350,000 pack downtown Pittsburgh to cheer their...

LOCAL

350,000 pack downtown Pittsburgh to cheer their champs Wednesday, February 04, 2009 By Ed Blazina, Jerome L. Sherman and Anya Sostek, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lake Fong/Post-Gazette

Receiver Santonio Holmes hoists his Super Bowl XLIII MVP trophy for the crowd at the Boulevard of the Allies at Smithfield Street during the Steelers victory parade yesterday. Steelers Nation turned out in force; police estimated the crowd at 350,000.

The pilgrimage began before dark and continued to build for six hours as a nation gathered at its capital to honor itsconquering heroes.

And when they arrived, a grateful Steelers Nation estimated at 350,000 erupted in a joyous celebration of the Pittsburgh Steelers' sixth Super Bowl championship in an hour-long parade Downtown yesterday.

Adults and children alike apparently were stricken with the Black-and-Gold Flu, causing them to miss school and work. The cure: jamming the streets Downtown in a communal show of support for a football team that has won more Super Bowl championships than any other.

In the end, it was hard to tell who was more appreciative -- fans who screamed and cheered for the players, coaches and owners along the parade route or team members who took the stage at Boulevard of the Allies and Stanwix Street to thank fans for their unending support.

Coach Mike Tomlin, normally calm and stoic along the sidelines and in front of the media, let loose during the parade. After the procession turned from Grant Street onto the Boulevard of the Allies, Mr. Tomlin -- wearing a gray championship hoodie -- got out of his car and walked, slapping hands and pumping fists with fans on both sides of the street to loud cheers.

On the stage, he was more composed and spoke for less than a minute. As usual, he measured his words well.

"What do you say to this?" he said about the huge reception. "Steelers Nation, you leave us all speechless ... How about No. 6?"

Police estimated that 350,000 Steelers fans jammed Downtown streets for the parade -- at least 100,000 more than the team's last victory parade in 2006.

But yesterday's parade was a more orderly affair, city officials said, thanks to a new route using wider streets, metal and wooden barriers to keep the crowds back from the procession, and about 270 police officers who stood along the route to maintain order. There were only a few incidents of disorderly behavior reported and officers handled those without making any arrests.

Tens of thousands of Steelers fans line the Boulevard of the Allies, Downtown, during yesterday's Victory Parade.

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of 3350,000 pack downtown Pittsburgh to cheer their champs

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In 2006, fans spilled onto Centre, Sixth, Fifth and Liberty avenues and clamored for autographs from the players.

This time, the parade followed Grant Street and Boulevard of the Allies, accommodating the larger crowds.

"It was a lot of people," police Cmdr. George Trosky said. "By 8 a.m., it was packed."

But that didn't lead to crowd control problems.

"It couldn't have been smoother," Cmdr. Trosky said. "The crowd was very orderly. Everybody had fun."

EMS crews responded to only four calls by the early afternoon, including one for a seizure, according to City Public Safety Director Michael Huss.

"All in all we were very happy with the outcome," he said.

Several parade-goers tried to reach the railing above the driveway at the Pennsylvanian building for a better view, breaking several light fixtures as they scaled the wall.

Greg Evans, the Pennsylvanian's maintenance supervisor, told them to get down.

Many fans who went to both post-Super Bowl events said that yesterday felt less chaotic and congested. Along Grant Street in front of Oxford Centre, families with small children mingled uneventfully with businessmen in topcoats and bare-chested men adorned with black and gold body paint.

"It's not as crazy as I thought," said Theresa Gouker, of Liberty. Arriving around 10:30 a.m., Ms. Gouker, her friend Tiffany Pikula, and their three young daughters clad in pink and purple snowsuits over Steelers jerseys managed to snag spots in the front row -- close enough for players to see the brightly colored signs that the girls had made.

"We skipped school," said Ms. Gouker, as 7-year-old Kennedy Pikula looked around guiltily, holding her "I (heart) You Troy" sign. "They were promised that if the Steelers won, they could go to the parade."

By the time the Thomas Jefferson marching band took to Grant Street playing Queen's "We Are the Champions," fan excitement was near a boiling point.

While some players, like quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, calmly took in the scene, others played off the energy of the crowd.

As fans whipped their Terrible Towels, players Willie Parker and Deshea Townsend waved them right back. To cheers of "Defense, defense," defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau raised his arms in a victory salute.

Defensive lineman Casey Hampton briefly gave the crowd an intimate taste of the "Big Snack," taking his shirt off near the Boulevard of the Allies and Wood Street.

And along Grant Street, receiver Hines Ward stood on top of a moving SUV, while Willie Colon tentatively held his jersey in the event that he lost his balance.

James Harrison and Santonio Holmes brought up the rear of the parade, holding the Vince Lombardi and the Super Bowl MVP trophies.

Some resourceful fans took to the edges of the five-story parking garage at Smithfield and the Boulevard and opened upper-floor windows of the AFSCME and Diocese of Pittsburgh buildings for better views.

Dozens crowded onto the bed -- and a few onto the roof and front -- of a city Public Works pickup truck parked on Market Street near the Boulevard of the Allies.

"We ambushed the truck," said Dee Butler, of the North Side, who watched the parade from that elevated vantage point.

Ms. Butler has attended every other public Steelers event this season, including rallies at the Terrible Tree at the Allegheny County Courthouse and the one at Heinz Field. She considers herself to be in the upper echelon of Steelers fans -- so much so that her home answering machine says, "You have just reached the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers' number one fan."

For her, the highlight of the day came when safety Troy Polamalu rode by Market Street and the Boulevard of the Allies on top of an SUV.



A mass of fans at Market Street yelled for him to dive, so after standing atop the roof of his vehicle -- and slowly counting down so that fans would be ready -- he leaped into the air, twisting to fall backward onto fans' outreached hands. He did a similar crowd surf at the parade three years ago.

"I thought he was kidding," said Jim Atzert, of McCandless, "but he just jumped right off."

After fans safely delivered him back to the SUV, fellow safety Ryan Clark followed with his own body-surfing dive.

"Oh my God, I've seen everything, especially when Polamalu jumped into the fans," said Ms. Butler. "This is history in the making."

Mr. Polamalu played to the crowd throughout the parade route, calling for more noise and then getting it when he took his signature flowing hair out of a ponytail and shook it in the breeze. He repeated the trick several times.

"As long as I saw Troy, I'm happy," said one woman who turned to leave after he passed by. "He's beautiful."

Ken Orluske, of Shaler, skipped two classes at the Community College of Allegheny County yesterday to see the parade.

"This is the record -- six Super Bowls," he said. "It's like Michael Phelps winning eight gold medals."

Like dozens of others looking for sustenance and a bathroom as the parade wound down, Mr. Orluske ducked into the Primanti Brothers on Cherry Way.

Business there was about triple what it would be on a normal Tuesday, said manager Rick Kerlin.

Defensive lineman Brett Keisel seemed to sum up the sentiment of the day.

"Pittsburgh, I've got one question. How does that six-pack taste?" he asked as the crowd roared. "Now we've got to go for seventh heaven."

