AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > January > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNo respect for no-respect whiners
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Et tu, Big Ben? Moments after his Pittsburgh Steelers stormed into the Super Bowl on Sunday in Denver with help from his arm, legs and guts, Ben Roethlisberger suggested that much of the world views the new Steel Curtain as just the old Paper Napkin. “Everybody expected us to lose the first game [of the playoffs],” he told reporters at Invesco Field, where he swore that those near and far always come to bury his team instead of to praise it.
You may laugh now. No NFL team has a more devout following than the Steelers. I even have two sets of neighbors who plant those ugly black and gold signs in their yards declaring “I’m a Steelers fan” before every game. Still, Roethlisberger added after his Steelers thoroughly embarrassed the Broncos, “Everybody [also] expected us to lose the second game [of the playoffs]. Everybody expected us to lose this game. No one believed in us but us. We had each other’s back the whole way, and that’s all it takes. Sometimes that’s all we want, to have each other’s back.”
In case you’re wondering, here’s the reason for those silly words from the Steelers quarterback who nevertheless had the good sense to matriculate at Miami (Ohio) University like a humble sports columnist that I know: Roethlisberger is exposing himself as one of them.
Those among “them” are into playing this tired but popular game in sports. The objective is to try to make you think that they actually think that they and their teammates are considered the scum of the earth by those outside of a squib kick of their dressing quarters. They play this game for motivation. The idea is that, if they invent a bunch of imaginary foes in their heads to join the real ones on the field, they’ll become more focused through all of that anger. They heighten the game when a championship is at stake.
The bottom line is, unless you’re the Miami Hurricanes in college football, favorites aren’t cool these days. It’s hot to be the underdog. This goes back to that old high school trick (us against them) that has risen to the college and pro levels in recent years. One moment, Tom Brady is claiming that his New England Patriots are among the persecuted despite snatching three of four Super Bowls. Another, the Texas Longhorns are citing the glowing stuff in print and on the airway about Southern Cal as the reason for their national title as much as the brilliance of Vince Young.
So let the whining begin for the Steelers, but they have some stiff competition. There is Steve Hutchinson, the Pro Bowl guard on a Seattle Seahawks team that cruised to the other Super Bowl spot at home on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Said Hutchinson, doing his best Roethlisberger imitation before the media at Qwest Field, “All year long, we’ve heard we didn’t have enough of that to do this, not enough of this to do that. Frankly, we get sick of hearing it. You think by going 13-3, we’d earn respect.” Added defensive tackle Chuck Darby, “We’ve got a chip on our shoulders.”
Yeah, well. Try as they might next week in Detroit, neither the Steelers nor the Seahawks will have much of a chance of winning this game within a game.
The Steelers are so overlooked that they’ve spent the AFC playoffs slaying the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. They have a great legacy that includes four world championships. They have a prolific defense and a stiff rushing attack, and Bill Cower ranks among the all-time elite of coaches after six trips to the conference championship game. If that isn’t enough, the Steelers are the Super Bowl favorites despite entering as a No. 6 seed.
As for the “underdog” Seahawks, Mike Holmgren is one of only five coaches to take two different teams to the Super Bowl. He’s won one, too. The Seahawks also have somebody named Shaun Alexander, and all he did was rush for more yards than anybody this season to earn the league’s MVP honors. Nobody had more defensive sacks than the Seahawks. Nobody has won more home games than the Seahawks since the end of the 2002 season.
Mostly, nobody has less reason to whine right now than the Seahawks.
Except maybe the Steelers.
Permalink | Comments (18) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Terence Moore
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By Larry
January 23, 2006 10:38 PM | Link to this
Ummm… okay, I guess.
By GINGER
January 23, 2006 11:28 PM | Link to this
WHOEVER THE NEW GAME CALLER SHALL BE, I PRAY THAT HE WILL GIVE CALVIN JOHNSON MORE PLAYING TIME AND GET A NEW QUARTER BACK THAT WANT TO WIN AND THINK ABOUT HIS STATS.
GOD BLESS GINGER
By kennyb
January 24, 2006 12:23 AM | Link to this
I live in North Carolina and don’t get a chance to read an actual hard copy of the AJC. I have one question: Do they actually print this stuff?
Another pointless column by Mr. Moore.
How does he keep his job with such shallow “thoughts” ?
By Charlie
January 24, 2006 07:32 AM | Link to this
Really Terence….is this all you can come up with? Drivel.
By TJ
January 24, 2006 10:03 AM | Link to this
Good point Mr. Moore on why the teams try to perpetuate an us against them attitude. It unifies the team for a common goal of gaining respect which is accomplished by winning.
I have to agree by their dominating championship games that the Steelers and Seahawks have proven themselves.
Earlier in the year though both teams had plenty to prove. The Steelers were stumbling due to injuries and barely made the playoffs. The Seahawks had to deal with their historic futility in the playoffs.
So in my opinion earlier in the year both the Steelers and Seahawks had legitemate gripes and claims of being “persecuted”. It was used as a positive force by the teams to motivate them to victory.
Now though, I have to agree Mr. Moore, both teams have proven themselves and it is time for them to shut up the whining and get ready to play the game of their lives.
By Bill
January 24, 2006 10:03 AM | Link to this
Mr. T - I do not relate to your difinition of whinning! If you have ever been remotely close to any coaching - it’s called “psychology”. It always will be that way!
