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this is one of the most touching stories in sports i've read in a long while...

 

This was Bettis' game for him -- and two cities -- to win

 

By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Sports Columnist

February 5, 2006

 

DETROIT (AP) -- As grand exits go, it wasn't much.

 

The Bus didn't win the Super Bowl for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final game of his career. Didn't even have a lot to do with it, until he was given the ball to grind up some yards and run down the clock toward the end.

 

Don't believe for a minute, though, that this wasn't Jerome Bettis' game.

 

He ran onto the field alone because his teammates wanted to give him one final tribute. He walked off it for the last time as a champion, beloved in two cities.

 

And he did what most athletes never can -- walk away on top.

 

"I think the Bus' last stop is here in Detroit," Bettis said.

 

It was quite a ride. Bettis wasn't the same back who punished defenders in the NFL for 13 years, but he didn't need to be on this team.

 

His role wasn't so much to run as it was to lead. He came back for another year because quarterback Ben Roethlisberger promised him a trip to Detroit, and once he got here he made them all feel at home.

 

His teammates wanted to win one for Pittsburgh, one for Bill Cowher, one for the thumb and one for themselves.

 

They never lost sight, though, of the one they wanted to win so badly for: big No. 36.

 

"It was all for Jerome," MVP Hines Ward said. "We were going to fight for him."

 

The night between the end zones was largely forgettable, though Bettis helped Roethlisberger score the Steelers' first touchdown with a block late in the second quarter. He wasn't the best running back on the field, not even the second best.

 

Bettis didn't even play during the first quarter, and ended the game with just 43 yards on 14 carries. He wasn't a starter, but he was the only Steeler on the field for a few moments as his teammates let him savor his final run out of the tunnel by himself.

 

"Joey Porter told me, 'It's only right that you lead us out there. It's your home. You need to bring us in,"' Bettis said. "I was in awe. They wanted me to bring them in and I brought them in. It was incredible. It gave me a moment I'll never forget."

 

Bettis responded by trying to give the Steelers something they would never forget. He rooted teammates on, sprinting onto the field to congratulate them after big plays and giving them words of encouragement when things went bad.

 

When it was over, Bettis finally had his Super Bowl championship, the only thing missing from what will surely be a Hall of Fame resume. He celebrated on the field, while his mother -- who had never missed a game since Bettis began playing football -- cried and his dad celebrated in a luxury suite above.

 

Detroit celebrated with them, perhaps hopeful that this was a good omen of things to come in a city that so desperately wants to improve itself. It was almost as if a city whose own team is woeful had somehow claimed a title of sorts of its own.

 

Bettis made his retirement official even before he left the field. He held the Super Bowl trophy aloft, said he was through, and then went to have some fun in the lockerroom.

 

"It's official, like the referee whistle," Bettis said.

 

Assuming it is official, Bettis leaves after rushing for the fifth-most yards in the history of the NFL. He leaves much like John Elway left -- on his own terms and with a glitzy new ring on his finger.

 

Not many athletes do that. They hang on believing they can recapture their glory days, afraid that if they leave, the fans who adore them will leave as well.

 

Remember the images of Joe Namath hanging on until the bitter end? Johnny Unitas did the same, and you can fill a league with running backs who believe they haven't lost a step and still have the moves that matter.

 

That won't happen with Bettis. He's claimed now by two cities with big Bus stops.

 

This Bus wasn't only bruising, he was considerate. Running backs don't last long in the NFL, especially those who plow into defenders without any thought to their own health.

 

Bettis knew his body was breaking down, knew his career was coming to a close. But he didn't want to tell his teammates that because he didn't want to put the extra burden on them when they were trying to win a Super Bowl.

 

He talked to Steelers owner Dan Rooney last week before the team came to Detroit and said this would be the end. He didn't tell coach Bill Cowher, but Cowher had seen the effects of the poundings Bettis had taken and knew anyway.

 

So this was it, win or lose. And what better place for it to happen than the town he grew up in, the town where his parents still live.

 

The Bus really did stop here.

 

"The script right now, if you took it to Hollywood they'd turn it down, saying it couldn't happen," Bettis said.

 

Bettis was right. Hollywood didn't need this script.

 

Pittsburgh and Detroit sure did, though.

