1976 Pittsburgh Steelers

a salute to the greatest football team in the land (leading up to Super Bowl XL).

the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers:
quite possibly the best team to not win a Super Bowl...

+--------+-------------------------------+----------+---------+
|  Week  |         Opponent              |  Result  |  Score  |
+--------+-------------------------------+----------+---------+
|    1   | at Oakland Raiders            |     L    |  28-31  |
|    2   |    Cleveland Browns           |     W    |  31-14  |
|    3   |    New England Patriots       |     L    |  27-30  |
|    4   | at Minnesota Vikings          |     L    |   6-17  |
|    5   | at Cleveland Browns           |     L    |  16-18  |
|    6   |    Cincinnati Bengals         |     W    |  23- 6  |
|    7   | at New York Giants            |     W    |  27- 0  |
|    8   |    San Diego Chargers         |     W    |  23- 0  |
|    9   | at Kansas City Chiefs         |     W    |  45- 0  |
|   10   |    Miami Dolphins             |     W    |  14- 3  |
|   11   |    Houston Oilers             |     W    |  32-16  |
|   12   | at Cincinnati Bengals         |     W    |   7- 3  |
|   13   |    Tampa Bay Buccaneers       |     W    |  42- 0  |
|   14   | at Houston Oilers             |     W    |  21- 0  |
+--------+-------------------------------+----------+---------+

5 shutouts.
8 games in which the defense did not give up a Touchdown.
110 points allowed in their first 5 games...
28 points allowed in their last 9 games.
5 straight games without giving up a touchdown.
Only 1 Touchdown allowed in their last 9 games.

Postseason:
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 40 - 14 at Baltimore Colts
AFC Championship Game: lost 7 - 24 at Oakland Raiders

• in the AFC Championship game, both starting running backs (Franco Harris & Rocky Blier) were injured & unable to play.
• on the season, both running backs ahd rushed for over 1000 yards in 14 games.
  
• QB Terry Bradshaw was injured for part of the season. Backup Mike Kruczek started 6 games and won all 6 without throwing a single touchdown pass.
  
• Pro Bowlers: Mel Blount (db), Glen Edwards (db), Joe Greene (dl), L.C. Greenwood (dl), Jack Ham (lb), Franco Harris (rb), Jack Lambert (lb), J.T. Thomas (db), Mike Wagner (db). [that's 8 out of 11 starters on defense]
  

go.

look.

hear.

touch.

taking a walk

sometimes things just hit you. sometimes things just hit you in the head. sometimes its a revalation. other times its a brick.

alas. after reading day six of 12 days with Jesus it was suggested to take a walk. while walking one was to contemplate the difference between a disciple and an apostle. a disciple is 'one who follows'. an apostle is 'one who is sent'. i was torn a bit while contemplating. i've been having a bit of a dry spell as of late and a friend of mine, when i asked him what to do about it said "follow Jesus." but yet, i feel as though i have been given the reigns and have been sent to do a specific duty. in simple terms, i think that i can't fulfill my calling - that which i have been sent to do - if i am not, in essense, following Jesus. my perfection isn't perfect, but i yern... i strive to be the Godly example to my youth. i constantly seek guidance and direction and the Lord guides my steps and my speech.

maybe in some ways i feel a bit bolder. i don't want to mess around anymore. my energy is spent trying to teach and in return bring truth to areas where truth is being ignored.

sometimes leaders need to be led. that is what Jesus was stellar at. he led his disciples... preparing them for all things. they didn't always 'get it' right away but he spoke bold truth none the less. He empowered them. maybe - in the midst of my personal dry spell - i am looking for leadership in the wrong places. i expect to get it from some places but it does not come. i think once i find that source again - God will take my ministry to new heights... and opportunities that have never presented themselves will be plain as day.

i am taking a walk. i will not eat the darkness.





album of choice:
hammock - stranded under endless sky

the Pittsburgh Steelers

PITTSBURGH'S GOIN' TO THA SUPER BOWL!
AFC Champions

don't be afraid

Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher any more."

Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."

When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."

They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

from the gospel of Luke

movie buzz 2006

get excited now

fingernails

i have this bad, annoying habit of cutting my fingernails too short. i absolutely can't stand having long fingernails. if it's been a week and they haven't been cut, it drives me insane.

so the last two times i've cut my nails, i've cut 'em too short and now my right thumb hurts.

why am i telling you this?

Steelers Fan At Heart

so the NFL says the official should have upheld Polamalu call... he intercepted a pass from Peyton Manning in the 4th Quarter that would have, essentially, sealed the victory for the Steelers. it was overturned by a screwed up official who didn't know how to interpret the rule, let alone see with his own two eyes that the ball had been caught.

here is the crazy part... it's been two days now and everytime on ESPN that someone talks about that play, i run into the room to watch it again... it's not as if i haven't seen it or anything...


here's part of an article from CBSsportsline...

"It was a unique game. It ranks up there. It was crazy," Jerome Bettis said.
"It went from an all-time high to an all-time low back to an all-time high," Hines Ward added.
In a matter of minutes, too -- holding the deafening crowd spellbound.
Pittsburgh spent three quarters building a 21-10 lead with a pass-first game plan that could've come straight from Indy.

Then things got wacky:
All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu made a diving interception of Peyton Manning at the Pittsburgh 48 with 5:26 remaining. He got up to run and fumbled the ball, but recovered -- only to have it mysteriously overturned by referee Pete Morelli.
Manning capitalized with passes of 20 yards to Marvin Harrison and 24 to Reggie Wayne before a 3-yard touchdown run by Edgerrin James and a 2-point conversion pass to Wayne.
Pittsburgh was forced to punt, but with 1:20 remaining, the befuddled Manning was sacked for the fifth time, on fourth down at his 2.
Game over, right?
Not on your life. The surehanded Bettis fumbled when popped by linebacker Gary Brackett. Nick Harper, whose knee was cut with a knife Saturday in an apparent domestic dispute with his wife, grabbed the ball and headed toward a highly improbable winning touchdown.
But Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, brilliant all game with his arm and head, tumbled, reached out a hand and made a saving tackle at the Indy 42.
"Once in a blue moon, Jerome fumbles," Roethlisberger said. "Once in a blue moon, I make a tackle. They just happened to be in the same game."
Two passes got the ball to the Pittsburgh 27, and Vanderjagt lined up for a 46-yard field goal to send it to overtime.
Wide right.
Vanderjagt slammed his helmet to the turf, but he was fortunate to have even had the chance.
"It's extreme disbelief," Vanderjagt said. "From the Polamalu interception reversal to Jerome's fumble, everything seemed to be lined up in our favor. I guess the Lord forgot about the football team."
It was the first time the Steelers won two consecutive playoff road games. And this one should have been so much easier for Pittsburgh.

Glory Road

Here's an article i wrote on the movie Glory Road. it's more of historical look at the events that take place in the movie.

what a weekend

crazy i tell ya.

first off, i was at this weekend retreat with my youth group (i'm the Youth Director) where the speaker didn't show up. turns out he was told the wrong date... but we asked someone else to step in at the last minute and it worked out wonderfully.

i went bowling... bowled a 111.

after getting little sleep @ the retreat, i came home just in time sunday afternoon to see the Steelers defeat the Colts in one of the best playoff games ever. and the refs tanked a number of calls, that is for sure.

add to this that my wife was sick all weekend and i was gone... i feel a bit guilty but she has assured me that i owe her big time. turns out she has tonsilitis. we spent the afternoon at StatCare because our family doctor's office, when called to get Jen an appointment, said that she wasn't a client, even though she's gotten perscriptions from them and had two babies with that doctor as the primary physician and let alone the fact that she transfered all of her medical records to Dr. Tabb before our son was born three years ago. needless to say we will be changing physicians.

thoughts on the word upset

i was writing an article for circlesixmagazine.com about the movie Glory Road... it got me thinking about the term 'upset' FYI: Glory Road is about Texas Western's upset of Kentucky in the 1966 National Championship game.

p.s. the article will be published MONDAY... so check check check it out.

the word UPSET (in relation to sports) derived in an interesting way...
(i was going to put some of this in my article - but i couldn't find a way for it to fit...)

