Can this be done without everyone thinking I'm a fairweather fan?

Wow, my own blog. This may not seem like a big deal to lot of people, but to a largely computer-illiterate, newfangled technology-fearing stooge like me, this is like flying solo to Jupiter in the space shuttle Challenger. At least I'm not prone to hyperbole.

So how did this start? Hey, how does any guy in his mid-30s get up enough courage to do something way out of his comfort zone? That's right, my wife ordered me to do it. Allright, "ordered" is a strong word. Let's just say she strongly advised and recommended that I start my own blog after seeing me spend more and more time posting messages on various sports blogs (si.com, fanhouse.com, yahoo.com, etc.). This kind of message-posting is something I started doing after the Steelers took it all in SB43.

That's right, I'm a Steelers fan (faint moans and groans). Because of that, I'm worried that anyone and everyone who reads this blog will automatically assume that I'm some kind of fairweather, bandwagon-jumper who's now taking up for Pittsburgh solely on account of their recent championship. Not true! Not true!

I actually became of fan of the Steelers in 1990 when I started playing highschool football. My coach, in his infinite wisdom, permitted me to "play" (I use that term loosely) the position of outside linebacker in our team's 3-4 defense. I'll concede that, while our team was actually very good, it was not (primarily) because of me. Okay, okay, fine, it was despite me. I was listed in the third string, sometimes (generously) in the second, depending upon the weather, the opponent, and the alignment of the stars. I also got to play some special teams, and was known as a "special teams demon" (if, by "demon", you mean short, slow guy who is the last one to jump on the pile, then yes, I was a "demon"). In sum, I wasn't much of a player. But that sure got me started as far as looking at the pro 3-4 defenses that had great linebackers. And, you guessed it, that meant the Pittsburgh Steelers. Oh yeah, guys like Kevin Greene and Greg Lloyd became my heroes. And after that, Levon Kirkland and Chad Brown. Then Earl Holmes and Jason Gildon. Even Joey Porter. And now, James Farrior, James Harrison, and Lamar Woodley. So although my highschool football "career" (again, I used that word loosely) is responsible for giving me a sore neck, PTSD, and a male stalker (story for later), it also gave me my love for Pittsburgh Steeler football. I've been a hardcore Steelers fan for over fifteen years now. And, yes, my wife loves me despite this fact.

With that out of the way, I'll tell you that I anticipate blogging primarily about NFL. Yeah, the season just ended, but true fans know that there's no real NFL offseason anymore. There might be some snide, occasionally sincere, commentary directed towards pro-basketball and baseball (tennis might find itself in there once in a while), but for the most part there's going to be a football-heavy focus (hence the name). On to Jupiter!