To wear or not to wear? that is the question!

To wear or not to wear a helmet?

Since Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger cracked up his Suzuki this week, brushing death while not wearing a helmet, the topic of motorcycle helmets has filled the air. It’s the topic du jour in Western PA!

But before I address the debate of helmet vs. no helmet, a word or two about Ben’s accident: I don’t think that Ben can be blamed in this accident, as it was clearly the fault of the other driver; she failed to yield the right of way, crossing over into the other lane. And, in a larger sense, I don’t think that Ben can be blamed for not wearing a helmet: PA laws were rescinded for a reason, and the Steelers front office refused to forbid this exact practice, specifically, even though knowing about it. I don’t agree with piling on Ben, at all: his life came a whisker from ending, with other scars still with him; he’ll be wearing a partial plate or tooth implants the rest of his life, with his jaw held together by titanium plates and screws, together with damaged nasal canal and nose bones, and a brain more susceptible to concussion/damage. Ben has paid in spades for this, even though he is alive and better than anyone could have expected – a very tough price to pay for an accident not your fault!

But the accident does bring up the question: should I wear a helmet or not, while biking?

It’s an interesting debate, as PA recently rescinded its helmet laws, making helmet wearing optional. So why did PA make helmet laws optional? Is it a state filled with death-wish riders? No, it’s not that easy…

Consider the basic position of those against helmets. A poster by the name of “Rockman” argues passionately against wearing a helmet. It seems counterintuitive, but he is convinced that it hurts chances of survival.

As a member of ABATE OF OHIO I would like you to know that we have been fighting helmet laws for many years for a very good reason: They kill people. The accident yesterday could have been deadly if big Ben were wearing a helmet. Does anyone remember how Dale Earnhart died? In case you don’t it was the force created by the weight of his helmet when he hit the wall. The same could have happened to Ben if he were wearing a helmet. The rules of NASCAR now dictate that the drivers use a Hahns device because of this. There is no way to connect a Hahns device to a motorcycle. I don’t want to say that a helmet is a bad thing, but do want those of you who don’t ride to understand that there is a very good reason many of us don’t wear helmets. Some riders do some don’t, but it should be the riders’ choice, not some one with an agenda that doesn’t even ride to decide…LET THOSE WHO RIDE DECIDE.

Let those who ride decide, for their own lives! That pretty much sums up the case against wearing a helmet: the extra weight of the helmet is said to put the neck at greater risk for breaking. On this and similar arguments, bikers have successfully lobbied Pennsylvania State laws to where helmets are now optional for most riders.

However, the case for helmets is made just as passionately – other bikers supporting their arguments with graphic stories. JimSteeler responds to the argument against helmets by calling it “BS,” and offering his personal crash testimony:

Now that is pure BS that he is better off because he was not wearing a helmet!

I had my rear brakes lock up on me one time going 65 mph and I was heading straight for a concrete wall with a chain link fence above it. My life passed before me and when I bought my first bike at 16 years old the Italian guy who sold it to me said this to me: "If you wreck a motorcycle, know you wreck a motorcycle and do nothing but wreck a motorcycle, kick away, kick away!" He was Ernest Cerini Sr. from Donora, Pa.

When that point in my life passed by I dove off the bike and belly slid into the wall. I had a facemask on at the time. I can remember watching asphalt slide under my face and felt the heat from the friction on my nose being smashed against the face shield. When I hit the wall with my head the helmet was dented pretty deep, almost cracked and you could not even see through the face shield. I had a badly broken arm that took a bone transplant from my hip to repair, but I had no head injury whatsoever, not even a concussion. My first words when I got up were "my God! I'm alive.”

THE HELMET AND ERNEST CERINI SAVED MY LIFE…

I cannot believe we have laws that require you to wear a seatbelt when surrounded by metal and have airbags, but you can ride a motorcycle without a helmet.

Then again there is a need for more organ donors.

And, that sums pretty well the argument for wearing a helmet.