Timothy McNulty contributed to this story. Ed Blazina can be reached at [email protected] or 412-263-1470. Jerome L. Sherman can be reached at [email protected] or 412-263-1183. Anya Sostek can be reached at [email protected] or 412-263-1308.

First published on February 4, 2009 at 12:00 am

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SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL

The Catch? Swann's seen it beforeRather, Steelers' great lauds Holmes' overall play on final drive Wednesday, February 04, 2009 By Chuck Finder, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lynn Swann, the ballet-lithe receiver who patented acrobatic, historic catches in his Hall of Fame Steelers career, wasn't overly dazzled by Santonio Holmes' Super Bowl-winning reception on its own merits.

The play doesn't rank alongside Bill Mazeroski's home run in his mind, either.

Rather, to him, the sensational part was Holmes' effort in toto on the final Steelers drive that captured Super Bowl XLIII, 27-23, Sunday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., where Swann watched after taking a ceremonial role in the opening coin toss.

"I thought ... that whole drive was tremendous," Swann said yesterday. "It wasn't just the touchdown catch. He set it up. He made all the key catches on that drive."

In the end, Holmes made four of the five catches (Nate Washington had the other) on that eight-play drive. Holmes accounted for 73 of the 88 yards covered. He made that 6-yard, Super Bowl-securing touchdown catch with 35 seconds left -- "on both toes," as referee Terry McAulay said after the replay review -- to provide the Steelers a sixth Lombardi Trophy and himself not only the Most Valuable Player award but a niche in Pittsburgh sports lore.

The toe-tapping, fingertip-reaching touchdown reception? Swann has seen it before, from old-school receivers in the 1950s, '60s and '70s.

"Technically, he did everything perfectly," Swann said. "The catch itself I thought was a terrific catch under pressure, with a lot of people [three Cardinals defensive backs] around him. It was a perfect pass, high enough to get over the outstretched arms of a defender, but high enough so that he could stretch up and get it and still keep his feet on the ground. That was the key.

"We've seen that catch a lot in the history of pro football. Raymond Berry [of the Baltimore Colts] and Fred Biletnikoff [the Erie native and Oakland Raiders receiver] had a history of making that catch. And it was a tremendous catch."

Holmes finished with a career-high nine catches and 131 yards, two off his career mark.

As for Holmes' place in steeped Pittsburgh sports history, Swann didn't sound sold.

"Maz's homer, no. I don't think it's that," Swann said of the 1960 Game 7 hit that won the Pirates that World Series. "Do I think it's a great catch and an important catch? Absolutely. But that whole drive, [Holmes] did a phenomenal job. If he doesn't make the catch [and run of 40 yards] to get them inside the 6-yard line ... ."

Chuck Finder can be reached at [email protected].



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Page 1 of 1The Catch? Swann's seen it before


SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL

Charity donates Arizona gear to families in needWednesday, February 04, 2009 By Bill Toland, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

World Vision, a Christian relief organization, collects apparel from the NFL teams that lose in the playoffs and redirects them to impoverished families.

While the Super Steelers are flying high after yesterday's victory parade, preprinted Cardinals "championship" T-shirts will be flying south for the winter, providing clothing for poor families in El Salvador, by way of a charitable distribution center in Aleppo.

Before the Super Bowl and conference championship games, the NFL and its official apparel licensees print up hundreds of shirts and caps to be distributed to the players and coaches on the winning team's sideline and thousands more that eventually will be sold in stores and online. The winners -- in this case, the Steelers -- get to celebrate in their new gear.

But the losers are left wearing their street clothes after the game. World Vision, a Christian relief organization, collects the losers' items and redirects them to impoverished families.

World Vision's U.S. headquarters is in Seattle, but the warehouse where it accepts and repackages donated surplus clothing is in Aleppo.

This year, like last year, the question of which shirts would be sent south was in doubt until the final moments. But Santonio Holmes' last-minute touchdown grab ensured not only a sixth Lombardi Trophy for the Steelers, but also that the men, women and children of Central America will be wearing shirts that wrongly announce the Arizona Cardinals as the 2009 Super Bowl champions.

The same fate awaits the plumage plucked from those other birds, the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles. Because they lost their conference title games, their shirts are being collected by World Vision before they can be collected by, say, Baltimore souvenir hunters. These shirts may instead end up in Africa.

The people receiving the shirts, of course, don't really care that their new clothes aren't historically accurate.

"We're working in pretty remote areas, no electricity and no water," said Jeff Fields, a lifelong Steelers fan and World Vision's senior director for corporate relations. "There will be some that understand" the true outcome of the Super Bowl, but the majority won't, he said.

Today, World Vision's local warehouse is scheduled to receive its first shipment from Tampa, Fla. -- the 280 or so cap-and-shirt combos. In the weeks and months to come, large sporting goods retailers will donate the rest of their Cardinals stock, tens of thousands of pieces of apparel in all.

The retailers' donations can be written off for tax purposes.

Last year, World Vision distributed about $2 million worth of "19-0" New England Patriots championship T-shirts in Nicaragua, Romania and elsewhere. This year, the total value of the donated goods will be down.

"This year is really a tough one," Fields said. Arizona is "a small market, no fan base," meaning fewer articles of apparel

Page 1 of 2Charity donates Arizona gear to families in need


were preprinted.

Also, it's a warm-weather city. Had the Steelers lost, not only would thousands of T-shirts and caps been donated, but also lots of sweatshirts and cold-weather stocking caps.

World Vision has been collecting unusable, unsalable Super Bowl merchandise since 1992. It does the same after the WorldSeries and other sports championships.

Bill Toland can be reached at btoland@post-gazette or 412-263-2625.


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Page 2 of 2Charity donates Arizona gear to families in need


LOCAL

Streets were alive with the sounds of Steelers NationWednesday, February 04, 2009 By Jerome L. Sherman, Ed Blazina, Anya Sostek and Jon Schmitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lake Fong/Post-Gazette

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin flashes seven fingers to yesterday's parade crowd, indicating his desire to add yet another Super Bowl title next season.

They traveled from as far away as Tennessee and New York City. But they weren't there to cheer for the Steelers.

By 1 p.m. yesterday, police had confiscated 15,000 counterfeit items -- hats, T-shirts and more -- from street vendors looking to make a quick buck during the parade.

Police were working with NFL officials to identify illegal merchandise.

Some goods were selling for impossibly low prices, even in these tough economic times.

"Two for $5! Two for $5!" shouted a man on the corner of Stanwix Street and Liberty Avenue as he pulled black Steelers hats from a cardboard box. "Have your money ready!"

Of course, plenty of vendors were playing by the rules -- and still seeing plenty of green.

Frank Kandcer of Lincoln Place, an employee of VIP Vending in the Strip District, said the parade will translate to a big payday for his company.

"It's definitely a busy work day," he said as he did a steady stream of business selling posters, hats, pennants and gloves near Point Park University. "It's great for the whole city -- the businesses, the restaurants, Downtown. These people love their Steelers. You could sell a used napkin if it was black and gold."