Upset is a term used when referring to a competition, often in politics or sports. When an upset occurs, the person or team expected to win the competition is defeated by an underdog, defying the conventional wisdom. The sporting reference to the term was coined after a horse named "Upset" beat incredible odds to win the 1919 Sanford Memorial Stakes against the legendary Man O' War, after the latter endured an uncharacteristic poor start. Upset’s victory proved to be the only defeat for Man O’ War, known affectionately in his home state of Kentucky as ‘Big Red’. if you've Ever been to Kentucky, Lexington, in particular, you would know that Man O' War is a revered hourse. There is a major 4 lane highway that runs a cirdle around the city named after him. Also, there is a statue of him in a park downtown.

Interesting stuff that the term Upset that is now widely used in sports came about in this manner.

dot.dot.dot

i am really tired right now and need to go to bed but i don't want to leave my music. i created a new playlist on iTunes and i am thouroughly enjoying listening to it. right now a live track from EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY is playing. it is chilling.

i am anxious to start (video) editing again. i have some projects in mind... can't wait to start them. my first step is cleaning up my computer. i need to delete a bunch of stuff... and i keep getting this error message - so eventually i am going to reformat my harddrive.

reformatting your harddrive. haha. that sounds funny.

lately i think Doritos have become my new favorite snack obsession. although the potato chip holds a special place in my heart. as a matter of fact, i seem to love all things potato... chips, fries, baked, mashed. i love rice, too. i guess you could say that i love startch. is that bad?

the ideal meal: 8 oz. steak, medium rare, mashed potatoes and gravy, french fries (to dip in the gravy) a bed of rice with brocolli, rolls with cinnemon butter, a large Pepsi and strawberry cheesecake for desert.

i stole the name of my blog from an onld Dimestore Prophets cd of the same name... i also use the name Fantastic Distraction as the name of my youth groups newsletter.

i've been listening to my iPod on shuffle lately... it would make for a killer radio station. i once had a dream to run my own radio station. oddly enough, i actually had a chance to do so right out of college. my cousin owned a few stations and offered me the opportunity to run one in South Carolina. i wasn't quite ready to take such a big step. it was an AM station. i would have played old country and western music and focused on the community, especially high schol sports.

my birthday is coming up, and as usual, immediately after christmas i begin to think about how i will spend my b-day money.

i've been trying to spend more time in prayer thus far this new year. also, like my wife i have been studying this book 12 Days with Jesus by Tony Jones. so far it is helping me dig deeper... i need this... my faith is in a tough spot right now... things are dead around here...

i found this. it's chilling. give it a listen.

straighten it out, leon. (from FOUND MAGAZINE)

i like random things. soon, i will have a redesign of my blog... it will focus on all things random... maybe. i don't know.

Lost will start airing new episodes next wednesday. my obsession with the show can now be rekindled. expect Lost related posts in the coming weeks.

i don't like to curse. it just seems so juvinile and un-creative. i don't like conformity and dropping an f-bomb just because i have nothing else better to say seems like comformity to a world that somehow embraces the idiotic, like cursing or binging or dressing like a skank or making a lot of noise without really saying anything.

i haven't had a glass of MILK since august of 1992.

i got my drivers liscence on April 5, 1990. the New Kids on teh Block were the IT band in those days. i have an NKOTB comic book. i heard they sold over 40 million records.

some guy on eBay is making $100 bucks a pop selling cotton balls, pine needles and a handful of peanuts. what the heck? between that guy and this guy, there has to be a way for me to make a lot of money doing absolutely nothing. someday...

my rant is done. good nite cleveland. you've been great. be sure to tip your waitresses. i'll call for a cab. you've been great.

fantasy football...