So what’s a self-respecting rider supposed to do? Both of these positions have logical points: Yes, the face/skull cracks like a nutshell even at lower speeds. And, yes, the physics of added helmet weight can add potentially deadly force to the neck area [cf. Hahns device in NASCAR racing]. So what to do?

Well, several things I would just toss into the equation for an informed decision [informed with a blend of physics and modern technology]: 1. Helmet technology is improving, as our knowledge in alloys and aerospace textile hybrids increases. As the technology improves, the protection increases while the weight decreases: an inverse proportion of life-saving value. 2. The physics raised by Rockman, where the helmet adds force to the head and snaps the neck [viz., the sad example of Dale Earnheart], is more at risk for when the body stays stationary while the head keeps moving. In other words, it is far more likely that a race car driver [with his body secured by belts] is at risk from this destructive force than a biker: in a bike wreck, the body is often unrestrained, traveling with the head and neck until impact. Of course, depending on the physics of the crash, if the body is somehow stopped and the head still moving, then the risk remains. All in all, though, the odds of biking favor the helmet, from a purely statistical/physical point of view.

I wouldn’t wear a helmet in racecar without a Hahns device; but have no problem wearing a helmet on a bike.

The best answer, I believe, is to take advantage of helmet technology – to wear a light-weight and aerospace-informed cover: it gives face/skull protection at a fraction of the weight of older helmets, and reduces the chance of negative force on the spine/neck. Add leg armor like this, and it’s a Frodo-like chance against the Orcan spear!

So there’s your hot-topic word from Thoughts of Loy! To wear or not to wear? That is the question. Who knew the answer would be so easy? :-)

And free, no less!

:-)

Safe and happy riding, to you!

Quality whine...

(click to view fine print, lol!)

p.s. Thank you, LDK! :-)

Post-game thoughts on Super Bowl XL

Way to go Steelers!

Congratulations Pittsburgh, people of Western PA, and true believers everywhere!

Wow. I am so full of adrenaline tonight that I won't be able to sleep for awhile. So, I figure I'll jot down some of my thoughts from the game.

First off, hats off to Seattle. They played a really tough game overall. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead and kept Pittsburgh out of offensive rhythm for most of the game. It's quite amazing that Seattle had a great game plan for the start of the game, executed it [fairly] well, and yet lost by 11 points. A few plays difference and Seattle easily could have won by 11 points...kind of a weird flow to the game. Not a thing of beauty for Pittsburgh, but the Pittsburgh coaching made the adjustments they needed, and the players made individual plays.

I think that's a testament to the pre-game coaching of Seattle: great game plan. And also a testament to the will and adjustments, and especially the defense of Pittsburgh -- the whole team really. Seattle brought their A- game, and Pittsburgh brought their C+ game, and still figured out a way to will.

The will to win was there for Pittsburgh. As the game wore on, the hard-hitting style of the Steelers began to take its toll. The look on Seattle's faces said a whole lot: They weren't used to getting hit like this. Three Seattle defensive starters were gone from the game by the second half -- one, S Manuel, as he tried to tackle Hines Ward. Hines took him out on the hit.

Oh, and speaking of getting hit! What about Jerramy Stevens, the guy that called out Jerome Bettis before the game – the guy that Joey Porter called "soft?" Well, it is astounding...but there were four times [that I counted] where Stevens caught the ball and either dropped it or had it knocked out of his hands by a big hit -- a tight end, paid to catch the ball in traffic, he couldn't hold onto the ball. Amazing. Each of these plays was huge, and had a chance to turn the game for Seattle.

And, the one play where Chris Hope laid the leather to Jerramy, the ball popped loose and was called an incomplete pass on the field. But it probably could have been called a fumble. But that doesn't matter now -- just the point still stands: Pittsburgh called out this one player, almost as if by foreknowledge, that he was the one they would need to soften up. And they did. They knocked the shine off of him. If he makes 2 of those 4 catches, Seattle wins the game. Update: I feel badly for him as a person. But maybe it will make him a better man -- no more charges of date rape or false treatment of women.

