Tim Thomasen wrote:
Why weren't you a big Steelers fan back then if you don't mind me asking? Never liked the team/fan or you just not that big into football?
But hey you have a legit gripe, you get angry when you see a league and a PA for years never getting along and always having a strike or lockout to achieve a CBA. It's never fun to see any of this go down, even if it's for the good of the league.
Like I said above it hurts not having hockey, that's the sport I live and breathe. I was really looking forward to attending some road game this year since I went to none last year because of money.
And once football is over, i'll have no local sport to follow (I saw local because i'll still have the EPL to watch on TV). I do like the Boston Celtics, but not much of a fan to pay $179 for LP or travel to see them unless I have a dirt cheap ticket. Hell I attended a game last year where they played Cleveland and despite the C's almost blowing a 19 point lead in the 4th quartter, I was most concerned with what the Pens were doing againist Tampa (they won in OT) than the actual game i'm attending.
I'm not sure why I didn't follow the Steelers, we did play alot of football back then, probably as much as baseball & hockey. I guess to clarify, I wasn't that interested in the Steelers during their first two superbowls - I was happy they won, but I remember going to a superbowl party with my folks, and playing outside with some other kids during the entire game. (never would have happened if that were the Pens or Pirates haha). The year we lost to the Broncos (the year prior to superbowl #3) is when I started following the Steelers, and i've been a serious fan ever since. Right now I only follow the Steelers & Pens, and i'm a casual fan of Penn State football (and college football in general) and to a lesser extent, Maryland basketball.
I also like the hockey trips - I miss those too!
I guess comparing baseball to hockey isn't completely fair - Yubb's post was good, same situation here I guess. I still play in deck/ice leagues, and live and breath hockey too. I know during those times when I'm mad and say "eff this league, i'm done" - that I won't follow through with it. But we'll see what happens. I think there will be a big difference (for me) between the league playing this season, and losing the entire season. What that means specifically, I'm not sure yet...
I guess what I'm going to want to know, and probably others do too - is why should we believe that there won't be another work stoppage in 5 years? And also, it's just a sport - but we've all been inconvienanced as fans by this. I think the league better come up with something better than just a stupid "thank you fans" message painted on the ice...