1ST PLACE












2ND PLACE













in two leagues i got 1st & 2nd respectively. in my third league i was the top team all year but lost in the semi-finals.

when in the course of current events...

a lot has happened in the past 24 hours...

1. Penn State defeated Florida State in the Orange Bowl - other wise known as the AARP Bowl featuring Joe Paterno vs. Bobby Bowden - both coaches are over 70 years old. some called it the greatest game of the year... i watched the game... it was a sloppy game filled with mistakes. 3 missed field goals and a missed extra point... tons of penalties... in this case it wasn't that both teams deserved to win, as JoePa said after the game. instead both teams deserved to lose.

2. erronious reports last nite said that 12 miners trapped in a WV coal mine were all found alive. there was rejoicing, people were singing and praying and Geraldo Rivera on Fox News was talking about what he was going to do to the rescued miners ('wet my finger and wipe away the dirt and kiss 'em all'). what turned out to be a cruel turn of events, the reports were wrong. only 1 miner had survived and it appears that the error in the reporting was based on someone overhearing a cell phone conversation...
this is a sad day and i pray that God will be with the families of those involved, but maybe this is a wake up call to the American media. they love to jump on the latest 'news' story, camp outside the event and talk... mostly about nothing... repeating the same things for hours... with no time to fact check. we don't see hard news reported anymore, we see trendy ways of pretentious news (dare i say) journalists pretending to report... they aren't really reporting though... this can be attributed to the fact that almost everything is live... this is our fault... we want it now... we have made news reporting a consumer product that is based on the appearance, not on the substance. it felt good watching the reports last nite. i went to bed with a smile and disbelief... i woke up and was shocked... the truth is difficult sometimes... shame on you, news media.

edit: after more time and thought, i think part of the blame in all of this is the human emotion. and really, in this situation it isn't fair to blame that. those who rejoiced late last nite were clinging to hope... hope that was fading with every passing minute. they wanted to believe the imposible. one man even said that they all thought that the miners were going to come straight to the church instead of the hospital to get examined. this is a tragedy and it is so very unfortunate that all of these people had to go through the whole realm of emotions, some even in front of live tv cameras.

3. one teenage girl was killed in a traffic accident early yesturday morning in North Canton. the driver is in critical condition. alcohol is believed to be the reason for the accident. alcohol claims another life... and yet some right now are still bragging about the hangover they had as a result of NYE partying. i'll never understand why it is somehow 'cool' to be wasted and drunk. why is that something to brag about? i know i could be villified for having such a belief but you know drinking oneself into a drunken stuper is nothing to be proud of... but maybe i am taking things a bit to seriously... to bad the teenage driver of that car didn't take it seriously enough.

4. the nest generation of DVD products will be released. Sony & Toshiba are in competition to come out with the next big digital video player - unfortunately both players are not compatable with each other (much like the whole Betamax vs. VHS battle in the 80's.) some movie studios have teamed up with Toshiba and others with Sony to only release their movies on that format. at this point, the only way for the consumer to be able to view all the movies they want they would have to own both players. this will be a consumer nightmare. lots will be happening with HDTV and new digital DVD technology... wait and see...


and to end on a happy note...
5. i am still rejoicing Ohio State's victory over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl monday nite. man, they looked good. We'll be losing three strong players at the linebacker position but there is a bright future for the Bucks next year. da da da da da da da da... Go Bucks!

TOP 25 ALBUMS OF 2005

25. Lemon Jelly -'64-'95
a shiny, concept-type album that i liked a lot better earlier in the year. Come Down on Me was featured in the trailer to the movie A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy... hearing that song on the commercials for the movie made me sick of LJ for a while.
KEY TRACK: Go (featuring William Shatner)

24. My Morning Jacket - Z
a lot of people have been raving about this album. to some extent, the hype may be bigger than the band, though the song GIDEON alone makes this album worth repeat listens.


