AZ_Steeler
01-12-2007, 11:04 AM
I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet because there are some interesting points brought up in this blog! Here is one of them...
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07010/752661-360.stm
"I am really down about the departure of "Cawhr", as you so fittingly referred to him as on Blog'N'Gold. I apologize for the length of this rant, but I feel I need to vent my Iron City anguish.
I feel as though I totally took him for granted and the ol' saying about not knowing what you have until it's gone is ringing continuously in my ears. I just can't believe we'll never again see the "Jaw" shouting "Let's go! Let's go!" following a momentum changing play. I watched his behind the scenes program on the Steeler History DVD and had a huge rock in my throat the whole time. I then realized that he is the face of the Steeler nation. Yes, it was created in the 70's, but he reenergized it into a near national religion for the better part of 2 decades.
I am very fearful of his return to the NFL in 2008 and that will crush me as a Steeler fan and as a loyal admirer of his. While I believe his return to an opposing sideline will be tough to take, I will show no mercy towards him if he ends up in Cleveland or any other divisional rival. How can he look into the camera and say "I'm one of you" and pull that stunt? The mere thought of that potential scenario makes me horribly sick. But for some reason I feel as though it is a legitimate possibility.
I feel as though our culprit in this shocking turn of events is the new heir to the Rooney throne. His introduction of Cowher at the press conference was pathetic. Especially considering he was your coach of 15 years and brought home a Super Bowl in the process. Plus the fact he brought back the Steeler nation which definitely made the Rooneys wealthier than they already were. The two of them did not even shake hands and Cowher did not even thank him. There is considerable evidence to something going completely sour somewhere along the way. How could Cowher be such an emotional guy as we know and yet not shed a single tear at his exodus from his dream job in his hometown unless he was severely hurt or disrespected at the top?
http://www.post-gazette.com/images4/20060106pd_cowher0105k_230.jpg
There is much symbolism in this picture, a reader suggests.
This slight could not have come from the old man, as their mutual affection has been clearly evident for years. Just THREE seasons ago Cowher said he would not be leaving any time soon. He said he loved the fact that he was raising his children here and that he still had a daughter that was in 7th grade. What changed from then until now? Nothing except Dan Rooney steeping aside for his son to take control of day to day operations. If you thought that their apparent tension with each other at the press conference was a coincidence, then I recommend looking at the tape of the AFC Championship in Denver and the Super Bowl. They don't shake hands, no pats on the back, not smiles, not even a glance at each other. Meanwhile, Dan and Bill embrace numerous times like father and son. Could it be that the new Rooney is jealous of the relationship between his father and the jaw? (See: "Gladiator" the movie) Could it be that Art knows the previous two generations of Rooneys are in Canton and unless he has a chance to make his own decisions and hiring he never will? Could it be that he knows Cowher is the Pittsburgh Steelers and he'll never be?
My suspicions are total speculation except for the evident tension on camera. But I also believe that the potential reasons I give for the recent sad chain of events make more sense than all of the official reasons we've been given. Something horrible had to happen for Bill to walk away from his dream job without a trace of remorse. Power struggles occur constantly in corporate America. Cowher found himself in one with Tom Donahoe in 1999. He won that battle, but there was no winning the one he may have found himself in recently.
Regardless of what happens you can bet that this Steeler fan will tip many a drink in 2007 to one William Laird Cowher."
-- Stephen S. Orr, Mt. Lebanon
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07010/752661-360.stm
"I am really down about the departure of "Cawhr", as you so fittingly referred to him as on Blog'N'Gold. I apologize for the length of this rant, but I feel I need to vent my Iron City anguish.
I feel as though I totally took him for granted and the ol' saying about not knowing what you have until it's gone is ringing continuously in my ears. I just can't believe we'll never again see the "Jaw" shouting "Let's go! Let's go!" following a momentum changing play. I watched his behind the scenes program on the Steeler History DVD and had a huge rock in my throat the whole time. I then realized that he is the face of the Steeler nation. Yes, it was created in the 70's, but he reenergized it into a near national religion for the better part of 2 decades.
I am very fearful of his return to the NFL in 2008 and that will crush me as a Steeler fan and as a loyal admirer of his. While I believe his return to an opposing sideline will be tough to take, I will show no mercy towards him if he ends up in Cleveland or any other divisional rival. How can he look into the camera and say "I'm one of you" and pull that stunt? The mere thought of that potential scenario makes me horribly sick. But for some reason I feel as though it is a legitimate possibility.
I feel as though our culprit in this shocking turn of events is the new heir to the Rooney throne. His introduction of Cowher at the press conference was pathetic. Especially considering he was your coach of 15 years and brought home a Super Bowl in the process. Plus the fact he brought back the Steeler nation which definitely made the Rooneys wealthier than they already were. The two of them did not even shake hands and Cowher did not even thank him. There is considerable evidence to something going completely sour somewhere along the way. How could Cowher be such an emotional guy as we know and yet not shed a single tear at his exodus from his dream job in his hometown unless he was severely hurt or disrespected at the top?
http://www.post-gazette.com/images4/20060106pd_cowher0105k_230.jpg
There is much symbolism in this picture, a reader suggests.
This slight could not have come from the old man, as their mutual affection has been clearly evident for years. Just THREE seasons ago Cowher said he would not be leaving any time soon. He said he loved the fact that he was raising his children here and that he still had a daughter that was in 7th grade. What changed from then until now? Nothing except Dan Rooney steeping aside for his son to take control of day to day operations. If you thought that their apparent tension with each other at the press conference was a coincidence, then I recommend looking at the tape of the AFC Championship in Denver and the Super Bowl. They don't shake hands, no pats on the back, not smiles, not even a glance at each other. Meanwhile, Dan and Bill embrace numerous times like father and son. Could it be that the new Rooney is jealous of the relationship between his father and the jaw? (See: "Gladiator" the movie) Could it be that Art knows the previous two generations of Rooneys are in Canton and unless he has a chance to make his own decisions and hiring he never will? Could it be that he knows Cowher is the Pittsburgh Steelers and he'll never be?
My suspicions are total speculation except for the evident tension on camera. But I also believe that the potential reasons I give for the recent sad chain of events make more sense than all of the official reasons we've been given. Something horrible had to happen for Bill to walk away from his dream job without a trace of remorse. Power struggles occur constantly in corporate America. Cowher found himself in one with Tom Donahoe in 1999. He won that battle, but there was no winning the one he may have found himself in recently.
Regardless of what happens you can bet that this Steeler fan will tip many a drink in 2007 to one William Laird Cowher."
-- Stephen S. Orr, Mt. Lebanon