Super Bowl Center - Dawson Enters The Hall

Steeler Center, Dermonte Dawson, perennial Pro Bowler under Bill Cowher, was among those elected yesterday to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  The NFL does this for their performers and the writers make every effort to indulge.  Although not eligible until five years following their retirement, the players all express humility when announced.  It's that "hovering" between making it and not expecting to that is a place prospective enshrinees must avoid.  For the Fans, it's a distraction permitting them to question how one or another great (Jerome Bettis) doesn't make it on the first year of eligibility, and the ballot-casters who are infused with the protective principles that make waiting for it a badge of integrity.

Playing for the drama, the Game and for the merit of the honor, these writers who have witnessed the greats, are not as inclined to bestow the nod on a player just because he was a Steeler.  Fans in Fall River get that, as do those around the world who grudgingly concede a Steeler score but resent that there are so many of them.  Spread the Wealth Liberalism has its roots in sentiments experienced when the Hall of Fame Committee makes its picks official.

Winners can't help keeping score.  Wanna-be Winners ditto.  

Martin with Teacher

Obama supporters, take the Steeler Nation, the Audacity to Fashion a Black & Gold Flag with 3 hyper-cycloids where 50 5-Points should go, 13 Black/Gold Stripes and a Terrible Towel to the tote-board.  Two former Steelers, two Pitt Players will be inducted in Canton on August 4.  One of them, Jack Butler, is 84 years old!  Following his playing days, Butler spent 44 years scouting for the Rooneys and heard his name called - finally - fifty years after having retired.  FIFTY!!! What an inspiration this is to those of us who are pluggers.  Curtis Martin, elected more promptly, credited his personal ethic in his acknowledgement; "Shows what can happen if you do the right thing."

Read more: Steelers' Dermontti Dawson, Jack Butler make Hall of Fame - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_780105.html#ixzz1lWKwYwiu

He doesn't say "What WILL happen, but what CAN happen."  Here-in lies the inspiration.  For the generation coming up, the generation that loaded uninformed votes into the bank that elected the 2nd incompetent in a row to the presidency, this is crazy.  To those of us who step into the shower shaking our heads at them, this is akin to those who questioned the Recording Academy for feting Steely Dan over Briteny Spears.  To us, it's the body of work for which we are recognized; like convicting OJ for armed robbery, like the Oscar to Kidman for "The Hours,"  Susan Lucci for the "Alright, Already!"

Steady, reliably good work is delivered by those who are in it primarily for the purpose of making their folks proud.  Folks who recognize and respect, affirm faith in goodness as its own reward.  It matters less that you carry off a trophy than that you carry off the quality performance, gave it your best, went "ALL IN" for the effort with no regard to the gravy train that has historically followed the winners.

I guess it will be a rematch between the Pats and the Giants today.  I'm again rooting for the Giants, because, deep down, I don't get the New England Blue State / Kennedy-Concessions.  I don't get how a soil that absorbed the blood of the Minute Men can diddle near the fulcrum instead of coming down definitively on one side or the other of the see-saw.  The New England Voter, from Maine to Rhode Island, talks self-determination but votes for slackers.  What's with that?

I wish the New England Voter would get the Butler attitude and just hang in, hang on, hold 'em responsible and discern the truth in their representatives' character.  Bernie Sanders?  Ted Kennedy?  Barney Frank?  Snow and Dukakis?  How is it Kentucky isn't in New England?  You folks don't stand for ANYTHING!  It's ok to look the other way when Belichick and Brady use every edge they can concoct.  It's ok to register Independent yet Vote Democrat 70% of the time.  It's OK, but it's chickenshit!

Martin, while a Pitt graduate and a Pittsburgh native who grew up under the hyper-cycloid stars, made his Mother proud.  Made his hometown friends proud and made his Schools proud.  One of his Schools is that one that stays on purpose.  To avoid trouble and to stay close to his Mom who stuck with him when his dad turned to drugs, Curtis did the right thing each time he was faced with a decision that offered him the choice between taking and giving.  From the School of Fidelity to Purpose, Martin takes his diploma to Canton where he'll remind us to take our satisfaction side by side with the Butler story.  Though it seems no recognition comes your way, turn your resentment at being snubbed into deeply abiding self respect for doing the right thing, for giving part of your best for others to enjoy and for going All In on those things that make your days right.  Jack Butler waited 50 years, but balances the satisfaction that comes with a job done well.