23. LCD Soundsystem - s/t
they sound like they should be from England but they reign from NY. good dance/indie-electronica for when you need that fix.
KEY TRACKS: Daft Punk is Playing at my House, Yeah


22. The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
admittedly, it took seeing them on the Daily Show with John Stewart (of all things) to give them another listen. I had grown tired of the Stripes, but seeing them live (on TV) made me curious and interested again.
KEY TRACKS: My Doorbell, Red Rain

21. Boards of Canada -The Campfire Headphase
atmospheric, spacey, beautiful & intriguing electronica. it puts you in another place on some other planet, on the beach with waves lapping over your feet. i don't know how else to describe this album.


20. Switchfoot - Nothing is Sound
another solid effort from the surfers/rockers of Switchfoot. it may as well be titled The Beautiful Letdown, pt. 2, but it still is worth your time.
KEY TRACKS: Stars, The Shadow Proves the Sunshine

19. Waking Ashland - Composure
Melodic, piano-driven pop-rock. this album was on repeat all summer long.
KEY TRACKS: I Am For You, Edinger


18. Stars - Set Yourself on Fire
lush boy/girl vocals with lyrics about love and emotion with melodic instrumentation... Set Yourself on Fire (featuring an array of instruments (horns, strings, synthesizers with the usual guitar and drum) was a surprise find this year. This album is about the ups & downs of any given romantic relationship. KEY TRACKS: Your Ex-love is Dead, Ageless Beauty

17. Embrace - Out of Nothing
One of the many gems from 2005 that derived over in England. If you don't feel good after listening to Embrace then you quite possibly might be dead.
KEY TRACK: Out of Nothing


16. The Myriad - You Can't Trust A Ladder
A late find, The Myriad's debut kept finding it's way into my CD player. the music is smooth and i kept wanting more.
KEY TRACKS: Streched Over, 10,000 X 10,000


15. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
i don't know if Sufjan is really good yet. his music is the latest trend, which is part of the reason Illinois didn't crack the Top 10 for me. I like this album... it has some creative elements and is easy to listen to.
KEY TRACKS: Casimir Pulaski Day, John Wayne Gacy, Jr

14. Mae - The Everglow
it's a concept album that plays like a storybook. Each song flows into the next with purpose and ease; before you know it 15 tracks and 61 minutes have passed by. as a whole, it's a perfect record that i hope will not grow tiresome with age.
KEY TRACKS: Someone Else's Arms, Painless, The Ocean, The Sun And The Moon


13. Kent -Du & Jag Doden
400 Slag is one of the best lead tracks on any CD ever. it doesn't matter that i have no idea what lead singer Joakim Berg is singing about (the album isn't in English - Kent reigns from Sweden), the album is terrific.
KEY TRACKS: 400 Slag, Du Är Ånga, Du Var Min Armé


12. The Perishers - Let there be Nothing
this album is easy to listen to and hard to forget. The Perishers, like Kent are from Sweden, only this album is in English. With songs are about love and hope and smooth and dreamy instrumentation, Let There Be Nothing brings balance to my music library.
KEY TRACKS: Sway, My Heart


11. Beck - Guero
i'm not sure how i left this one out of the top 10... i guess i didn't listen to it enough. Beck goes back to his roots with this one. it's chunky but funky and you can bug out to it.
KEY TRACKS: E- Pro, Hell Yes


10. Coldplay - X&Y
this was probably one of the most anticipated releases of this year. i can't say that disappointedted but prior to listening i had figured it would be my number one for the year. Coming in at number 1o is nothing to be ashamed of. the album isn't anything new, but it's still worthy of repeated listens.
KEY TRACKS: White Shadows, Talk, Low, 'Til Kingdom Come


