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Pittsburgh from Heinz Field |
For me, one of the most important sporting dates in every year's calendar is the day that the NFL releases it schedule. An eager scan of the fixtures to find those two words, Cleveland Browns. The date of that game kicks off the planning process for arranging my travel plans for the yearly visit to Pittsburgh.
This year's fixtures produced a big bonus when the Browns in Pittsburgh date, was preceded by Cincinnati, also in Pittsburgh. Back to back home games - and against division rivals. Someone up there had already begun smiling on me.
These days, with the use of the internet, it's not too difficult to book travel requirements. As in the past few years, Pete Ridley was always keen to join me on the trip. Others had shown some initial interest, but never followed it up, so as Pete is our New York correspondent, travel plans had to include a visit to that city.
Never a dull moment on my travels and certainly no time to sit around and mope! If you want a relaxing time sitting around in the sun then book a trip to Spain, don't travel with me.
With a game in Pittsburgh on the first weekend, this meant that for a change we could fly directly into Pittsburgh. We arrived in Pittsburgh late on Friday afternoon, thus allowing plenty of time to recover from the flight before the game.
Anyone who has travelled with me to Pittsburgh (and there are a lot of you out there) knows about my shopping in Kaufmanns. Because of the time difference and my poor old body trying to catch up, we were up early Saturday and in the mall by eight o'clock. Trust me, it's a good way to shop. Not many people are around at that time of day and that’s certainly the way I enjoy shopping.
In the afternoon, ‘Rock and Roll Ed’ of Ashes to Ashes, picked us up to take us to a steam show in Porterville. It’s amazing that hidden away from the tourist parts of the U.S.A. are all kinds of remarkable secrets. You just need to beware of them.
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Photo by Ed Beeler |
As we finished our visit to the show and were walking back to Ed’s car, we came across a Model T purring away on the top of a hill. We walked over to take a closer look and were invited to take a ride.
The charming gentleman, who owned the automobile, was full of enthusiasm as he explained how it worked. Two gears forward and one reverse, with a top speed of 35 mph to rival that of a horse, this transportation was almost ninety years old.
You could tell it was a labour of love for the driver as there was a big chunk of skin missing from his knuckle where he had obviously been tinkering with his pride and joy. He took us for a drive and it just confirmed that there are some things that come close to being better than football. An amazing journey.
After the Steam show, Ed drove us into Pittsburgh to a bar that showed Premiership soccer games. When we went in, the Tottenham vs Everton game was on. I inquired about the Liverpool game that was being played the next day, and was assured that the bar would be open at 1100 on the Sunday for kick-off. Now that’s another thing to cross off the list. Where to watch soccer games when staying in Pittsburgh? Can't remember the name of the bar but it is close to the Vietnam memorial on the Southside.
Later that evening we went downtown to the Sports Cafe, where Ashes to Ashes had a gig. Because of a boxing match broadcast that some punters had piled in to watch, their show started late – well, late if you are struggling with jet lag. This meant we only saw the first show, but enough to know the band haven’t lost their appeal.
Cincinnati
game day, Sunday October 3rd:
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Photo by Ed Beeler |
As the game began at 1300, it meant an early start. Ed and Dave came to the hotel to take us onboard before we went to pick up cool, quiet, thoughtful Sheri. Dave’s bus was ideal transport to take fans to a football game. Large and comfortable, it opens up at the back to make a perfect tailgating vehicle. Bathed in brilliant sunshine and armed with a cold beer and Sheri’s breakfast treat, Steelers' football to come, you couldn't’t wish for anything else.
With kick-off approaching, we made our way into the stadium to see 'Big Ben' Roethlisberger make his first start at Heinz Field. The game began badly for Steelers’ fans when the Bengals scored after recovering a Duce Staley fumble. Was this to be the repeat nightmare we experienced last year?
Not this year with Big Ben. This guy shows poise and inventiveness. Heck, this was only the young man’s third game in the NFL. His rookie year and this guy doesn’t panic. Nothing gets him fazed. Is this finally the real deal?
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Big Ben in action |
Sometimes things do work out. Big Ben got the offense going after Antwaan Randle El had returned the kick-off 35 yards to the Bengals’ 46-yard line. Three runs and one pass of 30 yards to Plaxico Burress later, the Steelers had a first and goal on the Cincinnati two. That’s why you have Jerome Bettis on the sideline. In short yardage situations, give the ball to the Bus.TOUCHDOWN!
Pittsburgh then went on to take the lead with a Big Ben pass to Vernon Hayes, after an 80 yard drive, to make it 14-7 to the Steelers. Cincinnati reduced the lead to 14-10, before going ahead again when receiving the second half kick-off and taking it 71 yards for a touchdown.
At the beginning of the final quarter, Big Ben used short passes and the runs of Duce Staley to smash the defensive line to go 88 yards before using their battering ram, Bettis to take the final yard to make the score 21-17 to the Steelers.
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Heinz Field from the Incline |
With Cincinnati pressing, Troy Polamalu intercepted a Carson Palmer pass and ran about sixty yards around the field to make the 26 yards needed to the end zone which increased the Steelers’ lead for a final score of 28-17.
After the game, it was down to Primanti’s restaurant in Crafton to see Mark Madden as he broadcast his ESPN phone-in show. Mark wasn’t too impressed with the Liverpool away shirt (black & gold) I had given to Ed. He felt it had been desecrated with the word Steelers on the back in place of a name. I guess as he’s a Liverpool fan, he’s allowed to express an opinion.
Game day over.