SB Nation User Blog: Homer J.

16 inches of snow in DC. I'm starving after watching the late games...

Homer J. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:11:09 -0000

nearly all the restaurants in my ’hood are closed. When I take the dog out for a quick wiz, I notice the Kosher place is open. So I take Katie back inside, and go over to the restaurant for some overpriced overgreased oversanctified food. Wearing my Steeler hoodie and earmuffs. I order Matzo ball soup and potato pancakes with applesauce to go.

Sitting at the bar, I notice on the TV on the right that Fox has switched to the Steeler game. Last 30 seconds. I move next to that TV and next to a big table with eight college students. The four boys were wearing yarmulkes. They weren’t paying much attention – if any – to the game. Nor were the four girls. The sound on the televisions was turned completely down.

When Ben threw the pass and Wallace came down with it and the ref called it a touchdown, my jaw dropped and I involuntarily said – slowly and accenting every word – Oh — my – God!

Heads turned in my general direction, for I had just kinda violated the Third Commandment in a strictly Kosher restaurant…. Lord's name in vain, and all that. The whole restaurant turned quiet. Oops.

One girl at the table saw the hypocycloids on the front of my hoodie, looked up at the screen, and said the word, "Roethlisberger." They were showing the replay on the teevee, and everybody looked up. There was a wow or two, and somebody looked at me and said "mazel tov" but it seemed more sarcastic than genuine.

Finally, my matzo ball soup came, along with the three potato pancakes. The waiter mentioned that they had no applesauce, because they had a run on the stuff last week – with Hannukah and all that. So I’d have to settle for sour cream on the potato latkes. (I am NOT making this stuff up!)

I took the food home, and the soup and potato pancakes weren’t half bad. Of course, it was also the taste of victory.

Anyway, it’s high noon on Monday now, and DC is still half-buried in snow, but I’m gonna trudge over to Mickey D’s for an Angus Bacon Cheeseburger. I’m still in shock over last night’s finish.

I don’t know if Santa came early, or Hannukah Harry waited till the end to drop the big package on us…..but that was one helluva holiday gift that Ben and Wallace left.

Merry Christmas to one and all. Good tidings. Peace on earth, good will to men, and good health and joy to all of us here at BTSC. There is hope in the world, in our lives, and for the Steelers.

Why Ziggy Hood is Pledge Class President

Homer J. — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:59:50 -0000

Ziggy Hood's comments after the game, as quoted in the Post-Gazette this morning speak volumes about him, about the Steeler team, about the Steeler organization, and about Steeler Nation.

Ziggy hasn't been the rookie getting all the headlines - that would be Mike Wallace, of course. But our first round draft choice has done everything that has been asked of him - and more. Denver was the first time he saw extended action in a regular season game, and he was a disuptive force in the Denver backfield. But rather than toot his own horn after his nationally televised debut, he showed Steeler class, Steeler humility and Steeler team spirit. The quote - in Gene Collier's column in the P-G literally stopped me in my tracks.

Here's the quote:

"I wake up every morning and thank God I play with people like this. It's not only the kind of players they are, but the kind of people. To be able to play on a defense with a tradition like this is just unbelievable. It's a blessing."

Wow. That's enough to make Coach Dad teary-eyed.

Thank you, Pledge Hood. The future of Black and Gold House is strong. Somebody say amen!

Poll

Will Ziggy Hood be a clubhouse leader of this team, in the tradition of President James Farrior and Pledgemaster Hines Ward?

Yes, absolutely

50 votes

Still too early to tell

38 votes

Don't think so, too quiet and self-effacing

3 votes

91 votes | Poll has closed

Denver game: Rookie-palooza

Homer J. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:38:30 -0000

Now that Kirschke is out for the Denver game, it looks like the Steelers are down to their third-string defensive end, and it also means we're going to see a lot of two rookie defensive ends. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Okay, Aaron Smith is out, and his backup Travis Kirschke is out. And that leaves Eason and Kiesel as the starters. But this is Denver which - as we all know - is ten miles above sea level and where there is no oxygen at all. So the Steelers plan to rotate their defensive linemen a lot to keep them fresh. Or at least to keep them from dying due to lack of oxygen.