Note: I was shocked when Holmgren refused to shake Cowher’s hand after the game. A completely classless thing – a big insult in sporting terms, something I thought I’d never see out of Holmgren. Wow. Perhaps a ‘mistake,’ oh well. [UPDATE: Cowher visited Holmgren in the locker room afterward, and Holmgren explained that he wanted to leave the moment to Cowher. If this is true, sorry to malign you, Mike!]

Note: Antwaan Randle El was a difference maker in this game. His WR pass for a touchdown sealed the game, but it was the quiet things he did, the blocks, the returns, the toughness...unheralded, but necessary. ARE ran down Herdon after that INT by Ben...gutsy, team play. Also, by rights ARE should have been knocked out of the game on that punt return in the second quarter. But he came back into the game...to make plays! ARE is the kind of guy without eye-popping stats who just makes a difference in the game, period.

Note: Ben Roethlisberger had a terrible game throwing the ball. He was often confused by Seahawks' coverage, and it showed, badly. Both of his INTs were ill-advised, unforced errors that kept Seattle in the game. His QB rating was 22.9 – easily the worst rated QB ever to win a Super Bowl. It’s a TEAM game after all, lol.

However, that said, even though he had a terrible game throwing the ball, he still make teamwork plays. He ran for a score, he ran for two key first downs, he had instinctual situational awareness. And, check this: He threw a key block on Bouleware that allowed ARE to throw the touchdown to Hines Ward. Take that block away and ARE is tackled or forced to run... So, bottom line: Ben still made some key plays, even though the stats don't show it. He’s got QB instincts that can’t be taught, must be born with…

And, also something most people won't talk about...but I believe was a major key to the game: Seattle is terrible in the hurry-up. Everytime Hasselbeck tried to go to the no-huddle, at the end of the half and end of the game, it really showed. They were confused, they were ill-prepared, they were disjointed in trying audibles and counts. They eventually tried to switch their blocking assignments in no-huddle, and just plain didn't work for them. It caused TERRIBLE clock management for them – took points off the board for them at the end of both halves. I felt this was just inexcusable for a professional football team -- supposedly so good they didn't need the shotgun. Well, the facts showed otherwise: their blocking was exposed in the hurry-up, and they struggled against the rush...many uncalled holds...egregious holds by Seattle line, including "the great" Walter Jones.

And, a word about the officiating: Please stop the squeaks from people complaining about the refs! I'll just say this: 1. a push off in the end zone right in front of the ref is just dumb. That ref saw the whole thing, and seemed like he was trying to pull the flag out of his pocked for a whole 30 seconds, lol! 2. the goal line extends to the front of the white line, not the rear: Ben's QB run was a TD b/c the nose of the football broke the front plane while in the air, forward progress. Which reviews clearly showed. Where the ball came down isn’t the point. 3. Seattle was getting away with some [a lot] holding on outside rushes – so when one is called, it shouldn’t be a shocker [Update: in post-game replays, on passing plays there were 14 uncalled holds just on Seattle tackles alone, not counting guards and center]. 4. The penalty called on Hasselbeck for the low block on the return is a specific rule related to INT returns: there can be absolutely no low blocks on the knees on returns -- a rule instituted to save players' careers. It is a good rule and was a good call. I've picked off QBs before, had almost identical returns heading up the sideline, and had them go for my knees on the sideline...almost had a terrible knee injury this way. Also, I've seen too many people injured like this on INT returns. People don't realize, but anyone with a grudge can hit low as soon as a turnover occurs. And, 5. All that said, I still am sympathetic to Seattle fans feeling less-than-happy with officiating. In the words of one announcer, "You'd like the officials to be less a part of the game." True that. But a penalty is a penalty, and if it is called and holds up on review...there should be no crying.

The refs didn't affect this game adversely to the point of changing the outcome, if that's the argument being made. They could have made it a different game, but not changed the ending. Pittsburgh just outhit and out-toughed the Seahawks and made more plays in the second half. And there were a few calls that went Seattle’s way, too [note: that fumble by Stevens that wasn't called, and that block in the back of Roethlisberger on Herndon's INT as Ben tried to make the tackle].