 

(Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg@ap.org)

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I found this on a website. Found it really amusing. Kudos to the author. :cool:

 

The American Superbowl - An Englishman’s Perspective

Pittsburgh Steelers -V- Seattle Seahawks

 

Welcome to the Superbowl. My names Rick and I will try to guide you through the ins and outs of this mighty American game. The tension has been building up for hours, you could cut the atmosphere with a blunt knife.

 

Ok, here we go, the teams are out, they have all squatted down in the middle of the pitch and, the match has started!…The American commentators seem to be talking English, but not as I know it.... Oh no, 22 seconds on the clock and someone fell over, everyone’s stopped, one player walked off the field for a drink..and the commentator just said he's gained one!...one what? I don‘t know, now he says some team is third down and 19...19 what? years of age?. Who knows?…..oh, and the man that went for a drink he’s ok folks, he has just wandered back on....

Ok they are playing again now, no wait a minute…they have all stopped and one team is having a big cuddle, I don’t know why, perhaps they felt the need. They said someone got buried after his hand came off or something

 

They have just all wandered off for another big cuddle now...or a drink..not sure.

 

God these men have more big hugs than I do!. They are all hugging again, and that bloke has wandered off for another drink, he must be thirsty.....Exciting stuff here folks at the Superbowl, we have had five group hugs and someone is very thirsty out there, I’m not sure he should be playing myself.

 

Someone has run on to the pitch!, he thinks its all over!…wait, he’s wearing an England football shirt. Poor lad, he got confused, the teams all went for a sit down and a drink, he thought the game was over. He has 5 guns aimed at his head now. I think he is going peacefully.

 

Ok the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Seattle Seahawks, not sure who’s who, has kicked the ball into the air. Men are running everywhere, man this is exciting, some big man has caught it!. Brilliant! oh no, three other men have crashed into him and…………….they have all gone for another cuddle again.

 

Ok the cuddle seems to over. A quarter back is running to the back of the team, apparently he is an offence to the others. A man in a striped jersey has blown a whistle, the balls in the air, the defence is playing with their back seven, and the front seven are trying to get to the quarter back, who like I said is offensive for some reason. The quarterback has caught the ball and started running, now were getting somewhere,, everybody else seems to be fighting, but all eyes are on this kid as he flies down the wing, and it’s a touchdown, a 75 yard touchdown!, I think for the Steelers, but who cares, not me! It is now 14-3 to the Steelers…wow! Good stuff eh! Don’t ask where the other points came from. I have no idea, apparently some one scored before, but I didn’t see it.

 

They have all gone for a cuddle again…the quarterback seems to have an headache. I noticed that when he scored instead of his team mates congratulating him, some of them nutted him, anyway he has gone for a sit down and a rest.

 

That other bloke has gone for a drink again. He will be needing the toilet soon. Mark my words.

 

Ok it is now 2nd down and 10, whatever that means. Some of the team have left the field, and some others have come on. What’s going on here? I think one of the teams is cheating here folks, they seem to have brought a lot more players than the others.

 

According to the American commentators, you have to look after your byside and tight end and try to get under the seam. They are still not talking any English I know.

 

A man in a striped jersey has blown a whistle, started waiving his hands and pulling faces. He is now talking to the crowd through a microphone. All the players have stopped again and have gone for a drink, I think they are getting bit miffed with this guy.

 

Ok folks, a lot is happening here, I can’t keep up, but I will try to keep the highlights coming.

 

The Seattle defence are down and 3rd with 13 this time, with number 54 punching a big hole into something. This is a big possession apparently.

Someone has made the play, and they are now playing scrimmage I think. It’s a weird game this. Hang on, someone has got tired and said whoa! Time out man! So everyone has gone for a sit down and rest again. Except that man that keeps wandering off for a drink, I think he is confused, he is still on the pitch!

 

Everyone is back on now, the balls in the air, 20 yards, 30 yards, 50 yards what a throw, but someone has blocked it and someone tackled someone else. A player has done his 2nd interception of the game, he’s slacking if you ask me. Its 3rd down and 7..? And it’s a touchdown for the Seahawks. Its now 14-10 to the Stealers! This is getting really exciting. The American commentators say it is now “Game On!!”

 

Hang on, they have all gone for a rest again.

