the unlikely orange

i posted a version of this last year, but i thought it might be worth pulling out and dusting off since the season starts tomorrow and my level of amped-ness is approaching heights never before experienced by mere mortals.  i made a few changes from last year's poem.  enjoy! ‘Twas the night before kickoff and all through the “Nation,” not a Stiller fan was stirring, due to some healthy libation. The terrible towels were placed by the TVs with care, in hopes that HD images of victory soon would be there. The Steeler fans were sleeping, all snug in their beds, while visions of hypocycloids danced in their heads. And I in my black 86 jersey – Hines Ward -   had just settled down after a prayer to the Lord. When out in the family room, I heard such a noise, I could have sworn it sounded like Big Ben and the boys. I raced down the hall and into the den, and couldn’t believe what I discovered then.   There in th...

just like christmas.  that's what it feels like right now.  well, to be more precise, it feels like the days right before christmas: those slow, anticipation-filled days.  like the hands of the clock are covered in quikrete, grinding to a halt so that christmas may just never get here.  yep.  that's how i feel right now.  the pittsburgh steelers season is a mere 52 hours away as i write this, but that feels like it might as well be a year and a half.  i just can't wait for it to get here.  so, to try and move beyond the incessant nail-biting and clock-watching, i thought i'd spend my time today usefully, and compose a poem.  it is a well-known tradition throughout the Steeler Universe that defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau (who you may remember was just inducted into the Pro Fooball Hall of Fame this year) takes time each year to read a famous Christmas Poem to his players.  and while this may not seem like the most testerone-fueled act...

a few months ago, at the genesis of the 2010 football season, i wrote this little poem about the steelers, inspired by coach lebeau's annual recitation of the famous clement moore poem.  my friends over at behind the steel curtain - a top-notch steelers blog - asked me if i'd write a reprise now that it is actually Christmastime.  so i obliged.  click on the "keep reading" link to read my newest steelers verse. 

looking back on this last year, i thought i would highlight some of my favorite posts from the year.  here are the links.  if you have a few minutes, you might find something you missed... the lego ketchup bottle cade teaches me to delight in the word i am humbled when i face off in the epic battle: greg vs. the snowblower i am no mere mortal (sniffle).  my kids don't feel like dancin.' i learn the power of dang genetics. i rant about earth day. caedmon explains worship. i preached my swan song.  i tell my second most embarassing story. i got in a fight with the new bunk beds.     i threw up in the susquehanna river.  i looked back on my first 1,000 posts.  i discussed my fear of the bricks.   i wrote an open letter to my kids about starting school.  'twas the night before steelers football  cade wants to punch the ravens inside their nose.  i made our annual family Christmas video....