Polamalu on the Pens

[Ben Klingston]

Gina Mazza interviewed Troy Polamalu in the latest Pittsburgh Magazine. The interview ended with this question and answer:
.....
Mazza: How bout those Pens?

Polamalu: When I was watching the final Stanley Cup game, my heart was pounding - with 15 minutes in the game and we're up by two. That's too much time! Hockey is the greatest spectator sport ever. It's nonstop action, in the last minutes, holding my son in front of the TV, I said "Son, you're going to watch history right now." I was so nervous. It was crazy! I can honestly tell you I was more nervous in those final moments than I was sitting on the sidelines in Tampa. Sid and Evgeni - they're so young, it's like having LeBron [James] and Kobe [Bryant] in Pittsburgh - then to see them win it! That's why Pittsburghers are so passionate about sports. We have these teams that do well. Back in the day, there were always championships that came through this city, even with the Buccos. Now, hopefully, that tradition will start up again - especially now that my son is a true Pittsburgher.
......


Nice stuff by an extremely nice guy. The rest of the interview talks about his faith, family, and football. He seems so centered and at peace. To borrow from Eddie O, Troy is one impressive human.

[bringitonhome]

[minimal]

Man, just when I thought I could not love this guy any more!

Go Burgh! (Yes, even the buccos)

M.

[Azkar]

awesome.

someone my dad works with has pictures of Polamalu playing around on the floor with her kids. Her brother worked at best buy, he came in to buy a TV, and I think her brother helped to the home installation, Polamalu took him to dinner and stuff - I think they still keep in touch, too

[Va Beach Pens Fan]

Linkage: http://www.wqed.org/mag/features/0809/t ... safety.php

[neophool]

great stuff

[beerman]

That's awesome, Troy is the man

[Ossa]

That's awesome. It is always cool to see players in other sports liking the sport of hockey.

[ivand87]

props

[llipgh]

Polamalu is my favorite Steeler of all time. He has knocked Jack Lambert out of the number 1 spot. This interview just makes me like him even more.

[Letang Is The Truth]

awesome.

someone my dad works with has pictures of Polamalu playing around on the floor with her kids. Her brother worked at best buy, he came in to buy a TV, and I think her brother helped to the home installation, Polamalu took him to dinner and stuff - I think they still keep in touch, too

my gf used to work at the cheesecake factor in ross park as a greeter while she was in nursing school and i was picking her up one day and troy walked in. he had a pick order under the name 'socrates' no lies. it wasn't ready when he came in so he sat next to a woman and talked to her for about 15 minutes and when he went to get his food he gave the manager 100 bucks and said it was for her families meal. he is the man

[pens8771]

Troy is the man!!!! I heard that he loves to watch hockey, but he can't stand watching football. LIke if the Steelers aren't in the superbowl, he doesnt watch it

[Corvidae]

Man, just when I thought I could not love this guy any more!

[K2]

I've always thought Troy was the Tasmanian Devil meets Gandhi. We are blessed to have some great humans in this city that just so happen to play their sports very well too. That's part of the reason I can't give up on the Buccos...regardless of what management does these guys still go out and do their best to represent the city and I'll always cheer for that. I'm sad to see Freddy Sanchez go after the work he and his wife did for the Miracle League field and how choked up he got during the dedication of the field.

It's a great time to be in the City of Champions

[blackjack68]

Is it wrong to get choked up reading that?

That he loves his family, the city and hockey that much?

And he's teaching his son how to be a real Pittsburgher!

Love it!

[TangerBell45]

This was great to read. Thanks Ben!

Even just scanning the paragraph posted makes me swell with Pittsburgh pride..... I hate to use the word swell because it's so cheesey, but it's 11:00 at night & I lack any better words.... haha

Being in New York right now, it's making me miss home alot! haha

I love seeing this kind of stuff, other athletes in the city following the other sports teams and rooting for them like we do.... I know it's what makes our city so great.

[PensBeerGeek]

I love guys who are as absolutely intense as can be on the playing surface.....and then be able to turn it off once the game is finished.

Nice to see nice guys finish first for a change, especially a guy who I feel pretty confident in saying will wear a gold blazer someday.

[spiritfan]

would be awesome to see Sid and Geno bring the cup out for the coin toss for opeing night at Heinz field

[canaan]

+this thread is misleading. i thought we signed polamalu.

[Maagwa]

+this thread is misleading. i thought we signed polamalu.

i lol'd

[penny lane]

Need to get Troy at a pens game pounding on the glass!
I would love to see the Stanley & Vince at both Heinz field & the Igloo next season.
Pittsburgh has to show its bling for TV!

[Troy Loney]

awesome.

someone my dad works with has pictures of Polamalu playing around on the floor with her kids. Her brother worked at best buy, he came in to buy a TV, and I think her brother helped to the home installation, Polamalu took him to dinner and stuff - I think they still keep in touch, too

my gf used to work at the cheesecake factor in ross park as a greeter while she was in nursing school and i was picking her up one day and troy walked in. he had a pick order under the name 'socrates' no lies. it wasn't ready when he came in so he sat next to a woman and talked to her for about 15 minutes and when he went to get his food he gave the manager 100 bucks and said it was for her families meal. he is the man

This is the like the 10th story i've heard about him doing things like this....the dude must just love making people's days.....

[jamespensfan]

That is great.

[llipgh2]

This is the like the 10th story i've heard about him doing things like this....the dude must just love making people's days.....

I think because, more than any pro athlete, Polamalu "gets it". He really knows how fortunate he is, and appreciates it. He's blessed, and he takes nothing for granted. He remembers what it was like to have nothing, and it influences him to this day. He keeps everything in perspective, and that allows him to share the wealth in more ways than one.

[AlexPKeaton]

Troy Polamalu is all class. He is by far my favorite football player. Plays like a warrior, but is a very nice guy off the field. All class.