What kind of fan are you?

One of my favorite things about being a Steeler fan since 1991 is that it's hard to come by band wagoners. Now I'm sure there are some, but I havnt met any yet. Most people HATE the steelers. So when they put in work like they are this year it is quite the satisfaction. I have watched every Steeler game for a long time, win or lose! Go steelers!!!

 

This is a GREAT thread, Ray. I grew up in southwest Virginia, Heath Miller territory, and in fact I was born in the same hospital as Heath about 16 years before him. I figured I drove right by the hospital on my way home from school the day Heath was born. I could literally see the hospital from my house. Little did I realize that the future greatest TE in Steeler history was laying in that hospital being admired by friends and family as I drove by. Had I known, I would have stopped by. But I digress.

I became a Steeler fan in 1975, mostly because I liked the looks of their uniforms and they were not the Cowboys, who my older brother liked. It didn't take very long before I was hooked. Bradshaw and Franco and Swann and Lambert and Greene and company pulled me in. I remember watching the pure poetry of Lynn Swann in Super Bowl X, Franco putting his finger in Hollywood Henderson's face and then exploding up the middle for a TD in Super Bowl XIII and the clutch performance of Bradshaw and Stallworth in SB XIV. I remember how it felt 16 years later when we lost the Super Bowl for the first time thanks to Neil O'Dummy! I really didn't think it was possible for my beloved Black & Gold to lose a Super Bowl until that game. I was devastated but it made me appreciate even more what the Steelers of the 70s were able to accomplish. We'll never see that kind of dynasty ever again in football.

To summarize, I'm just a normal fan. I take Steeler games way too seriously and allow them to affect my mood way too much. I have pretty strong opinions on the state of the team and will express them freely, but I always try to offer well reasoned commentary with at least some basis in fact. I got to see my first Steeler game in person in 2010. It was a great experience with my wife, my 3 sons and my daughter-in-law, all Steeler fans! 60,000 fans waving the Terrible Towel in unison is truly a spine chilling experience!

 

I'm nervous before and during the game. I watch all sports and no other team makes me feel that way. I used to get really depressed after a loss, still do but it's not as bad as it used to be.

 

Good bump on this.

I was born/raised in SoCal, became a Steeler fan on the night of Nixon's resignation, while at my uncle's house. I was six. I remember this distinctly, sitting in my uncle's living room, where a bunch of my family were huddled around the TV during the announcement, and I was bored. On the coffee table was a Sports Illustrated, with Bradshaw on the cover...



That did it. I thought that helmet was the coolest thing ever. And from that point, in playing this...

I always took the Steelers. That season, they won their first Super Bowl, and that was it.

In 1975, I met most of the players at the Century Plaza Hotel, in L.A., when they were in town to play the Rams (week 14). I don't have many photos left from that, but here's one of Bradshaw...me (in a blur) in the foreground:



I attended Super Bowl XIII in Miami. and then XIV in Pasadena. After SB XIII, the Steelers' Pro Bowlers were on our flight to L.A., where the Pro Bowl was being held.

I'm a passionate fan to a fault. But I don't care about Ws and Ls as much as watching a team play as well as it can. What was the saying: "It's not whether you win or lose that matters, but how you play the game." I'm a romantic, in that regard. I still deeply believe that that's what sport is all about. I've never been prouder of the Steelers, in some moments, than in defeat. The 1989 divisional playoff loss to Denver is a case in point. That team played as hard and well that day as any Steeler team I'd ever rooted for. That's all I ask: play hard, to the best of your abilities. The 1993 Wild Card loss to KC (with Montana at QB) is another example.

I attended my first (and only) Steeler game in Pittsburgh in 2005...the Sunday night game vs Cleveland.

I plan to be there in 2015 for the game (which will be scheduled) vs Arizona.

 

Born in '68 and always a Steelers fan since my Dad gave me a football book when I was around 6. This is Redskins country but I just found the Steelers uniforms cooler and the team more fun to watch; mid-to-late 70's Skins teams were like watching paint dry. It didn't hurt that the Steelers were great but I have been with them ever since. A bit analytical and a realist, I haven't 'seen it all' but I have seen a lot in 46 years.

