Terrible Towel

Here we go Steelers!... Anyone who knows anything knows how enthusiastic I am when it comes to football (note the sarcasm). Though I've feigned interest in the past for the right guy ha I really can't bring myself to go crazy. FYI if you've been living under a cave the Steelers are playing in the Super Bowl. I was in Oakland minutes after the big win last night and as expected there was a riot.

Crowd on Forbes cheering for Steelers fans in the window and booing the Eagles fans

some guy getting hoisted up to pull down the Eagles flag

The aftermath of the riot... broken windows... thrown beer bottles... and a snowballed building...nice.

Anyway... I think it's all silly really but nonetheless fun to experience I guess. I still don't understand how people get so insane but I guess I never will. The silliest thing of it all though has to be the Terrible Towel. I asked my friend Matt, a native of Pittsburgh to explain it to me.

"You know how most teams have some sort of banner or mascot? We've got a towel. So you can wave it around like any banner... but you can also use it to wipe you mouth and keep warm".




And according to Wikipedia:

The Terrible Towel is a gimmick created for the encouragement of the Pittsburgh Steelers, an American football team in the National Football League (NFL). Created in 1975 by late Steelers radio broadcaster Myron Cope, the Towel has since become "arguably the best-known fan symbol of any major pro sports team".^[1] Since its invention, The Terrible Towel has spread in popularity; fans often take their Towel to famous sites while on vacation. The Towel has been taken to the peak of Mount Everest and seen on Saturday Night Live. It is widely recognized as a symbol of the Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh.^[2][3]

Proceeds from sales of the Towel have raised over US$2 million for a Pennsylvania school which cares for people with mental retardation and physical disabilities. Terrible Towel is credited with being the first "rally towel", its success has spawned similar trends.^[4] Numerous versions have been produced; all are black and gold in color with the words "Myron Cope's Official The Terrible Towel" printed on the front.

Oh those Stillers... but seriously? A towel? meak


If the Steelers win this year I better see a flipped car or two and at least one burning couch!