simply put the poster on ignore and move on.

 

Food for thought: somebody telling me that I can't post my opinion on an internet message board just because they don't like it, is NOT going to cause me to stop doing it. In fact, I'm probably doubling down and then telling the person to F off.

 

I watch because I have been watching for 52 years. I understand this board is a place to vent because it provides a common venting experience, so I don't mind it but rarely indulge in it.

To me the worse possible end to a season would be a playoff loss to the Ravens and that's what we are looking at. Normally, I can give the Steelers a pass because I saw all those championships in the 70s and still relish the memories. There is no better time for your team to win then when you are a kid, I think.

Still, I am becoming more in alignment to those who vent on this board. Your complaints are valid. I thought all the moves last offseason was finally a sign of breaking the inertia of the franchise, but apparently not.

 

Thanks Art