CHAPTER 5 - THE RAVENS MONDAY NIGHT GAME

From the Monday afternoon onwards, it just rained and it rained. That kind of spoilt the tailgating and probably watered down the beer a mite, but it didn’t spoil the game.

For the game, I found myself sitting somewhere different from the usual place. Ed had seats in the new North Club section; and was I glad about that. It was under cover and just a few steps to the luxury of a dry, warm hospitality area with rest rooms that had no queues. Pure heaven!

Surprise, surprise; the National Anthem was sung by the man himself, Hank Williams.

The Steelers came onto the field, obviously hyped up with the thought of the half time celebrations when all the players from the dinner the evening before were being presented to the fans.

Perhaps due to the appearance of Bill Cowher onto the field after the Anthem also pumped up their adrenalin.

It’s an awesome idea – all those great players from the past together on one field. The inspiration ignited the Steelers to a breath-taking performance that saw them take a commanding 35-7 lead into the locker-room before the ceremony.

Unfortunately, it continued to rain throughout the introductions. It just chucked the water down as the players received the applause from the fans, but the inclement conditions didn’t detract from the festive occasion and certainly didn’t dampen anyone’s spirit.

I thought that the English weather was bad enough, but there never seemed to be any let up that night as the heavens just discharged a winter’s worth of rain in a few hours.

Such was the soaking that poor Sheri received (although she has a great seat behind the visiting team’s bench), she finally relented and sought refuge across the road from the stadium in Jerome Bettis’s restaurant, Grille 36. As least Sheri dried out while watching the game and without having to endure the monsoon that was drenching the stadium.

Give Pete his due; he stayed in his seat to the end. I guess there is no point in travelling 3,500 miles to let a little water spoil the game.

After Heath Miller opened the scoring, Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington each had a brace of touchdown receptions with Holmes finishing the game with four catches for 110 yards.

James Harrison also turned in a Pro Bowl performance with nine tackles, 3½ sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. Like a man possessed, Harrison destroyed the Ravens’ offense at every opportunity.

The Steelers played superbly on both sides of the ball.

Inspired by their history, the team turned in a powerful show and the rain did not dampen anyone’s spirit on another great night in Pittsburgh's sporting history.

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CHAPTER 6>>>