stillers4me
01-22-2011, 09:59 AM
The stoop-shouldered 78-year-old in the blue suit took a lap around the winning locker room last Saturday night at Heinz Field, shaking hands with every one of the 45 Steelers who'd suited up for the exhilarating 31--24 AFC divisional playoff victory over the Ravens. When he came to guard Chris Kemoeatu, the player's usually sour, intense face lit up in a smile, and they shook hands. Next was tight end Matt Spaeth, who wiped his hand on a towel and reached out. "Congratulations, Mr. Rooney," Spaeth said with a grin.
Dan Rooney, the Steelers' chairman emeritus and the U.S. ambassador to Ireland for the past year and a half, picked up the handshake tradition from his father, Art, who founded the Steelers in 1933. Dan has passed it to the oldest of his nine children, Art Rooney II, 58, who stood nearby on Saturday night. Dan makes it to just a few games a year now because of his diplomatic duties, and when he's not in the house, Art II greets the men.
Not much changes around the Steelers. The structure of the team is identical to the one Chuck Noll walked into as coach in 1969, followed by Bill Cowher in 1992 and Mike Tomlin in 2007: Owners own, scouts scout, coaches coach and players play............
read more @ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1180939/1/index.htm
Dan Rooney, the Steelers' chairman emeritus and the U.S. ambassador to Ireland for the past year and a half, picked up the handshake tradition from his father, Art, who founded the Steelers in 1933. Dan has passed it to the oldest of his nine children, Art Rooney II, 58, who stood nearby on Saturday night. Dan makes it to just a few games a year now because of his diplomatic duties, and when he's not in the house, Art II greets the men.
Not much changes around the Steelers. The structure of the team is identical to the one Chuck Noll walked into as coach in 1969, followed by Bill Cowher in 1992 and Mike Tomlin in 2007: Owners own, scouts scout, coaches coach and players play............
read more @ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1180939/1/index.htm