Ziggy Hood will be the backup on one side, and our man Sunny "Sonny" Harris will be the backup on the other. I'm really intrigued by this. Ziggy's been fine so far, considering that most rookies spend their first year on the bench, studying Coach Dad's playbook.

But, as a BTSC member, I firmly believe - as we all do - that Sunny "Sonny" Harris is the Next Great Thing, and may lead us back to the Promised Land even before Isaac Redzone Redman. Monday night, we will see our two rookie defensive line draft picks bookending the Big Snack or Hokie. And with Denver likely concentrating on stopping Deebo and Woodley, we might get to see what the young pups can do.

Let's hope they play within themselves and avoid the rookie mistakes of enthusiasm. Traps and draws and reverses can kill rookies when their adrenaline is pumping. I just want to see Harris getting up and looking down over a fallen Orton....and I want to see that "after-the-sack glow" more than once.

With all the matchups everyone's talking about, I'm gonna be most interested to see how the two rooks handle themselves. We all know the 2009 draft was a good one. We may be on the verge of discovering whether it was a great one.

Good luck, rooks. I hope it's a night we long remember, and for all the right reasons.

Anthony Madison???

Homer J. — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:58:11 -0000

The biggest regression this season has been kickoff coverage, and Stefan Logan hasn't exactly been the best gunner we've ever seen. The Cleveland Browns have just waived Anthony Madison, who was a real special teams ace last season.

Tomlin said he will fix the kickoff coverage unit, even if it means changing personnel.

Madison is available. I'm wondering what the chances are that he'll end up in the Black and Gold. And, I'm wondering whether Tomlin is considering whether he needs and can afford Logan as a return man who doesn't get the job done on coverage teams.

I'm not saying it's time to jettison the joystick, but I'm throwing this question out there:

Kickoff coverage is awful. Someone is out there who has shown he can do the job that is NOT being done now. Should the Steelers pick up Madison, and, if so, who goes?

Discuss.

Redzone, the Channel....

Homer J. — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:41:08 -0000

Blitz mentioned that the Redzone Channel is sponsoring BTSC for the rest of the season. This past Sunday, with the Steelers on the night game, I had a chance to watch a free sample of Redzone.

I loved it.

They switch from game to game....when somebody is on a key drive or ready to score, you get to watch it live. And they show every touchdown from every game....or at least that's what they say they do. Not all of them live, of course.

Flippin' back and forth, with the attention span of a hummingbird. That's me.

I'm gonna jump for the fifty bucks it costs to buy it for the rest of the season, in part because the Steelers simply don't play that many one o'clock games. I can watch me my Redzone and still catch my Stillers live.

Not having to switch from channel to channel allows me to keep one hand on the Duff beer and the other on the nachos - or the Sprinklicious donuts.

Anyone else catch the Redzone Channel freebie this past weekend? Any thoughts?

Polamalu: Not just good news....GREAT news

Homer J. — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:46:08 -0000

Polamalu just told the Pittsburgh media – within the hour – that he will NOT need surgery, and will be back in three to six weeks. That all he needs for now is rest. He said that for an injury like his, this is the best possible outcome.

Smile. Take a deep breath. Exhale.

I’m convinced his off-season yoga training paid big dividends here, because his flexibility no doubt lessened the likelihood of a torn ligament.

Hopefully, they don't have to rush him back, because speed and quickness are the two top attributes that he brings to the table, and if Troy loses a step or loses that explosiveness, he's not Troy. We saw that a couple of years ago.

Yeah,, I know: it’s the best news any of us have had all day.

Ziggy for Pledge Class President?

Homer J. — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:09:52 -0000

Most NFL franchises are businesses, some are teams. But the Steelers, at least this year, seem more like a fraternity. Those who were drafted - or signed as UDFA's (or FA's) - have been inculcated with fraternity lore, taught the history, the traditions, and what is expected of them.

Unlike most houses, there's more than one pledgemaster here. Hines is handling the wideouts. Aaron Smith and Kiesel are handling the new crop of defensive linemen. There's teaching and bonding going on every day. Do not underestimate the importance of this. On many teams, veterans fear the rookies who are there to take away their jobs. At Latrobe, veterans have been teaching rookies to carry on their tradition.

