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07-08-2002, 02:01 AM
By Sam Ross Jr.
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, July 4, 2002
The exact moment when the 2002 Steelers and Super became synonymous by public consensus is impossible to pinpoint. Approximations are the best that can be offered in such matters of mass psychology.
Certainly, the process began after the home loss to New England in the AFC Championship Game. The sentiment likely gained momentum when the Patriots went on to beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI
An April draft that was proclaimed sufficient, some nifty off-season contractual work that allowed the Steelers to hang on to most of their players and add a few complementary free agents, these were additions to the case for Super status.
Do not underestimate the contribution of the Penguins missing the playoffs and the Pirates reverting to losing form after a promising start. Humans — and most sports fans qualify — shy from emotional pain, preferring to emphasize glad tidings. The Penguins and Pirates disappointed. The Steelers offered the prospect of success and celebration. The choice to put all the emotional eggs in that Steelers basket is an easy one.
Roll these factors into one ball of hope and hype, of production and promise, and we arrive at great anticipation for the Steelers weeks ahead of their July 24 opening of preseason training camp. Before long, people will be wondering if they can repeat this yet-to-be-achieved Super Bowl triumph.
Cue the Carly Simon CD. Never mind the ketchup bottle, the Steelers have Heinz Field and its oversized replicas.
We're talking heavy duty anticipation, which more often than not in recent years has led to heartbreak in the NFL. That is not entirely out of step with experience beyond the league.
"What we anticipate seldom occurs, what we least expected generally happens," is the quote attributed to 19th century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, speaking of life, not football.
Author and Disraeli contemporary George Eliot, opining on the subject of anticipation, said, "Nothing is so good as it seems beforehand."
The NFL lately has been the epitome of dashed expectations.
The teams preordained to make it to the Super Bowl and depart clutching the silver football, don't seem to read the script.
New England began last season lugging the residue of a 5-11 record from 2000, and ended up the Super Bowl champion. The St. Louis Rams, voted most likely to succeed before the season, got to the big game, but couldn't win it.
Arguably, Denver, which repeated as Super Bowl champion following the 1998 season, was the last winner that lived up to preseason hype.
Baltimore won the Super Bowl following the 2000 season, after having gone 8-8 in 1999. The Ravens' Super Bowl opponent, the New York Giants, had gone 7-9 the previous season.
The St. Louis Rams won the Super Bowl following the 1999 season, springing from a 4-12 record in 1998.
Denver's repeat title in the 1998 season was one that went according to form. The Broncos swept through a 14-2 regular season, won a pair of AFC playoff games by a combined 48 points, then dominated Atlanta, 34-19, in Super Bowl XXXIII.
Steelers fans would settle for as much.
The case for the Steelers to succeed this season is strong. They went 13-3 last season. Only the Rams (14-2) had a better record.
Logically, the Steelers are poised to take the next step. Anticipation is in order.
But logic has not applied to process of determining NFL champions the past few years. The unexpected has held sway.
The Steelers perhaps will restore order to the matter and reward the anticipation. Or not.
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, July 4, 2002
The exact moment when the 2002 Steelers and Super became synonymous by public consensus is impossible to pinpoint. Approximations are the best that can be offered in such matters of mass psychology.
Certainly, the process began after the home loss to New England in the AFC Championship Game. The sentiment likely gained momentum when the Patriots went on to beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI
An April draft that was proclaimed sufficient, some nifty off-season contractual work that allowed the Steelers to hang on to most of their players and add a few complementary free agents, these were additions to the case for Super status.
Do not underestimate the contribution of the Penguins missing the playoffs and the Pirates reverting to losing form after a promising start. Humans — and most sports fans qualify — shy from emotional pain, preferring to emphasize glad tidings. The Penguins and Pirates disappointed. The Steelers offered the prospect of success and celebration. The choice to put all the emotional eggs in that Steelers basket is an easy one.
Roll these factors into one ball of hope and hype, of production and promise, and we arrive at great anticipation for the Steelers weeks ahead of their July 24 opening of preseason training camp. Before long, people will be wondering if they can repeat this yet-to-be-achieved Super Bowl triumph.
Cue the Carly Simon CD. Never mind the ketchup bottle, the Steelers have Heinz Field and its oversized replicas.
We're talking heavy duty anticipation, which more often than not in recent years has led to heartbreak in the NFL. That is not entirely out of step with experience beyond the league.
"What we anticipate seldom occurs, what we least expected generally happens," is the quote attributed to 19th century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, speaking of life, not football.
Author and Disraeli contemporary George Eliot, opining on the subject of anticipation, said, "Nothing is so good as it seems beforehand."
The NFL lately has been the epitome of dashed expectations.
The teams preordained to make it to the Super Bowl and depart clutching the silver football, don't seem to read the script.
New England began last season lugging the residue of a 5-11 record from 2000, and ended up the Super Bowl champion. The St. Louis Rams, voted most likely to succeed before the season, got to the big game, but couldn't win it.
Arguably, Denver, which repeated as Super Bowl champion following the 1998 season, was the last winner that lived up to preseason hype.
Baltimore won the Super Bowl following the 2000 season, after having gone 8-8 in 1999. The Ravens' Super Bowl opponent, the New York Giants, had gone 7-9 the previous season.
The St. Louis Rams won the Super Bowl following the 1999 season, springing from a 4-12 record in 1998.
Denver's repeat title in the 1998 season was one that went according to form. The Broncos swept through a 14-2 regular season, won a pair of AFC playoff games by a combined 48 points, then dominated Atlanta, 34-19, in Super Bowl XXXIII.
Steelers fans would settle for as much.
The case for the Steelers to succeed this season is strong. They went 13-3 last season. Only the Rams (14-2) had a better record.
Logically, the Steelers are poised to take the next step. Anticipation is in order.
But logic has not applied to process of determining NFL champions the past few years. The unexpected has held sway.
The Steelers perhaps will restore order to the matter and reward the anticipation. Or not.