Another thing: Pittsburgh's O-line, featuring Alan Faneca, just played like men. On that 75 yard TD run by Willie Parker, it was the perfectly blocked play. Max Starks crushed Lofa Tatupu, Faneca pulled into the hole and got the LB, Heath Miller sealed down on the DE...and Willie turned on the jets. Great football! And the defense, every single one, played position and assignment football to perfection. It is a joy to see a defense play like this! Wow. They were in place, in scheme and on play almost every play. Hats off! I'd give game balls to everyone on D. [Update: Some people were chirping that Joey Porter had a quiet game, but he played his assignment well...and just how many yards were made running to his side of the field? Hmmm...not many. And when he rushed the QB, he was held almost every time. Post-game replays showed Walter Jones with 6 uncalled holds -- three or four on Joey. And on that crucial INT by Hasselbeck, who caused that INT? That's right. Joey. He stepped back into the passing lane and Hasselbeck tried to throw over him. Oops. INT! Game over.]

And finally, game balls to Pittsburgh's loyal fans!

Really, it is amazing to me how wonderful this is playing out in those hills of Western PA! Anytime my mother wears Pittsburgh Steeler colors to church, look out! There's bound to be divine intervention, lol.

And, this of all days: Her birthday! :-) Happy birthday, mom. Couldn't think of a better present.

And to my friends, true believers and fans...all of you: congratulations! Great game and season.

May it be a sign of victory in your life! Endure the long road of adversity, and hold the trophy in the end…

:-)

LDM

Flash: Super Bowl XL to threaten environment

I just saw Ditka on ESPN.

It's serious folks! We're facing a national issue, here. Or, should I say, national tissue?

The real news on Sunday is not the game! No, no...it's far more serious.

Listen to these facts:

Did you realize that most people will wait till halftime to use the restroom on Sunday?

Yep, that's right. Experts estimate that 90 million people will simultaneously flush at halftime.

That's 7 times more water than flows over Niagara Falls every minute.

That's enough water to change the economy of dozens of developing countries.

Think of the environmental implications, please! Think of the infrastructure implications...the stress and strain on otherwise normal and functioning plumbing.

The course is clear. If you care about the world, call your aunts and uncles, call your friends and family, the people that care...and tell them not to flush at halftime! If you care, wait until the game is over to use the restroom!

Or, if you can't hold it that long, at least click on the picture above and watch a video that will make you feel better about it all, lol. And use a toilet tissue that will dissolve four times faster than leading brands!

And above all, have a great game...and cheer for Pittsburgh!

:-)

Blog bathos: A postmodern Super Bowl XL

It’s metrosexuals vs. übersexuals!

Those of you who know me know that I don’t shy away from quality trash-talking when playing sports. For better or for worse, I enjoy the give and take of sports banter…the glee of getting inside an opponent’s head, and the joy of ultimate victory, lol.

And for this Super Bowl, I’m taking trash-talking to a new level, kinda by accident! One Pittsburgh guy called Seattle running back Shaun Alexander a “metrosexual.” And I looked again, and sure enough, it was true – and I laughed…and then an even funnier thought struck me: This game between Seattle and Pittsburgh is like metrosexuals vs. übersexuals!

So what is a metro and what is an über?

These are totally postmodern words, so hang on, lol.

A metrosexual is a feminized man who spends as much time in front of the mirror his girlfriend, or more. The word actually means “cosmopolitan sexuality,” and signifies a man who considers himself pretty and acts accordingly…with undefined sexuality.

An übersexual is a throwback man, a man perhaps comfortable with classy styles but not bound by them, a man who knows how to be a gentleman without being feminized. The word actually means “ultimate or best sexuality,” and represents a man who can chop wood, navigate a woodland trail, and yet escort his wife/girl to a formal dinner that evening – with complete class.