Ziggy Hood seems to be the Pledge Class President, the "golden pledge." He signed early, he was at the southside facility early to study films and keep in condition. He's been respectful of the brothers, sought them out and learned from them, and emulated their techniques. Know what the brothers like about Ziggy? Everything.

Pledgemaster Ward, who did such a great job teaching Pledge Holmes the virtues of the Steeler Way, is now busy working with Pledge Wallace. 'Nuff said.

There are some other very, very promising pledges.....and we have been impressed with the pledge class that rush chairman Colbert assembled....with probably half a dozen (or more) likely to become brothers this year...and several others remaining pledges on the practice squad.

The brothers - especially the seniors - can enjoy their easy camp. They're in shape. This gives them a break, but also gives the pledges and younger brothers more experience.

"Band of Brothers," they called themselves last year. And as they prepare to break camp, this band of brothers seems stronger, deeper, and closer than they were last year. They were the best house on campus last year, and it looks like they have a helluva pledge class.

Breaking News: Ambassador Dan Rooney

Homer J. — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:56:25 -0000

It is St Patrick's Day, and - at this hour - President O'bama, wearing a green tie, is meeting at the White House with Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen. It is the traditional holiday meeting between the leaders of the two nations.

And a piece of paper has just been placed in the bin in the White House Press Office, a news release announcing the President's nomination of a certain Daniel Rooney to be United States Ambassador to Ireland.

A White House correspondent with more than three decades on the beat just called me to confirm this most excellent news. (You get the news first at BTSC!)

Ambassador-designate Rooney must be confirmed by the Senate, which should be a formality, and then he will be "His Excellency, Ambassdor Daniel Rooney, Extraordinary and Pletipotentiary. "

But then again, Excellency has always been a watchword for him, and if anyone was ever extraordinary and plentipotentiary, it's been Daniel.

Great news for all of Steeler Nation, and sincere congratulations and best wishes to our Ambassor-to-be! Happy St Patrick's Day to all!

Dixon sounds like a 'burgh guy

Homer J. — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:23:31 -0000

This was on the Steelers' website....and, as the brother of a man with Downs Syndrome...I am impressed that Dennis Dixon would do such a thing. I remember the day Franco and Rocky visted St Anthony's School for Exceptional Children in Oakmont....and know how often they visited the kids of Children's Hospital. And, of course, we all cherish Myron's great gift to the Allegheny Valley School. Life is about more than football, and it is great to see Steelers being role models and using their good fortune to help others.

Props to Dennis Dixon!!!! Quarterback Dennis Dixon lent a hand to help the family of a teenager who died several days after being hit by a car in Portland, Oregon. Dixon, who played college ball at Oregon, held an autograph and photo session to help raise money for the family of Nathan Vredevelt. Vredevelt, who had Down syndrome, was attending a Portland Trailblazers game and wandered away, ending up outside trying to cross a busy highway when he was hit. "After reading the story about Nathan, it really touched me, and I wanted to see what I could do to help out," said Dixon. "The community of Oregon has been really good to me, and I thought this was the least I could do to give my support to Nathan's family."

Why NOT to panic....

Homer J. — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:13:34 -0000

So everybody had their breath taken away by Redskins owner Danny Snyder's hundred million dollar contract to Albert (Twelve games a year) Haynesworth. OOOH!

Well, now the Boy Billionaire (as Myron once called him on the air) has released Jason Taylor after one season. Taylor missed better than half of that season with injuries, and declined to take a pay INCREASE in exchange for attending at least 25 of 39 off-season team related activities...or whatever they call it.

But in order to get Taylor in the first place, the Redskins traded aways a second round draft choice.

So now, this team - with an aging offensive line - has no Jason Taylor, no middle second round pick - and broke the bank and salary cap on one player.

The Steeler way - building from within - developing players - spending wisely and showing some loyalty and some love to the non-superstars - is the way to go.

And lurching from crisis to crisis, and perceived opportunity to preceived opportunity, like so many teams do, is the road to perdition - or maybe the road of Palookaville.

Don't worry if the Steelers aren't big players in the free agent big names market. It often is a fool's market. The Steelers don't subscribe to that mumbo-jumbo. They keep building from within, and the first rule is always: DO NO HARM.