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Steelers tell jokes, share tales at 75th year gala
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The Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. For more images from the Steelers' 75th Season Gala and the Post-Gazette's historical archive, please click the link "Steelers 75th Season Gala Slideshow" to the left. -
Former Steeler Joe Greene at the Steelers 75th Season Gala. -
Joe Greene sacks Browns quarterback Mike Phipps, 1974. -
Former Steeler Jack Ham talks to the media at the Steelers 75th Season Gala. -
Steelers linebacker Jack Ham makes the catch, 1979. -
The Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Former Steeler Rocky Bleier talks to the media at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Getting a block from Randy Grossman, 84, Steelers Rocky Bleier charges through a hole for a good gain against Baltimore Colts, 1978. -
Former Steelers Mel Blount and Dermontti Dawson at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Steeler Pro Bowler center Dermontti Dawson. -
Former Steelers Bennie Cunningham and Lynn Swann at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Steelers tight end Bernie Cunningham, 1982. -
The busts of former Steelers now at the Hall of Fame were on display at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Former Steeler Donnie Shell talks to the media at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
A pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs Anthony Hancock, right is broken up by Steelers Donnie Shell, 31, 1987. -
Former Steeler Gary Anderson talks to the media at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Former Steelers Dwight White, Joe Green, and L.C. Greenwood at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Cleveland quarterback Brian Sipe, 17, is sacked for a loss by Dwight White, 78, and L. C. Greenwood, 68, 1976. -
Former Steeler John Stallworth greets other former Steelers Jack Ham and Gary Anderson at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Steelers wide receiver John Stallworth, 1979. -
Former Steeler John Stallworth talks to the media at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Former Steelers Rod Woodson, left, and Mel Blount, at the Steelers 75th Season Gala event at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Steeler Mel Blount, 1984. -
Steeler Rod Woodson hammers Carolina Panthers running back Anthony Johnson, 1996 -
Former Steeler Gary Anderson talks with Steeler Jack Hamm at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Steelers Terry Bradshaw, Gary Anderson, Rick Woods, 1982. -
Former Steelers Carnell Lake and Louis Lipps, right, at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Steelers cornerback Carnell Lake reaches for a pass tipped by Green Bay Packers Antonio Freeman, 1998. -
Steeler Louis Lipps' sensational debut: Six catches for 183 yards, including an 80 yard, 1984. -
Former Steeler Joe Greene (No. 75), celebration chairman, talks with the media at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. -
Art Rooney Sr.'s portrait is displayed at the Steelers 75th Season Gala at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
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As a global entrepreneur who specializes in investment banking with Laurel Mountain Partners, Andy Russell was on a business trip to Russia several months ago when he spotted something familiar.
At an outdoor mall in Moscow, next to a nesting doll that traced Russian leaders from Vladimir Putin to Vladimir Lenin, he noticed a similar object adorned in the black and gold of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This doll started with Jack Lambert, then inside was Joe Greene, Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann in descending order, each figure smaller than the one preceding it. Imagine that, stalwarts of the Steel Curtain merchandised on the free market in what used to be the epicenter of the Iron Curtain.
"There weren't any other football teams or American figures displayed, just this one. I know there are Steeler fans in every city, but Moscow?" marveled Mr. Russell, a linebacker on the all-time Steelers team.
Then chuckling, he said, "Swann will be ticked he was the smallest one."
Ordinarily, the Steelers generate stories for Monday based on what they did Sunday. But because they're involved in a Monday night game today, and this is their 75th season, this was the perfect occasion to recall yesteryear.
As part of their diamond jubilee weekend, the Steelers "suited up" for a $250-a-plate banquet and gala last night at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. That the building is named after the civic leader who presented Arthur J. Rooney into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964 is but one affirmation of the bond between the city and its football team.
The 75th anniversary all-time team, which includes 33 players from a franchise that's been around since 1933, will be honored again tonight when the Steelers play the Baltimore Ravens, who were born as the Cleveland Browns, in front of a national TV audience. Four active players will be wearing their work clothes, albeit in the form of throwback uniforms, for the occasion: Hines Ward, Alan Faneca, Casey Hampton and Troy Polamalu.
The general chairman for the celebration is No. 75, Charles Edward "Joe" Greene, who served in the same capacity when the team marked its 50th anniversary in 1982. He was the cornerstone of the team that won four Super Bowls under Chuck Noll and was brought back to the front office when the fifth ring was won in Super Bowl XL.
"To put on something so grand, and to let the legions of their fans participate, is consistent with how the Steelers do business," said Mr. Greene, wearing a gold carnation with his tuxedo at last night's dinner.
And, of course, he recalled those Super Years when he and the Steelers ruled the gridiron. There were nine Hall of Fame players, a Hall of Fame coach and a father-son team enshrined at Canton who were associated with those teams.
"Whatever we needed, one of us had. It got to the point sometimes where I didn't know if I could pay the price individually, but I never wanted to let the team down. And when we were all at our best, look out. It has all been a wonderful journey," he said.
Like all of the players assembled, Jack Ham looked forward to swapping stories.
"We can tell lies about how good we were back then," he said, laughing.
Or swap funny stories.
Andy Russell remembers a playoff game against the Baltimore Colts in which he returned a fumble 93 yards for a touchdown, which is still a playoff record.
"It was the most elapsed time on any single play. Ray Mansfield said the network cut to a commercial and still was able to show the touchdown," he said.
Gary Anderson, the franchise's all-time leading scorer, has been catching brown trout and rainbow trout in the Canadian Rockies of late, but he was as thrilled as he was when he first came to town.
"It seems like yesterday that I was in the Steeler locker room as a rookie," he said. "You can imagine how mesmerized I felt."
Generations of players were represented at the gala. Dick Hoak, who spent 45 years with the organization as a player and a coach, remembered rustic practices at South Park and playing games at Forbes Field and Pitt Stadium.
"If it weren't for football, I don't know what I would have done," he said. "I went through life without ever having to move, without ever being fired, without ever having to transfer to another city. How many people can say that?"
Music for the evening was provided by jazz musician Allen Harris.
The master of ceremonies was Steve Sabol, president of NFL Films, supplier of the special anniversary highlight films that enthralled the crowd.
"The Steelers don't need a mascot. Their fans are their mascot," Mr. Sabol said. "There were Gerela's Gorillas, Franco's Italian Army, Lambert's Lunatics, people dressed up like a bumble bee. You don't need a mascot when you have fans like that," he said. "When we'd go to Pittsburgh to do the game for NFL Films, we never brought enough cameras."
First Published November 5, 2007 12:00 am
