Pittsburgh 19 - Tennessee 11
I packed up the family last weekend and headed to Tennessee to see my beloved Steelers take on one of our hated foes, the Tennessee Titans. Quick aside. If you have an infant. There is no way that a 6 1/2 hour drive will go smoothly. Plan for 9.
Mrs. Rye's cousins live in Clarksville and are season ticket holders, which means that when we play down there, they help me find a ticket. This makes my second trip down south. Two years ago, we went down there, lost, then went on to win the Superbowl. So I got over it.
After the game in '08. Lendell White and Keith Bullock desecrated the Terrible Towel by stomping it into the mudd. Bad hoo-doo ensued and the Titans went on to lose 8 straight games over two seasons, including a playoff game against the Ravens shortly after the evil deed was perpetrated.
At the pregame tailgate, the Titans fans were confident.
"I think that it's going to be a defensive game"
"You can't stop Chris Johnson and Vince Young"
Silly homers.
It's all going to come back to towels. They have not learned their lesson. The titans were handing out rip-off towels at the gate. I grabbed one for myself and Cousin Barry was surprised that I took one.
Hey, it was hot. I was sure that I would need it for a case of swamp nuts.
Pause in the story. If you are going to an away game. I recommend Tennessee. People are friendly. Their worst fans our angels compared to Northeast and Midwest football fans. However, there is always one loudmouth that I end up having words with.
Set the stage. Pittsburgh's winning. The "Unstoppable" Chris Johnson is getting nowhere. Finally, he busts loose for an 85 yard touchdown. The crowd goes wild, except for Cousin Barry, who doesn't even cheer, he sees that a flag get has been thrown for holding. Everyone but the two of us is standing up going wild. He's sad. I'm trying not to look too pleased. After the call is made. I can't help myself. I pull a Buckeye-Hatin-Chris, stand up, wave the towel and yell "Cheaters!". (Which always endears you with your opponents fans.) This makes a guy in the row behind me say "Sit down Son and Be quiet!"
I was quiet for a few moments. I'm with my wife's family. Best behavior. But if I don't say anything, this shit's going to eat at me for 5 years. People who have watched games with me will not believe what I said next.
"I'm not swearing." (This is the part that they won't believe.) "And, I'm not your damned son." Jesus I'm 37. Shit 38. I don't let my dad talk to me like this.
"This is our stadium, quit waving your damn towel."
Got ya jackass. "You handed out towels at the gate!"
It all comes back to the towels. YOI!
There is only one Terrible Towel.
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