Another vendor, Curtis McGriff of Center Township, sold Confetti Cannons a half block away. The company, also in the Strip District, sold hundreds of the cannons that shoot confetti and paper streamers into the air.

"Don't worry; we've got replacements," he said as he carried away empty cases.

When Jason Atzert, of Pasadena, Calif., told his friends that he was flying to Pittsburgh for the Super Bowl, they couldn't quite understand the logic.

"You realize the Super Bowl's in Tampa," they'd tell him.

But to Mr. Atzert, who grew up in the North Hills, it made perfect sense not only to fly here cross-country for the Super Bowl, but to extend his trip for a full week to ensure he'd be here in the event of a victory parade.


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Page 1 of 2Streets were alive with the sounds of Steelers Nation


And standing near the intersection of Market Street and the Boulevard of the Allies yesterday, watching Troy Polamalu dive into the crowd just a few feet away, he couldn't imagine being anywhere else. "I missed it last time and I regret it," he said. "I got more than I could have expected or imagined."

Like the nation as a whole, Ricky Riggenbach is struggling. He and his wife recently split after 24 years together. He can't find any construction jobs.

But he still has the Steelers.

"It's helping me get through tough times," said Mr. Riggenbach, 47, of New Martinsville, W.Va., as he stood near the beginning of the parade route, wearing a Steelers hard hat.

A month ago, he moved back to West Virginia after more than two decades in Massachusetts. He wanted to be near his family again, and he wanted to get away from New England Patriots fans.

Three of his nephews joined him for the hour and a half drive from their hometown, near Wheeling. "I told them I want to be buried in a Roethlisberger jersey," he said.

Many in the crowd stood for hours before the parade began, amusing themselves with Steelers cheers and a "wave" down the Boulevard of the Allies. Several fans clamored to get their pictures taken with Rick Sherdan, of Hampton, who donned a jeweled black Elvis suit and a Steelers tie for the occasion.

"Elvis has always been a big fan of the Steelers," he joked. "It's all about good, clean fun."

Standing near the intersection of Grant Street and Liberty Avenue, Ishmael Johnson was able to use his handheld television to tell those standing around him who was occupying cars as the parade began.

He'd hoped to watch the parade from inside the William S. Moorhead Federal Building, where he works, but couldn't find a free spot along a window. So he grabbed the television, which he'd brought to work last month to make sure he could watch President Barack Obama's inauguration, and found a spot on the sidewalk.

As Mr. Johnson could see on TV, County Executive Dan Onorato rode through the parade early, wearing a gray topcoat and twirling a Terrible Towel. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl came later: He rode in a truck next to Ben Roethlisberger, and wore a gray Super Bowl sweatshirt and shot the parade with a video camera, just like most of the Steelers players.

Port Authority spokesman Dave Whipkey said the Light Rail Transit system moved about 20,000 people from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., which is more than 80 percent of what the system typically transports on an entire weekday. The authority added extra service on the rail line and bus routes.

The crowds overwhelmed the rail system, causing jammed trains to bypass crowded stops nearer to the city.

At 10:46, a 42S car arrived at Potomac station in Dormont, where a crowd of more than 120 riders was waiting. The driver announced on the public address system that the car was jammed and urged patrons to wait for the next train, which he said was one minute behind him and "empty."

When it arrived, it, too, was nearly full, and bypassed most of the 15 remaining stops before reaching Downtown.

Reporting and writing from Jerome L. Sherman, Ed Blazina, Anya Sostek and Jon Schmitz.


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Page 2 of 2Streets were alive with the sounds of Steelers Nation


LIVING

Big win, new slogan, super T-shirtWednesday, February 04, 2009 By L.A. Johnson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Yes We Did" T-shirt image.

The Steelers heart-stopping victory in Super Bowl XLIII Sunday prompted one of the creators of the Coach Mike Tomlin"Yes We Can" T-shirt to change the message to reflect the new reality.

"Yes We Did!"

There are two versions: One features six hash marks, representing the six Super Bowl victories, an outline of the Lombardi Trophy and a silhouette of football players bearing the numbers of famed Steelers with the "Yes We Did" slogan. The other features Tomlin's likeness, like on the original, but with the "Yes We Did" slogan. They're both hand silk-screend in white and gold ink.

"I had the idea [for the new one] the second we made the first one, but I'm really superstitious," says Dan Rugh, owner of CommonWealth Press, South Side. "I wouldn't even talk about it until [the game] was done."

After the game, he headed down to his shop -- along East Carson Street where thousands of happy fans celebrated -- finishedthe art and ran the screens. A customer request prompted him to retool the original Tomlin T-shirt with the "Yes We Did" slogan, too.

For fun Sunday night, he projected images of the new Lombardi Trophy T-shirt and the old Tomlin T-shirt onto the Utrecht Art Supplies building across the street. The crowd went wild.

The $15 T-shirts, sizes youth medium to adult 5X, are available at CommonWealth Press, 1931 E. Carson St., 412-431-4207 or compressmerch.com.

L.A. Johnson can be reached at [email protected] or 412-263-3903.



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Page 1 of 1Big win, new slogan, super T-shirt


Cardinals face serious contract issues By The Associated Press Wednesday, February 4, 2009

TEMPE, Ariz. — Kurt Warner's future is chief among the serious contract issues facing the Arizona Cardinals in the aftermath of their improbable run to the Super Bowl.

Warner said Monday that he has no timetable for a decision on whether he will retire from the game.

"I'm going to weigh everything, and I'm sure I'll talk to the Cardinals and see what their plans are for the future," Warner said as he and the other players cleaned out their lockers Tuesday. "When I get all the information I can sit back and pray about it and see what God leads me to do."

Warner will turn 38 before next season begins and is coming off a year that rivals any in his career. He said that simply because he had a good season, it isn't automatic that he would return to the game.

"There are so just many issues that go into it," Warner said. "The bottom line for me is that it's never about touchdown passes and winning games and all that stuff. Obviously that plays into it and it's fun and that's why I play the game. But that's not going to be the determining factor on me coming back or not coming back.

"It's going to be whether I feel it's the right thing to do and whether I feel that's what God's calling me to do."

Warner said he's "had a tremendous career and accomplished a lot of things and believe God put me here for a purpose, and I believe this season was part of that. I'm just going to move forward and see what is in store for me, whether it's playing a few more years, one more year or whether it's going off to do something else."

Two other players figure prominently in the Cardinals' offseason decisions.

Wide receiver Anquan Boldin has two years left on his contract but is unhappy that he has not been given a new deal.

He said at the start of training camp that management lied by failing to follow through with what he said was a promise of a new contract. At the time, Boldin said he would never re-sign with Arizona, but the Cardinals have made it clear they want to talk with him about a new deal.

Page 1 of 2Cardinals face serious contract issues - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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Big-play linebacker Karlos Dansby was the team's franchise player this season and wants a long-term deal. He said he wants to stay with Arizona but would be frustrated if he retains the franchise tag, which would give him the average of the NFL's five highest-paid players at his position.

Dansby said the Cardinals "know I want to stay" but if they franchise him again "that would be a tough situation."

