Yeah, it’s always a sad day after in Pittsburgh when the Steelers lose. But I have to agree with several friends’ blogs that it’s not really any worse than any other loss. Maybe it’s because I don’t hate the Packers. Maybe it’s because we have won Super Bowls recently (the loss in SB XXX was SO much worse). Maybe it’s because I wasn’t really expecting them to win, and they still did pretty well except for the turnovers. Maybe it’s because the whole “event” seemed rather blah this year — no stand-out commercials, snow and seating glitches, ho-hum announcers and game presentation. I didn’t think the half-time show was that bad, but I did notice Christina Aguilera flubbing the National Anthem. Seriously…for a mega-million-dollar professional to do that was terrible. How about next year they forgo the soloist and just let the stadium full of fans sing it loud and proud.
It took a really, really long time to get our “one for the thumb,” and it may take us just as long to climb that stairway to seven. But it was great we got this far in a year when no one expected us to. (And, frankly, any SB New England isn’t in is pretty OK in my book!)
So, we’ll get ′em next time, guys! Thanks for a great season and for making Steeler Nation possible. And congrats to the Packers and their fans. Enjoy your championship year!
Defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it.
~ Joe Clark
Writing by Ear 
boatdrinkbaby said,
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Nicely done Chris. The end quote is perfect!
And it ought to be a rule that whoever sings National Anthem has to just sing it and not try to turn it into something of “their own.” Not that I think her re-wording was intentional but all the drawn out runs and drama . . . so unnecessary and so silly in comparison to what the song stands for.
I wish the Glee actress had gotten the anthem.
facie said,
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 3:34 pm
I can’t write my post-Super Bowl post until I figure out where I stand on it. If I had written it last night, I would have been just fine, really. If I had written it this a.m., I would have been sad (so much for things always looking better in the morning). The only thing I know for sure is I am just not a fan of the Stairway to Seven or Knocking on Seven’s Door slogans, but hopefully next time someone will come up with something more to my liking. 🙂
Regardless, you have summed it up pretty well. The only thing I disagree with was the half-time show. But I have not watched an SB halftime show in forever, so maybe this is just how they are (weird, seemingly out of tune, mics going in and out). A facebook friend who was at the SB said BEP was good, so maybe you just had to be there…
WritingbyEar said,
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 4:02 pm
I think the Glee actress did great as well, although Mike was like, “Why are people putting their hands over their hearts? It’s not the National Anthem!” (didn’t bother me)
I have to admit, I missed the first part of the halftime show when the mic problems happened (busy making pizzas in the kitchen). And I missed the Slash cameo.What I saw looked like a typical BEP performance (I have seen them perform I Gotta Feeling 5 or 6 times in the last couple years it seems) and a typical SB performance overall, with the crowd on the field and the dancers and lights and such.