By makito
January 24, 2006 10:05 AM | Link to this
This motivation technique is the all time favorite among teams that are perceived underdogs. It has worked for three games. Why should the Steelers be expected to recognize reality at this point? “Us against the world.” Maybe it still has legs if the players haven’t noticed that they have clobbered all comers and are the early betting favorite.
By offneil coleman
January 24, 2006 10:14 AM | Link to this
my opinion shaun alexander is the one who did the whining last year because he did not get the rushing title,nfl games are not won by who had the most sacks or who won the rushing title,the seahawks are happy to be in the super bowl, the steelers are there to win the game from a steeler fan since 1971.
By larry palmer
January 24, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this
thank you mr. moore for your insight. i must disagree as i heard pride in the statements of both the individuals that you chose to quote. i heard team being the dominant theme and it is nice to hear us instead of me, which was the prominent theme in quotes of the local so-called hero of our football team which i stayed home this year at playoff time. maybe there is something in this we stuff.
By Not a Terrance Moore fan
January 24, 2006 12:13 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe that I’m saying this, but i agree with TM.
Steelers fans: You were the 6th seed, OF COURSE you weren’t expected to make it this far. Stop crying about disrespect… most of you didn’t REALLY expect to beat Indy. And I heard as many people pick Pittsburgh this week, as did pick Denver.
Seattle is a Number 1 seed, and they get the least bit of “respect”. But you know what, it doesn’t matter, because they’re in the game.
As for Alexander last year… Put it in perspective. He had been franchise tagged when he wanted out (that’s what free agency is supposed to be about). Then, he needed ONE yard. How pi$$ed would you be? Seemingly, how bad is the relationship between the coach and player if he won’t let him go for ONE yard for a title. I think it’s safe to say that you can’t name another time when a player is so close to any individual record or title and was pulled.
By Not a Terrance Moore fan
January 24, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this
Larry Palmer
I assume you’re talking about the Falcons… How much of that “me” talk did you hear from the team when they were 11-5 last year?
When you are a professional at ANYTHING and you believe you can do the job, you probably get tired of being questioned by a bunch of desk jockeys and couch potatoes.
I, too, am beginning to become impatient with Vick, but I would suggest that it is the media that makes him out to be the whole team. When he is answering a question, it is usually a question about him, no?
Plus, our defense SUCKED this year. I can’t believe all the Pro Bowlers.
By Pittsburgh sucks
January 24, 2006 12:33 PM | Link to this
Such a dump of a town.
Then I can’t go to a sports bar in Atlanta without without being in the midst of them. Pittsburgh fans… THE most passionate, but least knowledgable fans I’ve ever seen.
OF COURSE THIS IS SPEAKING IN GENERAL TERMS, I ADMIT THAT I HAVE NOT MET EVERY STEELERS FAN. I AM QUITE SURE THAT THIS IS NOT EVERY FAN. BUT I HAVE BEEN AROUND A PRETTY NICE SIZE SAMPLE THIS YEAR.
I started noticing it earlier this year. On Sundays, going to a local watering hole, enjoying some football. They are everywhere, no matter how many times I have changed venues. Again, as passionate as ANY teams fans, but by and far, a football IQ of 12.
It makes it hard for me, since I have no real rooting interest left. This Steelers team is quite likable. Workmanlike, hard nosed, blue collar type stuff. You know, typical Steeler team.
How’s that for whining?
By Big D
January 24, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this
Seattle will beat Pittsburgh, then the Steelers can truely be the underdogs that they really want to be. score 27-17, Seattle…, with a little pressure on big ben, and great defensive back coverge by the Seahawks, we will see what the Steelers are made of.
By brewerfaninATL
January 24, 2006 01:24 PM | Link to this
Well, let’s see here…Pittsburgh is the #6 seed and has to go on the road to #3 Cincinnati, go on the road to #1 Indy, and then go on the road to #2 Denver. Gee, do you think they were underdogs? Of course they were! And they WON all three of those games! Big Ben was right, NOBODY expected them to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, let alone win at Cincy in the wild card game. This article is pointless Terence! Whet they accomplished was nothing short of miraculous!
By RA
January 24, 2006 03:29 PM | Link to this
I’d still like to have seen the outcome of that first playoff game if Palmer hadn’t gone down…
By Larry
January 24, 2006 07:51 PM | Link to this
No carnival acts pretending to be quarterbacks in this super bowl—just two smart, tall, guys who stand proudly in the pocket, hold onto the football, scramble only when necessary, spot 2nd, 3rd and even 4th receiver options, make quick dicisions and are leaders on the field and on the sideline.
How proud the Steeler fans must be of a REAL quarterback in only his second season leading his team to the big dance, on the road, against more highly rated opponents.
How did he do this without corn rows, braids and marble sized earrings?
By Peerless' Mama
January 24, 2006 11:49 PM | Link to this
Good Job Mr. Moore.
Also, I am so proud of that Matthew guy not bashing your every word.
Oh, I forgot. He had to watch a movie tonight….
Can you find my son a job?
I like that QB out of Vandy and wish he could throw to Peerless.
He requires a quality passer.
Delicate Hands…
Did the Falcons replace him this year?
Just wondering.
By Birdbrain
January 25, 2006 01:58 AM | Link to this
If big Ben hadn’t reached out and tripped an abused man who was shanked by his wife, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. The modern athlete is all about who whines the most.