 

It’s the 3 rd quarter, 3rd down and 4, I still have no idea what that means, but there it is. The stealers are stuck on it so I report it as it is.

Apparently the entire Seahawks team are offensive . I don’t think that’s very nice, but there you go. Must have done something to offend.

A linebacker has just hit someone who had the ball, but there is nothing wrong with that play, I think, anyway some man has run down the sideline and done a 20 yard return. I think he is running in circles myself might be trying to confuse the offence, or defence or the 3rd down or something.

 

It 32 on the 22 and 4th down chasing a 4 point lead by someone with 14 letters in his name. But he has made a bad decision, apparently he has to field the ball, and he didn’t. Can’t say I blame him.

 

Ok it’s cuddle time again, group hug going on here folks. Lots of banging of helmets. Can’t be good for you if you ask me.

 

A Steeler has a tight end, and someone does a field turn and then got kicked in the head. Oh it its all happening here.

That mans gone for a drink again.

 

It’s now 1st down on the 15th with a 3 yard pick up and 7th on 7th and my brain has gone. It’s a slam pass! No, I don’t know what one is either, but it is a slam. Now the end of the 3rd quarter and they have all gone for a drink again. Must be thirsty out there.

 

It is the start of the 4th quarter. Things are tight, both teams are drinking lots. I think Seattle are winning the cuddle stats, but the Steelers are not far behind.

 

It is 2nd and 10 ?? And someone is a big lad who plays on the nose and is quite fast. He runs, but he was looking to his left! Can you believe it! No I can‘t either.

 

Anyway someone has made 6 yards…Backyards?? Farmyards?? Who knows.

 

Ok someone has come on with what looks like a fur rug on his back, he catches the ball, but the man in the striped jersey has said someone has dropped the flag. So he has to go back to where he started.. Apparently it was a no flag! ??

 

The Seahawks have gone to the 50 on the 3rd down and someone has brought it back to the 25. But the flag has gone down again., Someone should fix that thing, it’s ruining the game.. The players also seem to be getting a bit fed up, they have all gone for another drink.

 

Ok, they have come back on, its 2nd down and 9. Effective play by Seattle apparently and the quarterback has done a draw on the 1 and gained 5.

 

Oh no, the Steelers have a big touchdown, someone has thrown the ball on the dead run ??? It is now 21-10 to the Stealers…and…they have all gone for a rest again.

 

Ok they are back on, someone has took his helmet off, is he mad! Oh, its ok folks, it is that man that keeps going for a drink. I think he’s off to the toilet.

 

It is 1st down on the 16, but someone has not caught a pass since Superbowl 5. Why is he playing,? useless!

 

Someone is now running for the first down but it’s a fumble. Someone has thrown the red flag out, and about time if you ask me, nothing but trouble that thing.

 

Anyway, its cuddle time again.

 

Ok the man in the striped jersey has spoke to the crowd. Seattle will not be penalised for the time out apparently. 8 mins remains now, Stealers 10 points in front, its 2nd down and 6. Someone has lost his helmet, started crying and left the field. Oh dear.

 

Number 15 who was a back up quarterback is now a wide receiver, and about time too. Promotion well deserved I say. Someone has been sacked and lost 5 yards. This is good stuff folks, promotions sackings, like being at work. Everything is happening.

 

Wait, they have all gone for another drink.

 

Ok, they are back again. It is 2nd down and 20. Seattle need 2 possessions to win the game…I think, anyway they need something. Hold on they are having a 30 second time out, someone must be thirsty again, or wants a cuddle, who knows.

 

They are back, its 7th down and 6 or is it the other way round. And its another time out. Do they never play longer than 2 mins, are they that out of condition? Ok they are back, a man has done two great plays, one with his feet and one with his head. But the Seahawks chances are slipping away here. They have 1 time out left, so basically they need a miracle.

 

The ball is in the air again. Men are charging into each other, it looks like a battlefield out there, they are going to really tire themselves out doing all this.

 

Told you…Group cuddle time again.

 

Cuddle over, and its 1st down on the 20, someone has been on the tackle and picked up 6 yards..?? Anyway someone has got to the 30 yard line, but someone else has thrown the ball away and stopped the clock. He is a big spoilsport if you ask me.