 

I became a fan in 1968 or 69 at a very young age. My best friend was from Pittsburgh and I just latched on to the team. I'm a huge die hard fan. I truly believe they will every game. I bleed Black N' Gold. I have even bleed for real for the team(Steeler tat)....lol

 

An old one. I have been a fan since I was 14 so that is 56 years of being a Steeler fan.

 

I have been a fan since 78, and always will be, I don't have a second fave team, If i can't watch the Steelers on tv, comp, ect, ect. I could careless about watching any other game that is on tv. I think i have only missed 2-3 games in the pst 2-3 years ................. Oh and when i am watching the game, I have to be by myself, the only Steelers' game i watched when i wasn't alone, was when we played GB- in the SB, I was hijacked/kidnapped and taken to a to a SB party,, so i guess that one is on me

 

I am a local life long Steeler fan old enough to have seen the dynasty years. What a time to be a kid growing up with those great players. I guess I have evolved, I have been fortunate to see them play and win a sb in person 79 LA. I have been fortunate to see them on the road quite a few times yes we do travel well. Football has been in my blood played high school ball at a high level. I use to just love football any kind of football, now as I have aged and the rule changes it is not the game I grew up loving. I care far too much about the Steelers I want them to be the very best they can be and I get frustrated when I see bad football. I am a fundamentalist, realist when it comes to football.
The Steelers have been a very big part of my life,
I know I am a homer, but I can only seriously root for 1 professional football team and that is the PGH STEELERS.The greatest franchise on the planet.

 

What kind of fan am I? The best kind is what I am! Most that post here know that I am a "rose-colored-glasses" kind of fan. I lucked into being a Steelers fan. Being that Iowa doesn't have a professional team and I grew up watching Bradshaw, Mean Joe, Jack, Jack, Franco, Lynn, etc. made it easy to gravitate towards them. Honestly, I'm probably more passionate about the Steelers than the players are. On game day every ounce of me pours out black and gold. I love my family but for 3 hours on Sunday Steeler football is the center of my universe. I love this team when they win and I love them when they lose. Yes I want Lombardi's but, really, I just love to watch our boys out there doing there best, sometimes, making something out of nothing. This might explain why I don't post much when we are losing. Sometimes it is hard for me to take the negativity. I'm not knocking anyone or telling anyone that they don't have a right to feel how they feel. All I'm saying is that, for me, the negativity can be too much and I chose to back off. On a side note, I do wish we had cheerleaders...one of my most favorite things about football (j/k).

 

I am the kind of fan that gets to work every morning and checks out this message board just because I want to relish in the wins and losses, while figuring out who has a different &/or the same outlook as me.

I am a fan from South Central PA (Harrisburg area) who is Damn Proud! We drive to the games and home in the same day, which does get hard but then we talk about how easy it is to sit in the stands vs. playing the game.

I am one of the luckiest people on earth because I have season tickets and a family that loves the Steelers and enjoys sharing that passion.

I am very serious about seeing a game, and thanks to someone on this board, I haven't missed a game (sometimes we need to sell a game or 2) since getting on this board earlier this year. Thank you TTF- for that.

I am a fan who feels love, admiration, pride... everything that you could imagine when OUR team comes through that tunnel.

let me preface this next comment by saying I am no push over or weak guy, some of you might call someone a "sissy" and that is not me. I am a traditional long haired "Harley biker". I own my motorcycle store (18+ years in business), spent years fighting (in and out the ring), am an accomplished high ranking competitive martial artist, and a swim coach and am thankful of the abilities that God has bestowed on me... and with that said

I am the kind of fan who chokes back the tears when the Jumbotron shows videos of the past glories, or like this year when that first Steelers Super Bowl team was on the field. For those of who haven't been to Heinz Field for a game yet... don't give up. get there, and when Renegade is playing late in third quarter-- you will know you are at home with 60K of your closest friends.

I am the kind who loves our team! Win or lose matters but it means something deeper to me that I get the chance to share this ride with all of you strange people, who understand it.

I am the kind of fan who is Thankful.

 

I am all of the above. Honestly it depends on the game what kind of a fan I am. If we are ahead by a lot I am nervous because things seem to be going too well. If we are behind I am optimistic just a play or two and we are back in the game. I live and die with each play and possession. Being a varsity girls basketball coach has helped me deal with the ups and downs of wins and losses a lot better. It used to be a Steeler loss hurt for days. Now it may hurt for an afternoon, especially games we should win...

