Romancing the Burgh

When the New York Jets come to town to play football, the nostalgia machine in the New York media works overtime. This week, it's doing a pretty good job.

Today's Times runs a nice feature on Myron Cope, whose picture should appear in most dictionaries under "local sports icon." Like a lot of fans watching the Steelers/Jets game at home this afternoon, I'll have the TV on "mute" while listening to Bill Hillgrove, Myron, and Tunch Ilkin (with the occasional contribution from Craig Wolfley) on the radio.

Thursday's Times carried this long feature on Pittsburgh's long-time love affair with the Steelers. The writer, Jere Longman, might have hit the nostalgia/cliche jackpot, but I like the piece anyway. The whole thing comes off as affectionate. As a soccer fan, Longman can recognize a love affair between a city and a team:

Tony Novosel, 52, a bartender at Chiodo's and an academic adviser and history teacher at Pitt, said that passion for the Steelers reminded him of passion for European soccer, where the local team is considered 'immediate family.'

The passion here runs deep and true, but I'm still waiting for the fans at Heinz Field to break into song.