 

Its 3rd down and 10, some player is between a rock and a hard place, and the Seahawks are having a last chance.

 

34 Seconds remaining. This is exciting stuff folks. Who is going to win?

Well in my expert opinion I say the Steelers. But you never know in the crazy world of American football!

 

Can you believe it! By the time I had typed that last sentence, the game is over.

 

The Pittsburgh Steelers have won.

Congratulations to them…yah boo sucks! to the other team.

Thank You and Goodnight!

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watched the david letterman show kagabi... and his guest was ben roethlisberger... tinanong ni letterman si ben kung pumasok ba talaga 'yung rush touchdown n'ya...

 

nag-shrug si ben... at sinabi n'ya na kinon-front n'ya si bill cowher para sabihin na malakas ang kutob n'ya na 'di talaga lumagpas 'yung bola sa linya...

 

sabay bawi na may fourth down pa naman daw... at makakalusot pa rin daw s'ya dahil quarterback draw pa rin ang play na gagamitin nila...

 

the breaks of the game nga naman... :cool:

 

btw... tungkol sa beard n'ya... resulta 'yun ng pagkainis n'ya noong natalo sila against cincinnati... noong 'di s'ya nag-shave ay naging sunod-sunod ang panalo nila... 'di na n'ya tinangkang tanggalin 'yung beard kasi swerte kahit ayaw n'ya at nangangati na s'ya...

 

ayun... since tapos na ang season at nanalo sila sa super bowl... shi-nave ni david letterman 'yung beard n'ya... live on national television... :cool:

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  • 2 weeks later...

I was there in Ford's Field in Detroit watching the Steelers win it all live.... Im a Cowboys and Steelers fan so I really had a blast with the win... I was tense in the first half with the Seahawks having the upper hand.... but all went well with the Steelers making big plays after big play with Parkers NFL record 75 yrd rush TD in the superbowl and the gadget play of randel el to ward... that was pretty awesome... the terrible towel cost me $10 but the was worth it with the steelers winning one for the thumb!! :thumbsupsmiley:

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err... speculation pa lang naman 'yung paglipat ni alexander sa panthers... galing kasi 'to dun sa interview n'ya during the superbowl kung saan sinabi n'ya na magaan sa loob n'ya sa sistema ng carolina coaches... lalo na sa offense...

 

kung ikaw ba naman ang seattle eh papakawalan mo ang reason kung bakit k'yo nanalo ng conference championship at nakapasok sa superbowl?...

 

if alexander "indeed" signs with carolina... mahirap din na may dalawang "star" halfbacks sa isang team... foster is an up and coming star... pero susceptible sa injury... kaya sa fantasy football ay maraming umiiwas sa kanya... pero mahirap s'yang kalaban kung healthy s'ya...

 

on the other hand... alexander is still young... like foster... and he commands the ball in every rushing play... sayang naman 'yung pag-akyat ni foster kung kukunin sa kanya ni alexander 'yung karamihan ng workload... at s'yang din naman 'yung talent kung paghahatian nila 'yung usual 20 to 30 rush plays... walang chance na makakuuha ng groove ang bawat isa kung magsasalitan sila sa pagtakbo ng football...

 

san diego let go of quaterback drew brees to free agency... and reports are saying that both the miami dolphins and detroit lions are keen on signing brees...

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Texans might trade first pick

By CLIFF BRUNT, Associated Press Writer

February 27, 2006

 

 

Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush might not land with the Houston Texans after all.

 

Texans general manager Charley Casserly said Sunday that the Texans have been talking to teams about possibly trading the first pick in the 2006 draft.

 

It has been widely speculated that the Heisman Trophy winning running back out of Southern California would end up with the Texans because they recently gave quarterback David Carr a three-year contract extension.

 

The Texans, who finished 2-14 last season, have multiple needs that might be filled with one major move.

 

"There's clearly players at the top of this draft that are marquee players," Casserly said. "Players that are impact players, players that are going to go to the Pro Bowl, players that are going to sell tickets. We're going to get offers for this pick. We've already had discussions with teams. I think there's value in our pick.

 

"Whether it's Reggie Bush, Vince Young or Matt Leinart, those three players are going to produce trade offers. We are definitely going to have some choices when it comes to draft day."

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