FanNation - The Republic of Sport

So, I was recently in Pittsburgh for a few months finishing a project. My last week there just so happened to be MNF Baltimore @ Pittsburgh. Me, being from Baltimore, wasn't going to miss this for anything.  In fact, maybe I prolonged my time in enemy territory just to go to that game. I was able to get some upper level tickets off Ebay for me a few co-workers. This was the highlight of my trip, or so I expected. I thought experiencing Heinz Field would be awesome, especially since my home team was playing there. How wrong I was...(and not just because the Ravens blew it Ravens-style!)

I originally was concerned about the demeanor Pittsburghians may take towards a fan of the visiting team infiltrating the motherland. They really weren't that bad at first, but I can only wonder what it'd be like if the game had turned out the other way around. Instead of being angry, violent, illogical meat-heads (aka Philly fans), they were possbily the most pessimistic group of people on the face of the Earth. 

Grievance 1 -  Dave Habib (Habeeb maybe?) is the most annoying d0uchebag in the history of sports fans. I feel bad for everyone who sits around section 525, row Z at Heinz Feild. Dave is such a jerk. I'm fairly certain he enjoys cocaine and/or steroids...high energy, obnoxious, temper, obnoxious, stupid, immature, aggressive,obnoxious. He kept trying to start fights. Props to the guy, when asked by Dave "what's your problem?!", who responded "Your shirt's too small!" Dave was wearing one of those trendy graphic tees that come down about a millimeter past your belt line and you can find them in the "I take more time getting ready than my girlfriend" department at Gacy's. He tried connecting with my Syrian friend because apparently Dave is part Lebanese. He mostly came off as racist and anti-semetic. He constantly flexed and posed for us. Does he do that at every game? And his stories were great. Apparently he assaulted an older gentlemen one game because the guy kept asking Dave to sit down, and when he wouldn't he put his hand on his shoulder and that sends Dave into a frenzy. At that, he explained how much he hates when people put their hands on him and how he'll "beat down" anyone who does (roidaholic!), meanwhile pushing on my friends shoulder the whole time. What an ****. Then he tried telling me a story about his visit to Baltimore back in the 80s. Apparently, he was at some club at the Inner Harbor in 1985 and him and his friends beat up al lthe bouncers, almost killing them. Anyone else notice anything wrong with that story? A club at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore in 1985? What is he talking about? Baltimore's Inner Harbor is a fairly recent attraction. It used to be a high-crime industrial scumhole. It's changed a lot since 1985, so I don't know what club he's talking about. Dave, you're an idiot. I think I know why the person I bought my tickets from was selling their tickets...

Grievance 2 - Pittsburgh fans must be on their menstrual cycle. They were more moody and emotionally unbalanced than any large group of people I've ever experienced. Halfway through the second quarter, the Steelers are down 10 points, I think, and they've all given up on the game already. Some fan yelling "forget the season, let's start planning for the draft!" I tried reminding them how early into the game it was and the volatility of a Baltimore-Pittsburgh game, but the guy infront of me said "This is what we do!" followed by bellowing cries of "Why would you call a time out?!?!" Damn, Pittsbrugh, have a little faith. 

Grievance 3 -  Where are the cheerleaders? Who doesn't have cheerleaders?! Last time I checked, this was the NFL and they have cheerleaders. The fans tried telling me that they don't need cheerleaders because they're all about football in Pittsburgh. Complete bull. You know you wish you had cheerleaders, but you could never get a Pittsburgh girl out there to do that sober. Put alcohol in a Pittsburgh chick and she goes from cold as ice to skankzilla. 

Grievance 4 - They stopped selling beer in the first half! What!!! It's not even half time and some beer guy's yelling last call. Unbelievable. I'm starting to see why they're such a miserable bunch of people...

I will say this, they had Yuengling pints in a can for sale for the same price as the usual beers. A definite plus. In Baltimore, out "local" beer is National Bohemian. As a Marylander, by law you must love it, but I'll let you in on a little secret...we're all in denial. They do sell better beer than the generics, but you're also paying a lot more. Getting a Yuengling costs the same as a Bud Light and you can actually taste it. 

Grievance 5 - The acoustics in the stadium suck. Or the fans aren't loud. I'm not sure, but the stadium was never that loud. If you go to a game at M&T Bank stadium, it can sometimes be deafening in there. I believe the word used to decribe the crowd for the Colts-Ravens playoff game a couple years ago was "Venomous." That aspect was lacking at Heinz Field, which really surprised me. I was expecting the crowd to play a bigger role, but I guess whining isn't as loud? 

It was still a fun game, just not what I expected. I thought Pittsburgh was a tough crowd, but I think emotionally unstable is a better description.

With regard to latest news about Terrell Suggs talking about bounties in the game discussed, he's got a big mouth and should shut up. He's not helping anyone. The Ravens probably were looking to hit Mendenhall and Ward, that's football. If you get a chance to hit a playmaker, you hit him hard. It's part of the stradegy. Did Ray Lewis want to break that guy's shoulder? No. He wanted to stop the play. Terrell Suggs is saying some stupid things becuase he's full of himself and doesn't think about the consequences of his actions. He thinks T-Sizzle (what he calls himself) can do whatever T-Sizzle wants. This kind of crap hurts the team more than he helps on defense. I have no problem if Harbaugh benches him. It's his own fault for being so dumb.

He also made some negative comments about Flacco. This guy is turning into another Terrell we're familiar with. You know what's going to happen? He's going to get a lot crap about this from everybody, but being the cocky **** he is, he's just go out and mouth off even worse.

This is why I hate the Ravens sometimes. They could be a great team, but they destroy themselves. Rarely are they beaten, they just do dumb stuff and lose the game themselves. Example: Patriots game, December 07. Hey, Suggs, do you like Dave Chappelle? Check out some clips of "When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong," you're a possible candidate.

PS - I was wrong about Heinz Feild being the highlight of my time in Pittsburgh. Monterrey Bay on Mt. Washington is AMAZING. It's a seafood restaurant, best fish I've ever had. I hear their crabcakes are good, but I refuse to eat crabcakes outside of Maryland...gotta represent. It's not cheap, but the food is fantastic and view is out of this world. We were there on a corporate dinner the same night as the Pittsburgh-Carolina pre-season game. The restaurant is on top of a luxury apartment building that overlooks the rivers, you can practically see straight down into the stadium. Try the lobster bisque, Chilean sea bass (carribbean style), and vanilla bean creme brulee. You'll be ruined for life because seafood will never be the same to you.

PSS - The racing pierogies at PNC Park are the funniest/dumbest thing I've ever seen at a sporting event and actually make going to a Pirates game almost worth it.