Last year for Halloween, I was Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. At every party I attended, there wasn't a bad word said, not even from a mouse. This year, however, as Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, everyone booed me - everyone in every house.
What a difference a year makes. This time last year, the only people who cared about the Steelers were fans of the black and gold. Sure, there were a few sarcastic remarks here and there from Brownie and Bengals fans, but that was tolerable.
Now, after a Super Bowl victory, everyone wanted their shot at Troy P. If Troy thought Chiefs running back Larry Johnson's tug on his long mane a few weeks ago was rough, it was nothing compared to the treatment this Troy impersonator would receive last weekend.
The first person who heckled me was a guy trying to get by as a cowboy (no, I'm not referring to Tony Romo). As soon as he saw my long hair and Steelers jersey enter the room, I saw the rootin' tootin' gunslinger grimace, mutter something to a few of his friends next to him and utter to me the two words I hate more then any two words in the history of human language: "Hey Troy, who dey!"
At this, everyone who was around either started to laugh or joined the cowboy in bellowing that stupid, obnoxious chant. Like a safety caught trying to guard Chad Johnson and TJ Whoseyourmama at the same time, I was surrounded trying to defend my boy Troy and my team.
The remarks from the Bungle backers were the same comments I've heard a million times since Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati in the playoffs last January. "You guys were lucky last year," was a popular one. "Pittsburgh is always overrated," also never fails. The most popular and most ridiculous comment, however, has been said to me so many times I could say it in my sleep: "Hey, if you cheaters didn't knock out Carson Palmer, you wouldn't have beaten us in the playoffs!"
OK, now that you have heard the charges brought against my beloved Steelers, allow me a chance for rebuttal. In response to the lucky remark, how does luck have anything to do with winning eight straight games, beating the top three seeds in the playoffs and the top seeded NFC team in the Super Bowl? I don't think luck computes in the Steelers' 220-95 scoring differential over those last eight opponents.
Secondly, the Steelers are always overrated? Pardon me, but I do believe Pittsburgh is the team that has won seven division titles, taken part in six AFC Championship games and won a Super Bowl over the past 12 seasons, not Cincinnati.
Lastly, I could spend more time debating the Palmer injury longer than Bengal Chris Henry chills in prison. The hit by former Steeler Kimo Von Oelhoffen was not dirty; he did not see Palmer release the ball and anyone who plays football knows that you play until you hear the whistle blow (also, does anyone remember Odel Thurmen's late hit on Roethlisberger in week 13 of 2005?). One man does not make a football team. If you remember, the Steelers have won several games the past two years without Big Ben, showing true champions overcome all obstacles to win.
So get over it. The Pittsburgh Steelers won, the Cincinnati Bengals did not. Breathe in, breathe out. Feel better? Good.
To all of those Bengals and Browns fans, however, it appears your Halloween treat has come early this year, with the Steelers currently 2-5 and possibly the worst team in the division following their 20-13 loss to the high school Oakland Raiders. Perhaps the only thing scarier than Troy Polamalu on Halloween is the Steelers' horrid offense. Yeah, yeah, shut up over there. I just heard you scream, "Who dey!"
Bryan DeArdo is a junior in journalism, and invites any Brown and Bengal fan to watch his copy of the Steelers' Super Bowl XL Championship highlights on DVD. Contact him at deardo.1@osu.edu.
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