Here we go, Steelers!

By Michael J.W. Stickings

I neglected to mention this last week, but Mrs. MJWS (the "Reactionette") and I were in Pittsburgh this past weekend for the Steelers game against the Falcons. We drove down on Saturday and got back Monday evening.

Check out the photos below.

It was an exciting game -- a 15-9 OT win for the Black and Gold -- and we had an amazing time. We love it there. Such a great city, such nice people. This was our second trip, and hopefully we'll make it an annual event.

We went to one of our favourite restaurants for dinner on Saturday, up on Mt. Washington, the fantastic Isabela on Grandview, with an absolutely stunning view of the city and three rivers below. On Sunday, we walked over to Heinz Field, down Sixth Ave., across Liberty Ave., joining the mass of Steeler Nation, everyone wearing the colours, including us, across Roberto Clemente Bridge, past PNC Park and along the river to the stadium, past the tailgaters in their boats, Steelers fans everywhere (and a few Falcons fans, too). We got there at about 10:30, just to soak up the atmosphere and watch some pre-game practice. And that we did, from the standing area behind the endzone, and we were especially excited to see Hines Ward warming up.

Seriously, it's just awesome there. Again, such nice people, such a great environment. We were up in the 500 level, with a great view of the field and the city beyond the stadium, making instant friends of the fans around us, talking football the whole time, rising and falling with the action on the field, celebrating wildly when Troy Polamalu (my favourite player) picked off Matt Ryan late in the fourth quarter, deflating when Jeff Reed missed a relatively easy FG for the win, sinking further when Atlanta won the toss for OT, picking ourselves up again when the D stood firm, and, finally, going absolutely nuts when Rashard Mendenhall ran it in 50 yards for the game-winning TD. Have I used the word "awesome" yet? I like watching football on TV, but there's nothing like being there -- for me, nothing like being in Pittsburgh in that beautiful stadium with those great fans. And when we win? It's crazy awesome.

Anyway, we hung around the stadium for a while, checking out the Walk of Fame, seeing some of the players go to their cars, then went for dinner at Jerome Bettis' Grille 36, near the stadium, and then, after a long, long, exhausting but wonderful day, made it back to the hotel.

And now, I'm just too tired to blog. But I'll be back at it tomorrow -- er, later today. So keep checking back for new posts from me and the team.

Have a good night.

-- Michael