How to tell a metro from an übersexual

If you are still confused, here is a handy list for telling the difference:

• Both are passionate, but the über is passionate about causes and principles, while the metro is mostly passionate about himself
• The über spends more time grooming his mind than his hair
• Both treat and respect women as equals, but the über considers other men, not women, his best friends
• The über is more sensual and not at all self-conscious; he doesn't need other people to tell him he's sexy -- nor does he plan his errands around which shop windows offer the best reflection
• The metro gets design tips from the Fab Five, the design gurus for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy; the über gets them from his travels and interest in art and culture
• The über knows the difference between right and wrong and will make the right decision regardless of what others around him may think; the metro knows the difference between toner and exfoliant -- and worries that he's using yesterday's brand.

Marian Salzman, who first spotted the rise of the metrosexual two years ago, says that übersexuals are tired of taking their behavioral and fashion cues from their female counterparts and from men's magazines that boil men down to their basest, most simplistic selves.

"Übersexuals are the most attractive (not just physically), most dynamic, and most compelling men of their generations. They are confident, masculine, stylish, and committed to uncompromising quality in all areas of life."

Still confused?

If so, here are some helpful illustrations:

Übersexual: Bono

Metrosexuals: Kerry, Edwards

Perhaps you'll remember John Kerry, during the last presidential campaign, proudly calling himself a metrosexual. And, you know, for once he was exactly right! The perfect illustration of metro, lol.

And, with that knowledge, it's time to analyze Super Bowl XL!

Predicting the winner with a postmodern calculus

It’s the greatest clash on the biggest stage: Super Bowl XL, the metrosexual Seahawks vs. the übersexual Steelers!

Am I being unfair? Hmmm…break down the individual comparisons:

• Quarterback: Matt “check out my shaved head” Hasselbeck or Ben “Caveman Beard” Roethlisberger?
• Running Back: Shaun “Mr. Metro in tights” Alexander or Jerome “the Bus” Bettis?
• Safety: Jordan “just call me Jordi” Babineaux or Troy “Wild-man” Polamalu?
• Wide Receiver: Joe “My mother calls me Joey” Jurevicius or Hines “Mr. Toughness” Ward?
• Linebacker: Lofa “It’s not Lola!” Tatupu or Joey “Take out the Trash” Porter?
• And finally, coach: Mike “Mr. Latte” Holmgren or Bill “the Chin” Cowher?

LOL! How is it even close?

Cowher and the boys just ooze Steel City masculinity. It’s blue-collar steel mills against trendy coffee shops and fashion shows. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like a good mocha frappuccino now and then, but we’re talking football here!

When it comes to football, the übers win the day. This ain’t no catwalk folks, lol! And so the über Steelers will win the first postmodern super bowl, without question.

Final spread which you can bank on:

Pittsburgh by 13 points.

You read it here first, lol. Just don’t tell anyone how you discovered the winner ahead of time, lol!

Pittsburgh’s going to the Super Bowl!

AFC Championship game

Score: Pittsburgh 34, Denver 17

Another great game from the guys in black and gold! In some respects this game impressed me more than the effort against the Colts. Pittsburgh played a complete game on both sides of the ball against a very tough Denver team. I must confess that Denver had me worried, lol. They’ve been defensively tough all year long…knocking out the best offensive teams they’ve faced. But today was just Pittsburgh’s day. They played inspired ball, again.

And, I really don’t think enough good things can be said about Ken “the Whiz” Whisenhunt, offensive coordinator of the Steelers. Wow! What a game plan! He was two steps ahead of Shanahan and the Broncos…and that is no small task. Shanahan is no slouch in big game acumen [or offensive genius]. If this game doesn’t land Ken a gig as head coach, I don’t think anything will. I hope he stays with the Steelers, but if he does, they need to give him a pay raise!

Great game, though. And solid execution on both sides of the ball for Pittsburgh, especially offense – some excellent third down calls. And, some excellent plays for first downs and TDs. Ben performed really well today…and a lot of credit goes to the offensive line. Wow, did they ever pick up the blitz! Case in point: Third down throws against the blitz were around 75 percent conversion rate. Also note: On the TD run by Jerome Bettis, Alan Faneca blocked two Broncos, lol.

