’74 Hustle

As we pulled into the stadium and up to a gate, a suited gentleman boarded the bus and kind of de-briefed all the team members and wives; explaining to them that the fans knew exactly what was going on; they knew that the ’74 team was coming for a special 25 year anniversary event at halftime. He further explained that if they could run, to run into the stadium because the fans were going to be raucous, pulling on their clothes, asking for autographs and the like. Once the man got all the preliminaries out of the way he explained the good stuff. He said that the Steelers organization spent $125,000 on a pre-game party with all the trimmings. He said that the party included prime steaks, huge shrimp, all sorts of other foods and plenty to drink. He explained that we had about 4 hours until game time and before the party we would tour the locker room and other facilities inside the stadium. Finally, he said all players and family members needed a press pass to be able to come inside and to be able to amble about freely during the game. The players and family members also learned that there was a special, small set of portable bleachers at the corner of the end zone closest to the stadium meant to them. As the players and spouses filed off the bus, they were presented with a red, diamond shaped pass around their necks; the all famous press pass; a pass that lets you go anywhere you want on the field or stadium. When I got up I followed Mel, behind me in the aisle was Joe. When Mel reached the front of the bus, he bent down, got his pass put on his neck and he moved aside to let me get one. The man looked at me, looked at Mel kind of puzzled and in unison, Mel and Joe said: “he is with us!” the man just nodded yes and slipped a pass on my neck! I was in heaven. I really got an appreciation for how famous and well-liked these guys are when we waded through the crowd for the short distance from the bus to the facility. As the man told us, the fans cheered, yelled, asked for autographs and were just euphoric about the ’74 champs being there. Hell, I turned down giving an autograph six times on the way in; they thought I was a former player too! Talk about making a man feel good. We moved inside and took the promised tour of the locker rooms, other behind-the-scene areas of the famed Three Rivers Stadium. Of course, the former players liked seeing the “digs” but were not nearly as impressed as I was. They had spent time in locker rooms most of their lives, I, on the other hand, had not ever seen anything like it. I was in awe. We finally moved into the party. It was a big room with a bar, tables, food everywhere, a couch or two; set up like a normal looking barroom except that out of a set of glass back doors we the field! The room opened up just beyond an end zone of the field. I grabbed up pieces of paper, napkins, anything I could find to start gathering autographs from all the players. I was reacquainted with the man who started it all for me; Bobby Walden as well. He gave me a warm handshake and a pat on the back and said he was glad I worked it out. During the party, I listened and sidled up to as many conversations as I could as I filled up on giant shrimp and crown and seven with a twist of lime; the finest party I had ever seen with a guest list second to none. I talked to Mel about the horse business of which he is still active in today. We also talked about his two homes for wayward boys in Georgia and in Pennsylvania and just kind of caught up on quarter horse news and football news. Joe was a stellar host, he guided me around, helping me get my autographs, making jokes with his old buddies, and being happy to be alive. He nodded me over to talk to the great Jack Lambert. It seemed that Mr. Lambert wanted to talk a little and I did too. I asked Jack how it was that he always seemed to have his front teeth knocked out after a game. He laughed modestly and told me that, it was just the way he played. I told him that, I had no problem understanding that from watching him play but I explained that I didn’t understand how it happened with the face mask on the helmet, no matter how hard you played.