After ten years of waiting I was pleased to be part of the club's trip to see our team play in the Super Bowl. The ultimate prize. With only two weeks between the championship game and the Bowl, there isn't much time to think about the trip or even plan much. Having said that, I did telephone a very hassled Rob Boulware in the Steelers public relations department to find out where the Steelers were staying and where they were practicing. Just in case.
We flew over on Thursday, January 25th. James Delargy, Eddie Veale, Steven Melvin, Simon Chester, Les Barrie and myself, together with two Cowboy fans and our friend Brian Montague who has the misfortune to be a real nice guy, but a Bears' fan. Having said that. I think Brian has a little Pittsburgh inside him, even if he maybe won't admit to it.
The international flight went to Los Angeles before we picked up an internal flight to Phoenix. We left Heathrow at 1415 and arrived in Phoenix sometime after ten at night, having lost six hours to time zone changes. Needless to say we were all very tired on arrival at our hotel and crashed out immediately.
I think it was about 0400 when I woke up on Friday morning. Eventually, everyone managed to rise and we dropped the majority off at the NFL Experience exhibition. The NFL Experience was set up alongside Tempe Stadium and it gave us our first glimpse of the setting for the Super Bowl. The stadium is awesome, set between two hills, it certainly looks the part to be the background of the big show.
After dropping those they wanted to go to the Experience off, we drove on to try and the Steelers' training ground at Scottsdale Community College. Eventually we had to stop and ask for directions. The lady I spoke in the street used her mobile phone to ring the college to confirm the route. We found all the locals so helpful and we were welcome wherever we went. When we arrived at the college, I asked a security man when the Steelers would be coming and he told us they were expected at 1300. We had time to partake in lunch before returning.
There was a crowd of about fifty waiting with us. A TV crew from Pittsburgh interviewed some of the girls before we noticed half a dozen motorcycle outriders leading three buses towards the practice ground. Although you couldn't see into the buses, the feeling of being there, with your team was tremendous.
In just two days time, this team was going to take part in the most important game of the season. As the buses pirouetted around the tarmac, Eddie made an appropriate crack about a new sport of "synchronised parking."
The atmosphere with the fans was one of high expectation. As the players left their buses and walked into the locker room, there were cheers and applause and I felt glad that we had made the trip.
About ten minutes later, Dan Rooney arrived in a car and I reflected on what it must have meant to him to have his team here. In a family organisation, he must have been so proud of it all. A just reward for all his hard work over the years and a fine tribute to his father.
We were too far away to be able to see the practice so the fans began to drift away. As we were still deciding what to do, another TV crew came up and interviewed Jim and Les. I would love to know what the viewers thought about the strong Scottish and Irish accents talking very knowledgeably about their national sport. We spoke to one of the security guys and I asked him if I could have his security jacket to get closer to the team. He wanted to know how much it was worth, but I declined to make him an offer.
It was back to the motel to have a swim in the pool and prepare for the evening's entertainment. I took some of the lads to downtown Tempe while Ed, Jim and Les decided to find a sports shop that was further along the road that our motel was situated on. They walked about three miles looking for the shop before the road changed its name.
Eventually, I picked up the three weary travellers, who had given up on finding the shop and by now were on their way back. Unfortunately, us folks from the United Kingdom are used to walking, but don't realise how long the roads can be in the United States.
It was then down to a bar for food and drink. As we entered and ordered our drinks, the locals picked up on our strange accents. When they found out we were rooting for the Steelers, they told us they had Iron City beer on sale. We didn't have to be told twice.
Saturday morning saw us going out of town to try and find some of the real Arizona countryside. We went to a very aptly named Apache Junction where there was an old mining town that is now a tourist trap. It looked reasonably authentic and was set under Superstitious mountain. The skyline was unbelievable and the temperature nearly seventy.
Steve, Ed, Jim and Les decided to risk sore thighs by taking a horse ride that took them out into a terrain of cacti and lizards. I'm afraid that your editor is just a touch too old to try horse riding for the first time. I was content to meditate in the still of the wilderness, reflecting on tomorrow's game.
After exchanging pleasantries with a lady from London, who is now serving beer in a saloon in Apache Junction, we headed back to the hotel to prepare for the Pittsburgh fans' Pre Super Bowl party. On the way, we dropped into a supermarket to find them selling cans of Iron City with an AFC Champions motif blazing out in black and gold. We didn't quite buy the whole stock, but almost emptied the shelves.
While Steve was at the NFL Experience, he had collected a leaflet advertising a "Super Blitz Bash" at the Pointe Hilton Resort on South Mountain Pavillion Saturday night. So, that's where we were headed.
We arrived to find the place buzzing, full of Steeler fans wearing black and gold in a huge marquee. The band was playing, the people jumping and the motley crue from the UK joined in the fun. Everyone enjoyed themselves and I bet that had nothing to do with all the alcohol that was being consumed.
Some guy swept in selling "Pee on Deion" T-shirts for $10 and found himself regretting he didn't bring more as he was sold out in no time. Later someone offered Jim $20 for his and, eventually as the guy was so persistent, Jim sold it to him for face value.
Faced with the biggest game that he had been to, your editor crept out early to ensure that no hangover would spoil the big day. The younger members stayed on until midnight and apparently, the sight of Jim dancing is one of the wonders of the world.