There's has been a very healthy debate for the last 10 or so years over the issue who's the REAL America's team in the NFL and by default fans, critics and former players has labeled the Dallas Cowboys the team the nation cheers for, and that might be true to some extent but when it comes to sheer numbers the Cowboys aren't close to being the favorite team the Nation gets behind. That title goes to the Six-time World Champs PITTSBURGH STEELERS, and to be honest no team in football or any other American sports league comes close to what is famously fan-coined in the City of Steel and around the World as STEELER-NATION    

From what I understand the Cowboys were labeled 'America's Team' in the 70's because of the big phat Star that exist on their helmet but more importantly they won a few Super Bowls (2) during that time and the TV ratings for all their games hit the roof in relation to viewership; but that pales in comparison to what the Steelers did during that same period. Pittsburgh won 4 super bowls, twice beating the Cowboys in the big game, and they have more Hall of Famers during that era than any other team so the title of America's Team should of went to the Steelers not the Cowboys    

With all due respect to the Packers-Chiefs-Bears-Raiders fandom, there's a strong presence across North America for these teams as well, they don't measure up to the crazed-year around followship that the Steeler Nation imposes on the sports world  

So lets end the debate today and forever, the Pittsburgh Steelers fanbase is not just here in the States but around the world..rolling strong and steady & stubborn...Osama Bin Laden has been known to rock a Steeler Hat in one of his Video Monologues. I live in Los Angeles and if you don't know, this is the biggest melting pot for people(s) to move to from around the world; and I see more Steeler Paraphanelia worn by strangers than any other team in sports period. Hats, shirts, pants, pins, car insignias, tattoos, pets, you name it...Steeler Nation represents! Sorry Cowboy fans, you might be in the same region as the Steelers when it comes to fan appreciation but the Black & Gold owns the country

After unsuccessfully 'capturing-battering and looting' a U.S. Navy Sea Ship off the coast of Somalia the Pittsburgh Pirates turned their sites to the MLB schedule and the results have been fantastic. For a franchise that has endured 16 straight losing seasons what their doing so far in this young '09 season is pretty remarkable. The Pirates team ERA is best in the National League, the pitching staff also has a league best 4 shut-outs so far and their easily one of the Top 5 teams in the league when you're referencing wins and day in and day out quality production from every player on the lineup card

Bud Selig said in a statement that he's seriously contemplating making a drastic move to eliminate the Pirate franchise because in his tenure as commissioner of the MLB they've been one of the worst teams and he doesn't quite know how to properly articulate and/or pronounce the phrase "Pittsburgh Pirates are at the top or near the top of their division and there's a good chance they will make the playoffs"  

Check back in late August to see if all of this actually comes to fruition!!!

There's no doubt that the greatest franchise in NFL history is the Pittsburgh Steelers, with their record 6th Championship win in Super Bowl 43. But how about this scenario, with a very good young coach in Mike Tomlin and a franchise QB, who'll just be turning 27 in March '09, and has yet to reach his optimum prime, the Steelers could be looking at another 3 rings in their trophy case before Big Ben decides to hang up the Steel helmet for good at the end of his career, which in theory is at least 10 years away. It's pretty scary for others team to contemplate such domination but its very real and could easily come true

The only area of vulnerability for the Steelers heading into next season ('09) is the quality of the Offensive Line, it can and will get better through the Draft and FA this offseason, which means even more time for Ben to throw and of course the running game will get back to the sheer dominance it used to exude the last 30 years before this somewhat average running season Pitt just had n '08

The only thing Steeler Nation has to hope for over the next few season is a relatively injury free situations for their core-franchise players (which can be a crapshoot in the NFL, its a very physical league) and what type of slogan and catch phrases they can create for all the Super Bowl Championships the Steelers will be potentially winning down the road, try these on for size........"5 RINGS plus 2, u know how the Super Bowl Steeler7 do"........."Don't hate on 8 for the Champion Steeler Greats"...... "8 is not enuff, the Champion Steelers look Fine with 9"

Lets not get it twisted Steeler Nation (and yes I used the early '00's slang twisted even though nobody says that word anymore, unless your still trying to be hip like me :-) Pittsburgh needs effective on the field play from Hines Ward if they're going to win the Super Bowl. And when I say effective I mean Psycho Ward has to be playing at a minimum 75% effective rate.  Then and only then can the offense work consistently enough to put up points and beat the Cardinals

3 TD's and at least 2 or 3 field goals should be enough to beat AZ but it all goes back to Mr. Ward (and of course the continued dominance of the Steel Curtain II D), if he can muster up the energy to stay in the game the whole time and not go out for any significant period of time then Big Ben and o.c. Bruce Arians can mix up the play calling and get key down the field production from all the offensive playmakers 

I know this is old news by now but since I'm a brand new member and I wrote this blog a day after the loss to the Titans on another fan blog site I thought I would re-post it here to see what u die-hard Steel fanz think:

"Towards the end of the Titans-Steelers game, week16, running back Lendale White took the legendary Steeler Fan tool...The Terrible Towel....and preceded to step on it harshly and dig it into the ground while scraping dirt on it (the Titans handled the Steelers quite convincingly in the game by forcing 5 turnovers and winning 31-14). I got a feeling coaches and players in that Steel Curtain locker room will remember what Lendale did,  if indeed they meet again in the AFC Championship game--and there's strong evidence that proves that could likely happen--Pittsburgh will have extra motivation to end the Titans season in front of their home crowd

Along with the players and coaches I know most Steeler Nation fans will remember that gesture by L.White and if I know SNF like I do they will let Lendale, his teammates--coaches and of course the fans know how pissed off they were by buying out half of the playoff tickets for that game and show up to LP Field with more fire, fervor and a heavy dose of annoyance to make sure its a miserable day/night through-out Nashville

I expect a potential Titan-Steeler game a 2nd time around will be more competitive and easily matched and play down to the very end of the last quarter; and I also expect Lendale White will get a chance to back up all the 'Smack' he instagated by  burying the Terrible Towel. But I wouldn't bet my money on the Titans winning that 2nd matchup if both teams meet up in the playoffs, the Steelers has proven before they can go on the road during the playoffs and win especially if they've played that team before during the regular season and there seeing them again in the playoffs

You best believe Coach Tomlin will take that short clip of Lendale stomping on the T. Towel and use that as extra motivation to continue to push his team thru the playoffs and on to the Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida. But its not like the Steelers need extra motivation, they dont, but I'm sure  White's act of dominant spontaneity will come back to haunt him and his team come playoff time. You would of thought most teams opposing the Steelers would of known better than to rile up the Steelers because 3 years ago during the regular season, @ Heinz Field, the Bengals T.J. Houshmandzadeh infamously wiped his shoes with the T.T., in a game the Bengals won,  disrespected everybody in the Black & Gold that day but revenge was so sweet for Pitt because 3 or 4 weeks later (during the 1st rds. of playoffs)  Pitt went in to the Bengals backyard and beat them soundly on route to their 5th super bowl ring

Bad omen for Lendale White? Maybe, but what I do know is that Steeler Nation Fans will be all over the internet tonite and all week screaming loud and clear about their team and how they feel about other organizations, their coaches and players on the field who show Disrespect to the Steeeelers. Believe me when I say this, its going to get nasty"