"I want to sit down and talk and see where we're at," he said. "Hopefully, we can get something done."

Also to be determined is the fate of running back Edgerrin James, who has one year left on his contract. James was benched for seven games during the season but came back to have a solid performance in the playoffs.

Other unrestricted free agents on the team are defensive end Bertrand Berry, running back-kick returner J.J. Arrington, cornerback Ralph Brown, fullback Terrelle Smith, nose tackle Gabe Watson, tight ends Leonard Pope and Jerame Tuman, linebacker Clark Haggans, guard Elton Brown and punter Ben Graham.

The Associated Press can be reached at or .

Images and text copyright © 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.

Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

Page 2 of 2Cardinals face serious contract issues - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review


350,000 fans welcome Steelers home By Jeremy Boren and Chris Togneri TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The youngest coach ever to win a Super Bowl walked among his fans Tuesday instead of riding above them.

Mike Tomlin, 36, followed his blue-collar formula for coaching champions: He remained humble on a day in which an estimated 350,000 Steelers fans swarmed a one-mile-long parade route Downtown to welcome home the Steelers and their historic sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy from Super Bowl XLIII.

"Steeler Nation, you leave us all speechless, man. We just appreciate the love," said Tomlin, who walked much of the route waving a Terrible Towel. "How about the Steelers? How about the greatest fans in the world? How about number six? Thank you; we love you guys."

Fans bundled in black-and-gold winter gear braved the 27-degree weather and perched themselves on trees, lampposts and rooftops to glimpse their conquering heroes.

People of all ages were packed 50 deepin some spots. Others watched from the decks of a parking garage, tops of buildings or the warmth of offices, pressing their faces against the glass to get a better look.

"It means a lot because the coach and team appreciate the fans," said Chully Uram, 47, of Pennsbury Village. "Every time you hear them talk, they're thanking the fans. Absolutely, that means a lot."

Uram celebrated his birthday by staking out a spot in a garage at Smithfield Street and Boulevard of the Allies, leaning over a railing to cheer.

Some fans, many of them youngsters, said they began grabbing spots on the parade route about 1:45 a.m., which might explain the high rates of absenteeism reported by schools throughout the region.

Mary Gingrich, 44, of Allison Park allowed her sons, Connor, 11, Billy, 13, and Kurt Jr., 15, to skip school to attend the parade. She said she sent North Allegheny school officials a note explaining the boys were attending a "celebration of excellence conference."

"We're into making memories," Gingrich said. "In our family, we celebrate excellence."

Page 1 of 5350,000 fans welcome Steelers home - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review


Fans reported few problems entering the city. Police reported few problems with fans, and no arrests.

Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Michael Huss said officials handled "a few medical emergencies (but) nothing major." Police were "very pleased with the behavior of the fans," said spokeswoman Diane Richard.

The Port Authority ran 34 light-rail trains, which carried almost 20,000 people Downtown between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. based on counts of fares and passes, said spokesman Dave Whipkey. About 24,000 people ride the T during an entire average weekday.

"You guys are the best fans in all of sports -- bar none," said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. "You know what? We got six, so no NFL team can touch us."

As he did in 2006 after the Steelers won Super XL, strong safety Troy Polamalu jumped from a truck to body surf on a sea of black-and-gold clad people near Market Street.

A cluster of fans gathered in PPG Plaza screamed "1... 2 ... 3 ... jump!" Polamalu tied back his trademark mane of black hair, removed his watch and launched himself, putting his trust in the crowd's hands.

They chanted "MVP!" as wide receiver Santonio Holmes drove by.

Jason Gerstner, 33, a Marine from Irwin, said he returned from two tours in Iraq in time to watch the Steelers steamroll through the playoffs and to attend the parade with his son, Derek, 10, and his son's friend, Drew Bannon, 10.

"I've been all over the world, but there's no place like Pittsburgh," Gerstner said. "It's great to be back for this."

Marching bands from six local high schools -- Thomas Jefferson, Bethel Park, South Fayette, Carrick, Perry and Brashear -- participated in the parade. That's one band for each championship.

Charlotte Smith walked alongside South Fayette's marching band and her daughter Shannon, 16, head majorette with the band known as the "Little Green Machine."

Smith said some Steelers got out of their cars to dance with band members as they marched from Seventh Avenue and Grant Street to a reviewing stand at Stanwix Street and Boulevard of the Allies.

"It was phenomenal to see all that black and gold," said Smith of South Fayette. "It was just a lifetime experience they're going to remember forever."

At 11:45 a.m., after temporarily changing the city's name to "Sixburgh," members of Pittsburgh City Council walked the parade route to the reviewing stand, which was festooned with an archway of black and gold balloons.



Before leaving Downtown, Chris O'Neill, 36, of McKees Rocks stumbled upon the players as they boarded Port Authority buses outside the Westinghouse Building at the corner of Stanwix and Fort Pitt Boulevard.

"They came up and I got to shake their hands right there," he said. "I'll remember this forever."

So will Steelers fan Jeff Matters, 51, of Pymatuning.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl made special arrangements for Matters, a paraplegic who suffers from chronic pneumonia and neurofibromatosis, to sit near the parade route after Matters was featured in a Tribune-Review story on Sunday.

"It means a lot," Matters said, dressed in a white Roethlisberger jersey. "It's truly a dream come true."



of 5350,000 fans welcome Steelers home - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review


Super Bowl XLIII now most-watched game By The Associated Press Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Upon further review, Nielsen Media Research says that the Steelers-Arizona Super Bowl game was the most-watched in history.

Nielsen said 98.7 million people, on average, were watching the Steelers' exciting 27-23 victory Sunday night. That beats the 97.5 million who watched the 2008 game, which held the record for most popular Super Bowl.

On Monday, Nielsen had reported that this year's game had 95.4 million viewers.

Nielsen explained the discrepancy of more than 3 million viewers by saying a more complete check of their records revealed additional viewership on some digital tier networks.




Page 1 of 1Super Bowl XLIII now most-watched game - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review


Title settles definition of 'Steeler Football' By Mike Prisuta TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, February 4, 2009

William Gay may be just a second-year cornerback and a former fifth-round draft pick, but he understands the significance of what happened in Tampa, Fla.

"It's just a dream come true," Gay said after Super Bowl XLIII had been won by the Steelers on a last-minute drive for the ages.

"I'm not the MVP, but I might go to Disney World myself."

It ended with the Steelers passing for their championship lives, and it ended 27-23, Steelers.

Now that it ended the way it ended, we can officially put to rest the archaic, romantic and mostly inaccurate notions that 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust smashmouth is, was and always will be "Steeler Football," and that any other approach betrays the franchise's "identity."

The Steelers averaged 2.2 yards per carry on Sunday night at Raymond James Stadium.

The state of their running game was such that they ran the ball eight times on plays that originated at or inside the Cardinals' 7-yard line -- and gained a combined total of 0 yards.

They managed to run for one touchdown from in close, but they also kicked field goals from the Arizona 1 and the Arizona 3, and in each instance it was the right thing to do.