I definitely bleed black and gold. I love my Steelers more than any other of my teams I follow. I am pretty knowledgeable about the game but I definitely come here to learn and stay in contact with the fans. I can be at times probably too negative and at times too positive. I know my 7 year old son knows more words than most truckers but he is all about the Steelers and his two favorite guys Ben and Antonio Brown. The family has been to Pittsburgh once and I have been 3 times. Want to get back in the next year or two.

I just want to say thanks to all you guys and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! You guys keep me up to date on the Steelers because in Iowa we don't get the coverage of the Steelers. I have to deal with Packers, Viks and Bear fans. The Pack fans are the worst...

Now go and trash the Bungles and reclaim the top of the AFC North where we belong!

 

I'm really big on defense. So it hurts to see what goodell is doing to the NFL. I'm also a fan that values heart & determination before talent. If I see my steelers give it everything they got but fall short, I'd still be happy. At the same token if they win by 20 but feel they didn't bring it, the pessimist in me comes out. It's all about representing what Steel town is all about.

 

Three Rivers was amazing!! I love Heinz Field to but Three Rivers was just more "blue collar".

BTW, I am a little disappointed that you like the Yankees...

I am an extremely passionate sports fan. A Steelers fan since 1975, and raised both of my daughters to be as well. My ENTIRE family are Steelers fans. Its just not an option not to be. I am elated and jubilant when we win. I have been known to stand in the same position for the whole game if I think it is working. I am pissed off and throw things when we stink up the joint. I will NEVER root for another team. I expect us to be in contention in every game and when it doesn't happen, I am not a happy camper.

 

I live in Clarksville, Tn but have lived all over the world being in the Army for the past 24 years. I became a steelers fan when they had the old electric football game and my mom brought it for me and my brother and I chose the steelers and he chose the cowboys. That was 1979 and I am still a fan.

I depise it when they lose and very excited when they win. I have a office of steelers memorbilia and my saying is "You can never have enough steeler stuff".

I have two twin boys who are 26 years old and are HUGH steelers fans. They take the loses worst than I do. I use to be like them but over the years you deal a little better. I remember having them on my lap watching steelers games even though they wanted to get down and go play. But they had to watch some of it.

Now, there wives are steelers fans, my grandson and even my wife are all steelers fans. We have been to Pittsburgh several times, Cinncinati, Cleaveland and Atlanta to watch games. Of course we went to the recent game here in Nashville agains the Titans. I'm all about building the fan base.

People say we travel well, but I think it's that we are everywhere and we don't have to travel. I was stationed in El Paso, Texas and it was a Steelers Bar there. NOT a Cowboys bar, NOT a Texans bar but a STEELERS BAR!

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the best franchise in the NFL. The fans are awesome no matter where you go. Let's get this train going so we can get that 7th trophy!

 

Born and raised a Steelers fan and started following them in the early 70's. I remember when I was about 6 yrs old that we would have get togethers at the house with all the neighbors and friends. Set up multiple tv's in various rooms and one particular time when my parents freind entered the house and they were about to play the Browns. He said to me, the number 1 thing about being a Steelers fan is that you HAVE to hate the Browns. For soome reason it just stuck to me like glue.

Like many others my age. I had to move away from Pittsburgh and brought my fandom everywhere I have ever traveled. WE ARE EVERYWHERE AND THERE AINT A DANG THING THE NFL CAN DO ABOUT IT! It probably irks Roger Goodell to death knowing that his beloved darlings can't show that same support.

I have converted most of my family to be Steelers fans. My son however is very young and likes the Bengals. I will not take away any enjoyment that he has at his young age but I am very persuasive that he sees the light soon and have a strong belief that he will also follow the Black N Gold as passionately as his father does.

My wife just leaves when the Steelers are playing. We love each other very much but she hardly gets any response from me when my team is playing. The Steelers have been in the SB and she cares more for the commercials and halftime show than anything else.

There are times when I wish it wouldn't consume so much of my life and even health but I reserve those days for being a Penguins and Pirates fan.

HERE WE GO STEELERS HERE WE GO!!!!!!!

 

Reading through this thread makes me sad. Just to see all those members who have fallen by the wayside. Funny what a coupel of 8-8 season coupled with DRL(Darth Real Life) can do to an online community. I hope they find their way back as the team rights the ship and blazes towards more playoff glory.