By Bill Neal, For New Pittsburgh Courier
:10—I was listening to a local radio station sports talk show when a caller asked the question…“Why don’t the Pittsburgh Steelers put fear in the hearts of teams like they did in the ‘70s?” Obviously, by now you know where I am going with this. And of course the guy had the answer to his own question, that being, because you don’t have the baddest, meanest, nastiest, toughest, most talented players of all time playing for ya!
:09—To their credit, the hosts of the show offered a few reasons that to the rookie ear would be acceptable. For example, the rules have changed, players getting fined for playing too rough, yada yada yada! There’s some truth in those words, but here’s the real reasons for today’s watered down game. (And don’t get me wrong, I am not knocking it. And the players have a right to determine their own safety!)
:08—First, let’s be clear. The team we’re talking about here is the 1970s “Team of the Decade” Pittsburgh Steelers. Without question, the greatest team of all-time, the greatest defense of all-time, and the owners of four Super Bowl titles delivered some of the greatest individual players and personalities of all-time.
:07—Defensive Line — “The” recognized Steel Curtain anchored by “Mean Joe” Greene. Some experts actually recognize him as the greatest football player of all-time. L.C. “Hollywood Bags” Greenwood, Dwight “Mad Dog” White, Ernie “Fats” Holmes. Those four men are the ones who brought the fire and brimstone. They were supported by Steve Furness and John Banaszak.
:06—The legendary and historic linebacker core. Jack Ham—“Mr. Fundamental,” Andy Russell—“The Gatekeeper”, and of course, Jack “The Hammer” Lambert, a very, very mean man!
:05-—If by chance the opposition somehow got past all those Hall of Famers, they had to contend with the greatest cornerback tandem in NFL history. Mel Blount—the man was so dominant he changed the rules of the game. J. T. Thomas—the “Do It All” man, Glen “Pine” Edwards—nicknamed Pine because he hit as hard as a pine tree, Dwayne “The Judge” Woodruff, Donnie “I will hurt you” Shell!!! Just ask Earl Campbell. Of course there were countless others who were a part of the Curtain. Neither time nor space allows me to give you all that info.
:04—The other side of the ball only needs names said out loud, and if you know the game, that’s enough. Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Mike Webster, Sam Davis, Jon Kolb, Gerry Mullins, Ray Mansfield, Rocky Bleier, John Stallworth, Larry Brown, Randy Grossman, and Roy Gerela.
:03—Special notes: Basically all the names I mentioned here would have zero problem being inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but after so many went in, a mysterious roadblock appeared that slowed the roll. Most notably, L.C. Greenwood and Dwight White should be automatic. If you’re one of the four men considered the greatest D-Line of all-time, then all four men should be in!
:02—Needless to say, all of this could have fallen short had it not been for the rough and ready hands of one Charles “The Emperor” “Chuck” Noll. The man who orchestrated and engineered these mighty warriors at a time when men were men and football was hell on spikes.
:01—The Steel Curtain, the Immaculate Reception, the artistry of Lynn Swann, the unreal talent of Mel Blount…AKA “Sup” for Superman! The speed and wizardry of John Stallworth, the legend and the heroics of war hero veteran Rocky Bleier, the talent of one Terry Bradshaw, who said when drafted, and I quote, “One day I want to be the greatest quarterback of all-time”… and for my money, he was. (And yes, you can have Brady, Marino, Mahomes, Namath and Unitas. Love them all, but when it was showtime, it was Bradshaw’s show. And the absolute force, fury, and fear that that team brought to the game is best recognized by remembering they actually held the Minnesota Vikings to 17 rushing yards in Super Bowl IX. C’mon man!
:00—I would be out-side-my-mind if I didn’t recognize the power behind it all. The #1 thing that set that dynasty in motion. That’s right, you guessed it. None of this is possible without Myron Cope and the great Terrible Towel. RIP Myron, but The Towel lives on!
:00-00—Double Overtime…speaking of RIP and power, greatness and legend, we remember “Iron Mike” Ditka, he of the legendary Aliquippa fame and Pitt as a player, and then on to the NFL as a player and a coach of the legendary Chicago Bears. Truly one of a kind, and there will never be another like him.
GAME OVER.