And the Steelers combined with the Arizona Cardinals to set Super Bowl records for fewest rushing first downs, both teams (six, four for the Steelers), fewest rushing attempts, both teams (38, 26 for the Steelers) and fewest rushing yards, both teams (91, 58 for the Steelers).

The Steelers' performance in the Super Bowl was more or less representative of how they ran the ball all season.

And they still managed to win the Super Bowl.

Does winning it through the air make the occasion any less worthy of a celebration?

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Gay didn't think so — he might be in Disney World as we speak — but then again he hasn't been around here very long.

As for those who have, the "Steeler Football" mystique has long been more mystical than factual.

Running back Franco Harris was the MVP of Super Bowl IX.

After that it's been wide receiver Lynn Swann (X), quarterback Terry Bradshaw (XIII and XIV), wide receiver Hines Ward (XL) and wide receiver Santonio Holmes (XLIII) so honored in Super Bowls won by the Steelers.

Did Bradshaw win because of the way he handed off the ball?

Were Swann, Ward and Holmes recognized for their run-blocking?

As recently as 2005, the Steelers stormed through three playoff games to Super Bowl XL on Ben Roethlisberger's arm.

Now, they've won a championship mostly thanks to running "scramble left, scramble right, someone get open" as many times as necessary.

What are they supposed to do next year, draft the best fullback available and go back to throwing 20 times a game?

In the Bill Cowher era, the Steelers became famous for how well they ran the ball and infamous for never getting over the hump.

Then Roethlisberger arrived, and things gradually changed.

So must the perception of who the Steelers are and how they're supposed to play the game.

That was questioned as recently as late this season by none other than running back Willie Parker.

By now even William Gay understands it's easier to get to Disney World through the air.

Mike Prisuta can be reached at [email protected] or 412-320-7923.



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A presidential call in cards for Whisenhunt By The Associated Press Wednesday, February 4, 2009

TEMPE, Ariz. — President Barack Obama was rooting for the Steelers but that didn't stop him from making a congratulatory call to Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt.

Obama made the call a day after the Cardinals were beaten by the Steelers in Sunday's Super Bowl.

Whisenhunt said the call came shortly after he returned to his home Monday afternoon.

He said Obama was "congratulating our team on the success we had had and was very impressed with the way our men had played. And that was quite special."

"I was actually just walking in my front door," Whisenhunt said Tuesday. "He called my cell phone. I don't know how they got my number ... I was humbled and I was stunned."

Obama proved prophetic when he was interviewed by Matt Lauer on NBC's pregame show Sunday.

"I think the Steelers are going to eke it out in the end," the president said before Arizona rallied to take a 23-20 fourth-quarter lead, only to fall, 27-23, on Santonio Holmes' tiptoe catch for a touchdown with 35 seconds to play.

Obama had conceded earlier in the week that he was pulling for the Steelers. Steelers owner Dan Rooney endorsed Obama's presidential bid and campaigned for him.




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WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2009 :: Last modified: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 12:04 AM EST

Time in on Steelers' side for repeat By Mark Craig Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

TAMPA, Fla. — In a young man’s game, the Steelers have a 36-year-old coach and a 26-year-old quarterback. Can you say repeat?

You can, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin can’t. Or we should say won’t. “I think repeating and saying ‘defending Super Bowl champion’ in today’s NFL is somewhat of a misnomer,” the former Vikings defensive coordinator said the morning after his Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII, a record sixth Super Bowl title for the franchise. “When I walk down the hallway and look at the (four) championships of the Steelers in the ‘70s, it’s the same faces in the same positions on those photos. That’s not the reality in today’s NFL, to be quite honest with you.” Free agency began in 1993 and changed the NFL and the stress levels of head coaches forever. Basically, there is no offseason. So it helps when your coach looks as eager the morning after winning the Super Bowl as he did back in July. “We’re a month behind in terms of ’09,” Tomlin said. The guy wins the Super Bowl and he’s concerned about being a month behind on the next one? Now that’s a coach equipped to handle the modern NFL. “Our players have worked a month longer than their competitors that they’ll be competing and vying with for that championship in ‘09,” Tomlin said. “I have to have some sense of that and understand that. But as far as myself, I will fall in soon with our personnel department in getting ready for the draft and free agency.”

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Star linebacker James Harrison holds the Lombardi Trophy high as he passes a parking garage full of Steelers fans on the Boulevard of the Allies during Tuesdayâ€™s Super Bowl victory parade through Downtown Pittsburgh. An estimated quarter-million fans packed the parade route to greet the six-time champions. Times photo Kevin Lorenzi

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The NFL Scouting Combine is later this month in Indianapolis. Free agency starts soon after that. Kevin Colbert, the Steelers director of football operations, is well into his preparations for the 2009 season. Tomlin will take one or maybe even a whopping two days off to be with his kids before joining Colbert. “That’s just the cycle that is this thing,” Tomlin said. “That’s what makes it beautiful.” It’s such a young man’s game that Tomlin went into the playoffs as the league’s youngest coach and came out as its third-youngest. A couple of 32-year-olds in Josh McDaniels and Raheem Morris were hired by the Denver Broncos and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively. In a copycat league, the Broncs and Bucs are looking for the next Mike Tomlin. The real one still has more than three years before getting all those big black balloons that come with the big 4-0. There have been eight back-to-back Super Bowl champions. The Steelers did it twice under Chuck Noll. “You won’t hear me say words like ‘repeat,’ because we’ll be brand new in ’09,” Tomlin said. “This group will always be special to me, but sometime soon, it will be assuming its place with others in history. It’ll be just that: history.” Tomlin was the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl at 36 years, 323 days. That’s almost three years younger than Jon Gruden was (39 years, 162 days) when he won Super Bowl XXXVII with the Buccaneers. Of course, it helps the young head coach when he inherits a young Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben won his second Super Bowl with an eight-play drive that should be preserved in Canton, Ohio, next to the exhibit on John Elway’s “The Drive.” Trailing 23-20 with 2 minutes, 30 seconds left, the Steelers started the drive with a holding penalty. So a 78-yard drive would actually have to be an 88-yard drive with 2:24 left. Roethlisberger went on to complete six of eight passes for 83 yards, including the game-winner in which he threw the ball into the only 3-inch spot that Santonio Holmes could make his amazing catch in triple coverage. “That last drive was Joe Montana-ish,” Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward said. Yeah, the Steelers won’t be a different team in 2009. Linebacker James Farrior and cornerback Bryant McFadden are among the upcoming free agents. But Tomlin and Roethlisberger are coming back, and they will be as fresh as ever at 37 and 27. SUPER RATING FOR STEELERS Upon further review, Nielsen Media Research now says that the Arizona-Pittsburgh Super Bowl game was the most-watched in history. Nielsen said 98.7 million people, on average, were watching Pittsburgh’s exciting 27-23 victory Sunday night. That beats the 97.5 million who watched the 2008 game, which held the record for most popular Super Bowl. On Monday, Nielsen had reported that this year’s game had 95.4 million viewers — impressive, but not a record-setter. Nielsen explained the discrepancy of more than 3 million viewers by saying a more complete check of their records revealed additional viewership on some digital tier networks. The company hadn’t been aware that they were showing the game. (AP) — Associated Press

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Back to work: Steelers starting over By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer

[email protected]

PITTSBURGH - The Super Bowl parade and celebrations are over.