9. Sigur Rós - Takk
the band that put icelandic music on the map has given us one more beautiful piece of art. it ranks in the top 10 because of it's sheer originality. like their previous albums, Takk is an experience.
KEY TRACKS: Glosoli, Saeglopur, Sorglega


8. Nada Surf -The Weight is the Gift
i can't think of anything specific about this album that i like, other than all of it. it's another low-fi album that placed in my top 25. i listened to it a lot, so i guess i liked it, thus it's ranking at #8.
KEY TRACKS: Always Love, All is a Game, In the Mirror


7. Kanye West - Late Registration
what is this album doing in my top 25? it doesn't really fit with anything else on my list. regardless, it's a mighty fine album. The beats are kickin' which is all i ask for in a rap album; plus collaborations with Adam Levine, Jamie Foxx, Common & Jay-Z. The hype surrounding West almost kept him off my list... didn't want to be looked at as a trend-follower, but alas, the album is good and speaks for itself.
KEY TRACKS: Heard 'Em Say, Gold Digger, Diamonds From Sierra Leone


6. Over the Rhine - Drunkard's Prayer
i love Over the Rhine. What's not to love? this album is stripped down and natural... it's as if Karen and Linford are playing in your living room. it's intimate and personal; like other OtR albums, it is best listened to in the dark.
KEY TRACKS: I Want You to Be My Love, Drunkard's Prayer, Who Will Guard the Door


5. David Crowder Band - A Collision (or 3+4=7)
this was my most listened to album of the year. it was hard not to put this one at #1. this exceeded all of my expectations and drew me in from the start of Everybody Want's to Go to Heaven. tracks 11-21 are so incredible. i often would listen to them on repeat for a very long time and not grow tired of them. A Collision brings the realm of worship music to a whole new level, a level probably more in tune with God's heart than anything else, because it's raw, honest, creative and from the gut. listening to A Collision is a journey from our depravity to His divinity.
KEY TRACKS: Here Is Our King, Beautiful Collision, O God Where Are You Now?, Come Awake, You Are My Joy, Rescue Is Coming


4. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
in march, you could have called me an addict... everyday i had to have my Bloc Party fix. there is just something fun about this album. Imagine the retro Eighties sound brought back to life with the Killers mashed up with a rabid, futuristic beat and a pinch of disco-funk, and you’ve got Bloc Party. No rip off sound here - just a raw, danceable spirit, full of energy.
KEY TRACKS: Like Eating Glass, Helicopter, Banquet


3. Bruce Springsteen - Devils & Dust
Bruce goes back to his roots with this solo, all accoustic disc. he tells stories and shares his soul. this album increases its value with every listen.
KEY TRACKS: Jesus Was An Only Son, Devils & Dust, All I'm Thinkin' About


2. Thirteen Senses - The Invitation
What would happen if Coldplay, Travis, South and Keane merged into one and yet maintained some sort of originality? With a solid collection of soulful lyrics, melodic piano and guitar instrumentation, Thirteen Senses has gained moderate success in the British indie scene. The pure emotion of Will South’s vocals keep you hooked as The Invitation improves upon repeated listens. It isn't really anything original but i really like this album and i listened to it a lot this year.
KEY TRACKS: Thru the Glass, Do No Wrong


1. Engineers - s/t
Breathtaking. Epic. Euphoric. The slow-building crescendos of downbeat sadness show an electrifying side of beauty reminiscent of a cool spring evening sleeping under the stars. Engineers’ self titled debut is more of a soundtrack to a somber reality than anything else. They don’t necessarily fit into any category; maybe that is why i liek them so much.
KEY TRACKS: Lets Just See, Come in Out of the Rain, One in Seven


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so there you have it... my top 25...

if you'd like to see other top 10 lists from Circle Six Magazine go HERE.
[C6M's Top Ten comprised by Jacob Taylor.]






you'll see my Top 10 there as well (slightly different... i've made some changes since i turned that in to be published on DEC 15th).