FROM THE REAL ART SPORTS DESK
Steelers top Seahawks to win Super Bowl XL

From the AP via the Houston Chronicle:

The Pittsburgh Steelers finally gave coach Bill Cowher some Super Bowl satisfaction.

Moments after the Rolling Stones rocked a Ford Field filled with Terrible Towels, Willie Parker broke a record 75-yard touchdown run, sparking Pittsburgh's 21-10 victory today over the Seattle Seahawks.

Not only did the Steelers earn that elusive fifth championship ring and their first since 1980, but they completed a magic Bus ride that made Jerome Bettis' homecoming - and farewell - a success.

"I'm a champion. I think the Bus' last stop is here in Detroit,'' Bettis said. "It's official, like the referee whistle.''

Click here for the rest.

Being a longtime AFC man, I was supporting the Steelers, so I have to say that I was pleased by the outcome. I also like the Steelers because they were a worthy foe to my beloved Houston Oilers back in the late 70s--we never could get past those guys, never could "kick the son of a bitch in" as Oiler coach Bum Phillips once said about getting through the door to the Super Bowl. But then, I didn't really care who won. I'm just not as excited about the pros as I am about college ball. However, what I did get to see was a pretty good game. After the super-blowouts of the 90s, I'm pretty much always happy to see a competitive Super Bowl. And I really love a low-scoring defensive match.

There were other cool aspects. Bill Cowher, currently the longest serving coach with a single team, is a classy guy, and a lot of fun to watch on the sidelines. I've been watching him coach for years, but for some reason I still think of him as one of those young guys--that's not really the case anymore, but I tend to see him as being more from my generation than from those snotty baby boomers. And watching Jerome Bettis play his last game was great, too. He's always amazed me. As big as a lineman, he runs like a guy half his size, and tends to mow down guys half his size, too.

The Stones were good, too, much better than Paul McCartney was last year, but I'll try to write about that tomorrow.


Jerome Bettis, a.k.a. "the Bus," plows right on through a bus stop.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$