Now the work of defending the Steelers' record sixth Super Bowl championship begins in earnest for director of football operations Kevin Colbert and his scouting staff.

While the players head into the offseason, keeping this team together while also adding to it becomes the main focus for the front office. Sometime in the next couple of weeks, Colbert, head coach Mike Tomlin, team chairman Dan Rooney and team president Art Rooney II will meet to discuss how the Steelers will accomplish that task.

"Obviously, this is a pretty good team and we're going to want to keep it together the best we can," said Colbert.

"What combination, I can't say at this point because we haven't sat down as a staff. Our scouts have been evaluating college players and the free agents."

Eighteen Steelers will become restricted or unrestricted free agents Feb. 27, including six players - wide receiver Nate Washington, cornerback Bryant McFadden and offensive linemen Willie Colon, Chris Kemoeatu, Max Starks and Marvel Smith - who started games this season.

That gives the Steelers a little more than three weeks to work on new deals.

Colbert knows that the price tag on Pittsburgh's free agents likely went up after the Super Bowl championship.

"Guys who are in the playoffs and Super Bowl, you know they've been through a certain level of games and they've performed," said Colbert. "That, to me, adds to their credibility. They have extra exposure to pressure situations and have shown an ability to handle it. I think that makes them more valuable."

Colbert, who has been the Steelers' director of football operations since 2000, has done an outstanding job of building this team. Only three players - defensive end Aaron Smith, wide receiver Hines Ward and cornerback Deshea Townsend - were not drafted or signed as free agents under Colbert's watch.

With its top three offensive tackles - Colon, Starks and Smith - each set for free agency, that position will be the team's top priority.

There will also be talks with linebacker James Harrison, who has one year remaining on his contract, about an extension.

But the offensive line was considered the Steelers' weak link and rebuilding it will be paramount if the team wants to repeat as champion.

Just don't say repeat to Tomlin.

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"The thing I'm going to sell to our football team is we're not attempting to repeat," said Tomlin. "That special group of men that were in that locker room at the end of that game, that's gone forever. There will be 53 new men in there."

Colon, the starting right tackle the past two seasons, will be a restricted free agent, meaning the Steelers will have to make him a qualifying offer and wait and see if he receives a contract from another team.

Left tackle could be tougher position to fill. The Steelers placed a transition tag on Starks last year and paid him nearly $7 million. Many questioned paying that much to a backup, but when Smith went down with a back injury for the second year in a row, Starks started the final 13 games.

"When we did that with Max, we were confident that he could help us if the situation presented itself, which it did. We were very fortunate to have him in there," Colbert said. "When we did it, a transition on a backup didn't make a lot of sense, but in our mind, we felt there was no way that we were going to be as good a team without him."

The back injury to the 30-year-old Smith could be a career-ender.

"I'm sure other teams will look at him medically, as they would any free agent," Colbert said. "Where he was in November, where he is now, where he's going to be in March or even July and August will probably be different. I don't view it as a career-ender until you know for sure."

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February 3, 2009

SPORTS OF THE TIMES

Steelers’ Guiding Hand Is Steady but Firm

By WILLIAM C. RHODEN

TAMPA, Fla.

Mike Tomlin’s demeanor was fitting and proper. He was the symbol of austerity during a week in which there

was none of the hedonism normally associated with the Super Bowl.

Tomlin, 36, became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl when his Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the

Arizona Cardinals, 27-23, on Sunday on a dramatic last-minute touchdown pass from quarterback Ben

Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes.

In a week of hype, Tomlin was — as he had been all season — mostly somber and reserved. On Sunday, when

he patrolled the sidelines, he did not show wild exaltation. Only after victory was secured did Tomlin allow

his emotions to surface.

Tomlin is the perfect figure for these uncertain times. Confident in victory, humbled but not awed by the

magnitude of the moment.

“It’s like chess to me,” Tomlin said Monday at a news conference where he appeared with Holmes, the Super

Bowl’s most valuable player. “I like to control my emotions because I want to see things with great clarity. I

think that’s what my team needs me to do in those instances. Not that I don’t enjoy it, I do, but I’m always

trying to stay a step ahead.”

•

In many ways, the 24-year-old Holmes emerged as the most triumphant figure of Super Bowl XLIII. He is a

work-in-progress player whom Tomlin takes pride in. Holmes was charged with misdemeanor marijuana

possession at a traffic stop in October. The incident led Tomlin to suspend Holmes for that week’s game

against the Giants.

Coincidentally, Plaxico Burress, the Giants’ star receiver, was held out of that game’s first two series for the

latest in a string of indiscretions.

Last season, Burress was one of the stars of the Giants’ dramatic Super Bowl victory against New England.

Like Holmes, Burress caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the last minute.

Little did anyone know that Burress was on a downward spiral that culminated in November when he

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accidentally shot himself in the thigh with an unregistered handgun at a Manhattan nightclub.

This is not an attempt to rain on Holmes’s parade; it’s just a cautionary note that Tomlin seems to embrace —

teaching young people how to live with success, learn from failure and grow from it.

Holmes discussed Monday how he met with Tomlin after the incident and was told he would miss the game.

“At first, I didn’t want to hear that from my head coach,” he said. “I was hoping he would trust in my word

that nothing went wrong, but I see that he put me in a better situation by handling the situation firsthand,

getting distractions away from the team, as well as myself allowing me to come back to the team the following

week ready to go. He accepted all that.”

•

If these playoffs were any indication, Holmes is off to a good start reinventing a positive public image. He

began his remarks Monday by thanking God, teammates, family and coaches for keeping him humble.

He spoke with Hines Ward about what to expect in the near future.

“He told me to stay humble,” Holmes said. “Things were going to come for me and just be ready to represent

my family, this team and this whole organization, because everybody behind me had my back.”

Holmes spoke of how he had spent late Sunday with his children. “Went up to the room, made sure they were

being well taken care of, fed them, put on a movie — they were very excited about watching ‘Madagascar 2,’ ”

he said.

Deeds, not words, are what matter. If anyone knows this, it’s Tomlin. He was asked about Holmes, the

suspension and the evolution that led to Sunday’s magnificent performance.

“You wear many hats in this business, and I embrace that as much as I do the X’s and O’s,” Tomlin said. “I

probably get more enjoyment out of watching people grow than I do preparing winning football games. It’s a

beautiful thing. I believe that’s what we’re all called to do.”

Just before Tomlin excused himself, he was asked about the possibility of his team’s defending its

championship. He said he didn’t think in terms of defending or repeating.

“That special group of men that was in that locker room last night that ended the game?” he said. “That’s

gone forever.”

Tomlin said next year’s roster would not be the same. “A lot of the faces will be the same, but nothing stays

the same in this game,” he said. “A few will come and go.”

He added, “Our focus will be about being the one at the end of the season.”

