A little inspiration for the day - The Pittsburgh Steeler Way!.

A little inspiration from an excerpt from a book written by Mean Joe Greene.

I follow the Pittsburgh Steelers – have all my life.

I have seen them play in many cities in the US. Was at the playoff game in Indy when Betis fumbles and Roethlisberger saved the day with a tripping tackle. I was at the Super Bowl when the Steelers lost to Dallas in the 90’s. (An expensive loss – no I mean expensive for me - lots of dollars to see that – and a big disappointment. – a very expensive trip.) And no – O’Donnell did not lose it for the Steelers - the interceptions were thrown before the receiver made his cut – it was not the starting receiver that day and the defense was not read by that receiver - he cut the other direction. (It is not always the quarterback’s fault - sometimes the receiver miss-reads the defense and does not go where he is supposed to go – I was a frustrated high school quarterback.) O’Donnell – I believe to this day - is still the most accurate Steeler QB of all time.

I was at the parades for Super Bowls wins in the 70’s.

Back then things were different – you could find many Steelers out on Sunday night after the game – in the nightclub called the Greenery at the top of Greentree Hill through the tunnels from downtown Pittsburgh. Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, Franco and others. They would be there (like us) having a drink and “hanging out” and acting normal and we did not slobber all over them.

I have met many Steelers over the years – sat in a beauty salon in Kittanning, PA -where I had a weight loss center – talked sports for an hour or more with Jack Lambert in the 90’s – Jack had played college ball at Kent State and I went to Miami of Ohio – we beat Kent State the last game of the year in a snow storm – Miami went on to a bowl game – Miami was very good back then (Too good for me to play – so I took up rugby)

Miami of Ohio had the top running back in the country – named Hitchins – he had been in the Steelers training camp with Jack Lambert – but had blown out his knee – Jack inquired about him.

I spent hours talking to JT Thomas in an auto and tire shop in Monroeville. PA - I ran it and JT was a customer – we talked for hours about tackling techniques and how “babied” the NFL players are today. How their techniques are bad and contribute to injuries.

In the late 70’s, I went to a fund raiser through my work. It was for Sickle Cell Anemia – most of the Steelers and Pirates were there – being in a room with Willie Stargel, Dave Parker, Kent Tekulve, Mel Blount, JT Thomas, Donnie Shell, Rocky Blier, Franco Harris and Joe Greene was interesting. Joe Greene was impressively large - but off the field he was a polite, humble – gentle giant.

If you don’t know the Steelers and their reputation – the city’s respect for them - they for our city - the reputation they bring to it – it is generational. It is passed on from generations of players to the next. – it’s a family atmosphere with the Rooney’s. They take care of employees and players alike as family members. Joe Greene is still family and inspiring the new football “kids”.

Families in the area - also all over the country - pass on the Steeler tradition to their kids and on and on. It is an instant bond when you see someone with a Steeler bumper sticker or jersey. It seems personal and inspiring…it’s our team.

I guess in some ways we find that at Wealthy Affiliate also – everyone is part of a team and wants to help.

Greene was furious on the field. His first year he was thrown out numerous times for vicious conduct. Many of us remember the Monday night football game where he literally picked a guy up off the ground and punched him in the solar plexus - the player collapsed on the field and Greene was thrown out of the game – yet again. But then we remember the Coca Cola commercial – still the most famous Super Bowl Ad of all time. Joe Greene is credited as the Steeler player who started the transition from Losers to Winners. And - it happened as the City of Pittsburgh was coming apart – the Steel Mills were closing - big problems for the city.

Now both the Steelers and Pittsburgh are known as winners. Pittsburgh has been voted the most livable city in the US many times of late. And Joe Greene is still inspiring generations to do their best.

A view of the city from Mt Washington.

So, when I found a short excerpt from Joe Greene’s book – it reminded me of meeting him - how he has inspired so many for all these years – both the next generation of Steelers - but also many who have meet him and heard him speak. Joe Greene is considered one the best Defensive Lineman to ever play the game – he is in the Hall of Fame in Canton. But to Pittsburgh - he was the cornerstone and beginning of turning a hapless - rather pathetic football team into a winning tradition. He is a Pittsburgh living treasure.

For those of us who have played sports - we all can relate to what he says here. But even for everyone else – mental toughness is needed for life - adversity and dedication and persistence makes us better. Integrity is paramount to anything we do - and staying humble makes you human and special. Enjoy Joe Greene’s words here…they are meant to make you think and hopefully inspire you a little.

"* About mental toughness: “I truly believe that you must have mental toughness to succeed in life, and the only way to get mental toughness is to overcome adversity. The harder the adversity you overcome in your profession or personal life, the stronger you will become. The more scratching and digging and crawling and clawing you put in to achieve your goal, the better off you’ll be. I didn’t know it at the time, but that’s what my first two years in Pittsburgh were about: building our toughness and giving us the mental foundation to be able to eventually win a championship.”

* About integrity: “As we were preparing for (a game against the Houston Oilers), one of our locker room attendants found a playbook that the Oilers had left behind. He brought it to Coach Noll, who quickly called a team meeting. A few minutes later, Coach stood in front of all of us and held out a binder. ‘Gentlemen,’ he said. ‘This is the Houston Oilers’ playbook. We play them twice this year. We have all of their plays and their game plans.’ Then Coach Noll held out the playbook and dropped it into the trash can. ‘We’re not going to open it,’ he said. ‘That’s not how we do things. We’re going to prepare how we prepare, we’re going to line up against them on the field, and we’re going to do what we do, and that will give us the best chance to win.’ Then he walked away.”
* About ego: “The way I’ve always looked at ego is that ego is the little guy that pushes you and motivates you. And as long as he stays the little guy, things are fine. But if he becomes the big guy and he’s sitting on top of your shoulders and he’s in your head and putting words in your mouth, then ego is in the wrong place.”

* “Joe Greene: Built By Football,”

Maybe Joe Greene’s words will inspire someone – I just know this internet things can get you down – frustrate you – and later reward you. A little “scratching and digging and crawling and clawing” when we get discouraged or “down” is required to keep you going sometimes. And - like the Steelers – you need “one HELL of a lot of practice hours” before you get on the field - that’s our education here at Wealthy Affiliates -practice – keep “scratching and clawing” – we will get there.

Myron Cope invented the terrible towel – he was a famous broadcaster with a really weird voice – he owned the rights to the “towel – he also had a handy capped child who was in a special needs and care facility – he donated all the rights to the income from the towel to that school. You see the Terrible Towel everywhere – all over the world! I have one in my bedroom on the wall today.