How come all the hate?

Whatever happened to star players supporting their former teams. I expect this conuct from other teams but not the Steelers.......ex..from Hines to Bettis are dogging us

 

I think I forsee a pre-season prediction poll thread in the not too distant future. LOL

Edit: Hey TTF, I'm doing a little bit better, at least I was able to find last year's poll thread:
http://thesteelersfans.com/forums/s...worse-this-year-POLL&highlight=preseason+poll

 

How is making a prediction hate?

 

Because they are supposed to pick a 16-0 season for the Steelers every year

 

I dont see it as hate. I dont know what Hines said, but as far as Bettis, he is just going off of what type of season we put on display in 2012. Injuries killed our chances, as well as stupid mistakes. I'm sure Bettis wants the steelers to go 16-0 and win the superbowl every year. But as an analyst, if he comes on television and becomes a total homer and picks the steelers to win it all every time and not point out any of their flaws then he wont have a job very long. And we all know that we are essentially one big question mark as a team.

 

BINGO!...
It`s not hate, it`s realism...
Mixed with a dash of being "politically(or at least media) correct"...
Former players are expected to not show favoritism to their former teams, once they get behind a microphone, on tv... fair or not, it`s what`s expected...
Personally, I would like it a little more, if they would preface a negative comment about their former team with "I hate to say this, but.."...
Unfortunately, that seems to break the rules of "journalistic neutrality", or sumthin......
HERE WE GO STEELERS! HERE WE GO!!!

 

We get rid of Ward and get mediocre. He has every right to question.

Why not?

 

Teddy bruschi is a total homer and so is merril hoge....and I don't see their jobs in jeapody. If anybody know how the Steelers organization and team is ran...its those two former players.We will bounce back and take the division once again.We had a horrible season last year to our standards and still ended up 8-8 and beat some good teams last season including the superbowl champs with a 3rd string qb.

 

Hoge is the only former steeler in the media that never says anything bad about them. Cowher has been critical a few times. These guys are analysts now it's their job. I live hoge but at the same time you have to respect these guys for telling their honest feelings.

 

I think you're confusing hate with lack of love. He's not showing hate he's just not giving us the type of love some would expect from a former player, that's all.

 

Ok, this is going to show my true colors...do I expect former players turned announcers to blow sunshine up our rumps every time they speak...no! However, do I wish that they would...yes! I tend to take it personal when someone speaks ill of my Steelers and, even though I have mellowed with age, I still tend to get defensive when it happens. Yes, I know we have issues and I know we aren't perfect but in my eyes and in my world we are!

 

The Steelers were bounced by Denver in the first round in 2011-12 and then 8-8 the next year. No surprise that an analyst would pick them to not win the division.

 

At least your true colors are Black and Gold!!!

 

It's like a family, in a way. Funny how I will be the first to criticize the Steelers over coaching or personnel decisions or drafts. But if an outsider (Ravens or Pats fan) does it? I am defensive. LOL I think we all do that in a way.

 

You are right about this. I'd take it a step further. I was in a bar once (the one and only time I've ever been in a bar) and was watching football. A guy a table or two away was wearing a Steelers jersey. Some guys started ribbing him about the Steelers. This was Chiefs country, by the way. I didn't know this guy from Adam but I, immediately, jumped in and helped this guy defend himself. It was in fun but that didn't mean I didn't take it a little personal lol.

 

Here is what I find funny about this thread. If someone was to go back ans search I am sure this was a similar thread last year. People on the board blasting away at the talking heads and their predictions because they just didn't know the team like those in Steeler Nation do. You had guys(some of you in this thread if memory serves) who had already combed through the schedule declaring sure thing wins and potential losses, the conservatives going 11-5 the optimists saying 12-4 with the occasional 15-1 thrown in. Funny thing was most of the talking heads came out pretty close to being right. I remember reading Mark Schlereth's predictions for the Steelers and as much as I wanted to argue I really couldn't because I could see it happening. Sometimes we as fans of the teams don't want to admit that some of the "experts" notice the air quotes, come pretty close to hitting the nail on the head.

Now as far as former players go like Bettis and Ward, you have to remember these guys are transitioning from player to commentators and they want to be taken seriously so they can continue to be gainfully employed. If memory serves Hoge spent more time doing sideline, stadium, and film room stuff before he really established himself as a fixture on ESPN's football coverage and once he did then could take some flack for being a Steeler homer which isn't a bad thing because the team backed up his analysis most of the time. Bettis and Ward by contrast jumped right into the spotlight on primetime and had to show that they could be serious and make tough calls and not just be homers. If they hadn't it would be a fast lane to sideline reporter stuff and they could end up like Tony Siragusa hosting Man Caves and trying to hide behind the pylons at Ravens games for a 30 sec sound byte on Fox.

 

Honestly, I don't mind any of the announcers being homers as long as they can throw in some fair analysis once in a while. I mean, these guys came from one team or another and some of them were actually even loyal to that team. I don't go to my High School anymore but I will tell people how great it is/was even if they just went 0-9.