At a time of anxiety and uncertainty, Steelers Nation can be sure of this much — you’ve got the right man for

the job and the times.

E-mail: [email protected]



Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company

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By Larry Weisman, USA TODAY

TAMPA — Maybe Mike Tomlin caught part of the halftime show at Super Bowl XLIII. Maybe he's a Bruce Springsteen fan.

Where Springsteen sings, "No retreat, baby, no surrender," Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach, would offer a version that says "no repeat." And certainly no surrender.

Tomlin understands that for 30 other teams who didn't play in Sunday's Super Bowl the march toward the 2009 season had already begun for 30 other teams. Whether the Steelers can win another Super Bowl title is not the same issue as repeating, Tomlin said.

SIX-PACK REVIEW: Examining all the Steelers' Super Bowl titles MARKETING WINNERS: Big Ben, Tomlin likely to cash in CELEBRATION: Pittsburgh throws a wild parade

"The thing I'm going to sell to our football team is that we are not attempting to repeat," he said. "That special group of men in that locker room last night at the end of the game? That's gone forever. There will be a new 53-man roster. A lot of the faces will be the same, but nothing stays the same in this game."

The Steelers have no starters headed for unrestricted free agency. They have a pair of experienced backup quarterbacks in Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch who will be unrestricted free agents.

Tomlin's point is more about continuing to grow the program in his third year as coach because other teams can improve by signing players.

"When I walk down the hallway and look at the championship teams of the Steelers from the '70s, it's the same pictures and the same positions in terms of the 'Steel Curtain.'

"That's not the reality of today's NFL," Tomlin said. "We are going to roll up our sleeves and start with a new group of men — hopefully a lot of them will still be the same — and go about our business of trying to compete in '09.

"You won't hear me say words like 'repeat' or 'defending' because it will be brand new. This group will always be special to me, but sometime soon that group will assume its place with others in history. It will be just that — history."

The immediate timeline for offseason operations varies. Tomlin wants to take some time off to drive his children to school.

Players need recuperative time. The upcoming free agency period and the draft have primarily been handled by Kevin Colbert, the director of football operations.

The extended season and the wear and tear on players is clearly on Tomlin's mind.

"I've got to have some sense of that, understand that we're a month behind in getting ready for '09," he said. "We've got to be thoughtful in how we prepare our football team."

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The pieces are in place. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is barely entering his prime and, at 26, has won two Super Bowls in his five seasons.

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes, the MVP of Sunday's game, just completed his third season. Running back Willie Parker will be 29 next season. The Steelers defense ranked No. 1 in the league.

Tomlin, 36, is the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl, and he did it in his second season at Pittsburgh's helm.

He said he expected that sort of success and he probably will expect more.

"I'm an unrealistic dreamer sometimes. I'm blessed, extremely blessed," Tomlin said. "I've been around some great people — coaches, players, ownership — and I'm a product of that. That's my story."

The rest of the story has yet to be written.

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By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lost out to teammate Santonio Holmes for the Most Valuable Player award after Super Bowl XLIII.

But Roethlisberger and charismatic young Steelers coach Mike Tomlin are likely to be the winners in the contest for post-Super Bowl marketing bucks, Madison Avenue experts say.

PHOTOS: Super Bowl XLIII

Holmes, 24, earned the celebratory parade at Walt Disney World on Monday, hours after he and Roethlisberger, 26, looked into the camera on the field at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium and yelled, "We're going to Disney World!"

But in a recession-plagued economy, national endorsements are few and far between.

Marketers are more likely to go with safe choices such as Roethlisberger or 36-year old Tomlin, predicts Shawn McBride, vice president of Ketchum Sports and Entertainment Marketing.

Holmes was benched before a key regular-season loss to the New York Giants after being charged with possession of marijuana this season.

"Madison Avenue is risk-averse in the current economy. But (Holmes) also personifies the story of redemption, of second chances," McBride says.

Tomlin became the youngest coach to lead his team to victory in Super Bowl history with Sunday's 27-23 victory against the Arizona Cardinals.

Agent Brian Levy at Goal Line Football Management said Tuesday his phone has been "ringing off the hook" with book offers for his client.

In a broken economy, Levy thinks Tomlin and others are more likely to land book deals than endorsement contracts since publishing houses can recoup their financial investments quicker than endorsement partners.

"He's a bit of a private guy, so we're going to be careful," Levy says about Tomlin. "Any endorsement that comes out of this will have to fit his personality, his morals and his ethics."

Roethlisberger, who appeared on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman on Monday, is under contract with Nike.

The company "looks forward to continuing to work with Ben as he has proven to be an inspiration to football players on all levels," spokesman KeJuan Wilkins wrote in an e-mail.

The two-time Super Bowl champion has also appeared in ads for Campbell's Soup and Fathead.

With a name like Roethlisberger, it would be a natural for a company like Burger King to name a sandwich after him, says Bob Dorfman,

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executive creative director at Baker Street Partners.

"He's got a blue-collar, working-class appeal," Dorfman says. "He'd be perfect for any kind of product that gets the job done without glitz and glamour: burgers, trucks, power tools, home-improvement chains. He doesn't have Tom Brady's glamour. He's not as good on camera as Peyton Manning. But if you're looking for a tough, hardworking guy, he fits the bill."

Burger King spokeswoman Lauren Kuzniar said Roethlisberger doesn't endorse the chain. Burger King has no plans to work with him in the immediate future, she wrote in an e-mail. Find this article at: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/steelers/2009-02-03-commercial-future_N.htm

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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

'Sixburgh fever' hits Steelers parade

Associated Press PITTSBURGH -- More than 300,000 black-and-gold bedecked Pittsburgh Steelers fans -- about the population of the city itself -- packed the streets of "Sixburgh" on Tuesday for a parade celebrating the storied franchise's unprecedented sixth Super Bowl title.

From infants to senior citizens, fans braved freezing weather and crowds so deep that for some even seeing the parade was impossible.

Not that it mattered. Many just wanted to be part of the festive atmosphere and have the chance to revel in the team's 27-23 victory against the Arizona Cardinals in Sunday's Super Bowl. Rousing chants of "Here we go Steelers!" pulsed through the crowd as they waited for the team to make its way along the route.

"We're going to tell the school we had fever -- Steeler fever," 12-year-old Rachel Russell said, excusing her absence from school before leading a Steelers chant.

Renaming the city "Sixburgh" for the day, Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl made his way through the parade alongside quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, both of them filming the crowd that painted a gray sky yellow with twirling Terrible Towels.

Fans filled parking garages, skyscraper windows, balconies and even climbed trees to get the best view of the team they love -- and possibly find shelter from the sporadic flurries and temperatures that hovered in the mid-20s.

"It's never too cold to watch the Steelers," said Annette Mowery, 47, who drove from the Pittsburgh suburb of Mars with her children, Lexie, 12 and Lucas, 10.

"We didn't have a good day, we had a great day. It's history," Lucas said, a Super Bowl XLIII hat perched atop a blue ski mask, a matching T-shirt stretched over his jacket.

