Having catalogued my life by the ups and downs of the Pittsburgh Steelers Football Club, and having surpassed the half century mark in age, I endeavored to author a memoir of my life as a fan.  This perhaps would be suited for a time capsule for my children, or alternatively as a project for a publisher whose business was really, really slow. 

For the past few years, I’ve written a number of articles, under the screen name, Swissvale72 for a few Pittsburgh Steelers related websites, most notably, and of longest duration, was an association with Stillers.com, prior to my falling into disfavor with management. 

This manifesto had its beginnings during my weeks of teeth-gnashing after the Steelers lost to the Jacksonville Jagoffs (er…Jaguars) in the 2007 NFL Playoffs, whereupon I compiled page upon page of cathartic scribblings.  I had just started to “let it go” when the NFL admitted they had erred in a late non-call in that game which would have brought the Steelers victory.  Had that happened, they would have surely gone onto their 6^th Super Bowl title, and I would still be dancing in the streets of New England, “behind enemy lines,” where I’ve resided for over half my life. 

The greater part of this manuscript however, was written amid the pastoral beauty of Prince Edward Island in the Canadian Maritimes, where I’ve been fortunate enough to own a cottage on the Gulf of St. Lawrence since 2001.  Of course, this ownership was made possible by the US Dollar having been worth over $1.50 CAD at the time.  There’s no way on God’s green earth that this would have been possible now, what with the Loony outpacing the Dollar in today’s moribund economy. 

As you might have guessed, I’m given to digressions, and this rambling will be no exception.  I ventured to my PEI seaside paradise, a veritable writer’s haven, in March, 2008 intent on writing not only this piece, but also a work-related project, as well as starting on a long overdue diet.  Toward this end, I brought all of my sustenance along with me; two bags of Tostitos, four cans of tuna, and a case of beer.  One should note that since I was traveling to Canada, I brought Labatt’s Blue, brewed in Canada, and sold there for $18 a 12-pack.  It’s imported to the US, where in New Hampshire, the Live Free or Die State, I can buy this import for $8 a 12-pack, and carry it back over the border.  Nifty, eh?  My favorite beer is actually a New Hampshire product, Smuttynose Pale Ale, but at $14 a 12-pack, was too rich for my blood presently.   

Enough of this preamble; on to the story. *

From “The Steelers Polka” by Jimmy Psihoulis 

JANUARY, 2008

It is the winter of my Steelers Discontent.  The Black & Gold have been dispatched from the playoffs at their earliest juncture in 14 years, victimized by their rookie head coach playing “not to lose” with a 1-point lead and 3 minutes remaining…and losing.  This abrupt exit generates the most excruciating of fates, needing to suffer through three more football weekends absent my team.   When January comes up on the calendar, the goal as a Steelers fan is to live to fight another day, play another game, extend the season.  The Steelers season ends, and days are darker, winter is colder, life is simply less happy.  

Thus, left with a football team prematurely eliminated, and a writing addiction unfed, I’ve sat down with my lone resources, the 2007 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide, and a memory completely unfiltered of all things Steelers, to begin my story..............................

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This is an excerpt from My life as a Pittsburgh Steelers Fan written by Swissvale72 and he asked me to post it and I agreed.  The link below will take to the full document (70 pages) to read at your pleasure.  A great deal of effort and memory went into this piece and we thank Swiss for sharing and taking the time to put his experiences on paper to share with other fans.  Enjoy!

http://members.cox.net/steelerfury/Wer efromthetown.pdf