Denver linebacker Ian Gold paid Pittsburgh the ultimate compliment:

"We did not complete the mission and it's frustrating," linebacker Ian Gold said. "But anytime you make it to the AFC Championship Game and you lose, you hope to lose to a team like that."

Pittsburgh is playing monster ball, right now – unprecedented, really. They've beaten the 1, 2 and 3 seeds to advance – first time that's ever been done. And, it's the first time a 6 seed has ever advanced to the Super Bowl. Quite fitting that it's Super Bowl XL! Super Bowl Xtra-Large...for the way they're playing, lol.

And…western PA is going crazy with Steeler fever, lol.

Restaurants were sending people home because of no customers; TV stations were showing shots of the malls and stores, with streets looking like ghost towns, lol! Everyone was home watching the game, or with friends and fans at sports bars.

Non-residents of PA seem stunned at the loyalty of the fans. One writer said this, after the game:

And all those loyal Pittsburgh fans! An estimated 8,000 came to Denver and they stayed well after the game, waving their Terrible Towels in the corner of Denver's Invesco Field until security finally had to ask them to leave…

Is it any surprise that one guy in a sports bar had a heart attack last week when Bettis fumbled against Indy? Or that another guy last year asked to be laid out in a recliner with a brew in hand, “watching” Pittsburgh highlights? These people take it seriously!

Growing up in western PA, going to school, teachers actually gave extra credit points for students who wore black and gold during the playoffs. I kinda resented that, then. I thought grades should be earned. But looking back, I just laugh and shake my head.

I called my mother before the game and said,

“Mom, just checking in to see if you are gonna watch the game.” And she said, “Yes.”

Then she said, “Loy, you wouldn’t believe it, but I wore black and gold to church today!”

And I laughed. Then I acted shocked and said, “Mom! What’s this world coming to, whenever a fine, upstanding Christian lady like yourself wears professional football colors to the house of the Lord? Why, it’s almost idolatry!”

And she laughed again and said, “Oh, I blame this on my three sons for making me a football fan!” And I laughed, because there wasn’t much I could say to that.

The she said, ‘But if they play like they did last week, I might not make it through the game.” Then she put the pressure on me. She said, “If I didn’t make it and had to be laid out, would you boys come to my funeral or watch the game?”

And I said, “Oh, mom! I’m not gonna say I would ever choose a football game over you – I’ll be there…! But…don’t be surprised if somehow there's a large screen TV at the wake!”

And she laughed like a little girl, lol!

And she said, “Loy, you are so bad!” And I laughed, too.

Then she said, “I might just end up getting up out of the casket for that one.” And I said, “Yeah, you’d probably get up and walk on water, too, if they won!”

And she laughed and said, “Now you are being bad, so I have to go!”

So I let her go to watch the football game – but it just gives a flavor of the fever in Steeler country!

I’ve been driving around with a football in the passenger seat of my truck, lol. And, p.s. – It’s gonna stay there through the Super Bowl, too. But I’m not superstitious or anything, lol! I just like football!

All together now: “Pittsburgh’s goin’ to ‘da Super Bowl!”

Go Steelers!

:-)

A truly great football game

The Immaculate Tackle

I just love the game of football. Whether playing, coaching or watching, to see the game played as it is supposed to be played is a thrill, a joy. It brings back those fall days in western PA, drawing up plays on the ground and running through the fallen leaves to touchdown glory. Or, in throwing the perfect pass downfield, hitting a receiver in stride. In the inimitable words of Dan Marino: "There's no defense for the perfect pass!"

With the joy of football in my veins, I just have to talk about Sunday's game between the Steelers and Colts. What a game!

Pittsburgh definitely showed up to play football. There was a lot of talk before the game about how Pittsburgh didn't stand a chance against Peyton and the boys. All my Indiana friends were talking trash, and all the talking heads on TV were pretty much in agreement: Pittsburgh was going to lose, the only question was by how much, lol. The Las Vegas line was around 10 points -- which just goes to show how much the bookies were willing to put their money on the line that Pittsburgh was gonna get creamed!

Well, excuse me, but "sudden slip between the cup and lip" and all that, lol.