Even police got into the spirit, waving Terrible Towels from atop horses as they led the parade. Coach Mike Tomlin followed behind in the back of a red convertible, while players holding video cameras cheered and waved from the back of pickup trucks.

Tomlin couldn't stop smiling as he was greeted on stage at the end of the parade route with thunderous applause.

"What do you say to this?" Tomlin asked the massive crowd. "Steeler Nation, you leave us all speechless, man, we just appreciate the love. How about the Steelers? How about the greatest fans in the world? How about No. 6? Thank you, we love you guys."

Steelers owner Dan Rooney thanked the city for its support over the years -- and said there is more history to be made.

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"Stay with us," Rooney said. "Maybe we'll get the seventh next year."

One by one, coaches and players spoke to the crowd. Wide receiver Hines Ward, MVP of Super Bowl XL, led the fans in a chant of "Here we go Steelers, here we go!" while other players danced and did an impromptu rap.

Steelers linebacker James Harrison, whose 100-yard interception return for a touchdown was the longest in Super Bowl history, presented the Lombardi trophy to the crowd. At about the same time, huge booms of colorful fireworks exploded over downtown's Point State Park, at the confluence of the iconic three rivers.

Police spokeswoman Diane Richard estimated more than 300,000 people attended the parade -- more than the 250,000 fans who attended the 2006 parade celebrating the team's previous Super Bowl victory, and close to the city's population of 311,000.

Thousands of fans showed up hours before Tuesday's parade, including a handful of hardy souls who were camped out on the route before dawn.

Six local high school bands marched in the parade, one for each championship won by the team.

"It was amazing to see the people. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, because I'm a senior," Nicole Hennemuth, a trombone player in the South Fayette High School band. "There were tons of people everywhere, on top of buildings, in windows."

Hennemuth was waiting behind the viewing stands at the end of the parade route, hoping to catch a glimpse of the players, particularly Ward.

"Me and Hines Ward have the same birthday," she said.

The parade followed Grant Street and Boulevard of the Allies, two of the widest streets downtown, instead of a narrower route used for most city parades. About 150 police officers were on hand to control the crowd, and barricades were set up in the streets because the sidewalks were not wide enough to accommodate the overflow.

A huge black and gold banner hung in front of the City-County building, reading "Welcome to Steelers Country Super Bowl XLIII Champions."

Down the street in front of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, a dinosaur statue held a Super Bowl trophy in one hand and had red feathers protruding from its mouth, what was left from its "Cardinal snacks."

Phyllis Giardino, 61, took off from her job as a transcriber at St. Margaret's Hospital to be at the parade.

"They're the heart and soul of the city," she said, clutching a black-and-gold Steelers bag to her side, gold Steelers earrings dangling from her ears. "If the Steelers lose, everyone's grumpy the next day. We live and die by them."

Vince Brown, 37, drove about four hours, in traffic, from his home in Clarksburg, W. Va. With his 9-year-old daughter sitting on his shoulders, he was standing with his family about 75 yards from where the parade was to end. He couldn't see or hear much, but that didn't matter.



Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Six teams on the 2009 title radar

By John Clayton ESPN.com Super Bowl forecasts always have been difficult to make. Because teams that enjoyed first-round playoff byes have failed in recent divisional-round playoff games, accurate forecasts are almost impossible. For instance, this past postseason, three of the four bye-week playoff teams lost in the divisional round. Since the 2006 postseason, the higher-seeded teams in the divisional-round contests have posted a 5-7 record.

The key to determining Super Bowl contenders is figuring out which teams will come together late in the regular season and then get hot during the playoffs. Even predicting those teams is hard. The Arizona Cardinals were terrible in December but won three playoff games to reach Super Bowl XLIII. In the 2005, 2006 and 2007 postseasons, the Steelers, Colts and Giants won Super Bowls, even though each played in wild-card games. The 2007 Giants and 2005 Steelers were true wild-card teams; the 2006 Colts won the AFC South Division but finished behind the 14-2 Chargers and 13-3 Ravens in the overall AFC standings. The task of forecasting the Super Bowl is more of a wild card than ever.

Here are the three teams in each conference -- in no particular order -- that are my favorites to contend for berths in Super Bowl XLIV in Dolphin Stadium on Feb. 7, 2010.

AFC teams

Pittsburgh Steelers: The champions have a chance to repeat because they'll play an easy schedule next season. That's a rare circumstance for defending champions. The Steelers entered the 2008 season with a .598 strength of schedule that decreased to a still-tough .525 when the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars had down seasons. In addition to playing AFC North teams, the Steelers will play AFC West and NFC North teams in 2009. Those future opponents combined for a .434 winning percentage this past season, so the Steelers will play the fourth-easiest schedule in the league. Their biggest shakeout of players will be along the offensive line. Guard Chris Kemoeatu and offensive tackles Marvel Smith, Max Starks and Trai Essex are unrestricted free agents.

New England Patriots: Even if quarterback Tom Brady doesn't return for the start of the regular season, the Patriots can franchise quarterback Matt Cassel and maintain their high-paced offense. In some ways, the 2009 Patriots could be similar to the 2008 Steelers. The Patriots will play the second-toughest schedule in the league next season; their 2009 opponents combined for a .594 winning percentage this past season. AFC East teams will play the AFC South and NFC South. New England is similar to Pittsburgh in that it is the best team in its division. New England could survive the tough schedule, go into the playoffs as a third or fourth seed and get hot at the end. San Diego Chargers: I put the Chargers ahead of the Indianapolis Colts only because the Chargers have beaten them in their past two meetings in the playoffs. The Chargers have the best team in the AFC West, a division that underwent three head coaching changes. Philip Rivers continues to grow into an elite quarterback, and general manager A.J. Smith will find some players to fix holes in San Diego's starting lineup.

NFC teams

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New York Giants: Until the Dallas Cowboys win a playoff game, it's hard to pick them to go to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys might be the most talented team, but New York is the one team in the division that has made it to the Super Bowl and won in recent years. The Philadelphia Eagles are good enough to make the playoffs and win a game, but their record in NFC Championship Games is 1-4 this decade. The key for the Giants is figuring out what to do with Plaxico Burress. Without him, quarterback Eli Manning won't have a go-to receiver.

Minnesota Vikings: The Chicago Bears will play the league's easiest schedule (.414) in 2009, but the Vikings will play the second-easiest (.420), and they have a better team. If the Vikings come up with a better quarterback than Tarvaris Jackson, they could make a Super Bowl run next season. Several of their key players are getting older, so this is the season head coach Brad Childress must find that quarterback who can push them over the top.

Atlanta Falcons: Quarterback Matt Ryan is the real deal. He went 11-5 as a rookie and could be even better next season. The Falcons will play the fourth-toughest schedule in the league at .588. If the Falcons can win the NFC South, they can enter the playoffs as a third or fourth seed. Ryan will have matured with a second season under his belt and should be able to exploit that experience in the postseason. Team owner Arthur Blank has to make sure the Falcons make aggressive moves this offseason to upgrade the roster and prepare his team for a tougher schedule.

John Clayton, a recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's McCann Award for distinguished reporting, is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

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