Posted on 02/07/2006 8:41:45 PM PST by LdSentinal
Former Steeler great could ride team victory all the way to the Governor's office
As Jerome Bettis and the Pittsburgh Steelers closed the book on a storybook season at Super Bowl XL in Detroit Sunday, the season of another Steelers legend was just kicking into high gear.
Lynn Swann, the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player 30 years ago, is hoping to capture the Republican Party's official endorsement this Saturday in the Pennsylvania governor's race—an endorsement that has traditionally locked up the Republican primary election, which will be held in May of this year. And judging by the overwhelming support for Swann's Steelers last night at Ford Field, any potential challenger might consider throwing in their Terrible Towel.
"Certainly the Steelers being [in this Super Bowl] puts a lot of attention on the history of the team," said Swann, who received one of the loudest cheers of the entire night during a pregame ceremony honoring past Super Bowl MVPs. "People have been seeing old clips of mine and that's good going against an incumbent."
The Steelers 21-10 victory over Seattle meant current Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell won a bushel of apples from Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire. But for Rendell's likely challenger in the November election, this Steelers victory could mean a whole lot more.
Swann is attempting what another NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver—and a former Seattle Seahawk no less—failed to do just four years ago. Steve Largent, one of the NFL's all-time leading receivers and a former Oklahoma congressman, lost his Oklahoma gubernatorial bid in 2002 despite initially being considered the favorite. But Swann has certainly gotten off to a good start, even before the Steelers' stunning championship run. He is leading his main opponent, former Lieutenant Governor Bill Scranton, in an ongoing straw poll of GOP state committee members. Scranton has also had to spend quite a bit of time lately distancing himself from a racial gaffe made by his former campaign manager, who said on a talk show that Swann, who is black, was "the rich white guy in this campaign."
As for Bettis, the Hall of Fame-bound fullback may soon be looking for a new line of work after ending his 13-year football career with a Super Bowl victory in his hometown of Detroit. But unlike Swann, it won't be in politics. "No way, not at all! I've got no interest," declared Bettis inside the celebratory locker room, where he lingered long after most of his teammates had left the stadium.
Swann, however, felt much the same way following Super Bowl X. "I would dare say that 30 years ago, few people would have said that Lynn Swann would be running for governor one day," said Swann. "I certainly didn't know it at the time." The important thing is, virtually every Steelers fan knows it now.
Bill Scranton dropped out today! It's Swann in November! :)
YEAH!!! When Swann came out in that player parade, he LOOKED like a WINNER! And the crowd was going wild!! GO LYNN!!! By Fast Eddie!
Heard that at the Steeler victory party, the crowd started chanting, "Governor! Governor!" when Swan was introduced...pretty embarrassing to Gov. Rendell who was also on the stage!
Articles like this will just get the moonbats believing Rove paid off the refs so the Steelers would win. :-)
And to think he could have gone to the finest, winningest, most storied football program in NCAA history and called himself a U-M Wolverine in his backyard.
But no-o-o-o-o-o-o he had to go ND. He must have been afraid he wouldn't be a starter in The Big House. Funny thing about 'elephants' we may forgive, but never forget.
Notre Dame has a much richer history than Michigan. I might be a little biased im an Irish fan. :)
Notre Dame claims 11 National Championships in football, the most of any current Division-I football program.
OK. Suit yourself. And no the refs weren't paid off in the Super Bowl, the Seahawks lost, and be thankful the opposition wasn't the 'niners at their peak.
Michigan's football highlights include:
GO SWANN GO...RIGHT INTO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION!
Thats strange since ND is the only College to have a national television contract.
Notre Dame's all time record stands at 811 wins, 265 losses, and 42 ties. They have won a total of 11 national championships (1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973, 1977, and 1988) and received mention in a further 10 national championships (1919, 1920, 1927, 1938, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1970, 1989, 1993). Taken from here here
Seven Notre Dame football players have won the prestigious Heisman Trophy. As of 2005, Notre Dame and USC are tied for the most Heisman Trophy winners.
* Angelo Bertelli 1943
* Johnny Lujack 1947
* Leon Hart 1949
* Johnny Lattner 1953
* Paul Hornung 1956
* John Huarte 1964
* Tim Brown 1987
Other notable Alumni
* George "the Gipper" Gipp
* Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger
* Joe Montana
* Joe Theismann
* Jerome Bettis
* Raghib Ismail
* Ricky Watters
* Ron Powlus
Oh and "The Gipper" played for ND come on! :) Win one for the gipper!
That still makes #2. ND cannot in your lifetime ever make it up. Or your grandchildren, at the present rate.
Could care less about the Super Bowl but this 'trash talk' underlies the greatest of all sportsmanship.
Keep up the good work Echo.
The Bears are one of the NFL's most storied and successful franchises. Throughout the team's 86-year history, the club has an all-time record of 671-495-42, going 657-479-42 during the regular season and 14-16 in the playoffs. The Bears have won 9 total league titles (trailing only the Green Bay Packers, who have 12), including 8 NFL Championships and Super Bowl XX. They have played in over 1,000 games and currently lead the NFL in overall franchise wins with over 670. The Bears have the most enshrinees (26 members) in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Btw, it has been fun arguing with you its fun to blow off steam. :P
"...The best helmet in football, according to ESPN's "End of Century" Special ..."
Something I've wondered about for a long time: what is the design of the Michigan helmet suppoed to represent? I've never read or heard an explanation of the design.
For now I'm stuck with the hapless, hopeless Lions. I hope they suffered watching two good teams play on their turf.
Growing up I was a fan of the Baltimore Colts; Johnny Unitas and Earl Morrall and the like.
For whatever reason, its team just seems to win a little bit more than that of other schools. Michigan won its first game ever against Racine May 30, 1879, and 122 years, 805 wins and 11 National Championships later, still cannot break the habit.
Michigan is not only known for championship-caliber football but also its unique traditions, such as the winged helmet. Designed by Wolverines Head Coach “Fritz” Crisler in the 1930s, the original intent of the helmet was to make UM’s receivers stand out.
The rich traditions of Michigan bind every new team to its past successes and help to insure for success in the future.
However, if you ask anyone who has ever been affiliated with the program, the only tradition that has ever mattered is winning.
And so they do.
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