Pittsburgh arrived and smashed Indy in the mouth: A perfect offensive game plan and a manly defensive game plan, I must say. The Steeler defense took full advantage of Peyton's dummy calls and late adjustments at the line of scrimmage...disguising their blitzes and coverages, showing one thing and switching off at the last second, showing the very same thing on the next play and then keeping it...it was masterful.

But, as neat as the entire game was, the ending is something that will stick in Pittsburgh lore for years to come. Not since the ancient "Immaculate Reception" has a game reflected so much destiny and so little probability!

The weirdness started with about 5:26 left in the game.

Pittsburgh was leading by 11 points, and the Colts were in hurry-up offense, desperately driving, trying to score and get back in the game. Peyton dropped back to pass and tried to connect with Reggie Wayne in the middle of the field. But Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu dove in and picked it off: an awesome, athletic interception. His momentum carried him to the turf, where he rolled over and then jumped up to run. But as he jumped up to run, his left knee came up and knocked the ball out of his own hands. Instead of running for a TD, now he simply had to fall on the ball and cover it for possession. The ref tossed the beanbag for a fumble: Pittsburgh ball! Ruling on the field: Interception and fumble recovery, Pittsburgh ball. Game over.

All Pittsburgh had to do was run out the clock, sit on the ball and nurse their 11 point lead. Everyone in the football world knew: game over.

But wait!

Indy coach Tony Dungy threw the challenge flag...hoping that the replay would show no possession by Troy [therefore incomplete pass and still Colt ball]. And really, it was the only thing he could do! It was a wise coaching move, but everyone knew: it was an interception. There was no way in Hades that this call was getting overturned. Sorry, Dungy -- nice guy and all, but replays were beyond clear: Troy had possession and only lost the ball as he got up to run, knocking it out of his own hands.

Pittsburgh players celebrated on the sideline. They knew!

But then, inexplicably, referee Pete Morelli came back on the field...he mumbled some incoherent stuff about the right knee being on the ground while left knee knocked the ball out, therefore, voila! Indy ball. Just like that, a magic hat new life for Indy! No interception, no harm no foul!

I was stunned. Simply, no other way to put it...stunned. I couldn't believe my eyes.

In all my football years, I've never seen something so clear be suddenly erased. But there it was: Colts ball and new life, and this time they made it count. Three plays and a TD. Then a two-point conversion. Just like that, three-point ball game!

From being out of the game and out of the playoffs, to three points down with plenty of time left! Now that is something...

In the back of my mind, I'm thinking: "How much are the bookies paying this guy?"

But wait! The weirdness was just starting.

The Colts defense forced Pittsburgh to punt on the ensuing possession, and the punt went into the endzone. So Indy was starting on their own 20 yard line, with around 2:45 left in the ball game. Plenty of time! All they needed was a field goal to tie and a TD to win. And, give that offense 2:45 and shoot! In the Colts' minds, they were thinking TD, not field goal.

But the Pittsburgh D had gas left in the tank, lol! They forced Peyton into short, bad throws and sacked him twice: double sacks by Joey Porter, and see ya later at the two yard line! Butt-kicking time, says Porter, lol. Ball goes over on downs to Pitt.

Game over.

1:20 left, Pittsburgh first down on the two yard line.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Yep. Hand off to "The Bus" and ride into the AFC Championship with a 10 point win.

But wait! Are you ready for the ultimate weird ending?

Jerome "The Bus" Bettis takes the handoff, and as he turns to the endzone, LB Gary Brackett smashes his helmet against the ball. The ball pops up in the air, is caught on a bounce by Colt cornerback Nick Harper. Fumble return!

Again, I couldn't believe my eyes. Horror of horrors, what was this?

Harper is racing for a TD...no one to stop him! Tragic ending for Pittsburgh!

But wait! Out of nowhere is Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh QB. He stumbles, falls over himself trying to stop Harper...falling backward he reaches out a right arm and catches his right knee. It was just enough. It tripped up Nick at the 42 yard line. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburg Post-Gazatte relays the action well:

Linebacker Gary Brackett slammed into Bettis and put his helmet on the ball. The man who rarely fumbles fumbled for the first time this season.

