It was crazy, about 2 1/2 hours (plus time waiting for the start) in 30 degree weather, even a strong snow squall at one point. The crowd was actually on the streets, bringing the motorcade to a halt on several occasions, here's the story:
Super Bowl Champs Thank Their Fans
(KDKA) PITTSBURGH About a quarter of a million people poured into downtown Pittsburgh to show their support for the Super Bowl Champion Steelers at a victory parade and rally today; and many of the players, themselves, say they were touched by the turnout.
"I got chills down my back right now -- looking at the sea of black and gold!" Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward told the cheering crowd.
Ward went on to thank the fans for their support; but he wasn't alone.
During the rally, Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney held up a one-word sign that simply read: Thanks.
"This sign says it all – and that is for you," Rooney told the crowd. "You're terrific! "You were great. You supported us all the way through. The press, they had their doubts, but you never did and we thank you!"
A newly-shaven Ben Roethlisberger also thanked the fans for sticking with the team when no one else believed in them. "You've been there for us through thick and thin and we appreciate it very much and we brought one home for the thumb!"
Fan favorite Jerome Bettis echoed the sentiment -- telling fans, "You all believed in us, believed we could get it done. This is ours, but this is also yours."
"This has been a long time coming and everybody in this organization wanted to get this one for you all!" Bettis added, "You all have been supportive of us every single time we set on the football field. You've all been there. You supported us – win, lose or draw; so I want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the memories!"
When the crowd began to chant back, "Thank you, Bus," Bettis responded by saying, "No. Thank all of you!"
El Linkage (http://kdka.com/topstories/local_story_038164501.html)
Videos from the rally (http://www.kdka.com/video/?cid=9)
Wow, I would've loved to been there. I was hoping the parade would've been a little later in the week. I had no chance of getting there today.
Amel
02-07-06, 07:43 PM
And it was great to see Swann there! And it had to be surreal for Hines to hear Lynn Swann call him the Steelers #1 receiver!! Amazing.
dvdsteve2000
02-07-06, 07:50 PM
And it was great to see Swann there! And it had to be surreal for Hines to hear Lynn Swann call him the Steelers #1 receiver!! Amazing.
Swann said something along the lines of "I, John Stallworth, Chuck Noll...........and...Terry Bradshaw, congratulate you...". Now, to me, it sounded like booing when he (reluctantly) said Bradshaw.
Amel
02-07-06, 08:33 PM
Swann said something along the lines of "I, John Stallworth, Chuck Noll...........and...Terry Bradshaw, congratulate you...". Now, to me, it sounded like booing when he (reluctantly) said Bradshaw.
I'm not sure what the hell Bradshaw was thinking not being there for the MVP show at the SB. Everything he's done to help mend the riff between him and the Steelers now seems like it kinda took a few steps back because of this. And this after he said during two different appearances last week at how important it was for him not to screw it up.
When I get a chance to rewatch the intro that Swann gave, I'll turn up the volume. I didn't hear it during the original viewing, and not that I agree, but I wouldn't be surprised if many people were booing him.
Amel
02-07-06, 09:07 PM
Roethlisberger will be live on shopping channel QVC tonight @ 11 pm EST.
And it was great to see Swann there! And it had to be surreal for Hines to hear Lynn Swann call him the Steelers #1 receiver!! Amazing.
Shocking considering he's running for governor. The sacrificial lamb of Ed Rendell. :lol:
Lateralus
02-08-06, 10:05 PM
I would have paid somebody $10.00 to go up and try to wrestle the Lombardi trophy away from Bettis.
gmal2003
02-09-06, 11:00 AM
Looks cool. Im hoping the Lions will have a chance to do that one day.
In other news, Joey Porter's teeth are very small and they scare me. Carry on.
Fooman
02-09-06, 08:43 PM
Here's my contribution...
I also saw some guy get his video camera thrown to the floor by a cop. The guy was literally shooting the video up in the cop's face. He was probably drunk. Everyone around him were yelling..."he got owned" and laughing.
Shocking considering he's running for governor. The sacrificial lamb of Ed Rendell.
Always the Eagles fan arent ya. Regardless, its about football now. What is a Steeler Championship without Lynn Swann there?
dvdsteve2000
02-09-06, 09:12 PM
What is a Steeler Championship without Lynn Swann there?
What is a Super Bowl pregame celebration with all of the Bowl MVPs except Terry Bradshaw (and Joe)........especially with the Steelers in the Super Bowl??
Amel
02-09-06, 11:45 PM
What is a Super Bowl pregame celebration with all of the Bowl MVPs except Terry Bradshaw (and Joe)........especially with the Steelers in the Super Bowl??
That's what hurt. I could understand TB's excuse if were any other two teams. But with one of those teams being the Steelers, he should have been there. No excuses.
Cusm
02-10-06, 11:18 AM
That's what hurt. I could understand TB's excuse if were any other two teams. But with one of those teams being the Steelers, he should have been there. No excuses.
Except his excuse that he hates Pittsburgh and pretty much always has.
Amel
02-10-06, 11:43 AM
Except his excuse that he hates Pittsburgh and pretty much always has.
He's actually worked pretty hard the last few years to fix any burnt bridges caused by himself and the city. Mostly by the city. They were pretty tough on him back then. They're pretty tough on all their qb's.
namrfumot
02-10-06, 01:24 PM
I'm glad for the Steelers' organization, but Steelers fans (a good chunk of them) can rot in hell.
I went to a game back in 2003 (I'm friend with the owner of the pizza company for the stadium) and the fans were horrendous. Even to the point of being scared for my safety. If someone can find the post I made back then it was when they played the Pats.
They were verbally abusive (from the simple "Pats suck", to the elegant "Go suck my c*ck"), rude, and even jostled us around as we left the stadium. One nice fan, yes there are a few, even aplogized for the treatment they witnessed. Never again will I travel to Pittsburgh unless I can sit in box seats and get away from that garbage.
That makes three other football stadiums I've been to (Miama, Buffalo, and Pitt) and it was like night and day. So once again, congrats to the Steelers' players, but a big fudge you to their fans.
BKenn01
02-10-06, 06:51 PM
Except his excuse that he hates Pittsburgh and pretty much always has.
I dont think this is the case. If you watched the NFC Championship, he was pretty vocal and excited about the Steelers winning it all. I agree it would have been better for him to be there, but I think people are reading more into this than there is.
That makes three other football stadiums I've been to (Miama, Buffalo, and Pitt) and it was like night and day. So once again, congrats to the Steelers' players, but a big fudge you to their fans.
It is a little rediculous to lump all fans together.
BKenn01
02-10-06, 06:54 PM
They were pretty tough on him back then. They're pretty tough on all their qb's.
Anybody that critisized Terry Bradshaws play was just plain clueless. He only won 4 Super Bowls for the city of Pittsburgh. Until Ben, he was the last and probably only real QB the Steelers ever had.
Amel
02-11-06, 11:47 AM
I was re-watching the ESPNews coverage of the parade today. Somehow I missed the first time around that when they were talking to Ken Whisenhunt, D Coach Dick LeBeau was leading the crowd in a "Oakland Sucks!" cheer in an attempt to get Whiz to turn down the Oakland job :lol:
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