The ball popped backward. Cornerback Nick Harper, playing with three stitches in his right knee where his wife allegedly stabbed him Saturday, picked it up. He had one man to beat to run 93 yards for the go-ahead touchdown -- Roethlisberger.

Now this story is layers of bizarre, isn't it? Nick Harper was just out of the hospital emergency department with an inch deep stab wound in his right knee, inflicted by his wife. Some people say he couldn't have been tackled has his knee been 100 percent! Bizarre, huh?

[Mini-moral of the story: Guys, treat your wives well or it could cost you like you never know, lol.]

But now, here it is, Indy ball at the 42, three time outs left, all the time in the world to move into field goal range...tie the game and go into overtime, at home, with all the momentum. They quickly moved into field goal range at the 28 yard line and then went for the TD. Only an awesome defensive play by Steeler cornerback Bryant McFadden kept Wayne from catching the TD.

But that was no problem for Indy. They merely called on their kicker, Mike Vanderjagt, to kick the 46 yard field and send it to overtime. This is the guy, mind you, by his own admission, is the best kicker in the NFL! The most accurate kicker in the NFL to make what for him is a chip shot field goal...

You guessed it.

He missed.

He not only missed the field goal, but missed it by about 3 goal post lengths!

All those crazy, weird things that seemed to hand the game to the Colts...nope! The day belonged to Pittsburgh. And not the refs or the other team could take it away.

Add up the probabilities:

• Troy Polamalu's interception being mysteriously overturned.
• The multiple sacks and over on downs at the 2.
• The fumble by Bettis at the 2 [the guy who never fumbles].
• The recovery and run by Nick Harper [the very guy with the stabbed knee].
• The improbable tackle by Roethlisberger.
• The defensive play by McFadden to save the TD.
• The missed field goal by Vanderjagt.
  

All in the last 5:26 of the game!

But, game over. Pittsburgh win. And well-fought. A truly great football game!

They'll be talking about this game in Pittsburgh for years to come -- those last five, thrilling minutes, a "wild finish made of missed opportunities, gut-wrenching twists and one unimaginable, tide-turning play after another." From the Immaculate Reception to the Immaculate Tackle!

After the game I thought about the man who passed away last year...and left orders that he was to be laid out in a recliner, with a remote in one hand, brew in the other "watching" Pittsburgh Steeler highlights on a big-screen TV.

Yes, they'll be talking about this for years in western PA!

Hines Ward: "It went from an all-time high to an all-time low back to an all-time high."

And speaking to the mysterious, overturned interception, Joey Porter had someting to say:

"I felt they were cheating us. When the interception happened, everybody in the world knew that was an interception. Don't cheat us that bad. [I felt] when they did that, they really want Peyton Manning and these guys to win the Super Bowl. They are just going to straight take it for them. I felt that they were like 'We don't even care if you know we're cheating. We're cheating for them.' "

"The way the refs were going, I wouldn't have trusted them in overtime," Porter told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. "If we hadn't won, they would have cheated us in overtime."

No doubt Porter will be fined for those comments, but he only said what many people felt...no other way to explain some of the calls. Especially with the benefit of slow motion, every-angle replay. Following the game, NFL Today analysts Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Dan Marino actually said on air that it would have been the greatest robbery of all time had the Colts been granted the win.

True that. Just to show how blatant the overturned interception was, the league came out Monday and admitted the "mistake." Which happens about as often as Islamic terrorists have a conscience! Mike Pereira, the league's vice president of officiating, issued a statement saying that Morelli should have let the call on the field stand.

"He maintained possession long enough to establish a catch," Pereira said.

"Therefore, the replay review should have upheld the call on the field that it was a catch and fumble."

The craziness was summed pretty well by Ben Roethlisberger:

"It's one of those things that once in a blue moon Jerome fumbles, and once in a blue moon I'm going to make that tackle."

And once in a blue moon to see a game like this! :-)

Great game...a truly great game.

Enough to give a person football fever!

Go Steelers! :-)